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AFFAIRSCLOUD TODAY

Table of Contents
Hand Written Notes ......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Detailed Content............................................................................................................................................................. 13

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Hand Written Notes

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

1)

IWAI - Inland Waterways Authority of India

MoPS&W - Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
FY - Financial Year
MMT - Million Metric Tonnes
NW - National Waterways

2)

CM - Chief Minister
TR - Tiger Reserve

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

1)

UNFCCC - UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

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2)

Rank Overall Score

1 Tsinghua University China 92.5
2 Peking University China 92
Singapore 89.9
Singapore 81.8
5 The University of Tokyo Japan 83.3

Top5 Indian Institutes : THE Asia University Ranking 2025

38 Indian Institute of Science
111 Anna University Chennai, Tamil Nadu 52.3
Indore, Madhya Pradesh 49.4
Kottayam, Kerala 48.6
Bajhol, Himachal Pradesh 48.1

THE - Times Higher Education

BANKING & FINANCE

1)

EMF - Edelweiss Mutual Fund

BSE - Bombay Stock Exchange

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2)

RBI - Reserve Bank of India

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

1)

2)

Operator & Airport Country

Between 15-38 million Karnataka,

India

Between 6-15 million Kerala, India

Less than 6 million Platinum Hubballi Airport Karnataka,

(Airports Authority of India) India

ACI APAC & MID - Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East
UAE - United Arab Emirates

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APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

1)

WBG - World Bank Group

PSIL - Private Sector Investment Lab
BEL - Bharti Enterprises Limited

2)

PM - Prime Minister
CEO - Chief Executive Officer
UIDAI - Unique Identification Authority of India
DG - Director General
NIC - National Informatics Centre
DDA - Delhi Development Authority
MoHUA - Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
MD - Managing Director
ITDC - India Tourism Development Corporation
MoT - Ministry of Tourism
MoCAF&PD - Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
GeM - Government e-Marketplace
SPV - Special Purpose Vehicle
MoC&I - Ministry of Commerce and Industry

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3)

CMD of REC Ltd

CMD - Chairman & Managing Director

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

1)

NABARD - National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

1)

INS - Indian Naval Ship

MR-SAM - Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile

2)

ENVIRONMENT
1)

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PAGR - Peninsular Aquatic Genetic Resources

ICAR-NBFGR - Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Bureau of Fish
Genetic Resources

SPORTS

1)

FIDE - International Chess Federation

WGP - Women’s Grand Prix

OBITUARY

1)

ISRO - Indian Space Research Organisation

NEP - National Education Policy
INSAT - Indian National Satellite System
IRS - Indian Remote Sensing Satellites

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2)

IMPORTANT DAYS
1)

WHO - World Health Organization

2)

3)

25 April 2025

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S&P upgrades ratings of Bajaj Finance, Shriram Finance and 4 other leading Indian NBFCs
amid strengthened regulatory environment

J.V. Goud, former UAS Vice-Chancellor, dead

Defence Ministry sanctions Rs 100 crore for new Sainik School in Karbi Anglong

Municipal bond issuances in India to exceed Rs 1,500 crore in FY 2025-26, driven by

government push: ICRA

Pixxel commissions three hyperspectral satellites, releases first images

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Detailed Content
Current Affairs 26 April 2025: Headlines

