Current Affairs 24 April 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 24 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

India’s Aviation Revolution: from Regional Runways to Global RoutesThe Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has witnessed transformative growth and innovation in India’s aviation sector.

• This also reflects a robust aviation ecosystem poised to support Government of India (GoI)’s ambitious goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 i.e. Viksit Bharat @2047.

i.Protection of Interest in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025: This legislation was passed from both houses of  the Parliament in April 2025. This bill is in alignment with India’s aircraft leasing and financing framework with global standards set by the Cape Town Convention, 2001.
ii.Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam 2024: This Act was passed by both houses of the Parliament in 2024 and later, came into force on January 01, 2025.This Act represents a major step in modernizing India’s aviation sector by re-enacting and updating the British colonial-era Aircraft Act, 1934.
iii.New Terminals: GoI had laid the foundations of various new terminals at key locations like: Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh, UP), Agra (UP), Darbhanga (Bihar), and Bagdogra(West Bengal, WB).

• Greenfield Airports: Since 2014, out 21 ‘in-principle’ approved airports, 12 Greenfield Airports have been operationalised.

iv.Domestic Air Passenger Traffic more than doubled to 22 crore 81 lakh (in 2024) compared to 10 crore 38 lakh passengers registered in the 65 years preceding 2014.
>> Read Full News

MSDE and Microsoft Signed a MoU to Launch “AI Careers for Women” In April 2025, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Redmond, Washington (the United States of America, USA)-based Microsoft Corporation, Inc. to launch ‘AI Careers for Women’, a key skilling initiative aimed to empower women in higher education institutions (HEIs) to pursue careers in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

• It also aimed to equip women with industry-relevant AI skills, enabling them to participate in the digital economy and become active contributors to India’s innovation-led growth.

Key Points:
i.As part of this strategic partnership, Microsoft will train 20,000 women through 240-hours (hrs) training curriculum under AI skilling and Innovation framework for women, which are in alignment with New Delhi (Delhi)-based National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET).
ii.Under this new programme, 30 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) will be established at women colleges in 6 Indian states. These CoEs will act as hub and will further support 150 spoke institutions situated in Tier-II and Tier-II towns.
iii.Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based non-profit organization Edunet Foundation, one of the program partners will implement this new program. It will work closely with the participating academic institutions, government bodies, corporate organizations and industry players to bring ecosystem change and enable industry-relevant skills and economic opportunities for Women in AI.
iv. This collaboration between MSDE and Microsoft exemplifies a strategic partnership to shape an inclusive and future-ready workforce. By integrating the program into credit-linked university curricula and aligning it with the National Education Policy (NEP), the initiative aims to reimagine 21st-century learning, making it flexible, interdisciplinary, and industry-relevant. ​
v.The program will offer AI certification, internships, apprenticeships, fellowships, career guidance, with primary focus on innovation and practical application.
vi.The program is expected to generate opportunities for women in rural areas of the country to innovate on AI and enhance their economic opportunities.
About Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE):
Union Minister of State (MoS) (IC)- Jayant Chaudhary (Rajya Sabha member- Uttar Pradesh, UP)

Union Minister Piyush Goyal Launched “The Bharat Project” to Create 1 Million Entrepreneurs
In April 2025, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I) launched the ‘Bharat Project’, a national initiative by ​India’s leading digital media platform YourStory, during an event held at Radisson Goregaon, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• This initiative aimed to empower 1 Million entrepreneurs from Tier-II and Tier-III, and rural India.

The project is based on 5 key pillars, will guide entrepreneurs through
i.Co-Pilot for Entrepreneurs, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered mobile-1st platform that offers startup guidance, learning resources, mentorship access, and success stories in both Hindi and English languages,
ii.Education & Upskilling will accelerate state-level and district-level activations and WhatsApp-based learning will help the young people to learn how to start and grow their businesses.
iii.Under this project, Bharat Ideathon, a nationwide challenge that will help in finding great business ideas from over 1,000 districts and provide mentorship to top founders.
iv.BharatSparks, a launchpad where selected entrepreneurs from small towns will get opportunity to pitch to investors, win grants, and build long-term support.
v.Shuru-Kar, a 7 part web documentary series that will demonstrate real startup stories from different regions of the country, featuring innovators, investors, and policymakers.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

China Introduces Gold ATMs in Shanghai for Instant Gold-to-Cash Conversion
In April 2025, China introduced its first gold ATM (Automated Teller Machine), developed by Guangdong (China) based Shenzhen Kinghood Holdings Group Company Limited, offering a swift and paperless method for individuals to convert gold items into cash.

