Current Affairs 3 April 2025

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Sagarmala Programme Completed 10 Years of Successful ImplementationThe Sagarmala Programme, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), launched in March 2015, has completed 10 years of successful implementation.

• The programme aims to revolutionalize port-led development in the country through harnessing India’s 7,500 kilometer (km) long coastline, 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes.

i.The Sagarmala Programme is a key part of the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 (MAKV), which aims to make as a global leader in maritime affairs.
ii.MAKV which is developed on the basis of Maritime India Vision 2030 has set the ambitious targets like: 4 million Gross Tonnage (GRT) of shipbuilding capacity and 10 billion metric tons (MT) of port handling annually.

• It also aims to make India one of the world’s top 5 shipbuilding nations by 2047.

iii.Under Sagarmala Programme, 272 projects have been completed, with total investment of around Rs 1.41 lakh crores.
About Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW):
Union Minister- Sarbananda Sonowal (Constituency- Dibrugarh, Assam)
Minister of State (MoS)- Shantanu Thakur (Constituency- Bangaon, West Bengal, WB)
>> Read Full News

MoHFW Launches ‘ZooWIN’ Portal to Track ARV & ASV AvailabilityIn March 2025, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) launched ‘ZooWIN’, a digital platform to monitor the real-time availability of Anti-Rabies Vaccines (ARV) and Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) across India to ensure efficient distribution and prevent shortages in healthcare facilities.

• The platform aligns with the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAP-SE), introduced in 2023 to halve snakebite deaths and disabilities by 2030 through a ‘One Health’ approach.

About ZooWIN:
It is designed to facilitate real-time stock monitoring, ensuring sufficient vaccine availability in health facilities and preventing shortages.

• It functions similar to Co-WIN (Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network) and U-WIN (Universal Immunization WIN), improving collaboration among healthcare providers, municipal authorities, and veterinary services.

Development and Implementation:
i.Developed by: New Delhi (Delhi)-based National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India.
ii.Pilot Phase: Launched in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Assam, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh (AP).
Key Features :
i.Integration: Leverages the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) and U-WIN under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) for real-time stock monitoring.
ii.Helpline: A dedicated service (15,400 helpline) was launched in 2023 across pilot states to provide guidance on rabies and snakebite treatment.
Rabies and Snakebite Burden in India:
i.Snakebites: India records 3-4 million snakebites annually, causing around 50,000 deaths (50% of global fatalities).
iiRabies: India accounts for 36% of global rabies deaths, with approximately 60,000 fatalities worldwide yearly.
About Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW):
Union Minister – Jagat Prakash Nadda (Rajya Sabha – Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS)- Anupriya Patel (Constituency- Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, UP); Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao (Constituency- Buldhana, Maharashtra)

President Droupadi Murmu Releases Commemorative Stamp for RBI’s 90th AnniversaryOn April 1, 2025, Droupadi Murmu, the president of India unveiled a special postage stamp of denomination Rs.5 to mark the 90th anniversary of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai (Maharashtra).

• The 90th anniversary of RBI marks a milestone in its journey, reinforcing its dedication to fostering economic stability, financial growth, and trust in India’s financial system.
• The event was attended by Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Ministry of Communications (MoC) and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister (CM) of Maharashtra and other distinguished dignitaries.

About Commemorative Stamp Design:
i.Symbolism: Features the RBI’s original headquarters in Kolkata (West Bengal, WB) and its current headquarters in Mumbai, reflecting its evolution.
ii.Logo: Features the 90th-anniversary emblem with the motto “Stability. Trust. Growth”, highlighting RBI’s foundational principles.
RBI’s Legacy and Core Functions:
i.Establishment: Founded under the RBI Act, 1934, the RBI shifted its headquarters to Mumbai from Kolkata in 1937.
ii.Key Roles: Monetary policy, currency management, government debt oversight, and financial regulation.
iii.Initiatives: Promotes financial inclusion, consumer protection, and digital literacy through programs like the Post Office Savings Bank (POSB).
Points to Note:
i.Sir Osborne Smith was the first Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and he was succeeded by Sir C.D. Deshmukh, who made history as the first Indian to occupy the role.
ii.The RBI circulates the official currency notes of India in denominations of Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 200, and Rs 500.
iii.The RBI overseas coins in denominations of Rs 1, Rs 2, Rs 5, and Rs 10, which are issued by the Ministry of Finance(MoF).
About Reserve Bank of India(RBI):
Governor – Sanjay Malhotra
Headquarters – Mumbai (Maharashtra)
Established – 1934