India’s Record Cargo Movement on Inland Waterways

Odisha’s Similipal Officially Declared as India’s 107th National Park
THE Asia University Rankings 2025: IISc topped among Indian Institutes; China’s Tsinghua
University Topped the Overall List
UNDP Joined Global Network to Help Countries Cope with Climate Change
EMF Launches India’s First BSE Internet Economy Index Fund
RBI Cancelled Licence of Ajantha Urban Co-operative Bank Due to Capital & Compliance Issues
Indian Filmmaker Payal Kapadia Conferred with France’s “Officier dans l’Ordre des Arts et
des Lettres” for Contribution to Cinema
ACI GAR 2025: Hubballi Airport Achieves Platinum Status Among 3 Indian Honorees
Sunil Bharti Mittal Joins WBG’s Private Sector Investment Lab to Boost Developing Economies
Bhuvnesh Kumar Appointed CEO of UIDAI; K.K. Pathak Named Additional Secretary in Cabinet
Secretariat
Govt Appoints IAS Officer Jitendra Srivastava as CMD of REC Ltd
NABARD Acquires 10% Stake in 24×7 Moneyworks Consulting
INS Surat Successfully Tests MR-SAM in Arabian Sea
China Launches Shenzhou-20 Crewed Mission to Tiangong Space Station
ICAR-NBFGR’s PAGR Centre Unveiled Two New Freshwater Fish Species in Western Ghats
Indian GM Koneru Humpy Clinches FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-25 in Pune
Former ISRO Chairman and Padma Awardee K. Kasturirangan Passes Away
Former Australia batter Keith Stackpole Passed Away
World Malaria Day 2025 – April 25
International Delegate’s Day 2025 – April 25
World Penguin Day 2025– April 25

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS
India’s Record Cargo Movement on Inland Waterways
In 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 year, 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.
ii.Simultaneously, the operational length of NWs has also increased from 2,716 km (2014-15) to 4,894 km
(2023-24).
iii.Also, various digital tools like Least Available Depth Information System (LADIS), River Information
System (RIS), Car-D, Portal for Navigational Information (PANI), and Management Information and
Reporting Solution (MIRS) were launched by the IWAI to boost the Ease of Doing Business.
iv.India aims to increase Inland Water Transport (IWT) modal share from 2 to 5 percent, and raise traffic to
200+ MMT by 2030 and 500+ MMT by 2047 under Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision.
Policy Measures to Boost Inland Waterways:
i.Jalvahak – Cargo Promotion Scheme:
The initiative, launched on 15 December 2024 with an allocated budget of Rs. 95.42 crores, consists of two
main components:
• Financial Incentive: Cargo owners get a 35 percent reimbursement on actual operating costs.
• Scheduled Services: Regular cargo services have been introduced to boost reliability and
predictability.
ii.Extension of Tonnage Tax to Inland Vessels:
In order to the tax burden and encourage broader adoption of
inland shipping, a stable and predictable tax regime based on
vessel tonnage rather than profits was announced in February
2025.
iii.Regulatory Framework for Private Investment:
Promotes private investment in inland waterways through a
well-defined legal and operational structure.
iv.Port Integration:

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The Multi-Modal Terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj, and Haldia, as well as the Intermodal Terminal
at Kalughat, are being transferred to Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata for seamless multimodal
logistics.
v.Digitisation and Centralised Database:
A centralised portal is being developed for the registration of inland vessels and crew.
vi.Cargo Aggregation Infrastructure:
To resolve issues related to limited industrial presence along waterways, the following cargo aggregation
hubs are under development:
• Freight Village at Varanasi
• Integrated Cluster-cum-Logistics Park at Sahibganj
vii. Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route Operationalisation:
Routes No. 5 & 6 between Maia and Sultanganj have been successfully trialled under the Indo-Bangladesh
Protocol.
viii. Engagement with Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs):
More than 140 PSUs have been actively involved in evaluating the shift of a portion of their cargo operations
to IWT.
About National Waterways (NW):
Government of India has declared 111 waterways as National Waterways through National Waterways Act,
2016 enacted on 12.04.2016
NW-1 – Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river, Uttar Pradesh to West Bengal
NW-2 – Brahmaputra River
NW-3 – West Coast Canal, Kerala
NW-4 – Krishna River, Andhra Pradesh
NW-5 – Mahanadi/Brahmani delta, Matai River, Odisha to West Bengal
NW-6 – Barak River, Assam
NW-37 – River, Gandak Bihar
NW-68 – Mandovi River Goa
NW-73 – River Narmada
NW-110 – River Yamuna, Uttar Pradesh

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.