• This innovative machine evaluates, melts, and weighs gold items, determining their purity, and transfers the equivalent amount directly to the seller’s bank account within 30 minutes, without requiring any paperwork or identification.​

Key Features:
i.Eligibility: Accepts gold items weighing over 3 grams with a minimum purity of 50%.​
ii.Processing: Melts gold at temperatures exceeding 1,200 degrees Celsius(°C), conducts real-time purity checks, and calculates value based on current market rates.​
iii. Fees: A service fee of 18 yuan (approximately Rs 210) per gram is deducted before the transfer.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI announces amendments to Liquidity Coverage Ratio frameworkOn April 21,2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced amendments to the existing Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) framework.

• These amendments shall be applicable to all Commercial Banks (excluding Payments Banks, Regional Rural Banks and Local Area Banks).
• To give the banks adequate time to transition their systems to the new standards for LCR computation, the revised instructions shall become applicable w.e.f. (with effective from) April 01, 2026.

RBI mandates 2.5% additional run-off factor:
i.The following amendment has been made by the RBI:

• A bank shall assign an additional 2.5 per cent run-off factor for retail deposits which are enabled with internet and mobile banking facilities (IMB).
• Therefore, the stable retail deposits enabled with IMB shall have 7.5 per cent run-off factor and less stable deposits enabled with IMB shall have 12.5 per cent run-off factor (as against 5 and 10 per cent respectively, prescribed currently).

>> Read Full News

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

IMF Lowered India’s GDP Forecast to 6.2% for FY26; 6.3% for FY27In April 2025, Washington DC (the United States of America, USA)-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) released “April 2025 World Economic Outlook (WEO): A Critical Juncture amid Policy Shifts” report. The report has revised down India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26) by 30 basis points (bps) to 6.2%, from its previous estimate of 6.5%.

• It has further reduced India’s growth projection for FY27 from 6.5% to 6.3%.
• The report cited that growth for FY26 is supported by private consumption, particularly in rural areas of the country which is slightly lower compared to growth rate for FY27 which is due to higher levels of trade tensions and global uncertainty.

India-Specific:
i.The report highlighted about persistent risks due to trade disruptions and geopolitical tensions, but enhanced employment, credit access, and easing inflation are expected to boost private consumption.
ii.As per the report, consumer price inflation in India is expected to decrease to 4.2% in FY26, down from 4.7% in FY25. It is further projected to decrease to 4.1% in FY27.
iii.The report has further projected India’s Current Account Deficit (CAD) at 0.9% of GDP in FY26 and 1.4% in FY27. While, Unemployment rate is expected to remain static at 4.9%.
Global Scenario:
i.The report has projected world’s GDP to grow by 2.8% in Calendar Year 2025 (CY25) and 3% (CY26), down from 3.3% predicted for both years in its January 2025 update.

• This marks a combined downgrade of 80 bps, pushing growth well below the 2009-19 average of 3.7%.

ii.Global inflation is projected to decrease more gradually to 4.3% (CY25) and 3.6% (CY26), compared to previous forecast, with upward revisions for advanced economies and slight downward adjustments for emerging markets.
iii.The report has also decreased the growth projection for emerging and developing economies to 3.7% (CY25) and 3.9% (CY26).
About International Monetary Fund(IMF):
Managing Director (MD)– Kristalina Georgieva
Headquarters- Washington DC, the United States of America (USA)
Established–1944
Member nations-191(Liechtenstein became the 191st member on October 21, 2024)

Telangana Signs Rs. 10,500 Crore Deal with Japanese Firms to Build AI Data Center in Hyderabad
In April 2025, the Government of Telangana has signed a tripartite agreement with Japanese Information Technology (IT) firms, NTT(Nippon Telegraph and Telephone) DATA Group Corporation, a global leader in digital transformation and IT services, and Neysa Networks, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-1st cloud platform company, to set up AI Data Center Cluster in Hyderabad, Telangana with an investment worth Rs 10,500 crore.

