Current Affairs 4 April 2025

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

MNRE Achieves 25 GW Renewable Energy Capacity Addition in FY25In April 2025, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) announced a record-breaking addition of 25 gigawatts (GW) of Renewable Energy (RE) capacity for the Fiscal Year 2024-25 (FY25), marking nearly 35% increase from 18.57 GW in FY24.

• As of March 2025, the total installed power generation capacity in India was 483.26 GW, marking the highest increase in any year.
• As of February 28, 2025, India has installed a total of 222.86 GW of non-fossil fuel-based power capacity. This includes 102.57 GW of solar power, 48.59 GW of wind power, 11.45 GW of bio-power, 52.07 GW of hydro power, and 8.18 GW of nuclear power.

i.Solar power drove 80% of the renewable capacity addition, rising from 15 GW (FY24) to 21 GW (FY25), a 38% increase.
ii.Solar module manufacturing capacity doubled from 38 GW (March 2024) to 74 GW (March 2025).
>> Read Full News

GI Tag Awarded to TN’s ‘Kumbakonam Betel Leaf’ , ‘Thovalai Flower Garland’ and Gujarat’s Saudagari Block Print In April 2025, the Geographical Indications (GI) Registry in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN), under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), granted Geographical Indication (GI) Tag to two indigenous products from TN – the Kumbakonam Betel Leaf from Thanjavur and the Thovalai Flower Garland (Manikka Malai) from Kanyakumari.

• With this recognition, TN now has a total of 62 GI-tagged products, including 11 from the Thanjavur district.

i.The traditional Saudagari Block Print from Jamalpur, Ahmedabad in Gujarat, known for its intricate hand-printed designs, has been awarded the GI tag.
ii.This recognition aims to protect the unique craftsmanship, ensure authenticity, and improve the economic prospects of the artisans who have preserved this heritage for generations.
About Geographical Indications (GI) Registry:
Headquarters – Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN)
Established – 2003
>> Read Full News

Paradip Port Retained No.1 Spot in Cargo Handling Among Major Ports in FY25According to provisional estimates of the Indian Ports Association (IPA), (Odisha)-based Paradip Port Authority (PPA), formerly Paradip Port Trust, retained the top spot in cargo handling among Indian major ports and has joined the exclusive 150 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) by handling a cargo of 150.41 MMT in Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25). This marks an increase of 3.5%, compared to 145.4 MMT in FY24.

• It is closely followed by Kandla (Gujarat)-based Deendayal Port saw an increase of over 13%, from 132.MMT (in FY24) to 150.15 MMT (in FY25) and Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) saw a growth of 7.4% in cargo handled to 86 MMT.

i.The data showed that most of the 12 major Indian Ports recorded growth of 4.35% in cargo traffic for FY25 to 855 MMT compared to 819.30 MMT reported in FY24.
ii.Kutch (Gujarat)-based Mundra Port, India’s biggest commercial port which is owned by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ), has become the 1st Indian port to handle over 200 MMT of cargo volume in FY25.

• Mundra Port has registered a growth of 11.5% in cargo handling, to 200.7 MMT (in FY25) over the 180 MMT (in FY24).

About Indian Ports Association (IPA):
It is a statutory body constituted in 1966 under Societies Registrations Act. It aims to foster growth and development of all major ports which are under the supervisory control of Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
Chairman- Rajiv Jalota
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
>> Read Full News

MoEFCC Report: Over 13,056 sq km of Forest Area Encroached in India; MP LeadsThe Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has submitted a report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), revealing that as of March 2024, a total of 13,056 square kilometers (sq km) (or 13,05,668.1 hectares) of forest area across 25 States and Union Territories (UTs) in India was under encroachment.

• This marks a significant increase compared to the 7,506.48 sq km of encroached forest land reported in April 2023.