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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 List
In 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).

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• This ranking of IISc is based on its performance on key indicators/parameters i.e. industry
engagement (97.3), robust performances in teaching (68.1) and research quality (64.1).This year
total 20 Indian Institutes ranked among Asia’s 250 Universities.
• 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.
About THE Asia University Ranking 2025:
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.The rankings are based on 18 performance indicators (up from 13 performance indicators in 2023
Rankings), to reflect the attributes of Asia’s institutions.
iii.These performance indicators are grouped into 5 areas: Teaching (the learning
environment), Research (volume, income and reputation), Research Quality (research influence, research
strength and research excellence), International Outlook (staff, students and research) and Industry
Income (knowledge transfer, patent).
Key Highlights:
i.China continues to lead, securing the top two spots and five positions in the top ten. Singapore, Japan, and
other countries also maintain a strong presence in the rankings.
ii.With 119 universities, Japan has the most representation on the 2025 rankings followed by India with 107
universities (up from 91 in 2024) and Mainland China with 99 universities.
iii.As per the latest rankings, all 6 universities of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China,
are now ranked in the top 50 for the 1st time since 2017.
iv.This year, 4 countries namely, Uzbekistan(3 universities), Bahrain(1 university), Mongolia (1
university), and Syria (1 university) debuted in the Asia rankings, which reflects the increasing presence of
universities from emerging regions in global higher education.
THE Asia University Ranking 2025:Top 5 Institutes

Overall
2025 Rank Name of the Institution Country or Region
Score

1 Tsinghua University China 92.5

2 Peking University China 92

3 National University of Singapore Singapore 89.9

4 Nanyang Technological University Singapore 81.8

5 The University of Tokyo Japan 83.3

THE Asia University Ranking 2025:Top5 Indian Institutes

Overall
2025 Rank Name of the Institute State
Score

38 Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, Karnataka 65.2

111 Anna University Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN) 52.3

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Indian Institute of Technology (IIT- Indore, Madhya Pradesh

131 49.4
Indore) (MP)

140 Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam, Kerala 48.6

Shoolini University of Biotechnology Bajhol, Himachal Pradesh

146 48.1
and Management Sciences (HP)
India-Specific:
i.Notably, this year all the Indian institutions have dropped in position compared to the last year rankings,
for instance: Chennai (TN)-based Anna University dropped from 119th to 111th and Kottayam (Kerala)-
based Mahatma Gandhi University slipped to 140th from 134th.
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.
iv.Other Indian universities ranked within 200: Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN) based Saveetha Institute of
Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS) ranked 149; New Delhi(Delhi) based Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI)
ranked 161; Guwahati(Assam) based IIT Guwahati ranked 184; Bhubaneswar, Odisha based KIIT University
ranked 184 and Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh(UP) based Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) ranked 188.
• Dehradun, Uttarakhand based UPES (University of Petroleum and Energy Studies) ranked
191; Patna(Bihar) based Indian Institute of Technology Patna (IIT Patna) ranked 191; Rourkela,
Odisha based National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) ranked 191 and
Hyderabad, Telangana based International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT
Hyderabad) ranked 200
v.Indian universities ranked within 201-250 band: Banaras Hindu University (BHU), UP; Jawaharlal Nehru
University (JNU), New Delhi,
Birla Institute of Technology And Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani), Rajasthan and Lovely Professional University
(LPU) (Punjab), among others.
About Times Higher Education (THE):
THE (Formerly, The Times Higher Education Supplement -The Thes) is a British magazine reporting on
news and issues related to higher education.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– John Gill
Headquarters- London, the United Kingdom(UK)

UNDP Joined Global Network to Help Countries Cope with Climate Change
In 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
support vulnerable countries and communities in tackling the irreversible impacts of loss and damage
caused by 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.
Note: The term ‘loss and damage’ refers to the harmful effects of climate change that cannot be avoided or
adapted to.