FM Nirmala Sitharaman Launches ‘NITI NCAER States Economic Forum’ Portal
On April 1, 2025, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance(MoF), inaugurated the ‘NITI NCAER States Economic Forum‘ portal in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The portal has been created by National Institution for Transforming India(NITI) Aayog in partnership with New Delhi based National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER).

i.The portal will provide a comprehensive repository of data on India’s states, encompassing social, economic, and fiscal parameters spanning over three decades (1990-91 to 2022-23).
ii.The portal serves as a centralized hub, enabling policymakers, researchers, and analysts to compare and benchmark state-wise data against national figures, thereby facilitating informed decision-making and policy debates. ​
iii.The portal will facilitate an understanding of macro, fiscal, demographic, and socio-economic trends; easily accessible data and user-friendly format and will also address the ongoing need for consolidated sectoral data in one place.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg top Forbes’ 2025 richest people in worldOn April 02,2025, Forbes released its ‘39th Annual World’s Billionaires list’, the definitive ranking of the world’s richest people. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors topped the List with a net worth of USD 342 Billion (bn).

• He is followed by Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta with a net worth of USD 216 bn and at the 3rd place is Jeff Bezos, chairman and founder of Amazon.

Key Points:
i.In 2025 list features 3,028 billionaires, the most since the list’s inception in 1987. The world’s wealthiest people are collectively worth a record-breaking $16.1 trillion.
ii.Mukesh Ambani remains India’s richest person and Asia’s wealthiest, ranking 18th globally with a fortune of $92.5 billion from Reliance Industries.
iii.Gautam Adani, chairman of the Adani Group, follows at 28th place with $56.3 billion. He is the fourth richest Asian, behind TikTok’s Zhang Yiming (23rd, $65.5 billion) and Nongfu Spring’s Zhong Shanshan (26th, $57.7 billion).
iv.Jensen Huang, the CEO and co-founder of Nvidia, presently positioned at the 10th rank has entered the ranks of the top 10 richest people for the first time.
v.The US topped the list with a record of 902 billionaires, followed by China with 516 billionaires and India at the 3rd position with 205 billionaires.
vi.The richest woman of all is Walmart heir Alice Walton, whose fortune stands at an estimated $101 billion. She reclaims the title from French L’Oréal heiress Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, who now ranks second, at $81.6 billion.
>> Read Full News

India & Nepal Sign MoUs for 10 HICDPs in Nepal Under NRs. 625 Million GrantOn April 1, 2025, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu(Nepal) in collaboration with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Government of Nepal, and other Project Implementing Agencies, has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for undertaking 10 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal.

• These projects, supported under the grant assistance of the Government of India (GoI), focus on Education, Health, and Culture sectors, with a total estimated cost of Nepalese Rupees (NRs) 625 million.
• This initiative is part of India’s ongoing commitment to enhancing infrastructure and community development in Nepal at the grassroots level.

Key Projects Under the MoUs:
i.Education: Construction of schools like Sanba Secondary School (Taplejung, Koshi Province), Ninyukharka Secondary School (Gulmi, Lumbini Province), Siddhanath Secondary School in Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City, Kailali(Sudurpashchim Province), Naya Gaun Secondary School in Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City, Rupandehi(Lumbini Province) and Shree Satyavadi Secondary School (Bajhang, Sudurpashchim Province).
ii.Healthcare: Building health posts in Ward -3 and Ward – 6 of Sindhupalchowk (Bagmati Province) and the Nepal-Bharat Maitri Hospital in Humla (Karnali Province).
iii.Culture: Development of the Ngagyur Nyngma Palyul Dhongag Chholing Monastery (Solukhumbu, Koshi Province) and Nepal-Bharat Maitri E-Library (Chitwan, Bagmati Province).
Implementation:
These projects will be implemented through local Nepalese authorities, including Metropolitan Cities, Sub-Metropolitan Cities, Municipalities, and Rural Municipalities.
India-Nepal Development Partnership:
i.Since 2003, India has supported 573 HICDPs in Nepal, completing 495 projects in sectors like education, health, roads, irrigation, and electrification.
ii.Projects span all 7 provinces of Nepal, prioritizing grassroots infrastructure development.
About Nepal:
President – Ram Chandra Poudel
Prime Minister (PM) – KP Sharma Oli
Capital – Kathmandu
Currency – Nepalese Rupee (NPR)

