State News
Hindi Now Mandatory as Third Language in Classes 1–5 in Maharashtra
- In line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Maharashtra school education department will implement a phase-wise curriculum reform starting 2025–26, making Hindi mandatory as a third language for Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools.
- This move aligns with the three-language formula, already followed by other medium schools, and aims to promote multilingual proficiency and national integration.
- The rollout is aligned with NEP’s 5+3+3+4 structure, beginning from Class 1 in the Foundational Stage.
SJVN Releases ₹269.97 Cr Land Compensation for 3,097 MW Etalin Hydro Power Project in Arunachal Pradesh
- SJVN Ltd has released ₹269.97 crore as land compensation for the 3,097 MW Etalin Hydro Electric Project in Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, marking a crucial step in India’s renewable energy expansion.
- Announced on March 26, 2025, the payment supports the development of two dams on the Dri and Talo Rivers and an underground powerhouse, with project commissioning set for December 2033.
- This follows a MoA signed in August 2023 between SJVN and the Arunachal Pradesh Government, covering five hydro projects with a combined 5,097 MW capacity and an investment of ₹60,000 crore.
Economy News
India’s Smartphone Export Boom in FY25: A Record-Breaking Leap Beyond ₹2 Lakh Crore
- India’s smartphone exports crossed ₹2 lakh crore in FY25 for the first time, marking a historic milestone driven by the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and greater integration into Global Value Chains (GVCs).
- Announced by Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the sector saw a 54% export growth over the previous year, with Apple’s iPhone exports playing a key role and rising participation from Indian MSMEs, highlighting India’s growing manufacturing strength and trade shift.
India Imposes 12% Tariff on Steel Imports
- To protect its domestic steel industry, the Government of India has imposed a 12% provisional safeguard duty on select steel imports, effective April 21, 2025, for 200 days.
- Triggered by a surge in low-cost imports from China, South Korea, and Japan, this move follows a DGTR investigation revealing “serious injury” to local manufacturers.
- The duty applies to key non-alloy and alloy flat steel products like hot-rolled coils, cold-rolled sheets, and colour-coated steel, aiming to counter unfair competition and restore market balance.
Banking News
RBI Permits Minors Above 10 to Operate Bank Accounts Independently
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued revised guidelines allowing minors aged 10 years and above to independently open and operate savings and term deposit accounts, promoting early financial literacy.
- While minors of any age can open accounts via a parent or legal guardian, those above 10 may operate them independently, subject to the bank’s risk management policy. Banks must ensure no overdrafts and maintain a credit balance, and obtain fresh instructions once the minor attains majority.
Appointments News
Union Government Appoints Five Special Directors to the Enforcement Directorate (ED)
- In a major administrative move, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed five senior officers as Special Directors (SD) in the Enforcement Directorate (ED), including four IRS officers and one IPS officer.
- This brings the ED’s total SD strength to eight, enhancing its supervisory and operational capabilities. The appointees—Viplav Kumar Choudhry (IPS, 1997, AGMUT), T Sankar (IRS, 2003), N Padmanaban (IRS, 2005), Rajnish Dev Barman (IRS, 1999), and Manu Tentiwal (IRS, 2003)—will oversee economic offense investigations and enforce key financial laws.
Judge Kaveri Baweja Appointed as Registrar (Vigilance) of Delhi High Court
- In a major administrative reshuffle at the Delhi High Court, Judge Kaveri Baweja has been appointed as Registrar (Vigilance), while Judge Arun Bhardwaj will take over as Registrar General from May 1, 2025.
- Judge Baweja, known for handling high-profile cases like the Delhi excise policy, 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and 2020 Delhi riots, brings judicial experience and integrity to the vigilance role.
- Judge Bhardwaj, noted for exclusively hearing coal scam cases, assumes a key administrative post, reflecting the court’s focus on seasoned judicial leadership.
Mangi Lal Jat Appointed Secretary of DARE & DG of ICAR
- Dr. Mangi Lal Jat has assumed charge as Secretary of DARE and Director General of ICAR for a three-year term, succeeding Dr. Himanshu Pathak, who took voluntary retirement.
- With over 25 years of expertise in agronomy, conservation agriculture, and climate-resilient farming systems, his appointment marks a significant step toward advancing sustainable agriculture and research innovation in India.
Awards News
Laureus World Sports Awards 2025: Check Complete Winners List
- The 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards, marking its 25th anniversary in Madrid, honored global sporting excellence across disciplines.
- Mondo Duplantis won World Sportsman of the Year for his record-breaking pole vault feats, while Simone Biles earned her fourth World Sportswoman of the Year title after a stunning Olympic comeback.
- Other key winners included Real Madrid (Team of the Year), Lamine Yamal (Breakthrough), Rebeca Andrade (Comeback), Jiang Yuyan (Disability Sportsperson), Tom Pidcock (Action Sports), with Rafael Nadal and Kelly Slater receiving Sporting Icon and Lifetime Achievement Awards, respectively.
Poshan Tracker Application Wins PM’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2024
- The PoshanTracker Application, developed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), won the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2024 under the Innovation (Centre) category during the 17th Civil Services Day on April 21, 2025.
- Received by Secretary Shri Anil Malik, the award recognizes PoshanTracker’s role in advancing tech-driven, data-centric nutrition governance under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0, with key focus areas including inter-departmental convergence, community empowerment, and digital service delivery.
Ranks & Reports News
A Report Of Global Trade Outlook and Statistics 2025
- The WTO Global Trade Outlook 2025 projects a 0.2% decline in global merchandise trade, with risks of a deeper 1.5% contraction amid escalating US-China tariff tensions and trade policy uncertainties.
- In contrast, services trade may grow by 4.0%, though at a slower pace due to spillover from goods trade disruptions. North America faces a steep 12.6% export drop, while Asia and Europe may see modest growth of 1.6% and 1.0% respectively.
- The report warns of recessionary pressures and highlights the vulnerability of Least-Developed Countries (LDCs), urging stronger global policy coordination.
Trump, Musk, Yunus Shine in TIME’s 2025 Influential People List
- The 2025 TIME 100 Most Influential People list highlights global icons like Donald Trump (U.S. President), Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla & SpaceX), Keir Starmer (UK Prime Minister), and Muhammad Yunus (Nobel laureate, Bangladesh), recognizing their impact in politics, technology, and social innovation.
- Notably, no Indian figures were featured this year, marking a shift from 2024.
- These leaders shape the global narrative through authority, innovation, and empowerment.
Sports News
Nishchay Wins Silver with 19.59m Throw at Asian U-18 Athletics Championship
- At the Asian U-18 Athletics Championship in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, 16-year-old Nishchay from Haryana clinched the silver medal in the boys’ shot put with a personal best throw of 19.59 meters, surpassing his previous record of 18.93 meters.
- Achieving this on the third day of the championship, Nishchay’s performance highlights his rapid progress and rising potential on the international stage.
Important Days News
World Earth Day 2025: Date, History, Theme, and Significance
- World Earth Day 2025, observed on April 22, highlights global environmental awareness and action with the theme “Our Power, Our Planet”.
- Originating in 1970 by Senator Gaylord Nelson, it sparked major U.S. environmental reforms and now involves over 1 billion people in 192 countries.
- The 2025 theme stresses collective responsibility, urging the adoption of renewable energy, sustainable living, and climate-positive policies to protect the planet.
Daily Current Affairs 21st April 2025, I...
Weekly One Liners 14th to 20th April, 20...
Daily Current Affairs 19th April 2025, I...
