Current Affairs 26 April 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 26 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 Record Cargo Movement on Inland WaterwaysIn April 2025, Noida, Uttar Pradesh based The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) reported a record-breaking cargo movement of 145.5 million metric tonnes in the Financial Year (FY) 2024–25, up from 18.1 MMT (Million Metric Tonnes) in FY 2013–14, registering a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20.86 per cent.
Exponential Growth in Cargo Traffic in last ten years:
i.Out of the total cargo moved on National Waterways (NWs) during the FY 2025, five commodities that is (i.e.) coal, iron ore, iron ore fines, sand and fly ash constituted over 68 percent of them.

• Passenger movement has also reached 1.61 crore in 2023–24.

Expansion of National Waterways:
i.The IWAI, under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPS&W), has expanded the number of NWs from 5 to 111 under the National Waterways Act, 2016.
>> Read Full News

Odisha’s Similipal Officially Declared as India’s 107th National Park In April 2025, Mohan Charan Manjhi, Chief Minister (CM) of Odisha officially declared Similipal Tiger Reserve (TR) located in Mayurbhanj district as a National Park (NP). Now, Similipal TR has become India’s 107th National Park (NP) and Odisha’s 2nd protected area to be declared NP after Bhitarkanika (declared as NP in 1998).

• This newly declared NP is now the largest NP in Odisha, which spreads at an area of 845.70 square kilometer (sq. km).
• The Forest, Environment and Climate Change (FE&CC) department of Odisha issued a notification in exercise of powers given under Section 35 (4) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

About Similipal NP:
i.It is divided into two divisions: Similipal south wildlife division comprises 7 ranges including Pithabata North, Nawana South, Jenabil, among others.

• Similipal north wildlife division comprises 4 ranges including Barrehipani, Chahala, Nawan North, and Talabandh wildlife ranges.

Note: The word Similipal derives its name from ‘Simul’ (Silk Cotton) tree.
ii.Similipal hosts more than 360 species of birds, 55 species of mammals including leopards, sambar, 62 species of reptiles and 21 species of amphibians.

• It is also home to 40 wild tigers, including the world’s only home to wild melanistic tigers and is natural habitat for 25% of Odisha’s elephant population.

iii.It is spread over 2,750 sq. km including around 2,306 sq. km that  forms Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS).
iv.In 2007, the Odisha government had notified 1,194.75 sq. km of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) as the core critical tiger habitat.

• It has been part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) since 2009.

About Odisha:
Chief Minister (CM)- Mohan Charan Manjhi
Governor- Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati
Capital- Bhubaneswar
Wildlife Sanctuaries (WLS)- Debrigarh WLS, Hadagarh WLS, Kotagarh WLS

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

THE Asia University Rankings 2025: IISc topped among Indian Institutes; China’s Tsinghua University Topped the Overall ListIn April 2025, London, the United Kingdom(UK) based Times Higher Education (THE) released its 13th Asia University Rankings. Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, Karnataka topped among all the Indian Institutes featured on the list. IISc has secured 38th rank on the list with an overall score of 65.2, down from 32nd list (in 2024).

• Overall, China topped the list, retaining 1st (Tsinghua University, score 92.5) and 2nd (Peking University, score 92) spots.It is followed by National University of Singapore (NUS) (Singapore) and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) ranked at 3rd and 4th position respectively.

i.This latest edition ranked 853 universities from 35 countries/territories (up from 739 in 2024), evaluating their research, teaching, knowledge transfer and international outlook.
ii.Among India’s top 10 universities,  only two Indian Institute of Technologies (IITs): IIT-Indore in Indore, Madhya Pradesh (MP) (ranked 131st) and IIT-Guwahati in Guwahati, Assam (ranked at 184th) featured on the list.
iii.The Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences ranked at 146th spot (up from 150th in 2024) with overall score of 48.1, emerged as the highest-ranked private university in India for 2nd consecutive year.
>> Read Full News

UNDP Joined Global Network to Help Countries Cope with Climate ChangeIn April 2025, New York (the United States of America, USA)-based United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) joined the Santiago Network, an international initiative developed specifically to supporting vulnerable countries and communities in tackling the irreversible impacts of loss and damage caused by the climate change.

