17th April 2025

1. India Set to Become Fastest-Growing Major Aviation Market by 2026
2. Agreement Signed As India to Host International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Headquarters
3. Cap-and-Trade Scheme in Gujarat’s Surat Achieves 30% Pollution Cut
4. World Heritage Day 2025
5. Santosh Kumar Appointed Deputy CFO of IndusInd Bank
6. India’s First Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Over Multi-Core Fibre
7. SC Issued Guidelines to Child Trafficking
8. UAE Assumes Chair of INTERPOL’s Committee on Governance
9. CPCB Revises Classification of Industries Introduced New Category
10. Tanzania Records Hottest Year Ever in 2024 Amid Surging Nighttime Temperatures
11. India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise DUSTLIK-VI Begins at Aundh, Pune
12. 5 Military Personals Honored With Prestigious MacGregor Memorial Medal
13. India’s Trade Dynamics in FY25 Surplus with US Widens, Deficit with China Deepens
14. India’s Exports Rise Marginally by 0.7% in March 2025
15. Tamil Nadu Forms High-Level Committee To Strengthening State Autonomy
16. WHO Pandemic Treaty Proposal Finalised
17. Indian Navy Hosted 3rd Edition Of Meghayan-25
18. Justice BR Gavai Next CJI of India as Successor to Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna
19. Defence Literature Festival ‘Kalam & Kavach 2.0’
20. Banaras Shehnai Get Recognition of GI Tag
21. CRISIL Projected 12-13% Growth for Banking Credit
22. Morgan Stanley Lowers India’s FY26 Outlook
23. Daniel Noboa Re-elected In Ecuador’s 2025 Presidential Run-off
24. Mirabai Chanu Appointed Chairperson of IWLF Athletes Commission
25. Blue Origin Completes Historic All-Female Spaceflight In April 2025

National News

1. India to Become Fastest-Growing Large Aviation Market by 2026

• What:
  • India’s air passenger traffic growth rate is projected to surpass China’s in 2026, making India the world’s fastest-growing large aviation market over the next three decades.
• Why:
  • The rapid growth is driven by increasing air travel demand from India’s large population, which currently has low per capita air travel, indicating significant potential for expansion.
• Tell me more:
  • The compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for India’s air passenger traffic from 2023-2027 is estimated at 9.5%, compared to China’s 8.8%.

• Over the next 30 years, India is expected to remain the world’s third-largest aviation market, while China is projected to overtake the US as the largest by 2053.
• India’s yearly trips per capita in 2023 were 0.1, compared to China’s 0.5 and the US’s 2.1.
• By 2043, India’s yearly trips per capita are projected to reach 0.4.

Source: IE

2. India’s First QKD Transmission Over Multi-Core Fibre

• What:
  • C-DOT and Sterlite Technologies Limited (STL) have successfully tested India’s first Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) transmission over a 4-core Multi-Core Fibre (MCF).
• Why:
  • The achievement aims to advance quantum-secured communication networks by enabling secure and cost-effective data transmission.
• Tell me more:
  • Multi-Core Fibre (MCF) technology allows data to be transmitted across multiple cores in a single fibre, saving space and reducing infrastructure costs.
  • In QKD, MCF enables physical separation of quantum and classical signals within the same fibre, allowing both to be transmitted together without affecting quantum signal integrity.
  • In the test, quantum signals were sent through one core, while the other three cores carried high-speed user data.
  • A stable QKD link was established over more than 100 km, proving the robustness of quantum communication even with high-capacity data traffic.
  • C-DOT is a telecom R&D centre under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India, and has developed industry-grade QKD systems.
  • C-DOT’s QKD systems have received Technology Approval from the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC).

Source: PIB

3. Supreme Court Issues Guidelines on Child Trafficking Trials

• What:
  • The Supreme Court has set strict guidelines for preventing and speeding up trials of child trafficking cases across India.
• Why:
  • The guidelines aim to ensure quick justice and prevent delays in child trafficking cases.
• Tell me more:
  • High Courts have been directed to instruct lower courts to finish child trafficking trials within six months.
  • Such cases must be heard on a day-to-day basis to avoid delays.
  • The directions were given while hearing anticipatory bail pleas in a child trafficking case from Uttar Pradesh.
  • The Supreme Court criticised the Uttar Pradesh government for its handling of child trafficking cases and the Allahabad High Court for granting bail to accused persons.
  • Any failure to follow these directions will be treated as contempt of court.
  • The Court ordered that if a newborn is stolen from a hospital, the hospital’s license should be cancelled as the first step.
  • The case involved a stolen baby being given to a couple who wanted a son.

