🇮🇳 National News
On April 1, 2025, Jharkhand’s tribal communities celebrated the Sarhul Festival, marking the arrival of spring and the beginning of the traditional new year.
- Sacred Symbol – The festival pays homage to the Sal tree, believed to be the abode of Sarna Maa, the village deity.
- Cosmic Significance – Sarhul symbolizes the union of Earth and Sun, considered essential for sustaining life.
- Broader Importance – Holds deep ecological, cultural, and political significance for tribal identity and rights.
Sarhul is a tribal spring festival celebrated in Jharkhand by communities including the Ho, Munda, and Oraon tribes. The sacred tree is the Sal (Shorea robusta). The deity venerated is Sarna Maa. The festival marks both the tribal new year and the onset of the spring season.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alongside Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, inaugurated a statue of Maharaja Agrasen in Hisar, Haryana.
- Inaugurated a new ICU facility and laid the foundation stone for a Postgraduate hostel.
- Shah praised Maharaja Agrasen’s legacy of economic cooperation and PM Modi’s vision of development.
- Acknowledged Haryana’s contributions to India’s history and credited the double-engine government for progress in healthcare, employment, and agriculture.
Maharaja Agrasen was a legendary king of the Agrawal community, revered for promoting the concept of equal sharing of wealth (ek ek rupaya, ek ek eent). The statue was unveiled in Hisar, which is considered his birthplace. Haryana CM is Nayab Singh Saini. This event is relevant for questions on cultural heritage, Haryana governance, and schemes under double-engine government.
On the occasion of International Cooperative Day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled welfare schemes and development initiatives totalling over ₹800 crore in Bihar.
| Allocation | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Cooperative Sector | ₹111 crore | Cooperative banking, agricultural credit, strengthening PACS |
| Urban Infrastructure | ₹421 crore | Urban infrastructure & affordable housing |
| Law Enforcement | ₹181 crore | 133 new police stations |
| Road & Transport | ₹109 crore | Road transport & highway networks |
Total outlay: ₹800+ crore for Bihar. Key highlight: ₹111 crore for cooperatives, including support to Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). 133 new police stations to be created with ₹181 crore. Announced on International Cooperative Day — note: the UN International Day of Cooperatives is observed on the first Saturday of July each year.
Renowned historian and archaeologist MyNaa Swamy will be honoured with the prestigious Ugadi Award by the Andhra Pradesh government.
- The award includes the titles ‘Kalaratna’ and ‘Hamsa’ medal, along with a certificate and cash prize.
- The ceremony will be held at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram, Vijayawada.
- Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu will confer the honour.
The Ugadi Award is conferred by the Andhra Pradesh government on the occasion of Ugadi (Telugu New Year). Awardee: MyNaa Swamy (historian & archaeologist). Titles: Kalaratna and Hamsa medal. Venue: Tummalapalli Kalakshetram, Vijayawada. AP CM: N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Author Sanjeev Chopra has released a new book titled The Great Conciliator: Lal Bahadur Shastri and the Transformation of India, exploring the leadership and enduring legacy of India’s second Prime Minister.
- Sheds light on Shastri’s oft-overlooked contributions, including the creation of the Border Security Force (BSF).
- Highlights the origin of the iconic slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”.
- Portrays Shastri as a pragmatic consensus-builder who prioritized administrative stability during a transitional period in Indian history.
Book: The Great Conciliator | Author: Sanjeev Chopra | Subject: Lal Bahadur Shastri — India’s 2nd Prime Minister. Key facts: Shastri founded the BSF (1965) and coined “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”. He served as PM from 1964–1966 and presided over the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War.
The fourth edition of the India-US Tri-Service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise, Tiger Triumph 2025, commenced on April 1, 2025 and runs until April 13, 2025.
| Phase | Location | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Harbour Phase | Visakhapatnam | April 1–7, 2025 |
| Sea Phase | Off Kakinada | April 8–13, 2025 |
- Objective: Creation of SOPs and a Combined Coordination Center for joint crisis response.
