Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 25th April 2025

 

1. India finished third at the ISSF World Cup 2025 in Peru. 

•  India secured third place in the ISSF World Cup held in Lima, Peru, with a total of seven medals. 
• The medal tally included 2 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze. 
• China topped the standings with 4 gold, 3 silver, and 6 bronze medals. 
• The USA also won seven medals but edged past India to take second place due to winning more golds.
•   Simranpreet Kaur Brar earned India’s final medal by clinching silver in the women’s 25m pistol event. 
• The star of the tournament for India was 18-year-old Suruchi Inder Singh, who bagged both gold medals. 
•  Suruchi beat Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker in the 10m air pistol and teamed with Saurabh Chaudhary for the mixed team gold. 
•  This was the second shooting World Cup of the season. 
•  India had won eight medals - four gold, two silver, and two bronze - and finished second in Buenos Aires earlier this month. 

2. World Malaria Day: 25 April 

•  World Malaria Day is observed every year on April 25. 
•  It is observed to highlight the need for investment and sustained political commitment to the prevention and control of malaria. 
•  The theme of World Malaria Day 2025 is “Malaria ends with us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite”. 
• In 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted World Malaria Day at the 60th session of the World Health Assembly.

  Malaria: 

•  It is spread by the bite of an infected female anopheles mosquito. 
•  Infected mosquitoes spread the Plasmodium parasite. ○ It is a preventable and treatable infectious disease. 
•  In 1897, Sir Ronald Ross found that malaria among humans is spread by female mosquitoes. Hydroxychloroquine is an anti-malarial drug. 

3. The National Zero Measles-Rubella Elimination Campaign launched on the occasion of World Immunization Week. 

• On 24th April, the National Zero Measles-Rubella Elimination Campaign 2025-26 virtually launched by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda on the first day of World Immunization Week (24–30 April). 
• This campaign has been launched as a significant step towards the goal of eliminating measles and rubella by 2026. 
•  On this occasion, Shri Nadda released multilingual M-R IEC material (Posters, Radio Jingle, MR Elimination and Official U-WIN Launch Film) to create awareness among the communities. 
• These promotional materials have been shared with all States/UTs for release during the MR Elimination Campaign 2025-26. 
• This campaign provides an opportunity to achieve 100% vaccination coverage by giving two doses of measles and rubella vaccine to children. 
•  During January-March 2025, no case of measles was reported in 332 districts of the country, and no case of rubella was reported in 487 districts. 
•  Measles and rubella are highly contagious viral diseases that can cause severe illness, lifelong complications, and even death. 
•  Due to the high infection rate, India has set a target to eliminate these diseases by the year 2026. 
•  Under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), all eligible children are given two doses of measles-rubella (MR) vaccine free of cost at the ages of 9-12 months and 16-24 months, respectively. 
•  In the year 2024, India is projected to record a significant decline of 73% in measles cases and 17% in rubella cases compared to the year 2023. 
• India's universal immunization program has been effective in reducing mortality and controlling infectious diseases among children under five years of age. 
•  Due to this, from 2014 to 2020, the mortality rate of children under 5 years of age decreased from 45 to 32 per 1,000 live births (Sample Registration System, 2020). 
•  Since 2014, more than 6 new vaccines have been released under UIP, including the MR vaccine. 
•  India was honored with the prestigious Measles and Rubella Champion Award by the Measles & Rubella Partnership at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington, DC, on March 6, 2024, for its exceptional efforts in measles and rubella prevention. 

4. The Ministry of Coal has given a major boost to India’s underground coal mining with new incentives. 

•  A series of transformative policy measures aimed at promoting underground coal mining were introduced by the Ministry of Coal in a decisive step towards revitalizing India’s coal sector. 
• The traditional challenges of high capital investment and longer gestation periods have been addressed through these bold reforms, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to modernizing the coal ecosystem while promoting sustainable development. 
•  To accelerate the growth and operationalization of underground coal mining, a robust package of incentives was announced by the Ministry of Coal: 
•  The floor percentage of revenue share for underground coal mines was reduced from 4% to 2%, offering substantial fiscal relief and improving financial viability. 
•  The mandatory upfront payment requirement for underground mining ventures was completely waived off, thereby removing a key financial barrier and encouraging greater private sector participation. 
•  An existing 50% rebate on performance security for underground coal blocks has been retained, further lowering the entry threshold and facilitating smoother project implementation. 
•  This reform-oriented approach by the Ministry highlights its focus on creating a future-ready, investment-friendly, and innovation-driven coal sector. 
•  Through these incentives, economic growth is being catalyzed while promoting efficiency, safety, and employment generation in the coal industry. 
•  A visionary roadmap is being laid out by the Ministry of Coal to reshape the future of coal mining and reaffirm its role in driving India’s self-reliant and environmentally responsible industrial growth. 