Source: NOA

State News

1. Surat’s Emissions Trading System Cuts Air Pollution

• What:
  • Surat introduced an Emissions Trading System (ETS) that reduced particulate emissions by 20–30%, lowered compliance costs by 11%, and achieved 99% permit adherence.
• Why:
  • The system was launched to control air pollution effectively while allowing industries to operate flexibly and profitably.
• Tell me more:
  • The experiment was conducted by researchers from the University of Chicago, Yale University, and the University of Warwick, with findings to be published in the Journal of Economics in May.
  • The pilot started in 2019 with the Gujarat Pollution Control Board and included 317 coal-burning plants, half under traditional rules and half under ETS.
  • All plants used Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) for real-time oversight.
  • ETS plants performed better, with non-ETS plants violating limits nearly a third of the time.
  • The benefits of the program, such as cleaner air and longer lives, are estimated to be worth at least 25 times the implementation cost.
  • All local factories in Surat now use ETS, a similar system has started in Ahmedabad, and another Indian state is planning an ETS for sulfur dioxide.
  • The project involved partnerships with EPIC-India, J-PAL South Asia, and Yale’s Economic Growth Center.

Source: IT

2. Tamil Nadu Forms High-Level Panel on Centre-State Relations

• What:
  • Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a three-member high-level committee to review Constitutional provisions, laws, and policies on Centre-State relations and recommend steps to enhance State autonomy and federalism.
• Why:
  • The committee aims to suggest reforms for restoring State powers, improving federalism, and protecting Tamil Nadu’s interests in areas like education, finance, and governance.
• Tell me more:
  • The committee was formed under Rule 110 of the Assembly and is headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph, with retired IAS officer K. Ashok Vardhan Shetty and former State Planning Commission vice-chairman M. Naganathan as members.
  • The committee will review the Constitution, laws, and policies related to Centre-State relations, suggest ways to restore subjects shifted from the State List to the Concurrent List, and propose administrative reforms for State autonomy without harming national integrity.
  • The panel will consider the recommendations of the Rajamannar Committee, Sarkaria Commission, and Punchhi Commission in the context of current conditions.
  • The State Assembly had previously adopted recommendations for autonomy in 1974 based on the Rajamannar Committee’s report.

Source: TH

3. Varanasi’s Traditional Products Receive GI Tag Recognition

• What:
  • Several traditional products from Varanasi, including the Banarasi Shehnai, Banarasi Tabla, and Banarasi Bharwan Mirch, have recently received Geographical Indication (GI) tags.
• Why:
  • The GI tag recognition aims to honour and protect Varanasi’s rich cultural and craft heritage.
• Tell me more:
  • The GI certificate for the Banarasi Shehnai was personally handed over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ramesh Kumar, a renowned artisan from Banaras, during a public event at Mehndi Ganj.
  • The Banarasi Shehnai gained global recognition through the performances of Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Source: PIB

Source: ETV

International News

1. India to Host International Big Cat Alliance Headquarters

• What:
  • India has officially designated the headquarters of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), an intergovernmental wildlife organisation, to be located in India.
• Why:
  • The initiative aims to protect big cats and serve as a model for global conservation efforts.
• Tell me more:
  • The Indian government signed a Headquarters Agreement with the IBCA, formalising the establishment of the IBCA headquarters in India.
  • The agreement provides for visas, privileges, and immunities to the IBCA Secretariat and its personnel.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the IBCA on April 9, 2023, during the ‘Commemorating 50 Years of Project Tiger’ event in Mysuru.
  • The IBCA focuses on conserving seven big cat species: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
  • The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of the IBCA headquarters in India on February 29, 2024, with a one-time budgetary support of Rs 150 crore for five years (2023-24 to 2027-28).
  • IBCA became a legal entity on January 23, 2025, after five countries—Nicaragua, Eswatini, India, Somalia, and Liberia—signed the Framework Agreement.
  • 27 countries, including India, have agreed to join the IBCA, and many international and national organisations have partnered with it.

Source: IE

2. UAE Elected Chair of INTERPOL Committee on Governance

• What:
  • The UAE, represented by the Ministry of Interior, has been elected to chair the Committee on Governance, a key advisory committee of INTERPOL.
• Why:
  • This election highlights the UAE’s strong reputation and commitment to international cooperation in governance and security.
• Tell me more:
  • The UAE is the first country to chair this newly formed standing committee, with a two-year term.
  • The Committee will review the INTERPOL Statute, General Regulations, and annexes, and provide advice to the General Assembly on amendments and interpretations.
  • The committee consists of high-level experts in governance and public international law from various member states.