• The agreement was signed in the presence of Anumula Revanth Reddy, Chief Minister (CM) of Telangana during a high-level investment meeting held in Tokyo, Japan.

i.The proposed facility will feature a 400 MegaWatt (MW) data centre cluster, designed to host India’s most powerful AI super computing infrastructure with 25,000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs).
ii.As per the MoU, it will combine  global leadership in data centers of NTT DATA with AI acceleration platform of Neysa to jointly develop advanced AI-1st solutions.
iii.Additionally, it will run on a mix of grid and renewable energy (RE) i.e. maximum 500 MW along with advanced technologies, including liquid immersion to comply with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Goldman Environmental Prize 2025: ​7 Grassroots Environmental Activists HonoredOn April 21, 2025, California, the United States of America (USA) based Goldman Environmental Foundation announced the recipients of the 36th Goldman Environmental Prize (2025), also known as the ‘Green Nobel Prize’, honouring seven grassroots environmental activists for their outstanding contributions to environmental protection across the six inhabited continental regions.

• The award ceremony was held in San Francisco, California (USA), celebrating the global impact of grassroots leadership in environmental activism.

i.The 2025 award was presented to the 7 recipients from six geographical regions for their grassroot level environmental activities in the inhabited regions.
ii.Batmunkh Luvsandash, a former electrical engineer from Mongolia, has been awarded the 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize for Asia.
About Goldman Environmental Foundation: 
President – Susan R.Gelman
Headquarters – California, the United States of America (USA)
Established – 1989
>> Read Full News

RGIA Achieved Prestigious ACA Level-5 Carbon Accreditation
In April 2025, Hyderabad (Telangana)-based Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Limited (RGIA), operated by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. (GHIAL), announced that it has received the Level-5 Accreditation under the globally recognised Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme by Airports Council International (ACI).

• With this recognition, RGIA is now among the top 4 airports in the ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East region to achieve Level-5, the highest level of carbon management certification under the ACA framework.

i.The ACA programme is the industry standard for the evaluation of an airport’s efforts to manage and reduce carbon emissions.
ii.The ACA programme consists 7 levels: Level-1 (Mapping), Level-2 (Reduction), Level-3 (Optimization), Level 3+(Neutrality), Level-4 (transformation), Level-4+ (transition), and Level-5, which makes it the highest.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Captain (Retd.) Jagmohan Appointed as CMD of MDL
In April 2025, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Captain (Retd.) Jagmohan as the new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), premier Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) under the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

• He assumed charge as CMD of MDL with effect from 21 April 2025 for a tenure up to his superannuation on 30 September 2029, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
• He succeeds Biju George, who was holding the additional charge as CMD of MDL since March 2025, following the superannuation of Sanjeev Singhal in February 2025.

i.Captain Jagmohan, currently serving as the Director (Corporate Planning, Projects and Business Development) at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), brings 25+ years of experience in the Indian Navy(IN) and shipbuilding.
ii. Previously, as Head of Design at Kolkata(West Bengal,WB based Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited(GRSE), he led critical projects like the Advanced Stealth Frigate, P28 Anti-Submarine Warfare(ASW) Corvette, and Fast Patrol Vessels(FPV) for the IN and Indian Coast Guard(ICG).

Sandeep Singh Appointed CEO of TrillionLoans Fintech
In April 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based TrillionLoans Fintech Private Limited (TFPL), a digital-first Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has appointed Sandeep Singh as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately.

• He succeeds Sabyasachi Senapati, who will transition to a new role within BharatPe Group, the majority stakeholder in TFPL.
• He will now lead growth initiatives and platform operations at BharatPe while continuing as a Whole-time Director on the TFPL board to ensure a smooth leadership transition

i.​Prior to this, Sandeep Singh served as the Head of Digital Loans at Aditya Birla Finance Limited(ABFL), where he played a pivotal role in advancing the company’s digital lending initiatives.
ii.He brings over 16 years of cross-industry experience in digital lending, insurance, and enterprise software, with expertise in product development, customer service, and distribution.
iii.TFPL offers a wide range of financial products including merchant loans, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSME) finance, revenue-based lending, consumer credit, and vehicle loans.
Note: BharatPe, backed by Tiger Global, acquired a 51% stake in TFPL in May 2023 and later increased its shareholding to nearly 60%.

Klaus Schwab Steps Down as WEF Chairman; Peter Brabeck Appointed interim Chairman
In April 2025, Klaus Schwab, founder of the Geneva (Switzerland) based World Economic Forum (WEF), announced his resignation as Chairman and member of the Board of Trustees with immediate effect.