5. The Global India Summit, with the participation of 100 countries, is being hosted by Telangana. 

• Telangana is hosting the Global India Summit on April 25 and 26, a Congress-led initiative aimed at projecting the state as a model of progressive governance on the global stage. 
•  Over 450 delegates from 100 countries are expected to participate in the two-day international event. 
•  Heads of governments, MPs, political leaders, corporate chiefs, and renowned global think tanks will attend the summit. 
•  The first day will feature panel discussions on topics such as Gender Justice, Disinformation, Youth in Politics, and Multilateralism. 
•  The second day will focus on debates around Polarization vs Pluralism, Climate and Economic Justice, and Peace in a Multipolar World. 
•  AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, along with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, will address the plenary and valedictory sessions. 
•  The summit will emphasize core Congress values—non-violence, truth, justice, and democracy—as highlighted by Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka. 
•  The summit is expected to strengthen Telangana’s image globally and reinforce India’s historic stance on non-alignment and inclusive progress. 

6. A 20% reservation for Agniveer Jawans in state police recruitment was announced by the Sikkim government. 

•  On 24 April, the announcement was made by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang during an event held in Gangtok. 
•  A 10-year age relaxation will also be granted to former army personnel applying for various posts in the state police force. 
•  Apart from the reservation, the state government will allot shops to retired military personnel willing to start a business. 

Agnipath scheme:

•   It was launched to boost youth recruitment in the armed forces and to reduce the pension bill. 
•  Under the scheme, both male and female candidates are recruited as Agniveers in the 'below officer's rank' cadre of the three services of the country for a period of four years. 
•  The government launched the Agneepath scheme on June 15, 2022. 

7. AIIMS Raipur has successfully carried out its first Swap Kidney Transplant. 

•  Swap Kidney Transplant is also known as a Kidney Paired Transplant. 
• This is the first time such a procedure has been done at any of the newer AIIMS institutions. 
•  It is also the first government hospital in Chhattisgarh to carry out this surgery. 
•  The surgery was carried out on 15th March 2025. 
• The transplant offers a critical option for patients with end-stage kidney disease.
•  These types of procedures are expected to increase the total number of kidney transplants by around 15 percent. 
•  The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation has encouraged all states and Union Territories to adopt Swap donor transplantation. 
•  This move could significantly improve the number of available kidney donors nationwide. 

 Swap Kidney Transplant: 

•  In a Swap Transplant, a patient with kidney failure has a willing living donor. 
• However, the donor may not be compatible due to mismatched blood types or the presence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies. 
•  Despite this, the patient can still receive a transplant by exchanging donors with another incompatible pair. 
• Each pair agrees to donate to the other’s recipient. 
• This exchange ensures that both patients receive kidneys that are medically compatible. 
•  As a result, both transplants have a higher chance of success.

 8. The 2nd Asian Yogasana Championships is being held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. 

•  The event is organized by Yogasana Bharat. 
•  It will run for three days and end on the 27th of this month. 
•  Over 170 athletes from 21 Asian countries are taking part. 
• The event also includes technical officials, team managers, and coaches. 
•  It aligns with the Indian government’s effort to make Yogasana a global competitive sport.
•  Its first edition was held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2022. 

9. A two-day exhibition of rare coins has been inaugurated at Kala Kendra in Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir. 

•  The event displays nearly one thousand rare coins from various historical periods. 
•  The coins include those from the time of Kanishka, Indo-Greek rulers, preand post-Islamic Kashmir, the Mughal Empire, British rule, Sikh and Dogra regimes, and post-Independence India. 
•  This exhibition is part of the celebration for World Numismatic Week 2025. 
•  It is organized by Kala Kendra, with support from the Department of Culture, Government of J&K. 
•  Brij Mohan Sharma, Principal Secretary of Culture, announced a new initiative to recognize NGOs working in cultural and heritage preservation. 
• The main goal of the exhibition is to provide a platform for collectors to showcase their valuable coin collections. 

