Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 22th April 2025

 1. On April 20, 2025, Indian Army launched the ‘Voice of Kinnaur’ community radio station in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district. 

• The station was established as part of the Army’s Operation Sadbhavana initiative. 
•  Its purpose is to deliver local news, offer educational and health content, and promote regional culture. 
•  ‘Voice of Kinnaur’ will serve as a platform for critical public interest information. 
•  The radio will provide a voice for youth, women, and apple farmers to share concerns and achievements. 
•  The opening ceremony was held at the Army Tripeak Public School. 
•  Senior officers from the Indian Army’s Surya Command were present at the event. 

2. Rudraksh-Arya, and Arjun Babuta won silver medals at the ISSF World Cup 2025. 

•  Indian shooters Rudrankksh Patil and Arya Borse won silver in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 
• They lost the final 9-17 to China’s Song Buhan and Wang Zifei. 
•  Apart from this, Arjun Babuta claimed silver in Lima after a close finish in the men’s 10m Air Rifle final, just 0.1 points behind China’s Lihao Sheng. 
•  Earlier, Suruchi Inder Singh bagged two golds – one in the women’s 10m Air Pistol with a score of 243.6 and one in the mixed team event with Saurabh Chaudhary. 
• Manu Bhaker secured silver in the same women’s pistol event with a score of 242.3. 3. A 12% safeguard duty imposed on steel imports by the center to protect the domestic industry. 
•  On 21 April, a 12% safeguard duty was imposed by the Centre on the import of certain non-alloy and alloy steel flat products to shield the Indian steel sector. 
•  The government has imposed a safeguard duty for 200 days on five steel product categories, including hot-rolled coils, sheets, and plates, to protect domestic players from a surge in imports. 
• The import prices between $675 per tonne to $964 per tonne have been set by the government for the five steel product categories. 
•  Any shipment imported at a price lower than these import prices will be subject to safeguard duties. 
•  According to the notification, safeguard duty will not be levied on product categories imported into India at or above the specified import price on a CIF (cost, insurance, and freight) basis. 
•  Product categories are hot-rolled coils, sheets, and plates; hot-rolled plate mill plate; cold-rolled coils and sheets; metallic-coated steel coils and sheets; and color-coated coils and sheets, whether or not profiled. 
• This move will provide significant relief to domestic producers, especially small and medium enterprises, which have been facing immense pressure due to rising imports. 

4. During PM Modi's visit, India and Saudi Arabia discussed regional security and strategic partnership. 

•  Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Saudi Arabia on a two-day bilateral visit from April 22 to 23, during which regional security and humanitarian coordination are likely to be discussed. 
•  This is PM Modi's third official visit to Saudi Arabia, after his previous visits in 2016 and 2019.
•   This visit of the Prime Minister underlines the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia for India in many dimensions. 
•  Saudi Arabia remains an important partner for India not only in crisis response but also in ensuring the safety of its expatriate community and promoting broader regional stability. 
•  Bilateral relations between the two have grown significantly since the establishment of the Strategic Partnership Council in 2019. 
•  On April 22, India and Saudi Arabia signed six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). 
•  The two sides signed agreements in the areas of space, energy, health, science and scientific research, culture, and advanced technology. 
•  Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Saudi Arabia on winning the bids to host the World Expo 2030 and FIFA World Cup 2034 and called it a matter of "immense pride". 
•  India-Saudi Arabia relations: 
•  India and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial and friendly relations. Both have old economic and socio-cultural ties. 
•  The India-Saudi Arabia diplomatic relationship was established in 1947. 
•  In 2010, the ‘Riyadh Declaration’ was signed by both countries, which elevated their bilateral relationship to a ‘Strategic Partnership.’ 
•  Saudi Arabia is India's fifth-largest trading partner, while India is Saudi Arabia's second-largest trading partner. 
•  During FY 2023-24, India's imports from Saudi Arabia totaled $31.42 billion, while exports to Saudi Arabia totaled $11.56 billion. 
•  Total trade with Saudi Arabia in FY 2023-24 was 4.53% of India's total trade. 

