Current Affairs 22 April 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 22 April 2025, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2025 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

MoLE & Swiggy Join Hands to Boost Gig Economy Jobs via NCS Portal
In April 2025, the Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoL&E) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Swiggy Limited (Swiggy), formerly Bundl Technologies Private Ltd, to enhance employment opportunities in India’s gig and logistics sector through the National Career Service (NCS) portal.

• The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, MoL&E, and Union Minister of State(MoS) Shobha Karandlaje, MoL&E in New Delhi(Delhi).
• This collaboration is expected to mobilize over 12 lakh job opportunities in the next 2–3 years through the NCS portal.

Key Highlights of the MoU:
i.Swiggy will regularly post verified gig and delivery job opportunities on the NCS portal and conduct hiring through it.​
ii.Application Programming Interface(API)-based integration will ensure real-time job postings and seamless application tracking for users.​
iii.Focus on inclusive hiring, particularly promoting employment opportunities for youth, women, and those seeking flexible work.​
iv.The partnership is expected to support structured onboarding, digital empowerment, and awareness of worker welfare schemes.
Note: As of January 31, 2025, the NCS portal hosts over 1.25 crore active job seekers and 40 lakh registered employers.

Central Railway Launched India’s First Onboard ATM on Panchavati Express
In April 2025, the Central Railway (CR), headquartered in Mumbai (Maharashtra), in collaboration with the Pune (Maharashtra)-based Bank of Maharashtra (BoM), launched India’s first onboard Automated Teller Machine (ATM) on the Mumbai-Manmad Panchavati Express, under the New, Innovative Non-Fare Revenue Ideas Scheme (NINFRIS) to enhance passenger convenience and boost Non-Fare Revenue (NFR).
Key Details of the Initiative:
i.The ATM was installed in an air-conditioned (AC) coach of the Panchavati Express, replacing a temporary pantry space.
ii.The train operates daily between Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Manmad Junction (Nashik district, Maharashtra), covering the 4-hour 35-minute journey.
iii.The initiative targets NFR generation while addressing passenger needs, especially for senior citizens, women, and emergency cash requirements.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Snow Persistence Declines in Ganga, Indus & Brahmaputra Basins: ICIMOD 2025 ReportOn 21 April 2025, the Kathmandu (Nepal)-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) released the HKH Snow Update Report 2025, highlighting significant declines in snow persistence across the Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra river basins of the Indian Subcontinent.

• ICIMOD analysed a 23-year time series (2003–2025) of basin-scale snow persistence during the November–March snow seasons.
• The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, which feeds the Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra basins, recorded its third straight below-normal snow year in 2025, with snow persistence 23.6% below normal, the lowest in 23 years.

About International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development:
Director General (DG) – Pema Gyamtsho (Bhutan)
Headquarters – Kathmandu, Nepal
Founded – 1983
>> Read Full News

IAF Participated in Multinational Exercise ‘Desert Flag-10’ in UAEIn April 2025, a frontline contingent of the Indian Air Force (IAF) arrived at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in ‘Exercise Desert Flag-10’, a premier multinational air combat exercise hosted by the UAE Air Force. The exercise is scheduled to be held from April 21 to May 8, 2025.
About Desert Flag:
i.It is an annual multinational large-force employment warfare exercise hosted by the UAE Air Force.
ii.The inaugural Desert Flag exercise was held in 2011.
iii.The IAF participated in the exercise for the first time in 2021.
About Exercise Desert Flag-10:
i.The 10th edition of the Exercise Desert Flag, is a premier multinational aerial warfare exercise designed to enhance operational capabilities, interoperability, and strategic cooperation among participating nations.
ii.The 2025 edition includes air forces from 12 countries, namely:
India, Australia, Bahrain, France, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America (USA), and the host nation UAE.
India’s Participation and Objectives:
i.The IAF has deployed MiG-29 and Jaguar fighter aircraft to represent India in this advanced air combat drill.
ii.The primary objectives of India’s participation include:

• Conducting complex and diverse fighter engagements in a realistic multinational environment.
• Exchanging operational knowledge, mission planning strategies, and best practices with leading global air forces.
• Enhancing interoperability and building mutual trust with partner nations.

