NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. NIFTEM-Kundli hosts the 2nd edition of SUFALAM 2025: The National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Management (NIFTEM), hosted the second edition of SUFALAM (Start-Up Forum for Aspiring Leaders and Mentors) 2025 on its campus in Kundli, Sonipat, Haryana.The Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Chirag Paswan, inaugurated the 2nd edition of SUFALAM 2025 on 25th April 2025.The SUFALAM conclave aims to strengthen India’s food processing sector through innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration.
2. PM Modi inaugurates the India Steel 2025 being held in Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the 6th edition of India Steel 2025, being held in Mumbai, Maharashtra.The first India Steel exhibition cum conference was organised in 2013.The India Steel exhibition-cum-conference was organised by the Union Ministry of Steel in collaboration with the Federation of India Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).The theme of India Steel 2025 was “Shaping the Future of Steel: Driving Capacity Augmentation, Sustainability, Digitalisation, and Downstream Applications.”
3. Tripura Launches Garia and Borsho Boron Utsav 2025 to Celebrate Indigenous Culture: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha inaugurated the Garia and Borsho Boron Utsav 2025, a two-day cultural celebration held at Swami Vivekananda Maidan in Agartala.Organised by the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with local bodies, the festival celebrates the rich cultural traditions of Tripura—particularly the Garia Puja observed by the Tripuri and Reang communities.Garia Puja is a sacred ritual dedicated to Lord Mahadev (Shiva) and is believed to bring peace, prosperity, and happiness to the people.
4. Jitendra Srivastava Appointed Chairman and Managing Director of REC Limited: Jitendra Srivastava has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of REC Limited, a leading public infrastructure finance company in the power sector.His appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), and he will serve at the Additional Secretary rank under the Ministry of Power.He succeeds Vivek Kumar Dewangan, whose tenure as CMD concluded last month.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. CSIR-IMMT Strengthens Indo-Russian Collaboration with Strategic JDIs on Critical Mineral Research: CSIR-IMMT signed two Joint Declarations of Intent (JDIs) with Russian institutions—JSC Giredmet (Rosatom) and NUST MISIS—to boost collaboration in critical mineral research and sustainable resource development.The agreements were signed by Dr. Ramanuj Narayan, Director of CSIR-IMMT, with counterparts Dr. Andrei I. Golinei and Dr. Michael R. Filonov, with coordination from top scientists from both nations.Anoop Kumar Srivastava, Counsellor at the Indian Embassy in Moscow, endorsed the initiative, highlighting the significance of Indo-Russian cooperation in mineral technologies.
2. IISc Bengaluru Tops India in Times Higher Education Asia Rankings 2025: The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has been ranked as the best University in India in the Times Higher Education ‘s Asia University Rankings 2025.IISc Bengaluru was ranked 38th in Asia with an overall score of 65.2, while Tsinghua University of China, with a score of 93, was the top-ranked higher educational institution in Asia. Tsinghua University was also the top-ranked Asian University in 2024The Times Higher Education’s Asia University Ranking 2025 ranked 853 universities from 35 countries and territories in Asia.These universities were ranked based on 18 performance indicators in Research Quality, Industry, Research Environment, Teaching, and International Outlook.
3. 25 April – World Penguin Day: World Penguin Day is celebrated every year on 25 April to raise awareness about the conservation of penguins and their natural habitats.This special day is dedicated to raising awareness about penguins, the adorable flightless birds that live mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in Antarctica.Penguins are not just cute animals seen in cartoons or movies; they are an essential part of our ecosystem and face many challenges due to climate change and human activities.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. India’s 5-Point Action Plan Post Pahalgam Terror Attack: In response to a devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India has initiated retaliatory actions against Pakistan. The attack resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, including a foreign national, and has been linked to militant groups operating from Pakistan. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) convened to address the situation and announced a five-point action plan targeting Pakistan’s diplomatic and military presence. CCS meetings have been convened during critical events in India’s history, including wars and terrorist incidents. For instance, meetings were held during the Kargil conflict and the hijacking of IC 814. Such meetings are typically confidential, with details emerging later through memoirs and writings.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. South Asian Tree Shrews: Recent research by the Zoological Survey of India has transformed the understanding of South Asian tree shrews. This study, published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, challenges previous classifications and marks the need for targeted conservation efforts. It uncovered morphological distinctions among these small mammals, which have often been misidentified due to their resemblance to other species. Tree shrews belong to the order Scandentia. They are not true shrews or squirrels. These mammals possess unique features such as elongated snouts and moist nasal pads. Their diet primarily consists of insects and fruits. Tree shrews play a vital role in forest ecosystems as seed dispersers and insect predators.
2. Lunar Nuclear Power Plant: China and Russia are collaborating on an ambitious project to establish a nuclear power plant on the Moon. This initiative aims to support the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), a joint lunar research base. The ILRS is designed to enhance lunar exploration and facilitate long-term human presence on the Moon. The ILRS will also focus on developing robust communication networks. High-speed communication systems will be established on the Moon. These networks will facilitate data transfer between the Moon and Earth. Efficient communication is essential for coordinating research efforts and future missions.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Capital India Finance Limited Lists on National Stock Exchange (NSE): Capital India Finance Limited, a leading non-banking financial company, has marked a significant milestone by listing its equity shares on the National Stock Exchange of India.This strategic development reflects the company’s commitment to enhancing long-term shareholder value and increasing accessibility for a wider investor base.Previously, Capital India Finance Limited shares were available only on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Now, they can also be traded on the National Stock Exchange under the same ticker symbol, CIFL. This dual listing is expected to provide broader visibility among a larger investor base and improve market participation.Capital India Corp Private Limited holds 72.95 per cent of CIFL’s equity.
2. RBI Imposes Penalties on Indian Bank and Mahindra Finance for Regulatory Non-Compliance: RBI imposed a penalty of ₹61 crore on Indian Bank for violating provisions of the Banking Regulation Act and non-compliance related to interest rates on advances, the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme, and MSME lending guidelines.Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd was fined ₹30 lakh by RBI for failing to comply with NBFC regulatory directions and Know Your Customer (KYC) norms under the 2016 framework.RBI clarified that these penalties are for regulatory compliance deficiencies and do not affect the validity of customer transactions or agreements.
3. Sunil Mittal included in World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab: Chairperson of Bharti Enterprises, Sunil Bharti Mittal, has been included in the World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab initiative.The inclusion of Sunil Bharti Mittal and three other private sector chief executive officers (CEO) was announced by the World Bank at its meeting of the Private Sector Investment Lab in Washington, D.C.Bharti Enterprises becomes the second Indian company to be included in the Private Sector Initiative after Tata Sons.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Akashvani wins six awards at India Audio Summit and Awards 2025: Akashvani won a total of six awards in various categories at the India Audio Summit and Awards 2025. The third edition of the awards, which recognise excellence in radio and audio content production, was held in Mumbai last night.Among the top accolades for Akashvani, former Union Minister Smriti Irani’s programme ‘Nai Soch Nai Kahani – A Radio Journey with Smriti Irani’ was named Series of the Year on radio.Other award-winning programmes include ‘Chhayageet’, which won in the Best Late Night Show category; ‘Ujale Unki Yadon Ke’, named Best Celebrity Show on Air; and ‘Safarcast’, which clinched the award for Best Travel Show. Akashvani also bagged the award for the Best Interstitial, showcasing its creative excellence in short-form audio content.
Director General of Akashvani – Dr Pragya Paliwal Gaur
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