6. Massive corruption exposed at China-backed Pokhara airport. 

•  A 12-member Nepal parliamentary committee led by Rastriya Prajatantra Party chair Rajendra Lingden has uncovered significant irregularities and corruption in the construction of the Pokhara International Airport. 
• The investigation also revealed that Chinese construction companies involved in the project were granted unjustified tax exemptions. 
•  The subcommittee formed by the House of Representatives’ Public Accounts Committee revealed in its report released on April 17 that approximately NPR 14 billion was embezzled in the Pokhara International Airport project. 
• The embezzlement involved funds allocated for the development of physical infrastructure, equipment, runways, and surrounding facilities. 
• The PIA was to be constructed at a cost of Rs 22 billion by taking a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China and was finally completed on December 29, 2022, at a cost of about 25 billion Nepalese rupees. 
•  Although the facility was officially launched in January 2023, the airport has not seen any regular international flights except for a few chartered flights. 
•  As per the agreement, Nepal will have to repay the loan at an interest rate of 2% for seven years after the completion of the airport construction and pay back the principal amount in the next 13 years. 
•  The airport is expected to be part of China's Belt and Road Initiative but may face repayment challenges. 

7. Coal-based power generation grew by just 2.8% in FY25.

•   This is the slowest increase since FY21. 
•  Peak electricity demand remained stable over the past two years. 
•  It increased from 240 GW to 250 GW in FY25. 
• Renewable energy played a key role in meeting the increased demand. 
•  Thermal power had the weakest growth among major power sources in FY25. Its growth was only 2.8%. Nuclear power grew by 18.4%. 
•  Large hydro and renewable energy grew by 10.8% and 11.4%, respectively. 
•  India’s total electricity generation reached a record 1,821 billion units (BU) in FY25. This represents a 5% year-on-year increase. 
•  Growth in electricity generation was seen across all sectors. 
•  Thermal power increased by 2.8%, nuclear by 18.4%, large hydro by 10.8%, and renewables by 11.4%. 

8. India’s infrastructure output increased by 3.8 percent in March 2025. 

•  The production of cement, fertilisers, steel, electricity, coal and refinery products recorded positive growth during March 2025. 
•  The total growth rate of the combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) during the financial year 2025 stood at 4.4 per cent as compared to the corresponding period of last year. 
•  According to provisional data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the increase in various sectors on annual basis is as follows: 
• cement production - 11.6 percent 
• fertilisers - 8.8 percent
• steel production- 7.1 percent 
• electricity - 6.2 percent 
• coal production - 1.6 percent 
• petroleum refinery products - 0.2 percent 
• However, natural gas declined by 12.7 percent and crude oil decreased by 1.9 percent in March 2025 as compared to March 2024.
•  Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI): 
• It measures the combined and individual performance of production of eight core industries - Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement and Electricity. 
• The eight core industries comprise 40.27 percent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production. 
• The base year is 2011-12. 

9. Indian Navy successfully completed a major refit of the Maldivian Coast Guard Ship MNDF Huravee. 

•  This refit was done as part of India’s commitment to regional maritime security under the vision of ‘Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth for All in the Region (MAHASAGAR)’ and its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. 
•  It highlights strong diplomatic and military cooperation between India and Maldives. 
•  The “Make in India “ship Huravee was given to the MNDF (Maldives National Defence Force) in May 2023 as a replacement for an older platform. 
• The ship has played a major role in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Medical Evacuation operations across the Maldivian group of islands. 
•  Maldives is an island nation in the Indian Ocean. Its capital is Male and currency is Maldivian Rufiyaa.
•  MAHASAGAR vision builds on the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) announced for the first time by PM Modi during his visit to Mauritius in 2015. 
•  India’s neighourhood first policy was launched in 2008. It is guided by Samman (respect), Samvad (dialogue), Shanti (peace), and Samriddhi (prosperity). Countries that are part of India’s neighbourhood first policy includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. 

10. PM Modi to inaugurate Vizhinjam International Seaport on May 2 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on May 2, 2025.
• This port will be India’s first semi-automated deep-water international container transhipment port, marking a historic development in maritime infrastructure. 
•  Vizhinjam port is the first Greenfield port project in India, initiated by a state government with an investment exceeding ₹18,000 crore. 
•  Developed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, it stands as one of the largest initiatives in the country’s port sector. 
•  The project was allotted to APSEZ after the Government of Kerala and Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Ltd. (AVPPL) agreed to a concession agreement in 2015. 