• This marks a significant step in scaling up technical assistance and policy support for vulnerable countries who are most affected by the climate-induced loss and damage.

i.The Santiago Network was established in 2019, which aimed to bring together organizations, networks, and experts to provide the implementation of solutions that avert, minimize and address loss & damage due to climate change.
ii.It secretariat is co-hosted by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Geneva, Switzerland.
About United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):
Administrator- Achim Steiner
Headquarters- New York, the United States of America (USA)
Established- 1965
>> Read Full News

BANKING & FINANCE

EMF Launches India’s First BSE Internet Economy Index FundOn April 24, 2025, Edelweiss Mutual Fund (EMF) also known as Edelweiss Asset Management Limited (EAML), is a subsidiary of Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Edelweiss Financial Services Limited (EFSL), has announced the launch of ‘Edelweiss BSE Internet Economy Index Fund’, India’s first index fund offering exposure to the BSE Internet Economy Index.

• The scheme’s investment objective is to provide returns before expenses that closely correspond to the total returns of the BSE Internet Economy Total Return Index, subject to tracking errors.
• Edelweiss uses a transparent, rules-based methodology and excludes traditional Information technology (IT) and software companies. The fund aims to track the performance of businesses that represent India’s fast-growing internet ecosystem.

About Edelweiss BSE Internet Economy Index Fund:
i.It is an open-ended index fund replicating the Total Return Index.The New Fund Offering (NFO) will open for subscription on April 25, 2025 and close on May 9, 2025.
ii.The BSE Internet Economy Index comprises the top 20 companies selected from the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) 500 based on their six-month average market capitalization.

• The index covers 11 sub-industries, including e-retail, internet and catalogue retail, e-learning, digital entertainment, financial technologies and other digitally driven sectors.

iii.Investors can invest a minimum of Rs.100 and in multiples of Rs.1 thereafter.
iv.As per the Scheme Information Document (SID), if the units are redeemed or switched out on or before 30 days from the date of allotment, an exit load of 0.10% will be charged.

• However, no exit load will be charged, if units are redeemed after 30 days from the date of allotment.

v.Bhavesh Jain and Bharat Lohoti, Co-Heads of Factors Investing at EMF serve as the fund managers for this fund.
About New Fund Offering (NFO):
NFO is the initial sale of fund shares in a MF scheme by the Asset Management Company(AMC) to the investors to raise capital for the fund and attract the investors.
About Edelweiss Mutual Fund(EMF):
Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Radhika Gupta
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra

RBI Cancelled Licence of Ajantha Urban Co-operative Bank Due to Capital & Compliance Issues
In April 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the banking licence of Aurangabad (Maharashtra)-based Ajantha Urban Co-operative Bank Maryadit under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, citing inadequate capital, poor earning prospects, and non-compliance with regulatory norms.
Key Reasons for Licence Cancellation:
i.The bank failed to comply with the provisions of Sections 11(1), 22(3)(a) to 22(3)(e), and Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
ii.It lacked sufficient capital and had no viable earnings potential.
iii.The bank’s continuance was deemed prejudicial to public interest, particularly depositors’ interests, as it could not repay its current deposit liabilities.
Impact on Depositors:
i.Upon liquidation, each depositor is entitled to receive up to Rs 5 lakh from the Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) as per the DICGC Act, 1961.
ii.91.55% of the depositors are eligible to receive the full amount of their deposits under the insurance scheme.
iii.As of April 3, 2025, DICGC had already disbursed ₹275.22 crore to eligible depositors
Note: 
As of 31st March 2025, 23 Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) remained under All-Inclusive Directions (AID), with Maharashtra having the highest UCBs under AID (9), followed by Karnataka (5) and Uttar Pradesh (4).

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Indian Filmmaker Payal Kapadia Conferred with France’s “Officier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” for Contribution to CinemaOn 24th April 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia was honoured with the “Officier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” (Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters), France’s highest civilian honours in the field of arts and literature, for her outstanding contribution to global cinema and for promoting Indo-French cultural collaboration.

• The award was presented by Jean-Marc Sere-Charlet, Consul General of France in Mumbai, at a ceremony held at the Residence of France in Mumbai.

Achievements of Payal Kapadia
i.Kapadia is a graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and is known for her bold, experimental storytelling style.
ii.Kapadia’s fiction feature debut, All We Imagine as Light (2024), an Indo-French co-production between France-based petit chaos and Mumbai-based Chalk and Cheese Films, won the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival (CFF).