- Indian Navy: INS Jalashwa, INS Gharial
- Indian Army: 91 Infantry Brigade
- Indian Air Force: C-130, MI-17 aircraft
- US Navy: USS Comstock, USS Ralph Johnson, US Marine Division
Tiger Triumph 2025 is the 4th edition of the India-US Tri-Service HADR exercise. It is a joint exercise — involves Navy, Army, and Air Force from both nations. Key locations: Visakhapatnam (harbour phase) and Kakinada (sea phase). India’s key vessel: INS Jalashwa (amphibious ship). Focus: Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief.
💼 Business & Economy
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) marked its 90th anniversary on April 1, 2025, commemorating its establishment in 1935 under the RBI Act of 1934.
- The RBI was nationalized in 1949.
- Played a pivotal role during India’s economic liberalization in 1991.
- Recent decades saw expansion of digital payments and financial inclusion initiatives.
| Governor | Distinction |
|---|---|
| Sir Osborne Smith | First Governor of RBI |
| Sir C.D. Deshmukh | First Indian Governor of RBI |
RBI founded: April 1, 1935 | Act: RBI Act, 1934 | Nationalized: 1949 | First Governor: Sir Osborne Smith | First Indian Governor: Sir C.D. Deshmukh | Current Governor (as of 2025): Sanjay Malhotra | HQ: Mumbai. The RBI’s 90th Foundation Day falls on April 1, 2025.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions reached a new all-time peak in March 2025, recording ₹24.77 trillion in value and 19.78 billion in transaction volume.
| Metric | March 2025 | YoY Growth (FY25) |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction Value | ₹24.77 trillion | +30% (₹260.56 trillion total) |
| Transaction Volume | 19.78 billion | +42% (131.14 billion total) |
| MoM Value Growth | +13% | — |
| MoM Volume Growth | +14% | — |
UPI March 2025 record: ₹24.77 trillion in value | 19.78 billion transactions. FY25 total: ₹260.56 trillion value (+30% YoY) | 131.14 billion transactions (+42% YoY). UPI is governed by NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India). Launched in 2016, UPI is a flagship of India’s Digital India initiative.
Renault Group will acquire the remaining 51% stake in Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd (RNAIPL) from Nissan, gaining total control of the Chennai manufacturing plant.
- The RNAIPL facility was founded in 2010 as a joint venture between Renault and Nissan.
- In 2023, Nissan had already reduced its stake; both companies also jointly invested $600 million to develop six new car models for India.
- This acquisition supports Renault’s strategy to restructure globally and strengthen its manufacturing footprint in India.
Renault acquires 51% stake from Nissan in RNAIPL → gains 100% ownership of Chennai plant. JV founded: 2010. Joint investment in 2023: $600 million for 6 new models. Relevant for questions on FDI in India, automobile sector, Make in India. Renault HQ: Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
Moody’s Ratings has forecasted India’s GDP growth at 6.5% for FY 2025–26, the highest among all G20 nations, making India the fastest-growing major economy.
- The slight moderation from 6.7% is attributed to external global headwinds, while domestic demand stays strong.
- Growth drivers: improved tax policy, income tax exemption raised to ₹12 lakh, and RBI’s rate cut to 6.25%.
- Inflation expected to stabilize around 4.5%, supporting investment and consumption.
Moody’s GDP forecast for India FY26: 6.5% — highest among G20 economies. Key drivers: income tax rebate to ₹12 lakh and RBI repo rate at 6.25%. Projected inflation: 4.5%. Moody’s is one of the Big Three credit rating agencies (alongside S&P and Fitch). Note: this is a separate projection from IMF/World Bank GDP estimates.
🌐 International News
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) clinched her first Miami Open title, defeating Jessica Pegula (USA) 7–5, 6–2 in straight sets.
