Daily Current Affairs

On April 28, 2025, MeitY announced that 34 supercomputers with a combined computing power of 35 Petaflops (10 lakh GB) have been deployed across India under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), set up at top institutions including IISc, IITs, C-DAC, and institutions in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.

• NSM was launched in 2015 by GoI to develop high-performance computing (HPC) systems. Jointly steered by DST and MeitY; implemented by C-DAC (Pune) and IISc (Bengaluru).
• The mission has opened world-class supercomputing access to researchers in smaller cities, including Tier-II and Tier-III towns.

In April 2025, the GoI set up an inter-ministerial committee to design the framework of the proposed National Manufacturing Mission (NMM), led by BVR Subrahmanyam (CEO, NITI Aayog), aimed at boosting the Make in India initiative.

• Manufacturing currently contributes 16–17% of India’s GDP; the mission aims to increase this share. Announced in Union Budget 2025–26.
• Five focal areas: (i) Ease and cost of doing business; (ii) Future-ready workforce; (iii) Vibrant MSME sector; (iv) Availability of technology and quality products; (v) Large industries.
• Also covers Clean Tech Manufacturing: Solar PV Cells, EV batteries, motors, electrolyzers, wind turbines, grid-scale batteries.
• Separately, MoS Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma (MoHI) launched 3 R&D schemes + the ‘SteelCollab’ web portal under SRTMI (Steel Research Technology Mission of India) on March 12, 2025.

On April 28, 2025, the Coastal States Fisheries Meet 2025 was held in Mumbai under Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) (MoFAH&D + MoPR).

• Launched fisheries projects worth Rs 255.30 crore for 7 coastal states/UTs under PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana).
• Launched the 5th Marine Fisheries Census (MFC 2025), Guidelines on Turtle Excluder Device, and SOP for Vessel Communication and Support System.
• Distributed tablets with Digital Application Vyas-NAV (Village Jetty Appraisal NAVigator).
• Awarded the first-ever aqua insurance (One Time Incentive Sanction-cum-Release Order) under PM-MKSSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana).

On April 28, 2025, IEPFA (Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority, MoCA) hosted a virtual preparatory meeting for the ‘Niveshak Shivir’ initiative, chaired by Anita Shah Akella (CEO, IEPFA + Joint Secretary, MoCA).

• Niveshak Shivir: to be organised in cities with high unclaimed dividends for 6–7 years. Pilot phase launches in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and Mumbai (Maharashtra) in May 2025.
• IEPFA signed an MoU with Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMBL) (Mumbai) to enhance investor education and protection through digital outreach.

In April 2025, the CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) (New Delhi; under DoR, MoF) granted income tax exemption status to NMCG (National Mission for Clean Ganga) (under Ministry of Jal Shakti) to support the Namami Gange Programme (NGP, launched 2014).

• NMCG now eligible for IT exemption under Clause (46A) of Section 10 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, from Assessment Year 2024–25.
• Qualifies as an authority constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, engaged in environmental conservation, sustainable development, and public welfare.
• Key NMCG functions: sewage treatment; river surface cleaning; solid waste disposal; afforestation; biodiversity conservation; monitoring industrial effluents; promoting public participation.

The RBI announced that from May 1, 2025, all regulated entities — including SCBs, SFBs, LABs, RRBs, UCBs, State/Central Co-op Banks, AIFIs, NBFCs (including HFCs), PDs, PSOs, and CICs — must submit all applications for regulatory authorisations, licences, and approvals exclusively through the PRAVAAH portal.

• PRAVAAH = Platform for Regulatory Application, Validation And AutHorisation; launched in May 2024 as a secure, centralised web-based portal.
• Since launch, facilitated nearly 4,000 applications/requests.
• Key features: online submission, status tracking, clarification response, and time-bound decisions from RBI.

In April 2025, the RBI extended the deadline for banks to deploy BIS-standard Note Sorting Machines (NSM) by 6 months to November 1, 2025 (earlier deadline: May 1, 2025). The BIS standard IS 18663:2024 was published in the Gazette of India on March 19, 2024.

• RBI also directed all banks and White Label ATM Operators (WLAOs) to ensure ATMs dispense Rs 100 and Rs 200 denomination banknotes regularly.
• Milestone: By September 30, 2025, 75% of all ATMs shall dispense either Rs 100 or Rs 200 from at least one cassette.

In April 2025, Airtel Payments Bank (New Delhi; subsidiary of Bharti Airtel) partnered with NPCI (Mumbai) to launch NCMC (National Common Mobility Card)-enabled RuPay cards, supporting the GoI’s ‘One Nation, One Card’ vision for seamless interoperable digital payments.

• As of April 2025: issued over 2.5 million RuPay ON-THE-GO (NCMC-enabled) cards; target: 10 million within 2 years.

In April 2025, BookMyForex (Gurugram; a MakeMyTrip Group entity) launched the ‘Global Forex Card’ — a USD-denominated single-currency prepaid card with zero cross-currency fees and zero ATM withdrawal fees, designed for international travellers and students.

• Transact in 180+ currencies without conversion charges; accepted in 200+ countries.
• Up to 3.3% cashback (up to Rs 7,500); lifetime free card (no issuance, reload, or annual maintenance fees).
• No-fee university tuition payments — relevant for students studying abroad.