India-UAE Defence Cooperation:
India and UAE share strong bilateral defence ties, reinforced through:
i.Annual Defence Dialogue and the Joint Defence Co-operation Committee (JDCC).
ii.Naval and military training exchanges and regular port calls.
iii.Since March 2013, a resident Defence Adviser (DA) has been posted at the Indian Embassy in UAE to facilitate deeper defence engagements.
iv.These engagements are aligned with the shared vision of Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to deepen defence, energy, and security cooperation between the two nations.
About Indian Air Force (IAF):
Chief of the Air Staff(CAS) – Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1932

UNESCO: Only 60% countries have Legislations, Standards for Food, Beverages in SchoolAccording to Paris (France)-based United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)’s latest publication Global Education Monitoring (GEM) report, only 60% of countries have legislations or standards regulating food and beverages in schools, raises concerns over the global commitment to student health.

• The report was released in partnership with the Research Consortium for School Health and Nutrition, is supported by the London School Hygiene and Tropical Medicine under the School Meal Coalition.

i.The report showed that only 93 out of 187 countries have legislation, compulsory standards or norms on school food and beverages in school.

• It further revealed that only 29% of these countries have measures restricting food and beverage marketing in schools.

ii.As per the report, only 3 out of 28 countries had conducted assessments at regular interval times and used that information which included changes in attitudes and perceptions about food and nutrition, knowledge, food practice, among others.
>> Read Full News

Japan to gift Shinkansen E5, E3 series for India’s bullet train project In April 2025, the Government of Japan announced the donation of two Shinkansen train sets, ‘E5’ and ‘E3’ series, to India. These high-speed trains will support the testing and inspection of India’s first bullet train project – the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSRC).

• The train sets, to be delivered in early 2026, will be fitted with specialized inspection equipment. They will assist in collecting critical operational data, especially related to India’s environmental conditions such as high temperatures and dust.

Note: “Shinkansen” refers to Japan’s high-speed rail technology.
Background:
In 2016, Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi and former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe signed an agreement to manufacture Shinkansen trains in India under the Central Government’s “Make in India” initiative, enabling the transfer of Japanese high-speed rail technology to India.
About the Project:

• The MAHSRC is being developed by New Delhi-based National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), a subsidiary of Indian Railways(IR).
• The corridor, once completed, will allow bullet trains to run at a top speed of 320 kilometers per hour(km/h), marking India’s entry into high-speed rail infrastructure.

Key Features of Shinkansen Trains:

• E5 Series (introduced in 2011 by Tokyo (Japan)-based East Japan Railway Company – JR East): Known for its aerodynamic design, advanced safety, and ride quality.
• E3 Series: Older model used for mini-shinkansen services, also recognized for its efficient performance.

Technological Transfer and Future Plans:

• The initiative stems from the India-Japan agreement signed in 2016 between PM Narendra Modi and former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, under the “Make in India” programme.
• The trial data from E5 and E3 trains will support future indigenous production of the advanced E10 (Alfa-X) series trains in India
• The E10 Shinkansen, capable of speeds up to 400 km/h, represents next-generation Japanese high-speed rail technology

Financial Support:

• Around 80% of the total project cost (estimated at Rs 1.8 trillion) will be funded by low-interest yen loans from the Japanese government.
• With rising costs, both governments are now negotiating a new yen loan framework for the future introduction of E10 trains.

About Japan:
Prime Minister(PM) – Fumio Kishida
Capital –  Tokyo
Currency – Japanese Yen (JPY)

BANKING & FINANCE

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Unveiled BSE Coin, Logo and Index to Commemorate its 150 Year LegacyOn April 17 2025, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance (MoF) unveiled a Rs 150 commemorative coin to celebrate the 150 years of Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Asia’s oldest stock exchange and one of the largest in the world at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• Apart from this coin, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also launched BSE@150 Logo and BSE 150 Index, a new benchmark index designed to monitor the performance of the top 150 listed companies based on market capitalization and liquidity.
• Union Minister of State (MoS) Pankaj Chaudhary and Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) were among the key dignitaries.

