NATIONAL NEWS
Pahalgam Terror Attack: Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his Saudi Arabia visit to hold a high-level meeting after terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. Army later killed 2 militants in Uri, foiling another infiltration attempt.
State Mourning for Pope Francis: Government of India has declared a three-day state mourning following the passing of Pope Francis. National flags will fly at half-mast, and no official entertainment events will take place during this period.
Earth Day Celebrations: Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the ‘Save Earth Conclave’ at the NASC Complex in New Delhi on the occasion of Earth Day. The event explored bamboo’s potential in mitigating climate change and driving economic growth.
Pink E-Rickshaw Scheme: Maharashtra government launched the Pink E-Rickshaw Scheme to empower women and make them financially independent. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar officially launched the initiative in Pune, which will distribute 10,000 e-rickshaws across eight districts.
Aryabhata Satellite Anniversary: India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, completed 50 years since its launch. The satellite was a landmark achievement in India’s space program.
Cruise Tourism Initiative: The government announced a comprehensive plan to develop cruise tourism in India, exploring the potential of rivers, seas, and canals for themed journeys across various budgets.
‘Mahila Samvad’ Campaign: Bihar government launched the ‘Mahila Samvad’ campaign aimed at women’s welfare and empowerment at the grassroots level.
‘Gauravshali Mahilayein’ Scheme: Maharashtra government announced the ‘Gauravshali Mahilayein’ honour scheme to recognize and celebrate women achievers from different fields.
Indian Astronaut’s ISS Mission: Shubhanshu Shukla will fly to the International Space Station in May, marking a significant milestone in India’s human spaceflight program.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks: Russian President Vladimir Putin (Russia) proposed bilateral talks with Ukraine for the first time since the war began. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Ukraine, Capital: Kyiv) expressed willingness to discuss a ceasefire to halt attacks on civilians.
Papal Mourning Period: The Vatican has begun a nine-day mourning period following Pope Francis’s death. Preparations for the Papal conclave will commence, with 135 cardinals, including four from India, eligible to vote for the next Pope.
PM Modi’s Saudi Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome in Jeddah for his third visit to Saudi Arabia. His aircraft was escorted by the Royal Saudi Air Force, highlighting the strong bilateral ties between the nations.
Canadian Elections: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (Canada, Capital: Ottawa) leads in polls ahead of the national election scheduled for April 28. His campaign focuses on addressing US tariff threats and reducing economic dependence on America.
Trump’s Economic Ratings: US President Donald Trump (USA, Capital: Washington D.C.) faces sharp decline in economic approval ratings with growing public discontent over tariffs, inflation, and government spending.
Iran-US Nuclear Talks: Iran and the United States will meet in Rome (Capital of Italy) for nuclear talks, signaling potential diplomatic progress on the long-standing issue.
New Jersey Wildfire Crisis: A major wildfire in New Jersey has prompted evacuation orders and the closure of a major highway, affecting thousands of residents.
ECONOMY AND BUSINESS
RBI’s New Banking Policy: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed minors above 10 years to open and operate bank accounts independently. This includes options for debit cards and internet banking based on individual bank policies.
GST Collection: India’s GST collection for April 2025 reached ₹2.02 lakh crore, showing continued robust tax collection.
US-India Trade Negotiations: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman discussed bilateral cooperation with US executives in technology, artificial intelligence, energy, and digital infrastructure during her 11-day trip to the US and Peru.
E-commerce Market Access: The US government is pressing India to grant retail giants Amazon and Walmart expanded access to its $125 billion e-commerce sector amid ongoing trade negotiations.
Air India’s Fleet Expansion: Air India is considering acquiring Boeing jets originally meant for Chinese carriers, which became available due to trade disputes between China and the US.
Railways Infrastructure Upgrade: Indian Railways is focusing on removing speed limits, renewing tracks, and installing animal fences along railway lines under Mission Raftaar to enhance train speeds and safety.
India-China Trade Deficit: India’s trade deficit with China in FY 2024-25 stands at $99.2 billion, highlighting continued trade imbalance between the two nations.
UPI Transaction Clarification: The government has denied rumors about GST implementation on UPI transactions above ₹2,000, providing clarity to digital payment users.
SPORTS
Wisden Cricket Honors: Indian cricketers Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana were named the world’s top male and female cricketers in Wisden 2025 for their outstanding performances across formats.
International Javelin Event: Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra has invited Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem to participate in an international javelin event in Bengaluru, promoting sports diplomacy between the neighboring countries.
Wisden’s Five Cricketers: England’s Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith, and Sophie Ecclestone were named among Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year 2025, recognizing their exceptional contributions to the sport.
Naval Exercise Cancellation: Sri Lanka (Capital: Colombo) cancelled a naval exercise with Pakistan after India raised objections, indicating growing maritime cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Bullseye Galaxy Discovery: The Bullseye Galaxy (LEDA 1313424) was recently discovered using the Hubble Space Telescope. The galaxy has a unique ringed structure formed around 50 million years ago due to a head-on collision with a blue dwarf galaxy.
Google’s Cookie Policy: Google has opted out of implementing a standalone prompt for third-party cookies, changing its approach to user privacy and data collection.
Instagram’s New Feature: Instagram has introduced a new feature allowing users to see their friends’ suggested Reels, enhancing content discovery and social interaction on the platform.
Smartphone Manufacturing: Google is exploring manufacturing Pixel smartphones in India to diversify supply chains amid growing geopolitical tensions with China.
Mobile Technology Advances: Samsung and Apple are preparing to launch new foldable devices with enhanced AI features, with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Apple’s iPhone 17 pushing boundaries in mobile innovation.
IMPORTANT DAYS
Earth Day (22.04.2025): The global theme for Earth Day 2025 was “Our Power, Our Planet,” focusing on environmental protection and sustainable practices. In India, the day was marked by the inauguration of the ‘Save Earth Conclave’ by Home Minister Amit Shah.
STATE NEWS
Gujarat EV Tax Reduction: Gujarat government has reduced road tax on electric vehicles to 1%, promoting green transportation in the state.
Tamil Nadu Governor Issue: Attorney General R Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Supreme Court that the Tamil Nadu Governor’s judgment doesn’t apply to Kerala’s Governor dispute over delayed Bill approvals.
Telangana Investment Drive: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy promoted investments in multiple sectors including circular economy, infrastructure, and technology during his speech at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan.
Heat Wave Warning: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heat wave conditions in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh over the next two days, with hot and humid conditions expected across other parts of India.
Hyderabad Heritage Restoration: The restoration of Muhammad Qutb Shah’s tomb in Hyderabad has begun, aiming to revive 15th-century tile work with over 200,000 handmade tiles and intricate stucco work.
J&K Relief Operations: Relief operations in Ramban district, Jammu & Kashmir have restored 1,486 distribution transformers, with work continuing on the remaining 286. Water supply schemes are also being restored in the region.