BANKING & FINANCE

Federal Bank, NPCI & Visa Launch Fed StarBiz Credit Card for Businesses CustomersOn April 1, 2025, Aluva (Kerala) based Federal Bank Limited (FBL), formerly known as Travancore Federal Bank Limited, a leading private sector bank (PVB) in India in partnership with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and United States of America (USA) based Visa Inc., launched Fed StarBiz Credit Card, an exclusive financial product designed for business customers.

• The credit card is tailored to streamline business transactions and enhance financial flexibility for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Key Features:
i.OD/CC Integration: Direct linkage to Overdraft (OD) or Cash Credit (CC) accounts with limits up to Rs. 50 lakh.
ii.Transaction Limits: Enables transactions of up to Rs 3 lakh per day, or up to the available OD/CC limit (whichever is lower).
iii.Advanced Security: Uses tokenization and encryption technologies to ensure secure digital transactions.
iv.Financial Management: Automatically records all card transactions in the OD/CC account, eliminating the need for separate statements.
v.Global Acceptance: Operates via Visa and RuPay networks across India and internationally.
vi.Validity: The card has a validity of five years.
About Federal Bank Limited (FBL):
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – KVS Manian
Headquarters – Aluva, Kerala
Founded – 1931
Tagline – Your Perfect Banking Partner

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Moody’s Projects India’s GDP at 6.5% for FY26, Leading G-20 NationsIn April 2025, the global credit rating agency, Moody’s Ratings released its latest report on Emerging Markets, India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will grow at 6.5% for Financial Year 2025-26(FY26), down from 6.7% in FY25. Despite this slow down in Indian economy growth, it will continue to be the highest among both advanced and emerging Group-20 (G-20).

• This growth projection for India for FY26 is supported by tax measures and continued monetary easing.
• The report further mentioned that despite growth will remain the highest in Asia-Pacific, the region’s integration in international trade means it is most exposed to global uncertainties like United States of America (USA) tariffs and their potential to slow growth.

Key Points:
i.Moody’s highlighted that large emerging markets like India and Brazil will continue to attract and retain global capital in risk-averse conditions.

• This resilience is due to their large, domestically-oriented economies, robust capital markets, moderate policy credibility and substantial Foreign Exchange Reserves (FER).

ii.The report supported its projection related to India growth by showing that India has a low External Vulnerability Indicator (EVI) of 61%, which reflects its relatively lower susceptibility to external financial shocks.

• This is further supported by India’s relatively modest external debt-to-GDP ratio of 19% and low dependency on the United States of America (USA) i.e. about 2% of GDP.

iii. The report projected that India’s inflation will be at average of 4.5% in FY26 compared to 4.9% in FY25.
iv.The Government of India (GoI) significantly increased the income tax exemption limit (from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 12 lakh) under the new tax regime announced in the Union Budget for FY26. This move is expected to boost consumption and demand in the economy.
About Moody’s Ratings:
President- Michael West
Headquarters- New York, the United States of America (USA)
Founded- 1909

Maharashtra Government Partners with Microsoft to Establish AI CoEs in Mumbai, Pune, and NagpurIn April 2025, the Government of Maharashtra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft Corporation (India) Private Limited based in Mumbai, Maharashtra to establish three Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centres of Excellence (CoE) in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur.

• The agreement was formalized in Mumbai by Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, Sujata Saunik and Microsoft India’s Venkat Krishna, in the presence of Chief Minister (CM) of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy (Dy) CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar.

About the Centres of Excellence (CoE):
i.Mumbai Centre for Geospatial Analytics: It will be located in the chief secretary’s office of Maharashtra. This centre will utilize satellite imagery and spatial data to support governance decisions. It will help in managing geographic information and analyzing critical data for better planning.
ii.Pune Centre for Forensic AI: This centre will integrate AI with forensic science to enhance criminal investigations. It will improve forensic data analysis, evidence management, and overall crime-solving capabilities
iii.Nagpur-based Maharashtra Advanced Research and Vigilance for Enforcement of Reformed Laws Limited (MARVEL): This centre will focus on AI-driven solutions for government functions, including enforcement, monitoring, and governance reforms.