State-wise Forest Encroachment Data:
i.According to the report, Madhya Pradesh (MP) has the highest forest encroachment, covering 5,460.9 sq km, followed by Assam with 3,620.9 sq km.
ii.The major states affected are Arunachal Pradesh (AR) recorded 534.9 sq km of forest encroachment, followed by Odisha with 405.07 sq km, Uttar Pradesh (UP) with 264.97 sq km, Mizoram with 247.72 sq km, Jharkhand with 200.40 sq km, and Chhattisgarh with 168.91 sq km.
iii.Other affected states include Tamil Nadu (TN) (157.68 sq km), Andhra Pradesh (AP) (133.18 sq km), Gujarat (130.08 sq km), Punjab (75.67 sq km), Uttarakhand (49.92 sq km), Kerala (49.75 sq km), Tripura (42.42 sq km), Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) Islands (37.42 sq km), and Manipur (32.7 sq km).
iv.10 States and UTs are yet to submit their forest encroachment data are Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh (HP), Rajasthan, Telangana, West Bengal (WB), Nagaland, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh.
Recorded Forest Area (RFA):
The Forest Area or Recorded Forest Area (RFA) includes land officially designated as forest by the GoI under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, regardless of actual tree cover. It is divided into three categories:

• Reserved Forests (RF): Fully protected, with restrictions on activities like hunting and grazing.
• Protected Forests (PF): Some activities are allowed unless explicitly restricted.
• Unclassed Forests: Areas not classified as reserved or protected.

About Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC):
Union Minister – Bhupendra Yadav (Constituency -Alwar, Rajasthan)
Minister of State (MoS) – Kirtivardhan Singh (Constituency- Gonda, Uttar Pradesh UP)

MoR: India Produced 1,681 Locomotives in FY25, Surpasses the USA and EuropeAccording to the Ministry of Railways (MoR), India has emerged as a global leader in railway locomotive manufacturing, with a record production of 1,681 locomotives in the financial year 2024-25 (FY25), marking an increase of 19% (209) locomotives over 1,472 locomotives produced in FY24.

• With this, India surpasses the total locomotive production of regions like: the United States of America (USA), Europe, South America, Africa and Australia.

Key Points:
i.Significant increase in locomotives production in last one decade: MoR highlighted due to the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the locomotives manufacturing saw sharp increase, with 9,168 locomotives produced between 2014-24, with annual average of nearly 917, compared to 4,695 locomotives produced between 2004-2014, with annual average of 470.
ii.Highest number of locomotives producing units: West Bengal(WB) based Chittaranjan Locomotives Works,CLW(700), Uttar Pradesh(UP) based Banaras Locomotive Works,BLW (477), Punjab based Patiala Locomotive Works,PLW (304) and Bihar based Madhepura unit (100)and Bihar based Marhowrah unit (100).
iii.Majorty of Locomotives produced for freight trains: WAG-9/9H with 1,047 locomotives, topped among the total locomotives produced in FY25; followed by WAP-7 (272 locomotives); WAG-9 Twin (148 locomotives); WAG-12B ( 100 locomotives); WDG 4G/6G (100 locomotives); WAG-9HH (7 locomotives); NRC (5 locomotives) and WAP-5 (2 locomotives).
About Ministry of Railways (MoR):
Union Minister- Ashwinin Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha member- Odisha)
Minister of State (MoS)- V. Somanna (Constituency- Tumkur, Karnataka); and Ravneet Singh Bittu (Rajya Sabha member- Rajasthan)

EPFO Introduced Two key Reforms to Simplify its Claim Settlement ProcessIn April 2025, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced two key reforms which will simplify its claim settlement process. These reforms aimed at enhancing the Ease of Living for EPF members and Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) for employers.

• Also, these reforms will significantly simplify the process of claim settlement and alleviate grievances related to claim rejections.

i.EPFO has completely removed the requirement of uploading an image of a cheque leaf or attested bank passbook while filing for claims through online mode.
ii.EPFO has now eliminated the requirement of employer approval after bank verification. This move aims to streamline the process of seeding bank accounts with Universal Account Number (UAN).
iii.It has now dispensed the role of employer to approve the verification of bank account within the seeding process of the members’ bank account.
About Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO):
Central Provident Fund Commissioner (CPFC)-  Ramesh Krishnamurthi
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 1952
>> Read Full News

IN Signs Rs 270 Crore Deal with Kirloskar for Indigenous Marine Diesel Engine 
On April 2, 2025, the Indian Navy(IN) signed a project sanction order under the Make-I category with Pune (Maharashtra)-based Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited (KOEL) for the design and development of a 6-megawatt (MW) medium-speed marine diesel engine.