• Following Klaus Schwab’s resignation, the WEF’s Board of Trustees convened an extraordinary meeting, during which Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nestlé S.A., was unanimously appointed as interim Chairman.
• Brabeck-Letmathe, an Austrian businessman, has been associated with the WEF as Vice Chairman of the Foundation Board.

i.Klaus Schwab, a German engineer and economist, founded the WEF in 1971, with the aim of fostering dialogue between political, business, and academic leaders to address global challenges.
ii.Under his leadership, the WEF became renowned for its annual meetings in Davos, Switzerland, which convene global leaders from various sectors to discuss pressing international issues.
iii.He founded Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGL) and co-founded the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.
iv.He has received several accolades in recognition of his leadership and contributions to humanitarian efforts, including the Guggenheim Humanitarian Award, the Dan David Prize, and the Global Economy Prize.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India Celebrates 50 Years of Aryabhata – The First Indian SatelliteIn April 2025, India commemorated the Golden Jubilee of its first satellite, Aryabhata, marking 50 years since its launch on 19th April 1975. This milestone celebrates India’s entry into space exploration and the advancements achieved by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) over the past five decades.

• The satellite was launched aboard a Kosmos-3M rocket from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan Oblast, Russia, with assistance from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

Key Details of Aryabhata Satellite:

• Developed by: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai the founder of India’s space program, and Prof. U.R. Rao, the then Project Director.
• Weight: 360 kilograms(kg)
• Design: 26-sided polyhedron with a diameter of 1.4 meters(m)
• Power Source: 24 solar-panel-covered faces, generating 46 watts(W) of electricity
• Purpose: Conduct experiments in Solar Physics, Aeronomy, and X-ray Astronomy

Significance of the Mission
i.Aryabhata made India the 11th country to launch a satellite into orbit.
ii.Despite a power failure after five days, it transmitted crucial data, aiding future satellite development.
iii.The satellite re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and burned up on 11th February 1992, after nearly 17 years in orbit.
Naming of Aryabhata:
The name “Aryabhata” was chosen after the ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer by then Prime Minister(PM) Indira Gandhi from a list of three options:​Aryabhata, Mitra and Jawahar.
Legacy and Impact:
i.Aryabhata laid the foundation for India’s advancements in satellite technology.
ii.Since 1975, ISRO has built 131 satellites, with 55 currently operational in orbit.
iii.The mission inspired future programs like Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan, cementing India’s position in global space exploration.
About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
Chairman –  Dr. V. Narayanan
Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established –  1969

ISRO Develops Indigenous Stellite Nozzle Divergent for PSLV, Cuts 90% Import Cost
In April 2025, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully developed and tested an indigenously-made nozzle divergent using Stellite alloy for the fourth stage (PS4) of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

• This development is aligned with the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative. It replaces the imported Columbium (C103) material used in the PS4 engine with Stellite (KC20WN), a cobalt-based alloy containing Chromium(Cr), Nickel(Ni), Tungsten(W), and Iron(Fe).

i.Tests on the Stellite-fabricated nozzle divergent have confirmed its ability to maintain structural integrity at elevated temperatures up to 1150 degree Celsius(°C).
ii.The final hot test of the nozzle divergent was successfully conducted for 665 seconds on 08 April 2025 at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) located in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu(TN). This followed three earlier qualification tests.
iii.Benefits:

• Cost Reduction: Saves 90% of expenses previously spent on imported Columbium.
• Self-Reliance: Strengthens India’s capability in space hardware manufacturing.
• Strategic Independence: Reduces dependency on foreign suppliers.

SPORTS

ISSF World Cup Lima 2025: India Secures Third Place with 7 MedalsThe International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Rifle/Pistol and Shotgun (RPSH) World Cup (WC) 2025 was held in Lima, Peru, from 13th to 22nd April 2022, attracting around 400 shooters from 43 countries.

• India finished third on the medal tally with 7 medals (2 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze), behind China (13 medals) and the United States of America (USA) (7 medals).
• This was the second WC of the 2025 ISSF season, following the first event in Buenos Aires, Argentina (1st–10th April 2025), where India secured 8 medals (4 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze), finishing second behind China.

Key Points:
i.India’s 42-member contingent to the ISSF WC Lima 2025 was the second largest after China (46).
ii.Suruchi Singh won the gold medal in Women’s 10m air pistol by defeating a double Olympic medalist, Manu Bhaker.
iii.In the 10m air pistol mixed team, Suruchi Inder Singh and Saurabh Chaudhary won the gold medal by defeating Hu Kai and Yao Qianxun of China.
Note: Gold medalists from the Lima event have qualified for the season-ending ISSF World Cup Final (WCF) 2025, scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar, from December 4 to 9, 2025.
>> Read Full News

India Ranks 8th at Asian U18 Athletics Championships 2025 Held in Saudi ArabiaThe 6th Asian U18 (Under 18) Athletics Championships 2025 were held from April 15 to 18 at Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz Sports City in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. This biennial event, organized by the Asian Athletics Association (AAA), featured athletes aged 15 to 17 from across Asia.