Key Points:
i.While addressing the event, Union Minister appreciated BSE’s technological advancements and its important role in India’s economic development.

• She further highlighted that BSE processes orders worth Rs 1,500 crore on daily basis, reflecting the seamless integration of cutting-edge technology.

ii.The market capitalization of BSE has reached to Rs 400 lakh crore, thereby placing it among world’s top stock exchanges
About Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE):
Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Sundararaman Ramamurthy
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established- 1875
>> Read Full News

PB Fintech gets RBI nod to operate as ‘online PA ‘
In April 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted an in-principle authorisation to PB Pay Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Gurugram (Haryana)-based PB Fintech Limited, to operate as an Online Payment Aggregator (PA) under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

• The RBI’s approval allows PB Pay to enter the digital payments ecosystem, offering payment processing services and competing with established players like Razorpay, Cashfree, and CCAvenue.

i.In March 2024, PB Fintech’s board approved the incorporation of PB Pay Private Limited to engage in the business of payment aggregation, both domestic and cross-border, facilitating merchants with offline and/or digital payment acceptance infrastructure.
ii.The subsidiary was incorporated in April 2024 with a proposed authorised share capital of Rs 50 crore and a paid-up share capital of Rs 27 crore.
Note: The Payment Aggregator (PA) framework was introduced by the RBI in March 2020, mandating entities to obtain a license for acquiring merchants and providing digital payment acceptance solutions.

SEBI Approves Capitalmind Financial Services to Launch Mutual Fund Business
In April 2025, Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Capitalmind Financial Services, founded by Deepak Shenoy, received approval from the Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to operate as Capitalmind Mutual Fund under Capitalmind Asset Management Private Limited (Capitalmind AMC). 

• The move expands its services beyond Portfolio Management Services (PMS) and Alternative Investment Funds (AIF).

i.The AMC will launch actively managed equity schemes using existing quantitative strategies like Adaptive Momentum and Surge India, which delivered strong post-fee returns over the past five years.
ii.It manages over Rs. 2,200 crore in assets under management (AUM) for more than 1,400 clients, maintaining a strong annual client retention rate of 98%.

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Launched Superwoman Term Plan for Women
In April 2025, Pune (Maharashtra)-based Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has launched a new term insurance product named Superwoman Term (SWT), designed exclusively for women which aim to provide financial protection, health benefits, and support for child care.

• The new product covers 60 critical illnesses, including breast, cervix, and ovarian cancers.
• The new product will provide a lump-sum amount to nominees in case of the death of policy holder.

i.The new insurance product will provide complimentary Health Management Services (HMS) for women worth Rs 36,500 annually.

• These services will include health check-ups, OPD consultations, pregnancy-related support, and nutrition counseling.

Note: As of March 31 2024, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance reported a claim settlement ratio (CSR) of 99.23%, with solvency ratio of 432%.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

India’s Retail Inflation Drops to 5.5-Year Low at 3.34% in March 2025
In April 2025, India’s retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), declined to 3.34%, for March 2025 marking the lowest monthly inflation rate since August 2019. This decrease from 3.61% in February 2025 is primarily attributed to a significant drop in food prices, especially vegetables, eggs, and pulses.

• India’s retail inflation has shown a consistent downward trend over the past three Financial Years(FY), declining from 6.7% in FY 2022-23(FY23) to 5.4% in FY24, and further easing to 4.6% in FY25.

