NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Government of India Procures 100 Lakh Bales of Cotton Under MSP Operations: The government has procured 100 lakh bales of cotton under MSP operations through its nodal agency. This procurement accounts for 38 percent of the total cotton arrivals of 263 lakh bales and 34 percent of the estimated total cotton production of 294.25 lakh bales in the country.Among the states, Telangana has recorded the highest procurement at 40 lakh bales, followed by Maharashtra with 30 lakh bales and Gujarat with 14 lakh bales.Other states with significant procurement include Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. Procurement in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Punjab stands at 1.15 lakh bales.The Textiles Ministry said in a statement that in total, 37 thousand 450 crore rupees have been paid to approximately 21 lakh cotton farmers across all cotton-producing states.
2. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) — completes 10 glorious Years of empowering Small and Micro Entrepreneurs: The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), launched on 8th April 2015 by PM Narendra Modi, celebrates 10 glorious years of empowering small and micro-entrepreneurs across India.Aimed at fostering financial inclusion, PMMY provides easy collateral-free loans up to ₹10 lakh for non-corporate and non-farm income-generating activities.To strengthen support for aspiring entrepreneurs, the finance minister announced an increase in the loan limit to ₹20 lakh during the Union Budget 2024-25 on July 23, 2024. This new limit took effect on October 24, 2024.These loans are extended through Banks, NBFCs, MFIs, and other financial institutions.The newly announced loan category, Tarun Plus, is designed specifically for those who have previously availed and successfully repaid loans under the Tarun category, allowing them to access funding between ₹10 lakh and ₹20 lakh. Additionally, the Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU) will now provide guarantee coverage for these enhanced loans, further reinforcing the government’s commitment to nurturing a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem in India.
3. Greening Trends in the Thar Desert: Between 2001 and 2023, the Thar Desert experienced a 64 per cent rise in annual precipitation. This increase averages 4.4 millimetres per year since 2000. The summer monsoon season has been particularly impactful, driving vegetation growth. The study brought into light that only four major deserts, including the Thar, showed notable precipitation increases during this period.The region has seen agricultural boom, with crop areas increasing by 74 per cent between 1980 and 2015. This expansion has led to a 24 per cent rise in irrigated land. The Kharif season crops heavily rely on summer monsoon rainfall, while Rabi season crops depend on irrigation. However, this agricultural growth has also resulted in groundwater depletion due to excessive extraction.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. 4th Joint Working Group Meeting on Tourism Cooperation between India and Japan: The 4th Joint Working Group (JWG) Meeting on Tourism Cooperation between India and Japan was held in New Delhi.The meeting was co-chaired by Mugdha Sinha, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and Haraikawa Naoya, Commissioner, Japan Tourism Agency (JTA).The Co- Chairs of the two countries exchanged notes on the profile of the visitors and delved into the data insights of the tourists travelling between the two countries, including to Buddhist destinations, in order to undertake suitable policy interventions to make the destinations more attractive for the millennial tourists.
2. 10 April – World Homoeopathy Day: World Homoeopathy Day is observed every year on April 10 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann (Germany), the founder of homoeopathy, born in 1755, honoring his contributions to alternative medicine.Theme 2025 – Adhyayan, Adhyaapan, Anusandhaan” (Education, Practice, and Research)
3. 90-Day Pause on Trump’s Tariff Policy: The initial announcement prompted a sharp decline in stock and bond markets. Business leaders expressed fears that escalating tariffs could lead the US into recession. Concerns from major corporations, including JPMorgan Chase, contributed to the urgency of the pause. The administration’s framing of tariffs as a means to secure favourable trade deals faced scrutiny due to the economic fallout.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent played important role in persuading Trump to reconsider the tariff strategy. Following a weekend of investor anxiety, Bessent met with Trump in Florida, emphasising the need for a pause to avoid economic turmoil. The announcement surprised many within the administration, indicating a lack of consensus on the tariff approach.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. INS Sunayna: On April 5, 2025, the Indian Navy launched the Offshore Patrol Vessel INS Sunayna as part of the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR initiative. This event took place in Karwar, Karnataka, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presiding over the ceremony. The launch signifies India’s commitment to regional maritime security and international cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). It coincides with the 10th anniversary of the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative. The IOS SAGAR initiative aims to enhance maritime cooperation among nations in the IOR. The launch of INS Sunayna involves collaboration with naval personnel from nine friendly nations including Comoros, Kenya, and Maldives. This reflects India’s dedication to encouraging peace and collective security.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Thalassemia in India: Managing thalassemia involves several approaches. Regular blood transfusions are essential for maintaining healthy haemoglobin levels. However, they lead to iron accumulation in the body, necessitating iron chelation therapy. Bone marrow transplantation offers a potential cure if a compatible donor is available. Gene therapy is an emerging treatment that repairs or replaces defective genes but is currently expensive and primarily available abroad.In India, beta thalassemia and sickle cell disorders represent health burden. Approximately 3-4% of the population are carriers, resulting in millions of individuals at risk. Certain ethnic groups exhibit even higher carrier rates. Carrier rates are not uniform across regions, even within the same state. Micro-mapping helps identify such variations.