11. Arunachal CM inaugurates International Conclave on ‘Buddha Dhamma & Culture of North-East India’ 

• Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein inaugurated the International Conclave on the theme Buddha Dhamma and the Culture of North-East India” in Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh. 
• The two-day conference is being organised by the International Buddhist Confederation in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Culture, Government of India. 
• Buddhist monks and scholars from India and several other countries, including Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Bhutan, are participating in the two-day conference. 

About Arunachal Pradesh 

•  Capital – Itanagar
• Chief Minister – Pema Khandu 
• Governor – LG (Retd) Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik 
• Legislative Assembly Seat – 60 

12. Ananya Panday Becomes Chanel’s First-Ever Brand Ambassador from India 

•  French luxury brand Chanel has appointed Ananya Panday as its first-ever brand ambassador from India, following her appearance at the Chanel Spring/Summer 2025 show in Paris. 
•  Ananya Panday, known for her roles in Gehraiyaan, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, CTRL, and Call Me Bae, has emerged as a Gen Z fashion icon, with 25.9 million Instagram followers showcasing her Chanel looks. 
•  Ananya represents a generation with evolving tastes and independent identities, aligning well with the brand’s values and image.

Recent Brand Ambassador 

• Kartik Aaryan – Thomas Cook India Limited for its foreign exchange business 
•  Salman Khan – 10X Zarda King rices 
•  Vidya Balan – Federal Bank 
•  Shubman Gill – Tyre brand MRFs 
•  Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh – American clothing brand, Levi’s 
•  PV Sindhu – PUMA India 

13. Former SC judge Dinesh Maheshwari appointed law commission chairperson 

•  Dinesh Maheshwari has been appointed as the chairperson of the 23rd Law Commission of India, with approval from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 
• The 23rd Law Commission was established on September 3, 2023, for a three-year term, with Hitesh Jain and Prof. D P Verma appointed as full-time members. 
•  The commission will examine important issues, including the potential introduction of a uniform civil code in India. 
•  Justice Dinesh Maheshwari retired from the Supreme Court in May 2023, and has previously served in various high court positions, including Chief Justice of Meghalaya and Karnataka High Courts. 

Recent Appointments 

• DG of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Dr Mangi Lal Jat (replace Dr Himanshu Jain); for 3 years 
• Members of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) – Pankaj Kumar Mishra, Sanjay Bahadur, L. Rajasekhar Reddy, and G. Aparna Rao 
• 52nd Chief Justice of India– Justice B.R. Gavai (replace Justice Sanjiv Khanna) 
•  Chairperson of Athletes’ Commission of the Indian Weightlifting Federation – Mirabai Chanu 
• Vice-chairperson of Athletes’ Commission of the Indian Weightlifting Federation – S Sathish Kumar 
•  Chairperson of the ICC men’s cricket committee – Sourav Ganguly 

14. Laureus Awards 2025: Andrade beats Rishabh Pant to win Comeback of the Year 

• The 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards celebrated its 25th anniversary with a grand ceremony in Madrid, honoring outstanding athletes and teams for their exceptional performances over the past year. 
•  The Laureus World Sports Awards, often dubbed the “Oscars of Sports”, celebrated the most remarkable athletes and sporting achievements of the past year. 
• Held in the vibrant city of Madrid, the 2025 edition of the event brought together legends, rising stars, and game-changers across various disciplines. 

Full List Of Winners at Laureus Sports Awards 2025- 

• Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award- Armand Duplantis 
• Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award- Simone Biles 
• Laureus World Team of the Year Award- Real Madrid 
• Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award- Lamine Yamal 
• Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award- Rebeca Andrade 
• Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability AwardJiang Yuyan 
• Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award- Tom Pidcock 
• Laureus Sport for Good Award- Kick4Life 
• Laureus Sporting Icon Award- Rafael Nadal 
• Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award- Kelly Slater 

15. Simranpreet Kaur wins maiden senior international medal with silver in 25m pistol 

• In Shooting, India’s Simranpreet Kaur Brar has clinched her maiden senior international medal with a silver in the women’s 25m pistol event at the International Shooting Sport Federation, ISSF World Cup in Lima, Peru. 
•  The Indian shooter shot a total of 33 hits in the 10-series of five rapid-fire shots final, finishing one hit behind China’s Sun Yujie, who won back-to-back World Cup golds in the event. 
•  A second Chinese, Yao Qianxun, won bronze with 29 hits to her name. Meanwhile, Paris Olympics double medallist Manu Bhaker finished fourth. 