Key Highlights:
i.Food Inflation: Fell to 2.69% in March from 3.75% in February, the lowest since November 2021. Urban food inflation stood at 2.48%, while rural areas recorded 2.82%
ii.Core Inflation: Excluding food and fuel, core inflation edged up to 4.1%, influenced by rising costs in gold, transport, and education
iii.Wholesale Price Inflation: Also eased to a six-month low of 2.05%, reflecting broader disinflationary trends .
iv.Items with Highest Inflation: In March 2025, the top five items with the highest year-on-year inflation were coconut oil (56.81%), coconut (42.05%), gold (34.09%), silver (31.57%), and grapes (25.55%).
v.Items with Lowest Inflation: The items witnessing the steepest decline in prices were ginger (-38.11%), tomato (-34.96%), cauliflower (-25.99%), jeera (-25.86%), and garlic (-25.22%).

WTO Projects 0.2% Decline in Global Merchandise Trade for 2025
In April 2025, the Geneva (Switzerland) based World Trade Organization (WTO) released its latest Global Trade Outlook and Statistics report, forecasting a 0.2% decline in global merchandise trade volume for 2025 under current tariff conditions.

• This marks a sharp downward revision from the 3.0% growth forecast made in October 2024 and reflects rising trade tensions and policy volatility.

Key Highlights from the WTO Report in 2025:
i.The global commercial services trade is projected to grow by 4.0% in 2025, slower than the previous estimates.
ii.North America faces the steepest fall, with exports dropping 12.6% and imports by 9.6%, reducing global trade growth by 1.7 percentage points.
iii.Asia expects modest growth of 1.6% in exports and imports, while Europe projects 1.0% export and 1.9% import growth.
iv.Reciprocal tariffs could reduce global trade growth by 0.6 percentage points while Trade policy uncertainty may further cut growth by 0.8 percentage points.

ENVIRONMENT

IISR Developed New Light-colored Turmeric Variety ‘IISR Surya’
In April 2025, Kozhikode (Kerala)-based Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) has developed a new light-coloured turmeric variety named ‘IISR Surya’.

• The new variety features a light-coloured rhizome that meets the specific requirements of the modern powdering (masala) industry.

i.It has a pleasant aroma, expected to significantly benefit farmers, especially in the production of high-quality turmeric powder.
ii.It is a high-yielding variety of turmeric which offers 20% to 30% yield increase compared to that of the existing light-coloured local varieties.

• As per researchers, it can yield maximum 41 tonnes per hectare.

iii.It contains curcumin content with the range of 2% to 3%, which was on par with other light-coloured turmeric varieties.

SPORTS

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri Won F1’s Saudi Arabian GP to Take Overall LeadIn April 2025, Oscar Jack Piastri, an Australian Formula 1 (F1) driver representing the United Kingdom (UK)-based McLaren won F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix(GP) 2025 held at Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

• This marked his 3rd victory of the F1 2025 season and 2nd consecutive after winning Bahrain GP title in April 2025.
• With this, Oscar Piastri becomes the 1st Australian F1 driver to lead the drivers championship standings with 99 points since Mark Webber (2010). He is followed by Lando Norris (McLaren) with 89 points and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) with 87 points.

Key Highlights:
i.Oscar Piastri crossed the finish line in 2.8 seconds (s) in his McLaren for his 51st  Grand Prix (GP) and got 25 points.
ii.While, 4-time World Champion Max Verstappen, Belgian-Dutch driver of Red Bull secured 2nd position (18 points) following a contentious 5 second penalty, followed by Ferrari’s Charles Lecerc secured 3rd position (15 points) to claim his maiden podium of the season.
iii.Lando Norris of McLaren finished at 4th spot (12 points)after recovering from 10th place on the grid, and George Russell, representing Germany-based Mercedes secured 5th position (10 points).
Top 3 Winners of Japanese GP 2025:

About Saudi Arabian GP 2025:
i.This marked the 5th edition of Saudi Arabian GP since its 1st edition was held in 2021.
ii.Saudi Arabian GP 2025, officially known as  the F1 STC Saudi Arabian GP,  took place over 50 laps with 6.174 kilometer (km) circuit length.

OBITUARY

Pope Francis, 1st Latin American Leader of the Roman Catholic Church Passed Away In April 2025, Pope Francis, the 1st Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church passed away at the age of 88 in Vatican, Vatican City. He was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

• He was also the 1st non-European pope in over 1,000 years and the 1st Jesuit and also 1st pope who chose to be called as Francis in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi.