• This marked the first Indian film in 30 years to win a major award in CFF’s main competition. The film was also shortlisted as France’s official entry to the Academy Awards (Oscars) in the Best International Feature Film category.

iii.In 2017, short film Afternoon Clouds became the only Indian entry at the 70th CFF.
iv.Experimental short ‘And What Was the Summer Saying’ secured the Special Jury Prize at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) in 2018 and the Pramod Pati Award at the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) in 2020.
v.In 2021, won the Oeil d’Or (Golden Eye) Award at the 74th CFF for her documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing.
vi.In 2025, earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Director and ranked 5th in Cahiers du Cinema’s annual list.

ACI GAR 2025: Hubballi Airport Achieves Platinum Status Among 3 Indian HonoreesIn April 2025, Hong Kong (China) based Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID) announced the winners of the ninth Green Airports Recognition (GAR) 2025 during its Regional Assembly in New Delhi (Delhi).

• Three Indian airports operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) recognized under GAR 2025 are Hubballi Airport (HBX) (Hubballi, Karnataka) received the Platinum award in the category of airports handling less than 6 million passengers annually, Kempegowda International Airport or Bengaluru International Airport Limited (KIA/BLR) (Bengaluru, Karnataka), and Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) (Kochi, Kerala), which were also awarded.
• In ACI Safety category Kempegowda International Airport received Gold Award

About Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID):
Director General (DG) – Stefano Baronci
President – SGK Kishore (India)
Headquarters – Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), China
Founded – 2006
>> Read Full News

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Sunil Bharti Mittal Joins WBG’s Private Sector Investment Lab to Boost Developing EconomiesOn April 23, 2025, Washington, D.C., the United States of America (USA) based World Bank Group (WBG) announced the next phase of its Private Sector Investment Lab (PSIL), focusing on scaling solutions to attract private investments and generate jobs in developing nations.

• Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of New Delhi (Delhi)-based Bharti Enterprises Limited (BEL), has joined the PSIL alongside global industry leaders, including Bill Anderson, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Germany-based Bayer AG; Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Nigeria-based Dangote Group; and Mark Hoplamazian, President and CEO of USA-based Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

i.Launched in June 2023, the PSIL is a collaborative initiative between the WBG and global private sector leaders.
ii.It is chaired by Shriti Vadera, Chair of Prudential plc based in London, the United Kingdom(UK).
About World Bank Group (WBG):
President –  Ajay Banga
Headquarters – Washington, D.C., the United States of America(USA)
Established– 1944
>> Read Full News

Bhuvnesh Kumar Appointed CEO of UIDAI; K.K. Pathak Named Additional Secretary in Cabinet SecretariatIn April 2025, Appointments Committee of the cabinet (ACC) chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has made major senior-level key bureaucratic changes across ministries and departments particularly in the Cabinet Secretariat (CS) and Unique Identification Authority of India(UIDAI) with an aim to reinforce administrative efficiency and align governance priorities with emerging challenges and opportunities.
i. Senior Bureaucrat Bhuvnesh Kumar, a 1995 batch Indian Administrative Officer(IAS) officer of Uttar Pradesh (UP) cadre has been named as the full time Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UIDAI. He was earlier appointed as the part-time CEO of UIDAI in January 2025.

• He earlier served as Additional Secretary(AS) in the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) which will be replaced by Amitesh Kumar Sinha, a 1997 Indian Railways Account Service(IRAS) Officer .

ii.Senior IAS officer Abhishek Singh, of 1995 batch from Nagaland cadre, appointed as the Director General, National Informatics Centre will also hold additional charge as Additional Secretary of MeitY
iii. Keshav Kumar Pathak, senior IAS officer from Bihar cadre has been appointed as the AS in the CS.

>> Read Full News

Govt Appoints IAS Officer Jitendra Srivastava as CMD of REC Ltd
In April 2025, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the appointment of Indian Administrative Officer (IAS) Jitendra Srivastava as the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of New Delhi(Delhi) based REC Limited, formerly known as Rural Electrification Corporation Limited, under the Ministry of Power(MoP). He assumed charge of the post on April 22, 2025.