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Key Points:
i.A 2023 study showed that between 2000 and 2019, the world suffered minimum USD 2.8 trillion in
climate-related damages, nearly USD 16 million every hour (hr).
ii.Vulnerable countries, who are least responsible for global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) are affected
most by the climate change, for example: the 2022 floods in Pakistan affected 33 million people and caused
economic damages near USD 30 million.
About Santiago Network:
i.The Santiago Network was established under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
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 UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the UN Office for
Project Services (UNOPS) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Significance:
i.UNDP as a member of the Santiago Network, will be able to expand its outreach and technical assistance to
those countries bearing the brunt of climate change, strengthening their climate and disaster resilience
through disaster risk reduction, early warning systems (EWS), among others.
ii.The membership will help UNDP in strengthening its engagement with key international mechanisms like:
• Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage, which
coordinates international efforts to understand and address climate impacts,
• The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, established at the 27th session of Conference of
Parties (COP27) climate summit held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt in 2022, aimed to facilitate
financial support to countries facing climate related risks. In the initial phase, the fund had
pledged to raise USD 700 million, which is further estimated to reach hundreds of billions of
dollars by 2030.
About United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):
Administrator- Achim Steiner
Headquarters- New York, the United States of America (USA)
Established- 1965

BANKING & FINANCE

EMF Launches India’s First BSE Internet Economy Index Fund
On 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.

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• 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

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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 Cinema
On 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.

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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 Honorees
In 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).

• In Green Category Three Indian airports operated by the Airports Authority of India
(AAI) recognized under GAR 2025 are Hubballi Airport (HBX) (Hubballi,
Karnataka), Kempegowda International Airport or Bengaluru International Airport
Limited (KIA/BLR) (Bengaluru, Karnataka), and Cochin International Airport Limited
(CIAL) (Kochi, Kerala).
• In ACI Safety category Kempegowda International Airport received Gold Award
i.A total of 12 airports across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East have been awarded Platinum, Gold, and
Silver awards under its Green Airports Recognition (GAR) 2025 initiative.
ii.This edition, themed “Sustainable Energy at Airports”, received a record 39 submissions, highlighting the
aviation sector’s strong commitment to reducing environmental impact through innovative and sustainable
energy solutions.
iii.Hubballi Airport was honoured for implementing an 8 megawatt (MW) solar power plant within the
airport premises, showcasing its commitment to sustainable energy usage.
iv.KIA received Silver recognition in the 15–38 million passengers per year category for its project
“Sustainable Energy for a Greener Perpetuity”.
v.CIAL also received Silver recognition for setting up a 12 megawatt-peak (MWp) solar power plant.
GAR 2025 Winners by Passenger Category:

Passengers per
Category Operator & Airport Country
annum

Singapore Changi Airport

Platinum Singapore
(Changi Airport Group)

Hong Kong (special

Hong Kong International Airport
Over 38 million Gold administrative
(Airport Authority Hong Kong)
region of China)

Sydney Airport
Silver Australia
(Sydney Airport Corporation)

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Kansai International Airport

Platinum Japan
(Kansai Airports)

Melbourne Airport (Australia Pacific

Between 15-38 Gold Australia
Airports Corporation)
million
Kempegowda International
India
Silver Airport (Bengaluru International
(Karnataka)
Airport Limited)

Christchurch International Airport

Platinum (Christchurch International Airport New Zealand
Limited)

Chubu Centrair International Airport

Between 6-15
Gold (Central Japan International Airport Japan
million
Co.,Ltd.)