16. 21 April – World Creativity and Innovation Day 

•  World Creativity and Innovation Day (WCID) is celebrated every year on April 21 to raise awareness about the importance of creativity and innovation in problem-solving and driving sustainable development across the globe. 
• Theme 2025 – Step out and innovate 

17. 22 April – Earth Day 

• Earth Day is observed every year on 22 April to raise awareness about environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, and conservation, inspiring individuals and communities to take action. 
•  Theme 2025 – Our Power, Our Plane 
•  The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, when industries were releasing smoke and sludge without much concern about the legal or public repercussions. 

18. Pope Francis, a cheerful reformer, dies aged 88 

•  Pope Francis, an energetic reformer who inspired widespread devotion from Catholics but riled traditionalists, died on Monday aged 88, just a day after greeting delighted worshippers after Easter Mass. 
• The death of the Argentine pontiff, leader of the Catholic Church since March 2013, came less than a month after having been released from hospital following a 38-day battle with double pneumonia. 
•  Pope Francis died of a stroke, causing a coma and “irreversible” heart failure, according to his death certificate released by the Vatican. 
•  “Dearest brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in the statement published by the Vatican on its Telegram channel. 
• “The Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church,” said the statement. 
• A football-loving former Archbishop of Buenos Aires who was often happiest among his flock, Pope Francis sought to forge a more open and compassionate Church. 
•  Pope Francis, whose real name was Jorge Bergoglio, was the first Jesuit to lead the world’s almost 1.4 billion Catholics and also the first Pope from the Americas. 

19. PM to flag of Namo Bharat intercity train in Bihar 

•  Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to flag off Bihar's second Amrit Bharat train, connecting the State to Maharashtra, and inaugurate a new Namo Bharat train service (in picture) between Jayanagar and Patna on April 24. 
•  The new Amrit Bharat service will operate between Saharsa in Bihar and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai. 
•  The train, manufactured at Integral Coach Factory, will have a maximum speed of 130 km per hour. Its route includes Hajipur, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay junction near Varanasi, and Bhusaval. 
•  Namo Bharat trains have engines on both ends, which helps in cutting turnaround time during intercity travel. 

20. Two ISRO satellites dock successfully for the second time 

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully executed the second docking of the two satellites — SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) — that are part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said on Monday. 
• “Glad to inform you that the second docking of satellites has been accomplished successfully. 
•  As informed earlier, the PSLV-C60 / SPADEX mission was successfully launched on 30 December 2024. Thereafter the satellites were successfully docked for the first time on 16 January 2025 at 06:20 AM and successfully undocked on 13 March 2025 at 09:20 AM. 
•  Further experiments are planned in the next two weeks,” the Minister posted on X. Docking satellites Earlier this year, India became the fourth country after the U.S., Russia, and China to conduct the docking experiment. 
• The SpaDeX mission is an important project by the ISRO. It is designed to develop and demonstrate the technology needed for spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking using two small satellites. 
• The demonstration of this technology is essential for future missions, such as sending an Indian astronaut to the moon, returning samples from the moon, and the building and operation of an Indian space station. 
• The other aims of the mission include demonstration of the transfer of electric power between the docked spacecraft, which is essential for future applications, such as in-space robotics, composite spacecraft control, and payload operations after undocking. 21. EPFO adds 7.39 lakh new members in February 
•  The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation on Monday said it has enrolled 7.39 lakh new subscribers in February. 
•  The pension fund authority made a net addition of 16.10 lakh members in the month, adding 3.99% in net payroll additions compared with February 2024. 
•  The EPFO said the data signify increased employment opportunities and heightened awareness of employee benefits. 
•  “A noticeable aspect of the data is the dominance of the 18-25 age group, 4.27 lakh new subscribers added in the 18-25 age group, constituting a significant 57.71% of the total new subscribers added in February 2025,” the EPFO said in a statement. 
• The net payroll addition for the 18-25 age group for the month is approximately 6.78 lakh.