• India concluded its campaign with a total of 11 medals (1 Gold, 5 Silver, and 5 Bronze), securing the 8th position in the overall medal standings. China topped the medal tally with 36 medals, followed by Uzbekistan with 12 medals.

Key Highlights:
i.At the Asian U18 Athletics Championships 2025, Qatar secured the 4th position in the overall medal tally with a total of 6 medals (2 Gold, 3 Silver, and 1 Bronze), while host nation Saudi Arabia ranked 5th, earning 5 medals (2 Gold, 1 Silver, and 2 Bronze).
ii.Himanshu Jakhar clinched India’s first-ever gold in boys’ javelin throw at Asian U18 Athletics Championships with a 67.57 meters (m) throw, surpassing China’s Lu Hao (63.45m) and Uzbekistan’s Ruslan Sadullaev (61.96m).

• This victory marked India’s maiden gold medal in the history of the Asian U18 Athletics Championships.

>> Read Full News

Sourav Kothari Won IBSF World Billiards champion 2025
In April 2025, Indian cueist Sourav Kothari won the International Billiards and Snooker Federation(IBSF) World Billiards Championship 2025 title, defeating Pankaj Advani, a multiple-time world champion, in the final held at the Snooker and Billiards Ireland (SBI) Academy, Carlow, Ireland.

• Sourav Kothari triumphed with a score of 725 points, surpassing Pankaj Advani’s 480 points.
• His remarkable break of 325 points was the match’s standout performance, demonstrating his superior cue control and focus. He also scored breaks of 119 and 112 points, showcasing exceptional skill and composure.

i.This victory marked Sourav Kothari’s first IBSF World Billiards title (timed format), making him only the third Indian to win both the IBSF and World Billiards League (WBL) World titles.
ii.This achievement was also historically significant as it came 35 years after his father, Manoj Kothari, won the IBSF title in 1990.
iii.Dhruv Sitwala from India and David Causier from England shared the bronze medals, with Sitwala continuing his consistent performances on the international stage.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Himachal Pradesh CM Released the Book ‘Mere Achhe Din’ on Statehood Day
In April 2025, the Chief Minister (CM) of Himachal Pradesh (HP) Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu released a book titled “Mere Achhe Din”, authored by 90-year-old veteran social worker Hari Singh Rana during the state-level Himachal Day celebrations at Pangi, HP.

• Hari Singh Rana, former Pradhan (Head) of Killar Gram Panchayat (1979–1984), wearing the traditional Pangi white cap, submitted a memorandum outlining developmental demands for the region, including infrastructure and tribal welfare initiatives.
• The book chronicles the developmental journey of Himachal Pradesh since its formation in 1971.
• Published by the Himachal Pradesh Department of Information & Public Relations, it highlights key achievements in infrastructure, education, and tourism.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Book and Copyright Day 2025 – April 23World Book and Copyright Day is observed annually across the world on 23 April to promote the enjoyment of books and reading.

• ​The annual observance of World Book and Copyright Day is organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• Rio de Janeiro(Brazil) was designated as the World Book Capital for 2025, following a comprehensive evaluation by the World Book Capital (WBC) Advisory Committee.

Background:
i.World Book and Copyright Day was officially established by UNESCO during its General Conference held in Paris in 1995. The aim was to honour the significant role that books and authors play in shaping individuals and societies.
iii.The first official celebration of World Book and Copyright Day took place on 23 April 1996 in Barcelona, Spain.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization​(UNESCO):
Director-General(DG) – Audrey Azoulay ​
Headquarters- Paris, France ​
Established- 1945 ​
>> Read Full News

UN English Language Day 2025 – April 23The United Nations (UN’s) English Language Day is annually observed on April 23 worldwide to celebrate the English language and its role as a bridge for international communication.

• This observance underscores the UN’s commitment to promoting multilingualism and cultural diversity across its global operations. ​

Background:
i.Established in 2010 by the UN Department of Public Information (DPI), which designated separate days for each of the UN’s six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish, to promote equitable use and appreciation of linguistic diversity.