Cochin International Airport

India
Silver (Cochin International Airport
(Kerala)
Limited)

Hubballi Airport
Platinum India (Karnataka)
(Airports Authority of India)

Wellington International Airport

Less than 6
Gold (Wellington International Airport New Zealand
million
Limited)

Darwin International Airport

Silver Australia
(Airport Development Group Pty)
ACI Safety Recognition Awards 2025: Kempegowda International Airport received Gold Award
During the ACI APAC & MID Regional Assembly in New Delhi, it presented the inaugural Safety Recognition
Awards 2025 to acknowledge airports demonstrating exemplary safety cultures and innovative approaches
to promoting aerodrome safety.
Three Recognized Airports:
i.Diamond Award: Dubai International Airport (DXB), Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• Recognized for its advanced safety management systems and proactive safety culture.
ii.Gold Award: Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Acknowledged for implementing innovative safety measures and fostering a strong safety culture
among its workforce.
iii.Silver Award:Narita International Airport (NRT), Chiba, Japan

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• Honored for its continuous efforts in enhancing aerodrome safety through technological
advancements and staff training programs.
About Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID):
Director General (DG) – Stefano BaronciPresident – SGK Kishore (India
Headquarters – Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), China
Founded – 2006

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Sunil Bharti Mittal Joins WBG’s Private Sector Investment Lab to Boost Developing Economies
On 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.
About Sunil Bharti Mittal:
i.Sunil Bharti Mittal is a leading Indian business conglomerate, and also the founder of New Delhi based
Bharti Airtel Limited, India’s largest telecom company.
ii.He received the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, in 2007 for his contributions to the
field of Trade and Industry.
iii.He was awarded the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) by
British King Charles III in 2025 for his significant contributions to the United Kingdom (UK)–India business
relations.
About the Private Sector Investment Lab (PSIL):
i.Launched in June 2023, the PSIL is a collaborative initiative between the WBG and global private sector
leaders.
• It is chaired by Shriti Vadera, Chair of Prudential plc based in London, the United Kingdom(UK).
• The Lab’s founding members comprise senior executives from prominent global institutions,
including AXA S.A., BlackRock Inc., HSBC Holdings plc, Macquarie Group Limited, Mitsubishi UFJ
Financial Group Inc., Ninety One plc, Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Ltd.,
Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Royal Philips), Standard Bank Group Limited, Standard Chartered plc,
Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), Tata Sons Private Limited, Temasek Holdings (Private)
Limited, and Three Cairns Group.

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ii.Its primary objective is to identify and implement solutions that address barriers to private sector
investment in emerging markets and developing economies.
iii.The initiative will now implement tested solutions across five strategic areas to mobilize institutional
capital and reduce risks for investors.
Five Key Focus Areas of the PSIL:
i.Regulatory Stability: Support governments in creating predictable policy frameworks to attract private
capital.
ii.Political Risk Insurance: Streamlined offerings led to a 30% year-on-year increase in guarantee
issuance, enhancing investor confidence.
iii.Local Currency Financing: Scaling solutions to mitigate foreign exchange risks and strengthen domestic
capital markets.
iv.Frontier Opportunities Fund: A new fund leveraging initial capital from International Finance
Corporation (IFC) income to support high-risk, early-stage projects. It aims to expand via donor and
philanthropic contributions.
v.Standardized Investment Products: Collaboration with USA-based S&P Global and BlackRock to create
securitized products, unlocking capital from pension funds, insurers, and sovereign wealth funds.
About World Bank Group (WBG):
The WBG is comprised of five international organizations: the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance
Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for
Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
President – Ajay Banga
Headquarters – Washington, D.C., the United States of America(USA)
Established– 1944

Bhuvnesh Kumar Appointed CEO of UIDAI; K.K. Pathak Named Additional Secretary in Cabinet
Secretariat
In 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.

Key Appointments:
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 in January
2025.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 Officer (IRAS).