• He succeeds Vivek Kumar Dewangan, IAS (Manipur cadre, 1993 batch), whose tenure concluded in March 2025. Following Dewangan’s departure, Parminder Chopra, CMD of Power Finance Corporation (PFC), held the additional charge of CMD at REC Ltd..

i.Jitendra Srivastava is a 2000 batch IAS officer from the Bihar cadre. His career spans significant roles across key sectors, including finance, power, education, public health, and infrastructure.
ii.Prior joining, he was serving as Joint Secretary in the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation(DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti(MoJS) since January 2023.
iii.He has earlier served as Secretary in the Home Department and the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) in the Government of Bihar.
About REC Limited:
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) – Jitendra Srivastava
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1969

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

NABARD Acquires 10% Stake in 24×7 Moneyworks Consulting
In April 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) acquired a 10% equity stake in Chennai (Tamil Nadu,TN) based  agri-fintech startup 24×7 Moneyworks Consulting Private Limited

• This marks NABARD’s first-ever investment in a bootstrapped startup, aiming to enhance digital transformation in rural credit delivery

i.24×7 Moneyworks is renowned for its flagship platform, eKisanCredit (eKCC), a fully digital loan origination system tailored for Cooperative Banks, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs).
ii.The eKCC platform integrates:Land records, Aadhaar and eKYC (Electronic Know Your Customer), Core banking systems and ePACS (Digital PACS)

• This enables end-to-end automation of loan disbursals, reducing processing time and enhancing transparency.

Note: As of March 2025, India has 7.71 crore operational KCC holders, including 1.24 lakh for fisheries and 44.4 lakh for animal husbandry.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

INS Surat Successfully Tests MR–SAM in Arabian SeaOn April 24, 2025, the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Surat, a P15B Guided Missile Destroyer, successfully test-fired the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM) system also known as Barak 8, in the Arabian Sea.

• The test highlights India’s readiness to address emerging maritime security challenges.

About Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM) system:
i.MR-SAM is jointly developed by the New Delhi (Delhi) based Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel.
ii.It can hit targets up to 70 kilometres (km) away and is designed to counter sea-skimming threats.
iii.It is an extension of the Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) system. It can be launched from both ship-based vertical launch systems (VLS) and land-based mobile launchers.
iv. has a length of 4.5 meters and weighs approximately 275 kilograms(kg), including a 60 kg pre-fragmented warhead designed for proximity detonation. Its diameter is 22.5 centimetre(cm) at the missile body, expanding to 54 cm at the booster stage.
v.The first test of the MR-SAM took place in 2016, and it has since undergone several successful trials, demonstrating its effectiveness against high-speed aerial targets.
About INS Surat:
i.INS Surat is the fourth and final ship of the Project 15B Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided missile destroyers of the Indian Navy (IN). It ranks among the world’s largest and most advanced destroyers.
ii.It is equipped with advanced weapon-sensor systems and network-centric warfare capabilities, with 75% indigenous manufacturing, in line with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative.
iii.It is 164 metres (m) long with an approximate displacement of 7,400 tons, and can achieve a speed of over 30 knots (approximately 56 kilometres per hour (km/h)).
About Indian Navy(IN):
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) – Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established -1950

China Launches Shenzhou-20 Crewed Mission to Tiangong Space StationOn April 24, 2025, China successfully launched the Shenzhou-20 crewed mission to Heavenly Palace or Tiangong Space Station aboard the Long March-2F carrier rocket. Launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Base in northwest China, the mission carried three astronauts who will spend six months aboard the station.

• This marks China’s ninth crewed mission to Tiangong and supports its ambition to establish a permanent lunar base by 2030.

Mission Objective:
i.The crew will conduct experiments in physics, life sciences, and regenerative biology using planarians (aquatic flatworms).
ii.Install space debris protection systems on Tiangong.
iii.Perform spacewalks, equipment maintenance, and supply replenishment.
iv.The crew will replace the Shenzhou-19 team, who are scheduled to return to Earth on April 29, 2025.
Crew Members:
i.Commander Chen Dong (46): A veteran astronaut and former fighter pilot, Chen holds the record for the longest cumulative stay (200+ days) in space by a Chinese national. This is his third spaceflight.
ii.Chen Zhongrui (40): Former Air Force pilot embarking on his first space mission.
iii.Wang Jie (35): Former space technology engineer and first-time astronaut.
About Tiangong Space Station:
i.Tiangong space station, constructed and operated by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), is a permanently crewed orbital facility that became fully operational in October 2022.
ii.It has T-shaped design comprising 3 core modules – Tianhe (Harmony of Heavens), Wentian (Quest for Heavens), and Mengtian (Dreaming of Heavens).
iii.It has a total mass of around 100 metric tons and orbits the Earth at an altitude of approximately 340 to 450 kilometres (km) in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
About China:
President – Xi Jinping
Capital – Beijing
Currency – Renminbi (Chinese Yuan (CNY))