In April 2025, UN DESA (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs) released its flagship ‘World Social Report 2025: A New Policy Consensus to Accelerate Social Progress’ (co-produced with UNU-WIDER and DISD, UN DESA).

• ~60% of the global population faces economic insecurity; 690+ million continue to live in extreme poverty.
• Climate change will reduce livelihood opportunities for future generations; poor countries face environmental degradation while high-income countries remain the biggest polluters.
• Weakening social cohesion threatens collective action and SDG achievement.

On April 28, 2025, ADB (Manila, Philippines) in collaboration with WEF (Cologny, Switzerland) released the ‘Energy Transition Readiness Assessment (ETRA) for Developing Asia and the Pacific’ — ADB’s first initiative to assess regional energy system transformation using the WEF’s Energy Transition Index (ETI).

• Clean energy investments in developing Asia surged by over 900% from 2013 to 2023, reaching USD 729.4 billion in 2023 — accounting for 45% of global clean energy investments.
• Despite this, the region lags in grid readiness.
• IFC estimates USD 23 billion/year in concessional funds needed for India, ASEAN, and other EMDEs to unlock private capital for the energy transition.

In April 2025, ISM (India Semiconductor Mission, under MeitY) appointed Amitesh Kumar Sinha (Additional Secretary, MeitY; IRAS, 1996 batch) as its new CEO, succeeding Sushil Pal (ICAS, 1999 batch). He will oversee the Phase-II rollout of ISM, focusing on semiconductor fabrication, packaging, and Design-Linked Incentives (DLI).

• ISM (launched 2022) aims to make India a global semiconductor and display manufacturing hub. Part of Semicon India Programme (Rs 76,000 crore outlay) for semiconductor fabs, display fabs, and compound semiconductors.
• India’s semiconductor demand projected to grow from USD 45–50 billion (2024) to USD 100–110 billion by 2030.

In April 2025, Axiom Space Inc. (Texas, USA) appointed Tejpaul Bhatia (Indian-origin) as its new CEO, succeeding Dr. Kam Ghaffarian (co-founder and Executive Chairman; interim CEO since August 2024). Bhatia previously served as CRO of Axiom Space (joined 2021); 20+ years in technology and business leadership; founded 3 investor-backed startups with 2 successful acquisitions.

• Under his leadership, Axiom Space aims to advance next-generation spacesuits, orbital infrastructure, and microgravity research and manufacturing.
• Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the ISS is scheduled for launch in May 2025, featuring Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (IAF) as pilot.

On April 28, 2025, YouTube (subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.) appointed Gunjan Soni as Country Managing Director (MD) for YouTube India, succeeding Ishan Chatterjee (held position November 2022 – October 2024; moved to JioCinema as CRO).

• 20+ years of experience in business, technology, marketing, and e-commerce. Previously: Group CEO at ZALORA Group (Singapore; 6 years); EVP at Star India; CMO at Myntra.
• Also serves on the board of CBRE Group, Inc. (Texas; Fortune 500 company).

International Dance Day (World Dance Day) is observed annually on April 29 — the birth anniversary of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727–1810), French dancer, choreographer, and pioneer of modern ballet — promoted by the International Dance Council (CID) (Paris) and International Theatre Institute (ITI) (Shanghai) in association with UNESCO.

• Established in 1982 by the Dance Committee of ITI with UNESCO; first observed: April 29, 1982.
• 2025 message delivered by Mikhail Baryshnikov — one of the most influential figures in contemporary dance.

In April 2025, eminent filmmaker and cinematographer Shaji Neelakandan Karunakaran (Shaji N. Karun) passed away at the age of 73 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala (born 1952, Kandanchira, Kollam district, Kerala).

• Over a 5-decade career: directed 6 films, served as cinematographer for ~30 others.
• Founding Chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy — India’s first academy for film and television; led the state’s OTT platform C-Space for archiving culturally significant films.

In April 2025, Jair da Costa — former Brazilian striker and member of Brazil’s 1962 FIFA World Cup-winning squad — passed away at the age of 84 in Osasco, São Paulo, Brazil (born July 9, 1940, Santo André, São Paulo).

• Club career: Portuguesa (1960); Inter Milan (1962) — part of ‘Grande Inter’ under Helenio Herrera; scored the only goal in the 1965 European Cup final against Benfica.
• Club honours with Inter Milan: 4 Serie A titles, 2 European Cups, 2 Intercontinental Cups.
• Later: Santos FC (with Pelé; won Campeonato Paulista 1973); retired 1976 with Windsor Star (Canada).

On April 28, 2025, Amazon.com, Inc. (Washington DC) successfully launched the first 27 satellites of ‘Project Kuiper’ — its broadband internet constellation — from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, on an Atlas V rocket by United Launch Alliance (ULA) (Boeing + Lockheed Martin JV). Mission designated KA-01 (Kuiper Atlas 1).

• Satellites deployed at 280 miles (450 km) above Earth; will ascend to 393 miles (630 km) using onboard propulsion.
• Project Kuiper: USD 10 billion global broadband initiative for underserved/remote areas. Full constellation: 3,236 satellites in 3 orbital shells (590–630 km).
• Integrates with Amazon Web Services (AWS) for satellite imagery analysis, weather forecasting, and more.
• Prior tests: KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2 launched in October 2023 (prototypes, later deorbited).