25th April 2025

1. IISc Tops Times Higher Education Asia Rankings 2025
2. Life Insurance Premium Mobilisation Rises by 5.13% in FY25
3. South Asian (SAAF) Senior Athletics Championships 2025 Postponed Again
4. UNESCO Names 16 New Global Geoparks
5. Don Pettit Oldest Serving US Astronaut Returns to Earth on His 70th Birthday
6. Jitendra Mishra Elected President of CIFEJ
7. Klaus Schwab Resigns as Chairman of World Economic Forum After Five Decades
8. Pink E-Rickshaw Initiative: Empowering Women through Green Mobility
9. India’s First Quantum Computing Village in Amaravati
10. ICAI & CAG Sign MoU for Capacity Building Programs in Public Sector Audits
11. Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s Official Visit to Saudi Arabia from April 22–23, 2025
12. HDFC Bank Becomes Third Indian Company to Surpass Rs 15 Lakh Crore m-cap
13. Campbell Wilson steps down as Chairman of Air India Express; Nipun Aggarwal to take over
14. T Rabi Sankar Re-appointed as RBI Deputy Governor for One Year
15. Ambuja Cements Acquires 37.8% Stake in OCL, Gains Control from CK Birla Group
16. LIC Raises Stake in BoB to 7.05%
17. South Korea Launched Fourth Military Spy Satellite Abroad SpaceX Falcon 9
18. China Launches World’s 1st 10G Broadband Network
19. Neeraj Chopra Wins Gold at Potch Invitational 2025 in South Africa
20. International Girls in ICT Day 2025 – April 24
21. National Panchayati Raj Day 2025 – April 24
22. International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace 2025 – April 24
23. World Day for Laboratory Animals 2025 – April 24

National News

1. India, Saudi Arabia to Deepen Tech, Tourism Ties

• What:
  • India and Saudi Arabia have agreed to deepen cooperation in technology and tourism during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on April 22, 2025.
• Why:
  • Both sides want to boost bilateral engagement by focusing on emerging technologies, digital governance, and sustainable tourism.
• Tell me more:
  • They will work together in areas like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, semiconductors, and other advanced sectors.
  • Both countries will explore joint initiatives in digital governance.
  • The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the Communications, Space and Technology Commission of Saudi Arabia signed an MoU to boost cooperation in regulatory practices and digital sector development.
  • India and Saudi Arabia will enhance collaboration in the tourism sector through capacity building, knowledge exchange, and sustainable tourism practices.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit built upon the momentum of the Crown Prince’s visit to India in September 2023.

Source: toi

State News

1. Maharashtra to Introduce Pink E-Rickshaws as Feeder Services

• What:
  • Pink e-rickshaws will be introduced as feeder services at metro stations, airports, and tourist destinations in Pune and will be extended to other cities in Maharashtra.
• Why:
  • The initiative aims to empower women financially and socially while providing them with employment opportunities.
• Tell me more:
  • The Women and Child Development Department plans to distribute 10,000 pink e-rickshaws in the first phase, covering multiple cities.
  • The Centre offers a subsidy of ₹25,000, and the state government provides ₹75,000 per vehicle.
  • Banks will cover 70% of the vehicle cost through loans.
  • Pune district is targeted to distribute 4,000 vehicles, and 60 women from Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad have already received their vehicles after training.
  • Plans are in place to set up over 1,000 electric vehicle charging stations in Pune.
  • The government is working to integrate pink e-rickshaws into platforms like Ola and Uber to ensure safe travel for women while generating employment.

Source: HT

2. AP to Establish India’s First Quantum Computing Village

• What:
  • Andhra Pradesh is planning to establish India’s first ‘Quantum Computing Village’ in Amaravati.
• Why:
  • The facility aims to advance research, development, and collaboration in the field of quantum computing.
• Tell me more:
  • The 50-acre facility will be a pioneering ecosystem for quantum computing.
  • The focus of the recent high-level meeting was on infrastructure, ecosystem design, and technical requirements for the project’s rollout.
  • Key players like IBM, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) are involved in the project.
  • L&T will construct an Iconic Building, which will house advanced quantum systems provided by IBM.
  • The initial setup will include IBM’s Quantum System Two, with infrastructure specifications finalized jointly by IBM and TCS.