ENVIRONMENT

ICAR-NBFGR’s PAGR Centre Unveiled Two New Freshwater Fish Species in Western GhatsIn April 2025, the Centre for Peninsular Aquatic Genetic Resources (PAGR), Kochi (Kerala), a regional unit of the Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)-based ICAR–National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBFGR), identified two new freshwater fish species : ‘Labeo uru’ and ‘Labeo chekida’ from the rivers of the Western Ghats.

• Published in the Indian Journal of Fisheries, the findings stress the need for conservation efforts against threats like dams and habitat destruction.

Key Points:
i.The team led by V.S. Basheer, resolved a 150-year-old taxonomic confusion surrounding Labeo nigrescens (Rohu), first described in 1870, through detailed morphological analysis of historical specimens and fresh samples from rivers in Kerala and Karnataka.
ii.Labeo uru was discovered in the Chandragiri River (Karnataka). The species was named after a traditional wooden dhow (‘uru’), due to its sail-like elongated dorsal fin.
iii.Labeo chekida, a small, dark-bodied fish, was identified in the Chalakudy River (Kerala) and is locally known as “kaka chekida”.
iv.Both species are endemic to their respective river systems, highlighting the unique aquatic biodiversity of the region.
About Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBFGR)
Headquarters – Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh(UP)
Established – 1983

SPORTS

Indian GM Koneru Humpy Clinches FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-25 in PuneThe fifth leg of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Women’s Grand Prix (WGP) 2024–25 was held in Pune, Maharashtra, India, from April 13 to 24, 2025. Indian chess Grandmaster (GM) Koneru Humpy clinched the title on tiebreaks after tying with Chinese GM Zhu Jiner at 7/9 points.

• This win marks her 8th Grand Prix(GP) title, setting a new record and surpassing the previous joint record she held with china’s Hou Yifan.
• Both Humpy and Zhu Jiner concluded the tournament with 7.0 points each, but Humpy secured the top position due to superior tie-break scores .
• In the final round, Humpy defeated Bulgarian International Master (IM) Nurgyul Salimova, while Zhu Jiner secured second place with a win against Russian IM Polina Shuvalova and Indian IM Divya Deshmukh secured third place with 5.5 points.​

Key Highlights:
i.The 5th leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix (WGP) 2024–25 event featured a 10-player round-robin format, with participants from various countries.
ii.Both Koneru Humpy and Zhu Jiner earned 117.5 WGP points for their shared first-place finish.
iii.After five legs of the series, the cumulative Grand Prix standings are

• Aleksandra Goryachkina (Russia): 308.34 points (3 events)
• Koneru Humpy (India): 279.17 points (3 events)
• Zhu Jiner (China): 235 points (2 events)

About the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-25:
i.The FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024–25 is a series of six tournaments organized by FIDE.
ii.Each tournament features ten players, and each participant competes in three of the six events.
iii.The series serves as a qualification pathway for the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, which determines the challenger for the Women’s World Chess Championship.
Note: The final leg of the WGP series is scheduled to take place in Großlobming, Austria, from May 5 to 16, 2025.
About International Chess Federation (FIDE):
President – Arkady Dvorkovich
Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland
Founded – 1924

OBITUARY

Former ISRO Chairman and Padma Awardee K. Kasturirangan Passes Away On 26th April 2025, Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Padma awardee, passed away at the age of 84 in Bengaluru, Karnataka. He was born on 24 October 1940 in Ernakulam, Kerala.
i.​Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan started his professional journey in space science as a researcher at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in 1969.
ii.He led ISRO as its Chairman from 1994 to 2003. He directed the successful development and launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). He also initiated India’s planetary exploration efforts, leading to the Chandrayaan-1 mission
iii.He was honoured with India’s top civilian awards for his contribution in the field of Science and Engineering:

• Padma Shri (1982), India’s fourth-highest civilian award
• Padma Bhushan (1992), India’s third-highest civilian award
• Padma Vibhushan (2000), India’s second-highest civilian award

>> Read Full News

Former Australia batter Keith Stackpole Passed Away
In April 2025, Former Australia vice-captain and opener Keith Raymond Stackpole, has passed away at the age of 84 in Melbourne, Australia. He was born on July 10, 1940 in Victoria, Australia.