• The agreement, finalized in New Delhi(Delhi) in the presence of Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary of Defence Production(DP), Ministry of Defence(MoD) and Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff(VCNS), aims to reduce import dependency in marine propulsion systems.

Key Details of the Project:

• Funding: Rs 270 crore (70% government-funded) for a prototype engine with over 50% indigenous content.
• Scope: Includes developing a detailed design for 3–10 MW diesel engines for main propulsion and power generation on Indian Navy and Coast Guard ships.
• Goal: Replace imports of high-capacity engines from foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

BANKING & FINANCE

SBI Research Report: MSMEs in Bihar, UP, Odisha, N-E availing more Mudra loansRecently in April 2025, the State Bank of India (SBI) released a report “The PMMY: A Decade of Audacious Dreams: Bolder, Bigger and Indeed Beautiful” on the ten years of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), which stated that the share of MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinancing Agency) loans in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and the North-east has grown significantly, indicating a more inclusive credit distribution pattern.
Key Findings:
Distribution of Mudra Accounts:
i.Out of the 52 crore MUDRA accounts that have been opened in the past 10 years, Shishu constitute 78% of them, 20% are Kishor and the remaining 2% are Tarun/Tarun Plus.
ii.The share of Shishu in total has declined from 93% in FY16 to 51.7% in (Financial Year) FY25, while the Kishor account share has increased to 44.7% in FY25 from 5.9% in FY16, indicating the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
State-wise women entrepreneurs:
i.Among states, Bihar has the largest number of PMMY women entrepreneurs (4.2 crore), followed by Tamil Nadu (4.0 crore) and West Bengal (3.7 crore).
ii.While, Maharashtra has the largest share of women account holders (79%) in total followed by Jharkhand (75%) and West Bengal (73%)
iii.The report has also highlighted that PMMY is an effective tool for women’s empowerment at the grassroots level, as 68% of account holders are women.
iv.Bihar’s share of PMMY loans has risen from 5.67 percent in FY16 to 10.97 percent in FY2. Uttar Pradesh too has witnessed a rise from 9.27 percent to 11.30 percent, while Odisha’s share in PMMY loans has climbed from 4.24 percent to 4.51 percent.
About PMMY:
i.PMMY under the MUDRA was set up by Government of India for development and refinancing activities relating to micro units.
ii.PMMY ensures collateral-free institutional credit up to Rs 20 lakh is provided by Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) i.e. Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs).
iii. Under the scheme, three categories of interventions have been formulated which include

• Shishu : Loan up to Rs50,000
• Kishor : Loan above Rs50,000 and up to Rs5 lakh
• Tarun : Loan above Rs5 lakh and up to Rs10 lakh
• Tarun Plus : Loans above Rs10 lakh and up to Rs20 lakh (designed specifically for Tarun category, who have previously availed and successfully repaid loans)

SBI & Citi Announce USD 295 Million Social Loan to Support Farmers in India
On April 3, 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based State Bank of India (SBI) and New York (the United States of America, USA) based Citibank (Citi) announced a social loan facility of USD 295 million to support smallholder farmers in India.

• The loan aims to enhance agricultural productivity and improve the financial well-being of small and marginal farmers through improved credit access.
• This collaboration builds on Citi’s global commitment of USD 1 trillion towards sustainable finance by 2030, including support for 15 million low-income households worldwide.

Objective of the Social Loan:
i.The loan will be utilized by SBI to finance its Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loan portfolio, providing essential credit support to smallholder farmers.
ii.It aims to enhance farmers’ access to credit, enabling them to increase agricultural output and create sustainable livelihoods.
iii.The initiative aligns with the broader goal of economic inclusion for underserved farming communities.
About State Bank of India (SBI):
Chairman – Challa Sreenivasulu(C.S) Setty
Headquarters – Mumbai (Maharashtra)
Founded – 1955
Tagline – Pure Banking, Nothing Else

BOM Partners with Customer Capital to Introduce ‘Tripstacc’ Travel Platform
On April 02, 2025, Pune (Maharashtra)-based Bank of Maharashtra (BOM) partnered with Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Customer Capital(In India, it is registered under the name Custcap Solutions Private Limited), a captive commerce solutions provider, to launch Tripstacc, a white-label travel platform for BOM cardholders.