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• 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
ii.Keshav Kumar Pathak, senior IAS officer from Bihar cadre has been appointed as the AS in the CS.
• Pathak, a 1990 batch IAS Officer is presently the Chairman of Bihar Revenue Board.
Other Major Appointments:
i.N Saravana Kumar, a 2000 batch IAS officer, has been appointed as Vice Chairman (VC), Delhi
Development Authority (DDA), Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
• He earlier served as Secretary in the Food Consumer Protection Department, Government of
Bihar.
ii.Mugdha Sinha, a 1995 batch IAS of Rajasthan cadre, appointed as Managing Director(MD) of India
Tourism Development Corporation(ITDC), Ministry of Tourism (MoT).
• She earlier served as Director General of Tourism, MoT which will now be replaced by Suman
Billa who is an AS in the MoT.
iii.Sanjiv Shankar, appointed as AS and Financial Advisor in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and
Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD).
• Prabhat, a 1993 batch Indian Railways Personnel Service (IRPS), appointed as Additional
Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MoI&B) in the place of Sanjiv Shankar.
iv.M S Srikar, a Karnataka cadre IAS of 1999 batch, will assume charge as Additional Secretary, Cabinet
Secretariat.
• He is currently serving as Principal Secretary, Higher Education, Government of Karnataka.
v.Abhijit Sinha, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), is promoted as Additional Secretary
in the same Ministry.
vi.Mihir Kumar, Joint Secretary of MHA has been named Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Government e-
Marketplace Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I).
• Amitabh Kumar, appointed as Additional Secretary, (MoC&I).
vii.Vir Vikram Yadav, will be the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change(MoEFCC).
viii.Sanjay Kumar Jha has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal(MOC)
Additional:
About Unique Identification Authority of India(UIDAI):
It is a statutory authority established under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Bhuvnesh Kumar
Headquarters – New Delhi(Delhi)
Established – 2009

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.

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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 Sea
On 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.

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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 Station

On 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.

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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 Ghats
In 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

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SPORTS
Indian GM Koneru Humpy Clinches FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-25 in Pune
The 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

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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.

About Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan:

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.In 1971, he joined the ISRO, marking the beginning of a distinguished career that spanned over three
decades.
• As the Director of ISRO Satellite Centre, he led the development of the Indian National Satellite
System (INSAT-2) and Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS-1A and 1B).
• As the Project Director, he oversaw India’s first experimental Earth observation
satellites, Bhaskara-I and II
iii.He led ISRO as its Chairman from 1994 to 2003, a period marked by self-reliance in space technology
despite international sanctions post-India’s 1998 nuclear tests.
• 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
iv.As Chairperson of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 Drafting Committee, Dr.
Kasturirangan revolutionised India’s education framework. He also served as:
• Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
• Chairman of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission.
• Member of the Rajya Sabha (2003–2009) and the Planning Commission of India.
• Director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru (2004–2009).
v.He has authored and edited several influential works, including his memoir “Space and Beyond:
Professional Voyage of K. Kasturirangan”.
• Additionally, he chaired the High-Level Working Group on Western Ghats, which produced
the Kasturirangan Committee Report. This report, submitted in 2013, provides a
comprehensive assessment and conservation plan for the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats
region of India.
• He authored more than 200 research papers in the fields of astronomy, space science, and
applications, contributing significantly to scientific literature.
Awards and Honours:
i.Dr. K. Kasturirangan was honoured with India’s top civilian awards for his contribution in the field
of Science and Engineering:

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• 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
ii.In 2003, he was honoured with the Aryabhata Award from the International Academy of Astronautics.
iii.In 2009, the Indian Science Congress honoured him with the Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Gold Medal.
About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
Chairman– Dr. V. Narayanan
Headquarters– Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established– 1969

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 25′
World 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.
• In 2025, the WHO joins forces with the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership to End Malaria.
Background:
i.WMD was established by WHO member states during the World Health Assembly (WHA) of 2007.
• The first World Malaria Day was observed on 25 April 2008.
ii.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.