• He was named one of Wisden’s ‘Cricketers of the Year’ in 1973.

i.Keith Stackpole made his international debut in 1966 and played 43 test matches and 6 One Day Internationals (ODIs) between 1966 and 1974, scoring a total of 2,807 runs in Tests at an average of 37.42, including seven centuries.
ii.He produced his cricket in the Ashes with an average of 50.6 in 13 tests including his high score of 207 against England at the Gabba in 1970. He led the scoreboard in the 1972 Ashes when he was the vice-captain under Ian Chappell.
iii.He had a long and distinguishing career in media and broadcasting after his retirement in 1974.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Malaria Day 2025 – April 25World Malaria Day (WMD) is observed annually on April 25 across the globe as an initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness, mobilize resources, and promote actions aimed at the prevention, control, and elimination of malaria.

• The theme for WMD 2025 is “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite”, aiming to re-energize efforts at all levels, from global policy to community action, to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination.

Background:
i.WMD was established by WHO member states during the World Health Assembly (WHA) of 2007.
ii.The first World Malaria Day was observed on 25 April 2008.
iii.The concept of WMD stems from Africa Malaria Day, initiated in 2001 by African countries following the Abuja Declaration, signed by 44 malaria-endemic countries at the African Summit on Malaria.
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Director General (DG) – Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Founded – 1948
>> Read Full News

International Delegate’s Day 2025 – April 25 The United Nations (UN)’s International Delegate’s Day is annually observed across the world on 25th April, to raise awareness of the role of the representatives and delegates of the Member States to the UN.

• 25 April 2025 marks the observance of the 6th International Delegate’s Day.

Background:
i.In April 2019, the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/73/286, proclaiming 25 April as International Delegate’s Day.
ii. The inaugural International Delegate’s Day was observed on 25 April
iii.The date commemorates the opening of the San Francisco Conference also known as the UN Conference on International Organization on April 25, 1945,
About the United Nations(UN):
Secretary-General – António Guterres
Headquarters – New York, the United States of America(USA)
Established – 1945
>> Read Full News

World Penguin Day 2025– April 25World Penguin Day is observed annually across the globe on 25th April every year to raise awareness about the environmental struggles and conservation for their survival.
Background:
i.The day is celebrated since April 25 1972 when the researchers noticed their migration to the north.
ii.According to the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC), the date April 25 is closely associated with the annual movement of Adelie Penguins, a phenomenon first observed by researchers at McMurdo Station in Antarctica.
iii.The celebration was first limited to the Adelie Penguin but now stretches to celebrate all the 18 Penguin species existing in the world.
Note: ASOC, based in Washington, D.C., the United States of America(USA) is a global coalition of environmental groups, with members in 20 countries worldwide. ASOC works to ensure that the Antarctic region survives.
Related observance:
​Penguin Awareness Day is observed annually on January 20th to celebrate these iconic flightless birds and to highlight the challenges they face in their natural habitats.
About Penguins:
i.Penguins are captivating, flightless birds uniquely adapted to life in the water. Found exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, they inhabit diverse environments ranging from the icy expanses of Antarctica to the temperate coasts of Africa and South America.
ii.There are 18 species in the penguin family, of which 11 are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as Globally Threatened due to climate change, overfishing and pollution.
Legal Protections & Safe Areas for Penguins:
i.Antarctic Treaty System: This agreement was signed in 1959 and updated in 1991. It protects all 18 types of penguins in Antarctica by banning hunting and egg collecting.
ii.Pōhatu Marine Reserve, New Zealand: This is a special protected area on Banks Peninsula. It’s the home of the largest group of little blue penguins.
iii.No-Fishing Zones in South Africa: In 2025, conservation groups and fishing companies agreed to stop fishing in areas near six important African penguin breeding sites.

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