• The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur in Dahegaon, Maharashtra will collaborate with MARVEL to provide training and capacity building.

Key Points:
i.In addition to setting up AI CoE, the partnership with Microsoft includes a comprehensive training and certification program for government employees through the globally recognized MS (Microsoft) Learn platform.

• This initiative aims to equip state personnel with advanced AI skills.

ii.The Government of Maharashtra will leverage Microsoft’s advanced Copilot technology to boost productivity, streamline operations, enhance administrative workflows, automate document processing, swiftly address citizen queries, and strengthen service delivery at the grassroots level.
About Maharashtra:
Chief Minister (CM)– Devendra Fadnavis
Governor– C. P. Radhakrishnan
Capital– Mumbai
National Parks (NP)-Pench NP, Chandoli NP
About Microsoft Corporation (India) Private Limited :
President – Puneet Chandok
Headquarters– Hyderabad, Telangana
Established– 1988

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

SC Ralhan Appointed as President of FIEO till 2027On April 1, 2025, Subhash Chander (SC) Ralhan was appointed as the President of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), headquartered in New Delhi (Delhi), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I).

• He, succeeds Ashwani Kumar, will serve in this role until March 31, 2027.
• Along with him, Ravikant Shyamsunder Kapur has assumed the position of Vice-President (VP) of FIEO. He replaced Israr Ahmed.

About SC Ralhan:
i.SC Ralhan is a veteran in the export sector with over 50 years of experience, particularly in the engineering and hand tools industry.
ii.He is also the Managing Director (MD) of Sri Tools Industries Private Limited, based in Ludhiana (Punjab).
iii.As president of FIEO, he addresses tariff barriers, promoting export diversification, and advocating for technology-driven exports.
About Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO):
i.FIEO is an apex body of export promotion councils, commodity boards, and export development authorities in India.

• It is an International Organization for Standardization(ISO) 9001:2015 certified organization.

ii.It aims to promote Indian exports and facilitate international trade by providing services, advocating for favorable policies, and addressing challenges faced by exporters.
President – Subhash Chander (SC) Ralhan
Headquarters – New Delhi (Delhi)
Established – 1965

ACC Appointed Sivasubramanian Ramann as PFRDA Chairman for 5 YearsIn April 2025, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the appointment of Sivasubramanian Ramann as chairman of Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) for period of 5 years with effect from the date of assumption charge of the post or till he attains the age of 65 years, or until further orders, whichever is the earliest.

• He will succeed incumbent chairman Depak Mohanty whose term comes to an end in May 2025.
• At present, Ramann is serving as the Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at the CAG of India.

About Sivasubramanian Ramann:
i.He is a 1991 batch Indian Audit & Accounts Service (IA & AS) officer. He worked as Chief General Manager (CGM) of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and later served as Executive Director (ED) of SEBI between 2007 and 2013.
ii.He was appointed the Principal Accountant General (Audit) in Ranchi, Jharkhand during 2015-16.
iii.He served as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL), India’s 1st information utility, from 2016 to 2021.
iv.In April 2021, he joined as Chairman & MD (CMD) of Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
v.He held key positions in the offices under the CAG of India in various states and also worked as Executive Secretary to the CAG of India.
About Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA):
It was initially established as a regulatory body to promote, develop and regulate pension sector in India. Later, it was granted a statutory body status through PFRDA Act, 2013 passed in September 2013 and the same was officially notified on February 1, 2014.

• It comes under the jurisdiction of Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance (MoF).

Chairman- Dr. Deepak Mohanty
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established in- 2013

Economist Poonam Gupta appointed as new Deputy Governor of RBIOn 2 April, 2025, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointed Poonam Gupta, Director General of New Delhi (Delhi) based National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a term of three years, effective from her date of joining.

• Poonam Gupta is the first woman to hold this position in over a decade.She succeeds Michael Debabrata (MD) Patra whose tenure is ended in January 2025.
• The deputy governor of the RBI is the second most senior executive of the RBI after its governor. It has 4 Deputy Governors. Other 3 Deputy Governors of RBI are M Rajeshwar Rao, T Rabi Sankar, and Swaminathan Janakiraman.