Source: ANI

3. Tanzania Records Hottest and Fourth Wettest Year in 2024

• What:
  • Tanzania experienced its hottest year on record in 2024, with sharply rising nighttime temperatures and the fourth wettest year since 1970.
• Why:
  • The report highlights the immediate threat of the climate crisis to food security and livelihoods due to erratic temperatures and rainfall patterns.
• Tell me more:
  • The average annual minimum temperature reached 19.3°C, which is 1.1°C higher than the long-term average, while the maximum temperature was 28.8°C, 0.4°C above average.
  • The national average temperature for 2024 was 24.3°C, 0.7°C above normal, breaking the previous record set in 2023.
  • 80% of Tanzania’s population depends on farming.

Source: DTE

4. WHO Member States Finalize Draft Pandemic Agreement

• What:
  • WHO Member States finalized a draft Pandemic Agreement to strengthen global cooperation on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
• Why:
  • The agreement aims to make the world safer from pandemics by establishing a framework for global collaboration and shared responses to health threats.
• Tell me more:
  • The Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) was established in December 2021 to draft the agreement under the WHO Constitution.
  • The proposal will be presented to the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly for consideration.
  • Key proposals include establishing a pathogen access and benefit sharing system, adopting a One Health approach, building geographically diverse R&D capacities, facilitating technology and knowledge transfer, mobilizing a skilled health emergency workforce, setting up a financial coordination mechanism, strengthening health systems, and establishing a global supply chain and logistics network.

Source: WHO

Banking and Economy

1. India’s Trade Surplus with US Rises, Deficit with China Widens

• What:
  • India’s top three trading partners remained the same, with the US leading, but India’s trade surplus with the US increased while the trade deficit with China neared $100 billion in the last fiscal year.
• Why:
  • The changes reflect shifts in export and import trends, with rising exports to the US and increasing imports from China impacting India’s trade balance.
• Tell me more:
  • India’s exports to the US rose by 11.6% to $86.5 billion, and imports grew by 7.4% to $45.3 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $41 billion.
  • India’s exports to China fell to $14.2 billion, while imports from China increased by 11.5% to $113.5 billion, leading to a trade deficit close to $100 billion.
  • China became India’s fifth biggest export destination, as the UK moved up to fourth place.
  • The fall in exports to China was mainly due to lower ore exports, especially iron, with ore exports nearly halved to $1.5 billion from April to January 2024-25.
  • Imports of photovoltaic cells from China dropped by around 20% to $2.4 billion, and lithium-ion battery imports were slightly lower at $1.8 billion.

Source: TOI

2. Crisil Ratings: Bank Credit Growth Expected to Rise in FY26

• What:
  • Bank credit in India is expected to grow by 12 to 13 per cent in fiscal year 2026, up from 11 to 11.5 per cent estimated for fiscal 2025, due to supportive regulatory measures, tax cuts, and softer interest rates.
• Why:
  • The growth is driven by recent regulatory changes, improved credit flow to NBFCs, income tax breaks, and lower lending rates, all aimed at boosting consumption and credit demand.
• Tell me more:
  • Crisil Ratings reported that deposit growth remains important for supporting credit growth.
  • The Reserve Bank of India has rolled back a 25 percentage points increase in risk weights for certain bank loans to NBFCs, improving credit flow to NBFCs.
  • Banking system exposure to NBFCs grew at about 21 per cent CAGR in fiscals 2023 and 2024 but dropped to around six per cent in fiscal 2025.
  • Corporate sector credit growth, which is about 41 per cent of bank loans, is expected to be 9 to 10 per cent in FY26, up from eight per cent in FY25, as lending to NBFCs improves.

Source: BW

GDP Forecasts

1. Morgan Stanley Cuts India’s Growth Forecast for 2025-26

• What:
  • Morgan Stanley has reduced its growth forecast for India to 6.1% for 2025-26, down by 40 basis points, due to changes in trade and tariff policies.
• Why:
  • The cut in the forecast is because changes in trade and tariff policies are creating uncertainty, which is affecting external demand and business confidence, slowing down investment.
• Tell me more:
  • Morgan Stanley now expects India’s growth to be 6.3% in 2026-27, lower than its earlier estimate of 6.5%.
  • Growth is expected to reach its lowest point at 5.7% in the December 2025 quarter, compared to 6.2% a year earlier.
  • Inflation is expected to be low, averaging 4% in the current financial year, with food and oil prices helping keep inflation down.
  • Slower growth and lower inflation may lead the Reserve Bank of India to cut interest rates by a total of 100 basis points, with two more rate cuts likely in 2025.