10. As per a report, India has never started a breeding program for the conservation of the endangered musk deer. 

• Efforts to breed the species began in 1965, but India currently lacks the necessary founder stock for successful breeding. 
•  No zoos in India have initiated any breeding programs for musk deer, which are listed as endangered. 
•  The Plant Breeding Programmes in Indian Zoos: Assessment and Strategic Actions (2024) report from the Central Zoo Authority indicates there are no musk deer in any accredited zoos. 
•  There is no available data on the population of alpine musk deer in the country. 
•  The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has stated that its role is limited to supporting state-level conservation. 
•  The 1982 Himalayan Musk Project, aimed at safeguarding the species, has not been followed up by the ministry. 
•  Wildlife expert BC Choudhary criticized India's failure in musk deer breeding. 
•  According to him, China has successfully bred musk deer and extracted musk without killing them. 
•  Musk deer continue to face poaching threats due to the high value of their musk, which is used in perfumes and medicines. 
•  Despite being the state animal of Uttarakhand, musk deer conservation has been neglected. 
•  Himalayan states rely only on localized data for population estimates. 
• The current population of alpine musk deer is still unknown. 
•  Breeding programs for species like gaur and Indian chevrotain have made progress. 
•  No breeding programs have been initiated in India for other endangered species like the Tibetan antelope or Ganges river dolphin. 
•  The wild water buffalo is critically endangered. 
•  There is no captive breeding population recorded in Indian zoos. 
• Conservation efforts for the pygmy hog are ongoing in Assam. 

 Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus leucogaster): 

•  It is native to Himalayas. Males have a musk gland. It is targeted by poachers. 
•  It plays key role in seed dispersal. It is endangered as per IUCN Red List. 
• It is included in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. 

11. Brace for longer flights to Gulf, Europe and the U.S. as Pakistan shuts its airspace 

• Pakistan’s decision to close its airspace for all Indian airlines will force domestic carriers to take a longer route to destinations in the Gulf region, Europe, the U.K. and North America that will likely lead to a spike in airfares. 
•  The National Security Committee of Pakistan decided to close Pakistan airspace for all Indian-owned or operated airlines, according to a media statement issued by the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office.
•  The restriction also includes aircraft leased by Indian airlines as well as military flights, according to a notice to airmen that followed. The NOTAM is valid until May 23. 
•  “It is expected that some Air India flights to or from North America, UK, Europe, and the Middle East will take an alternative extended route,” Air India said in a post on X. 
•  IndiGo said some international flights may be impacted due to the closure of Pakistani airspace. The airline cancelled its flights to Almaty and Tashkent on Thursday. 
•  Some flights already en route and scheduled to operate via Pakistani airspace had to stop for refuelling because of the longer flight path. 
•  The impact on re-routing could lead to an increase in flight duration of up to 20 minutes for some destinations in West Asia, and up to 90 minutes for those in the U.S. resulting in more fuel burn and higher airfares. 
•  On February 26, 2019, too Pakistan had shut its airspace for all airlines in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack during which 40 CRPF soldiers were killed and the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out air strikes in retaliation in Balakot, Pakistan. 
•  While it gradually removed restrictions for carriers of other countries, the ban was withdrawn for Indian airlines five months later on July 16. 

12. India to explore options it has ‘never considered’ under Indus Waters Treaty 

•  India will explore “options that it has never considered” under the Indus Waters Treaty. This could include withdrawing from talks around evolving a new “dispute resolution mechanism”, changing the design of its hydro-power electric projects to allow it to store greater quantities of water and deploying “drawdown flushing” of its reservoirs, a senior official told The Hindu on condition of anonymity. 
•  “As an upper riparian state, we have always been very responsible. Following the Uri attacks (in 2016) we didn’t, even then, consider options outside of the IWT. But this time, it may be different,” they added. Following the Pahalgam attack, India announced on Wednesday that it would hold the treaty, in place since 1960, “in abeyance”. 
•  Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Jal Shakti Ministry wrote a letter to Syed Ali Murtaza, Secretary, Water Resources Ministry of Pakistan on Thursday informing him that the IWT “was in abeyance.” “The obligation to honour a treaty in good faith is fundamental to a treaty. 
•  However what we have seen is sustained cross border terrorism by Pakistan targeting Indian Union territory of J&K,” her letter noted. On the surface, it implies that India will stop its periodic communication with Pakistan on sharing hydrological data on the Indus rivers or keeping it apprised of infrastructure work on hydroelectric projects in the Chenab, Jhelum and the Indus main, also known as the western rivers. 
•  Even prior to the Pahalgam incident, the Permanent Indus Commission — or the teams of experts from India and Pakistan that attempt to resolve disputes regarding the sharing of the waters of the Indus basin — has not convened since 2022. 
•  Under the terms of the treaty, India cannot create significant hydro-power storage on the western rivers and must maintain water levels at prescribed levels, to ensure that no untoward flooding or disruption of agriculture happens in Pakistan. 
•  “For India to weaponise the waters of the Indus, it has to completely ignore the IWT. Under the current terms of the treaty, this can’t be done,” a scientist affiliated to the Central Water Commission. However any significant changes will require a “techno-economic” feasibility.
•  The location of the several projects and the terrain means that there may be significant investment required. All of these would be “long term” and will require consistent investment, said one of the persons cited earlier. 