About Poonam Gupta:
i.Poonam Gupta, an accomplished economist with nearly two decades of experience at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). She has also served as a government adviser in India, providing valuable insights on economic policies.
ii.She has also served as the RBI Chair Professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) and as a professor at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER).
iii.She is currently the Director General(DG) of New Delhi (Delhi) based National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), India’s leading economic policy think tank.

• She joined NCAER in 2021 after nearly two decades of holding senior positions at the IMF and the World Bank.

iv.She is also a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) and serves as the Convener of the Advisory Council to the 16th Finance Commission(FC).
v.In recognition of her academic excellence, she received the 1998 Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) Award for her Doctor of Philosophy(PhD) thesis on international economics.
About National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER):
President – Nanan M. Nilekani
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Founded – 1956
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
Governor- Sanjay Malhotra (26th Governor of RBI)
Headquarter- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established-  1935

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

CCI Approvals on April 01, 2025On April 01 2025, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the following proposals:
i.Approved the proposal of wealth management entity, 360 ONE and Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Claypond Capital Partners Private Limited (Claypond Capital) to jointly acquire certain stakes in digital healthcare platform of Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based API Holdings Limited, which offers healthcare services through its subsidiaries such as Aknamed, Pharmeasy, Docon, Thyrocare, and Retailio.
ii.Approved the acquisition of additional voting rights by certain shareholders of Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Billionbrains Garage Ventures Private Limited (Groww’s parent company).
About Competition Commission of India(CCI):
It is a statutory body constituted under Competition Act, 2002.
Chairman- Ravneet Kaur
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 2003
>> Read Full News

Aditya Birla Capital Completes Amalgamation of Aditya Birla Finance to form Unified NBFC
On 31st March 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Aditya Birla Capital Limited (ABCL), a non-banking finance company (NBFC), announced the successful amalgamation of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Aditya Birla Finance Limited (ABFL) effective from 1st April 2025, following the approval from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Ahmedabad Bench, and regulatory bodies like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Key Appointments:
i.Vishakha Mulye has been appointed as Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ABCL.
ii.Rakesh Singh has been appointed as Executive Director (ED) and CEO of ABCL.
iii.Nagesh Pinge and Sunil Srivastav have been appointed as Independent Directors of ABCL.
The rationale and benefits of the proposed amalgamation are as follows:

• Rationalization and simplification of group structure
• Improved financial stability
• Likely stakeholder value enhancement
• Increased operational efficiency

About Aditya Birla Capital Limited (ABCL):
Chairman – Kumar Mangalam Birla
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Incorporated– 2007

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Dhruva Space and Infostellar Collaborate to Enhance Satellite Communications
In March 2025, Hyderabad (Telangana) based Dhruva Space Private Limited collaborated with Tokyo (Japan) based Infostellar to integrate Dhruva Space’s 3.8-meter (m) S&X-band ground station antenna in Hyderabad into Infostellar’s StellarStation platform. This partnership aims to expand Infostellar’s global ground station network and enhance satellite communications interoperability.

• This integration supports Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites in inclined orbits, optimizing data downlink efficiency for critical missions.

Technical Integration:
i.The Hyderabad-based antenna uses X/Y mount systems for full hemispherical coverage, making Dhruva Space India’s only commercial ground station solutions provider.
ii.Dhruva Space plans to install 7.4m antennas with S, X, and Ka-band capabilities to support Lunar and Deep Space Missions with global partners.
India-Japan Space Cooperation
i.The agreement was signed in Tokyo (Japan) during the Third India-Japan Space Dialogue, organised by the Bopal,Ahmedabad(Gujarat) based Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Center (IN-SPACe), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India (GoI), and the Cabinet Office of Japan.

• This partnership enables Dhruva Space to provide end-to-end satellite solutions, while Infostellar offers its platform to satellite operators worldwide.

ii.This partnership builds on the existing collaboration between India and Japan in space projects like the Chandrayaan series, the Sentinel Asia initiative, and the upcoming Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission.