2. Google’s Ironwood Chip: Inference computing refers to the process of using trained AI models to make predictions or generate responses. It is crucial for applications that require real-time processing, such as chatbots and virtual assistants. The Ironwood processor enhances this capability by enabling quicker responses and more efficient data processing.The Ironwood chip is designed to work in clusters of up to 9,216 units. This scalability allows for extensive data handling and improved performance. It integrates functions from previous chip designs while increasing memory capacity, making it more effective for AI tasks. The chip is reported to deliver double the performance per energy unit compared to Google’s previous Trillium chip.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Govt Merges 26 RRBs Under ‘One State, One RRB’ Plan to Boost Efficiency: The Department of Financial Services (DFS) has notified the amalgamation of 26 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) under the “One State, One RRB” principle.This is the fourth phase of the RRB consolidation process. The Ministry of Finance rolled out the amalgamation plan in November last year, building on improvements in efficiency from previous phases.Following consultations with stakeholders, 26 RRBs across 10 states and one Union Territory have been merged, focusing on enhancing scale, efficiency, and cost rationalisation.Currently, 43 RRBs operate across 26 states and two Union Territories. Post-amalgamation, there will be 28 RRBs covering 700 districts with more than 22,000 branches. Around 92 percent of these branches are located in rural and semi-urban areas.
2. PNB MetLife and Policybazaar Collaborate to Launch Pension Premier Multicap Fund: PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited has partnered with Policybazaar to launch the PNB MetLife Pension Premier Multicap Fund under its Unit-Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs).This new fund is designed to help customers build a robust retirement corpus while providing life insurance coverage, ensuring financial protection for families in unforeseen circumstances.The Pension Premier Multicap Fund is available with the PNB MetLife Smart Invest Pension Plan (UIN – 117L137V02), which combines wealth creation with life insurance. The fund is open for subscription from April 1 to April 15, 2025, at an initial Net Asset Value (NAV) of Rs. 10. After this period, it will be available at market value.
3. RBI launches verified WhatsApp channel to spread financial awareness: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched a WhatsApp channel that will provide financial information and updates to people, especially those in remote and underserved regions of the country.The channel marks an expansion of the regulator’s public awareness campaign titled ‘RBI Kehta Hai’ (RBI Says), which has been actively disseminating key messages about safe banking practices, consumer rights, and responsible financial behavior through multiple channels, including SMS, TV ads, digital media, and print.The verified WhatsApp account will serve as an additional channel through which the RBI can share timely and relevant information directly with users in a simple, secure, and convenient manner.The WhatsApp channel will deliver messages related to safe digital transactions, fraud prevention, banking rights, and policy updates. It is also expected to be a useful tool in debunking financial myths and misinformation that often circulate on social media, helping consumers make informed decision.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Achievements under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) as on 21.03.2025: Women Borrowers: A total of ₹49 lakh crore was disbursed under the Shishu category, ₹ 4.90 lakh crore under Kishor, and ₹ 0.85 lakh crore under the Tarun category.Minority Borrowers: The disbursements amounted to ₹25 lakh crore under Shishu, ₹ 1.32 lakh crore under Kishor, and ₹ 0.50 lakh crore under Tarun.New Entrepreneurs / Accounts:Shishu category: 8.21 crore accounts with a sanctioned amount of ₹24 lakh crore and disbursed amount of ₹ 2.20 lakh crore.
Kishor category: 2.05 crore accounts with ₹09 lakh crore sanctioned and ₹ 3.89 lakh crore disbursed.Tarun category: 45 lakh accounts with a sanctioned amount of ₹96 lakh crore and ₹ 3.83 lakh crore disbursed.
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