Source: ET

Defence News

1. India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise DUSTLIK-6 Begins

• What:
  • The 6th edition of India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise DUSTLIK-6 started at the Foreign Training Node in Aundh, Pune, Maharashtra.
• Why:
  • The exercise aims to share best practices in joint sub-conventional operations and strengthen defence cooperation between India and Uzbekistan.
• Tell me more:
  • The Uzbekistan contingent is represented by personnel from the Uzbekistan Army.
  • DUSTLIK is an annual training event conducted alternately in India and Uzbekistan.

Source: NOA

2. Indian Navy Hosts 3rd Meteorological Symposium Meghayan 25

• What:
  • The Indian Navy organised the 3rd edition of its Meteorological and Oceanological Symposium, Meghayan 25, on 14 April 2025 to celebrate the formation of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and WMO Day 2025.
• Why:
  • The symposium aimed to align with the WMO Day 2025 theme, ‘Closing the Early Warning Gap Together’, and to improve meteorological services in the Indian Navy.
• Tell me more:
  • The event took place at Nausena Bhawan, Delhi, and was virtually inaugurated by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff.
  • The technical program included two sessions: one on Marine Meteorology and Oceanology, and another on Statistical Approaches in Weather Forecasting, both moderated by experienced officers.
  • The event featured the launch of MOSDAC-IN web services, a collaboration between DNOM and SAC, providing customised satellite-derived weather products for Naval Met Offices.
  • The professional journal “Sagarmanthan” was revived and its 10th edition was launched after nearly 10 years.

Source: PIB

3. Kalam & Kavach 2.0 Conclave Focuses on Defence Reforms

• What:
  • Kalam & Kavach 2.0, organised by Pentagon Press and CENJOWS, brought together top defence experts to discuss the next wave of military reforms.
• Why:
  • The conclave aimed to promote speed, synergy, and self-reliance in India’s national defence for the year 2025.
• Tell me more:
  • The event was held at the Manekshaw Centre and had the theme “2025: The Year of Reforms.”
  • Three books—Cyber Diplomacy, Artificial Intelligence in Military Applications, and India’s Arsenal—were released at the event.

Source: TP

Awards

1. MacGregor Memorial Medal Awarded to Five Military Personnel

• What:
  • Five military personnel were conferred the MacGregor Memorial Medal by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan for outstanding contributions in military reconnaissance, exploration, and adventure for 2023 and 2024.
• Why:
  • The medals recognise acts of military reconnaissance, exploration, expeditions, and adventure activities by armed forces personnel.
• Tell me more:
  • Awardees for 2023: Wing Commander D. Panda (Air Force) and Electrical Artificer (Radio) Rahul Kumar Pandey (Navy).
  • Awardees for 2024: Chief Electrical Aircraft Artificer (Radio) Ram Ratan Jat (Navy) and Sergeant Jhumar Ram Poonia (Air Force).
  • Colonel Ranvir Singh Jamwal, Director of the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports, Arunachal Pradesh, was also awarded but was not present as he is on a mountaineering expedition to Mt. Kangchenjunga.
  • The medals were presented at the United Service Institution of India (USI).
  • The event also featured the launch of the book “Bravest of the Brave,” a chronicle of Naib Subedar Chunni Lal, authored by Lt. Gen. Satish Dua (retd.), former Chief of Integrated Defence Staff.

Source: TH

Important Days

1. World Heritage Day – April 18

• Theme: Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 years of ICOMOS Actions

Source: WHD

Sports

1. Mirabai Chanu Elected Chairperson of IWLF Athletes’ Commission

• What:
  • Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu has been elected chairperson and S. Sathish Kumar vice-chairperson of the Athletes’ Commission of the Indian Weightlifting Federation for a four-year term.
• Why:
  • The election aims to represent and uphold the voice of weightlifters within the Indian Weightlifting Federation.
• Tell me more:
  • Mirabai Chanu is one of India’s most decorated weightlifters, holding multiple national records and achieving historic milestones.

Source: TH

Appointments

1. Santosh Kumar Appointed Deputy CFO at IndusInd Bank

• IndusInd Bank has elevated Chief Accountant Santosh Kumar to Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Special Officer – Finance & Accounts, effective April 18, 2025.

Source: ET

2. Justice B R Gavai Named Next Chief Justice of India

• Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has written to the Union Law Ministry, naming Justice B R Gavai as his successor to become the 52nd Chief Justice of India.

Source: IE

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