ENVIRONMENT

ICAR-CTCRI Develops New Biofortified Sweet Potato to Boost Tribal Food Security
In March 2025, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (ICAR-CTCRI), headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), has developed a new orange-fleshed sweet potato variety (SP-95/4) to strengthen food security programmes in tribal regions.
Key Features of SP-95/4:

• High Beta-carotene content (8 milligram(mg)/100 gram(g)): Helps combat Vitamin A deficiency, prevalent in tribal areas.
• Average tuber weight (300g): Fusiform shape makes it suitable for processing.
• Multi-state adaptability: Successfully tested in Odisha, West Bengal(WB), Karnataka, and Kerala.

Implementation & Expansion:
i.The ‘Rainbow Diet’ programme, launched in 2023 at Attappady, promotes biofortified tubers to tackle malnutrition.Expanded under ‘Punarjeevanam’ programme in 2024.
ii.Currently cultivated on 10-15 acres, with plans to scale up to 100 acres by December 2025.
iii.A processing unit funded by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives is proposed to enhance economic benefits for farmers.

SPORTS

Vandana Katariya Announces Retirement from International Hockey
In April 2025, Vandana Katariya, a legendary figure in Indian women’s hockey, has announced her retirement from international hockey, ending a remarkable 15-year career with the Indian national team.
With a career spanning 15 years, she leaves behind an extraordinary legacy as one of India’s most accomplished players.

• Katariya made her international debut in 2009 and went on to become the most-capped player in Indian women’s hockey, with 320 appearances and 158 goals.
• She was a key member of the historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, where she became the first Indian woman to score a hat-trick in Olympic hockey.

Major Tournaments & Achievements:

• Olympics: Represented India in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
• FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup: Played in 2018 and 2022.
• Commonwealth Games: Participated in 2014, 2018, 2022 (Bronze in 2022).
• Asian Games: Won Silver (2018) and Bronze (2014, 2022).
• Other titles: Gold in Women’s Asian Champions Trophy (2016, 2023) and International Hockey Federation(FIH) Nations Cup (2022).

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Autism Awareness Day 2025 – April 2The United Nations (UN’s) World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) is observed annually across the globe on April 2 to raise awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and advocate for the rights and inclusion of autistic individuals.

• April 2, 2025, marks the 18th observance of World Autism Awareness Day.

i.The theme for WAAD 2025 is “Advancing Neurodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.
ii.The Switzerland-based Institute of Neurodiversity (ION), a neuro minority-founded organization with a presence in 40 countries, is leading the 2025 event in collaboration with the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC).
Background: 
i.On December 18, 2007, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/62/139, designating April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day.
ii.April 2, 2008, marked the first observance of WAAD.
>> Read Full News

International Children’s Book Day 2025- April 2International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is celebrated worldwide on 2 April annually to commemorate the birth anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish author celebrated as the “father of modern fantasy”.

• The day underscores the importance of children’s literature in nurturing creativity, empathy, and lifelong reading habits.

i.International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) –Netherlands is the official sponsor of ICBD 2025, under the theme “The freedom of imagination” to inspire young readers.
ii.This day is supported by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) – Body Mind and Wellness (BMW) Club.
Note: ICBD was first observed in 1967, organized by IBBY, an international non-profit focused on children’s literature.
About International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY): 
President – Basarat Kazim(Pakistan)
Headquarters- Basel, Switzerland
Founded– 1953
>> Read Full News

STATE NEWS

Assam Launches ‘Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan’ to Empower Women Entrepreneurs
On April 1, 2025, Assam’s Chief Minister(CM), Himanta Biswa Sarma, inaugurated the ‘Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan’ (MMMUA) in Behali(Assam). At the inaugural event, 23,375 women received their first cheques, marking the commencement of the program’s implementation.

• The scheme aims to promote self-employment and economic independence among women in the state, marking it as one of the largest efforts of its kind in Assam.
• This initiative, known as the CM Women Entrepreneurship Campaign, is designed to empower women by providing financial assistance to start and grow their own businesses.

The MMMUA is a structured three-stage financial assistance program to support women entrepreneurs:
i.First Year: Each beneficiary receives a seed capital of Rs.10,000 to initiate or expand micro-enterprises in sectors like agriculture, livestock, and small businesses.
ii.Second Year: Upon demonstrating effective utilization of the initial funds, beneficiaries become eligible for an additional Rs.25,000, comprising Rs.12,500 as a bank loan and an equal amount as government support. The state government will cover the interest on the bank loan. ​
iii.Third Year: Successful entrepreneurs will qualify for a further Rs.50,000 to scale their ventures.

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