- Sabalenka did not drop a single set throughout the entire tournament.
- This is her 19th WTA title, comprising 8 WTA 1000s and 3 Grand Slams.
- She became the third WTA World No. 1 to reach the finals of the Australian Open, Indian Wells, and Miami Open in the same year.
2025 Miami Open (Women’s) Winner: Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) | Defeated: Jessica Pegula (USA) | Score: 7–5, 6–2. Sabalenka’s tally: 19 WTA titles, 3 Grand Slams, 8 WTA 1000s. She is the WTA World No. 1. The Miami Open is part of the WTA 1000 series, held in Miami, Florida, USA.
👔 Appointments
Ambuj Chandna, formerly of Kotak Mahindra Bank, has been appointed as Managing Director and Head of Consumer Banking Group at DBS Bank India.
- Chandna’s career includes retail and lending roles at Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered Bank.
- He succeeds Prashant Joshi, who joined DBS in 2020.
- This appointment follows the elevation of Rajat Verma as CEO of DBS Bank India in March 2025.
Ambuj Chandna → MD & Head of Consumer Banking, DBS Bank India. Previously at: Kotak Mahindra Bank, Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered Bank. Succeeds: Prashant Joshi. DBS Bank India CEO: Rajat Verma (elevated March 2025). DBS Bank is headquartered in Singapore and is the largest bank in Southeast Asia.
🔬 Science & Technology
On March 31, 2025, SpaceX launched the Fram2 mission — the first-ever human spaceflight to orbit Earth over the poles, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
- The all-civilian crew will conduct 22 experiments in a 90-degree polar orbit at an altitude of 430 km over 3 to 5 days.
- Historic firsts: First x-ray taken in space, first mushroom growth in zero gravity, and first west coast Dragon recovery.
| Crew Member | Nationality |
|---|---|
| Chun Wang | Malta/China |
| Jannicke Mikkelsen | Norway |
| Rabea Rogge | Germany |
| Eric Philips | Australia |
Fram2 Mission — launched March 31, 2025 by SpaceX. First human polar orbit spaceflight (90° inclination). Altitude: 430 km. Rocket: Falcon 9. All-civilian crew: 4 members (Chun Wang, Jannicke Mikkelsen, Rabea Rogge, Eric Philips). Experiments: 22. Milestones include first x-ray in space and mushroom cultivation in zero gravity.
📅 Important Days
World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) is observed annually on April 2. The 2025 theme is “Advancing Neurodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
- Organized by the Institute of Neurodiversity (ION) and the UN’s Department of Global Communications.
- Promotes inclusion and recognition of the contributions of autistic individuals in education, healthcare, and employment.
- Aligns the autism advocacy agenda with the UN’s global development goals.
World Autism Awareness Day: April 2 (annually) | 2025 Theme: “Advancing Neurodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” | Organized by: ION + UN Department of Global Communications. Established by the UN General Assembly in 2007. Relevant for questions on UN observances, SDGs, and mental health awareness.
April 1 is celebrated as Utkal Dibasa (Odisha Day), commemorating the establishment of Odisha as India’s first linguistic state in 1936, separated from the Bengal Presidency.
- The movement for statehood was led by visionaries Madhusudan Das (known as Utkal Gourav) and Gopabandhu Das.
- Utkal Sabha (1882) and Utkal Sammilani (1903) were key organizations instrumental in achieving this milestone.
- Odisha’s formation marked a landmark in India’s socio-political history, paving the way for the later States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
Utkal Dibasa: April 1 | Odisha formed: April 1, 1936 — India’s first state formed on a linguistic basis. Key leaders: Madhusudan Das (Utkal Gourav) & Gopabandhu Das. Key orgs: Utkal Sabha (1882) and Utkal Sammilani (1903). Separated from: Bengal Presidency. Capital: Bhubaneswar. Governor: Hari Babu Kambhampati (2025).
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