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About Malaria:
i.Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted via bites of infected female Anopheles
mosquitoes.
ii.Species like Plasmodium falciparum (deadliest) and Plasmodium vivax pose the greatest threat.
iii.It is a non-contagious disease, and only 40 of 400+ Anopheles species transmit malaria, primarily in
tropical regions
Prevention and Treatment:
i.WHO recommends two vaccines for malaria prevention:
• RTS, S/AS01 (approved in 2021) and R21/Matrix-M (approved in 2023) are WHO-recommended
vaccines for children in high-risk areas.
• 19 African countries are deploying these vaccines, with Sudan targeting 1.3 million
children by 2026
ii.Tools: Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs), indoor spraying, chemoprevention, and rapid diagnostics.
Key Statistics and Global Burden:
i.According to the World Malaria Report 2024, 263 million new cases and 597,000 deaths occurred globally
in 2023, with 95% of cases and deaths concentrated in the WHO African Region
ii.45 countries and 1 territory (e.g., Egypt, certified malaria-free in 2024) have eliminated malaria. Of
the 83 malaria-endemic countries, 25 reported fewer than 10 cases in 2023.
iii.2.2 billion cases and 12.7 million deaths have been averted since 2000, but progress has stalled due to
funding gaps, climate crises, and conflict
India’s Progress in Malaria Elimination:
i.India has shown significant progress, with malaria cases dropping from 11,69,261 in 2015 to 2,27,564 in
2023, marking an 80% reduction.
ii.Malaria deaths decreased from 384 in 2015 to 83 in 2023, also an 80% reduction.
WHO’s New Operational Strategy for 2024–2030:
i.In 2024, the WHO Global Malaria Programme (GMP) launched the “Global
Malaria Programme Operational Strategy 2024–2030” to reshape global malaria trends and accelerate
progress toward elimination by 2030.
ii.The strategy focuses on four key objectives:
• Develop and disseminate norms and standards to guide effective malaria control.
• Stimulate the development and timely introduction of new tools and innovations to combat
emerging challenges.
• Promote the use of strategic information for targeted interventions and impact assessment.
• Provide technical leadership in coordinating the global malaria response.
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Director General (DG) – Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Founded – 1948

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.

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ii.Through this resolution, the UNGA acknowledged the crucial contributions of delegates in achieving the
primary objectives of the UN, including the promotion of peace, security, human rights, and sustainable
development.
iii. The inaugural International Delegate’s Day was observed on 25 April 2020.
Significance of April 25
i.The date commemorates the opening of the San Francisco Conference also known as the UN Conference on
International Organization on April 25, 1945, where 850 delegates from 50 countries convened to draft the
Charter of the UN.
ii.Delegates from 50 nations unanimously adopted the Charter of the UN and the Statute of the
International Court of Justice(ICJ). This monumental decision was the culmination of extensive
deliberations based on the Dumbarton Oaks proposals, the Yalta Agreement, and numerous amendments
proposed by participating governments.
iii.The following day, 26 June 1945, the Charter was formally signed at the Herbst Theatre in San
Francisco, laying the foundational framework for the establishment of the UN.
2025 Events:
i.On April 25 2025, the UN Headquarters in New York, the United States of America (USA), and the UN Office
in Geneva, Switzerland, hosted events to commemorate International Delegate’s Day.
ii.The event featured addresses from UN officials and discussions on the evolving role of delegates in
international relations.
About UN Delegates:
Delegates are appointed by their respective governments to represent national interests at the UN General
Assembly(UNGA), UN Security Council(UNSC), and other forums. Their responsibilities include:
• Negotiating agreements and forming alliances.
• Coordinating with home countries.
• Advancing multilateralism, a core UN principle.
• Voting on behalf of their nations in the absence of higher-ranking officials.
About the United Nations(UN):
Secretary-General – António Guterres
Headquarters – New York, the United States of America(USA)
Established – 1945

World Penguin Day 2025– April 25

World 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.

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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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