• The first UN English language day was observed on April 23, 2010.

ii.April 23 was chosen for English Language Day to align with the birth and death anniversary of William Shakespeare (1564–1616), the legendary English playwright and poet.
>> Read Full News

UN Spanish Language Day 2025 – April 23 The United Nations (UN’s) Spanish Language Day is observed annually across the globe on 23rd April to raise awareness among the UN staff about the history, culture and use of Spanish as an official language.

• The day aims to promote multilingualism and cultural diversity within the UN and among its member states. ​
• Spanish Language Day on April 23rd commemorates the death anniversary of Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, famous for writing Don Quixote, regarded as the first modern novel and a landmark in world literature.

Background: 
i.In 2010, the UN Department of Global Communications established Spanish Language Day as part of its initiative to celebrate the six official UN languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
ii.UN Spanish Language Day was initially celebrated on October 12 to align with Spain’s National Day, which marks Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas—a key moment that signalled the beginning of the Spanish language and culture’s global spread.
iii.The observance was later moved to April 23 to honour Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, who is believed to have passed away on this date in 1616.
Spanish as UN’s official language: 
i.On February 1, 1946, the UN General Assembly’s resolution 2 (I) recognized Spanish as one of the official languages of the United Nations, alongside Chinese, French, English, and Russian, while English and French were designated as working languages.
ii.Later, in 1948, Spanish was also made a working language, and by 1969, it was included as a working language for the UN Security Council(UNSC).
Key Facts About Spanish:
i.Global Reach: As of 2025, Spanish is the fourth-most spoken native language globally, with over 560 million speakers, following English, Mandarin Chinese, and Hindi.
ii.Geographic Spread: It is the official language of 21 countries, including Mexico (the largest Spanish-speaking nation).

Administrative Professionals Day 2025 – April 23Administrative Professionals Day, also known as Secretaries Day, Admin Day, or Administrative Assistant Day, is observed annually across the globe on the Wednesday of the last full week in April to honor secretaries, assistants, receptionists, and administrative staff in various organizations.

• The day is led by the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the administrative profession.

i.In 2025, Administrative Professionals Day was observed on 23rd April 2025.

• In 2026, Administrative Professionals Day will be observed on 22nd April 2026.

ii.Administrative Professionals Day coincides with Administrative Professionals Week (APW), a week-long celebration dedicated to secretaries and administrative professionals in recognition of their contributions to business and industries. APW is celebrated annually every last full week in April.

• APW 2025 is being observed from April 20 to 26, 2025.

About International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP):
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Melissa Mahoney
Headquarters – Missouri, the United States of America (USA)
Founded – 1942
>> Read Full News

MoHFW Observes Pan-India ‘Fire Safety Week’ from April 21-25, 2025The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) Observes Pan-India ‘Fire Safety Week’ from 21st to 25th April 2025 to raise awareness and preparedness for fire and electrical safety across all healthcare facilities in collaboration with States, Union Territories (UTs), and Central Ministries and Departments.

• Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, MoHFW led a nationwide pledge ceremony under the theme ‘Fire Safety in Health Facilities’ on 22nd April 2025 at Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
• Over 3,000 participants from public and private healthcare institutions joined the virtual pledge ceremony and webinar sessions.

Initiatives:
i.Fire Safety Audits: All healthcare facilities (public and private) were directed to conduct fire and electrical safety audits using checklists provided by MoHFW.
ii.Capacity Building: Emphasis on training healthcare staff, conducting mock drills for fire preparedness, and improving evacuation protocols.
iii.Awareness Campaigns: Activities like poster-making, quizzes, and demonstrations on fire equipment usage were organized, particularly in medical colleges and tertiary hospitals.
iv.The MoHFW partnered with the MyGov platform under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to launch an online fire safety pledge and quiz.

STATE NEWS

Karnataka to Become First State to Complete Village-Level Survey of Antiquities
In April 2025, Karnataka is set to become the first state in India to complete a village-level survey documenting its antiquities. The initiative aims to create a comprehensive inventory of historical monuments, inscriptions, and sculptures, ensuring better conservation.

• The Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage (DAMH), Government of Karnataka, initiated a comprehensive survey to document antiquities across the state’s villages.

i.This initiative encompasses the recording of inscriptions, sculptures, and monuments, with each item being geo-tagged to ensure precise location mapping.
ii.As of April 2025, documentation has been completed in 119 taluks, with plans to cover the remaining areas by the end of the Financial Year 2025–26(FY26).
iii.Karnataka currently safeguards over 800 state-protected monuments, in addition to more than 600 monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
iv.The DAMH has proposed adding 110 more monuments to the protected list and is taking steps to include an additional 1,000 monuments to ensure their conservation.

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