13. CISF takes over security of Lengpui airport in Mizoram

•   The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) took over the security of Mizoram’s Lengpui Airport on Thursday. 
• Lengpui became the 69th airport in India to come under the protection of the national civil aviation security force. The CISF said it would work closely with local authorities and other stakeholders to develop and implement advanced security protocols that were effective, convenient and people-friendly.  “These enhanced measures aim to provide passengers with a secure and seamless travel experience, while proactively addressing emerging threats such as terrorism, smuggling and other unlawful activities,” it said. 

14. DCGI urged to lay down stringent guidelines on use of new antibiotics 

•  Infectious diseases experts have flagged the overuse of a potent antibiotic leading to it losing its efficacy, and drug resistance. 
•  The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has been urged to lay down strict pathways for these newer antibiotics, so that they are not misused by practitioners. 
•  Abdul Ghafur, infectious diseases specialist and founder of the AMR Declaration Trust, has written to Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, DCGI, about ceftazidime avibactam. “One of the most potent antibiotics currently available in our armamentarium is rapidly losing its efficacy due to extensive, irrational, and uncontrolled use.”
•   The drug which was initially registered with the U.S. FDA in 2015 and approved in India three years later is a last-line antibiotic. It is to be used as targeted therapy for certain carbapenem-resistant gram-negative infections and not prescribed as a broad spectrum antibiotic. Dr. Ghafur, however, claims it is already being misused in the community.
•   “To overcome this resistance, aztreonam is often added to ceftazidime-avibactam, unfortunately, resistance has now emerged even to this combination, due to irrational use.” 
•  The problem, he explains, is that while the DCGI has licensed the drug, it has only provided indications for use. There are no clear-cut pathways laid out, and nothing to deter mis-prescriptions. 
• This trend could erode the huge gains secured in India primarily with the ban on use of colistin as a growth promotion drug amongst poultry, in recent times. Rational use There are two new very powerful antibiotics that are about to enter the Indian market, Cefiderocol and Cefepime-zidebactam. Dr. Ghafur urges the DCGI to kick in with antibiotics stewardship: “We need these drugs in India. 
•  However, their use must be restricted strictly to infections where no other effective alternatives exist. Education alone is not enough; we need a clear regulatory pathway to ensure the rational use of these molecules from the moment they are licensed.” “If we do not act now, we risk losing the few therapeutic options left. 
•  Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is already a serious crisis in our country. Without urgent and strong action, it may escalate to an unmanageable level. We cannot change the past — but we still have time to act for the immediate future,” he says. 

15. PM Modi launches development works worth over Rs 13,480 crore in Madhubani 

•  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated, laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 13,480 crore in Madhubani, Bihar on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day. 
•  PM laid the foundation stone of an LPG bottling plant with a rail unloading facility at Hathua in Gopalganj District of Bihar worth around Rs 340 crore. 
•  This will help in streamlining the supply chain and improving the efficiency of bulk LPG transportation. 
•  Boosting power infrastructure in the region, Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for projects worth over Rs 1,170 crore and also inaugurated multiple projects worth over Rs 5,030 crore in the power sector in Bihar under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. 
•  In line with his commitment to boost rail connectivity across the nation, Prime Minister flagged off Amrit Bharat express between Saharsa and Mumbai, Namo Bharat Rapid rail between Jaynagar and Patna and trains between Pipra and Saharsa and Saharsa and Samastipur. 

16. Mansukh Mandaviya Launches Issuance of Sports Certificates via DigiLocker 

•  Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has launched digital issuance of sports certificates through DigiLocker, empowering athletes with easy and secure access to their achievements. 
•  The National Centre for Sports Science and Research (NCSSR) was inaugurated to become a hub for elite athlete performance research and innovation, supporting India’s long-term sporting goals. 
•  The DigiLocker initiative will integrate with the National Sports Repository System (NSRS) to enable Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of rewards without delay or paperwork for medal-winning athletes. 

17. 24 April 2025 – International Girls in ICT Day 2025 

•  International Girls in ICT Day is observed every fourth Thursday of April, and in 2025, it falls on April 24. 
•  The day is celebrated to encourage girls and young women to pursue careers in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It aims to bridge the gender digital divide and promote greater female participation in STEM fields. 
•  Theme 2025 – Girls in ICT for inclusive digital transformation 18. 24 April – International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace 
•  International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace is observed every year on 24 April.
• The day was designated by the UN General Assembly through resolution A/RES/73/127 in 2018, with the first observance on April 24, 2019.