• The platform integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered loyalty rewards, enabling seamless hotel and ticket bookings via the BOM’s card website and mobile application (app).

i.Developed by Customer Capital, ‘Tripstacc’ enables banks to customize travel services for their customers.
ii.The platform provides insights into Travel and Expenses (T&E), which are not available through traditional promotional partnerships.
Note: India’s loyalty market is projected to reach USD 7.92 billion by 2028.

SEBI Extends Retail Algo Trading Deadline to August 1, 2025
In April 2025, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), headquartered in Mumbai (Maharashtra), has extended the deadline for implementing its retail algorithmic (algo) trading regulations from April 1, 2025, to August 1, 2025.

• The decision follows requests from stock exchanges for additional time to finalize technical standards in collaboration with the Brokers’ Industry Standards Forum (ISF).

Key Details of the Regulatory Framework:

• Announcement Date: Introduced on February 4, 2025, the norms target retail investors using automated programs for order execution.
• Scope: Defines roles for brokers (acting as principals) and algo providers (agents using broker-authorized Application Programming Interfaces/APIs).
• Tracking Mechanism: All algo orders must carry unique identifiers for audit and tracking purposes.

IDFC FIRST Bank Authorized by CPAO for Pension Disbursement
In April 2025, Mumbai(Maharashtra) based IDFC FIRST Bank (Formerly Infrastructure Development Finance Company) received authorization from the New Delhi(Delhi) based Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) under the Department of Expenditure(DoE), Ministry of Finance(MoF), to disburse pensions to central government pensioners.

• Pensioners can now receive their pensions directly into their IDFC FIRST Bank Savings Account.

i.This authorization enables the bank to provide pension disbursement services to various categories of pensioners, including:

• All India Service Officers​, Former Members of Parliament​(MP), Retired Judges of High Courts and the Supreme Court​, Former Presidents and Vice Presidents of India​ and Officials of Civil Ministries and Departments (excluding Railways, Posts, Telecom, and Defence)

ii.Pensioners have the option to open a joint savings account with their spouse to enable uninterrupted family pension payments.
iii.The offers a range of benefits under its Savings Account for pensioners, including zero-fee banking on 36 services such as debit card issuance, IMPS, NEFT, RTGS, chequebooks, and ATM withdrawals.

• Senior citizens also receive Rs.2 lakh cyber insurance, unlimited online health consultations and free doorstep banking.
• Additionally, the bank provides favourable fixed deposit terms with no penalty on premature withdrawals and an extra 0.5% interest on Fixed Deposit(FDs) for senior citizens.

Axis Bank Becomes First Indian Bank to Launch B2B Collections Solution
In April 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Axis Bank Limited, one of the largest Private Sector Banks (PVB) in India partnered with a Fortune 500 company in India to introduce a B2B (Business to Business) collections using Bharat Connect, formerly known as Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), developed by NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL).

• This makes Axis Bank the first bank to implement this innovative payment solution, leveraging its advanced Application Programming Interface (API) banking stack.
• It aims to streamlines B2B payments, automates processes in supply chains, and improves digital payment efficiency for corporate clients.

i.The platform integrates with multiple ordering applications across sectors like Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Pharma, Automotives, and Healthcare.
ii.Enables wholesale distributors and retailers to make invoice payments directly from their applications.
iii.Axis Bank acts as a Biller Operating Unit (BOU), offering a customizable and scalable solution.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Debmalya Sen Appointed as President of IESAPune (Maharashtra) based India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) a leading industry body in India for energy storage, green hydrogen, and e-mobility (electro mobility), appointed Debmalya Sen as its President effective from April 01, 2025.

• He succeeds Dr. Rahul Walawalkar who served as the president of IESA from 2019 to 2024.