About Pope Francis:
i.He was ordained a priest in the Jesuit order in 1969. He was the order’s top leader in Argentina from 1973-79.
ii.He was appointed an auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina) in 1992 and held this post until his election  to the papacy in 1998.

• Later in 2001, he was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II.

iii.In 2013, he was elected Pope of the Roman Catholic Church (at the age of 76) following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
iv.He initiated various reforms within the Vatican, stressing on transparency, accountability and financial changes, and appointed more to senior posts in its hierarchy.

IMPORTANT DAYS

UN Chinese Language Day 2025 – April 20The United Nations (UN’s) Chinese Language Day is annually observed across the globe on April 20 to promote multilingualism, cultural diversity, and the equal use of the six official languages of the UN.

• The 2025 theme, “Chinese Language: A Gift Across Time and Space”, highlights the historical and cultural significance of the Chinese language.

Background:
i.The observance was established in 2010 by the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC) (formerly Department of Public Information) to celebrate the rich heritage of the Chinese language and foster its use across all UN duty stations worldwide.
ii.The inaugural UN Chinese Language Day was held on 12 November 2010. Since 2011, it has been celebrated annually on 20 April to align with Guyu and Cangjie’s legacy.
>> Read Full News

National Civil Services Day 2025 – April 21National Civil Services Day is observed across India on April 21 to acknowledge and appreciate the pivotal role played by civil servants in the nation’s governance and development.

• April 21, 2025, marks the 17th National Civil Services Day observance.

Background:
i.In 2006, India’s then Prime Minister (PM), Dr. Manmohan Singh, inaugurated the first National Civil Services Day at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi (Delhi).
ii.Since then, April 21 has been marked annually with conferences, award presentations, and interactions among senior bureaucrats and government officials.
2025 Events:
The 2025 Civil Services Day was organized as a day-long conference at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. It featured:
i.The presentation of the PM Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2025.
ii.Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPPG&P), highlighted that the IAS 2023 batch comprises 74 women officers, marking the highest-ever female representation, which accounts for 41% of the total 180 officers in the batch.
>> Read Full News

World Creativity and Innovation Day – April 21 2025The United Nations (UN) annually observes the World Creativity and Innovation Day (WCID) on 21 April to raise global awareness about the importance of creativity and innovation in fostering human development and achieving sustainable growth.
World Creativity & Innovation Week (WCIW):
i.Duration: 15–21 April 2025 (aligns with Leonardo da Vinci’s birth anniversary on 15 April).
Background:
i.Resolution Adopted: On 27 April 2017, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/71/284, officially proclaiming 21 April as WCID.
ii.First Observed: 21 April 2018 after the UN recognition.
iii.Global Participation: Celebrated in 50+ countries, including India, the United States of America(USA) and European Union(EU) nations.
About the United Nations (UN): 
Secretary-General– António Guterres
Headquarters– New York, the United States of America(USA)
Established – 1945
>> Read Full News

STATE NEWS

MP to Launch Krishak Kalyan Mission to Boost Farmer Income
In April 2025, the State Cabinet of Madhya Pradesh (MP), under the leadership of Chief Minister (CM) Mohan Yadav, approved the launch of the MP Krishak Kalyan Mission(KKM) to unify ongoing farmer welfare schemes under various departments.

• The mission will integrate schemes from the Farmers’ Welfare and Agriculture Development Department, Horticulture and Food Processing Department, Fisheries Department, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department, Cooperative Department, and the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department.

i.It aims to increase farmers’ income by promoting fair pricing for farm produce, ensuring nutritional and food security, and supporting sustainable livelihood opportunities.
ii.It focuses on promoting climate-resilient agriculture, adopting sustainable farming practices, and preserving biodiversity and traditional agricultural knowledge.
Note: Agricultural Productivity in MP increased from 1,195 kilogram (kg)/hectare (2002–03) to 2,393 kg/hectare (2024) – a 200% rise.

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