About Debmalya Sen:
i.Debmalya has over 15 years of experience in conventional power, renewables, energy storage, and green hydrogen.
ii.Since 2021, he has worked with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) under the Government of India (GoI).
iii.His career also includes significant roles at Customized Energy Solutions in Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Apraava Energy Private Limited (formerly CLP India) in Mumbai.
iv.Prior to joining IESA, he served as India Lead – Advanced Energy Solutions at the World Economic Forum (WEF) from June 2023 to March 2025.
About India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA):
i.Founded by the United States of America(USA)-based Customized Energy Solutions (CES), IESA aims to establish India as a global leader in clean energy technologies.
ii.It has members from 180+ companies across sectors like Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing, microgrids, cleantech startups, and research institutes.
iii.It aims to accelerate India’s net-zero emissions target by 2070 through innovation in battery storage, grid modernization, and green hydrogen.
President – Debmalya Sen
Headquarters –Pune, Maharashtra
Established – 2012

CCI Chairperson Ravneet Kaur Gets Additional Charge as NFRA Chairperson for 3 Months
In April 2025, the Government of India (GoI) appointed Ravneet Kaur, the 5th Chairperson of the New Delhi(Delhi) based Competition Commission of India (CCI), with additional charge as Chairperson of the New Delhi based National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MoCA).

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment for three months starting 1 April 2025, or until a regular appointment is made.
• The position became vacant after Ajay Bhushan Pandey completed his three-year term on 31 March 2025.

i.Ravneet Kaur served as joint secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I).
ii.She has served as Chairperson and Managing Director (CMD) of India Tourism Development Corporation Limited (ITDC), Exim Bank (Export-Import Bank of India) and India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL).
iii.She was a consultant at International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington D.C., (United States of America, USA) and Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow at Cornell University, USA.

ENVIRONMENT

New Damselfly Species ‘Euphaea Wayanadensis’ Discovered in Kerala
In April 2025, a group of scientists have discovered a new species of damselfly named ‘Euphaea Wayanadensis’ in the Wayanad landscape of the Western Ghats, Kerala. The discovery of new species was published in the peer-reviewed journal ENTOMON.

• This species marks 191st recorded odonate species (including dragonflies and damselflies) found in Kerala and the 223rd one to be documented from the Western Ghats.

i.The newly discovered species belongs to Euphaeidae family and was identified using integrated taxonomy methods.
ii.Initially, the new species features had been misidentified as Euphaea pseudodispar, a species described from Maharashtra.

• But, later the study found that the new species exhibits various morphological differences from Euphaea pseudodispar like: longer black hind wing patch, wider and uninterrupted humeral and antehumeral stripes in males, among others.

iii.The new species are observed throughout the year except during the month of March and April.
Note: In 2013, a group of researchers 1st observed the distinct morphotype of ‘Euphaea Wayanadensis’ at the Kalindi river, thirunelli in Wayanad district (Kerala).

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Sanjeev Chopra’s book “The Great Conciliator: Lal Bahadur Shastri and the Transformation of India” Released
In March 2025, a new biography, “The Great Conciliator: Lal Bahadur Shastri and the Transformation of India“, authored by historian and former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Sanjeev Chopra, has been released. It offers an in-depth look at India’s second Prime Minister(PM), Lal Bahadur Shastri.

• Published by New Delhi(Delhi) based Bloomsbury Publishing India Private Limited, this book highlights Shastri’s contributions to India’s growth.

i.In this meticulously researched biography, Sanjeev Chopra delves into Shastri’s political and administrative journey.
ii.The narrative sheds light on his pivotal role in establishing key national institutions such as the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
iii.Additionally, the book revisits Shastri’s iconic slogan, “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,” which encapsulated his vision for India’s defense and agricultural sectors.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Raising Day of the Army Medical Corps 2025 – April 3Every year, the Indian Army (IA) observes the Raising Day of the Army Medical Corps (AMC) on April 3 to honor the founding of the AMC in 1764 and commemorate the sacrifices made by medical professionals in the line of duty.

• April 3, 2025, marked the 261st Raising Day of the AMC, a specialized corps dedicated to providing comprehensive healthcare services to active personnel, veterans, and their families.
• AMC’s motto, “Sarve Santu Niramaya” (Sanskrit for “Let all be free from disease and disability”), reflects its commitment to holistic health and preventive care.

Historical Evolution of AMC:
i.The origins trace back to the Indian Medical Service (IMS), established in 1612 during the British East India Company’s rule, with John Woodall as the first Surgeon General.
ii.In 1764, medical services were formalized under the Company’s armies.
iii.The administrative headquarters of IAMC was established in Pune (Maharashtra) in May 1943. Post-independence, IAMC was renamed Army Medical Corps (AMC) on 26 January 1950 (Republic Day).
>> Read Full News

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