Source: IT

International News

1. UNESCO Adds Sixteen New Global Geoparks

• What:
  • Sixteen new sites have been designated as UNESCO Global Geoparks, which are territories with significant geological heritage.
• Why:
  • These designations promote conservation, education, sustainable tourism, and the preservation of local and indigenous knowledge.
• Tell me more:
  • The new geoparks include sites in China, DPR Korea, Ecuador, Indonesia, Italy, Norway, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, United Kingdom, and Viet Nam.
  • The designation supports conservation, education, geotourism, and the cultural traditions of local communities.
  • UNESCO also promotes the Global Geoparks program in Africa, Arab States, and Small Island Developing States through expert missions and training.
  • UNESCO has been promoting the program for the past 10 years.
  • The UNESCO Executive Board makes the designations based on evaluations by the Global Geoparks Council.

Source: UN

2. America’s Oldest Astronaut Returns to Earth on Birthday

• What:
  • Don Pettit, America’s oldest serving astronaut, returned to Earth on his 70th birthday aboard the Soyuz MS-26 space capsule.
• Why:
  • Pettit completed his mission on the International Space Station (ISS) along with his Russian crewmates.
• Tell me more:
  • The Soyuz MS-26 capsule landed in Kazakhstan with Pettit and Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner.
  • Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi took command of the ISS before their departure.
  • Last month, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returned to Earth after spending more than nine months on the ISS due to technical issues with their spacecraft.

Source: BBC

3. South Korea Launches Fourth Military Reconnaissance Satellite

• What:
  • South Korea successfully launched its fourth military reconnaissance satellite into orbit.
• Why:
  • To enhance the country’s independent surveillance capabilities for monitoring North Korea.
• Tell me more:
  • The satellite was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
  • The latest launch enhances the ability to detect signs of provocation from North Korea through a coordinated group of satellites.
  • The satellite is equipped with a synthetic aperture radar system, capturing ultra-high-resolution images day and night, regardless of weather.
  • This is the fourth in a planned series of five mid-to large-sized reconnaissance satellites under “Project 425”.
  • The first satellite was launched in Dec. 2023 and became operational in Aug. 2024.
  • The Kill Chain system is South Korea’s strategy for countering a DPRK missile strike.

Source: NK

4. China Launches World’s First 10G Broadband Internet Network

• What:
  • China has launched the world’s first 10G broadband internet network in Xiong’an City, Hebei Province.
• Why:
  • This marks a significant step in the development of global digital infrastructure.
• Tell me more:
  • The network is a collaboration between Huawei and Unicom.
  • The network can reach download speeds of up to 9,834 Mbps and upload speeds of 1,008 Mbps, with a latency of 3 milliseconds.
  • This speed surpasses countries like the UAE and Singapore.
  • It utilizes 50G Passive Optical Network (PON) technology, an innovation of the Fiber to the X (FTTx) system.
  • This technology can provide internet speeds of up to 50 Gbps for uploads and downloads without major infrastructure changes.
  • Users can download a 20GB 4K movie in less than 20 seconds.
  • The network is expected to support cloud computing, VR, AR, telemedicine, remote education, and technology-based agriculture.

Source: IT

Banking and Economy

1. Life Insurance Industry Sees Growth in New Business Premium

• What:
  • The life insurance industry’s total new business premium grew by 5.13 percent for the year ended March 2025, with individual new business premiums rising by 11.17 percent.
• Why:
  • The growth is due to life insurers focusing on encouraging first-time buyers to secure comprehensive financial protection.
• Tell me more:
  • The industry collected a total of Rs 3,97,336 crore in new business premium for 2024-25, up from Rs 3,77,960 crore in the previous year.
  • Individual new business premium stood at Rs 1,66,590.81 crore for 2024-25, compared to Rs 1,49,851.67 crore last year.
  • LIC, India’s largest life insurer, collected Rs 2,26,669 crore in new business premium for FY25, including a record Rs 62,404 crore from individual new business.
  • LIC holds a 57.05 percent share in the life insurance business.
  • Combined individual premium collections grew by 4.47 percent in March 2025 and by 11.17 percent year-to-date.
  • In the group policy segment, single premiums reached Rs 33,543 crore, with a 0.46 percent growth in March 2025.
  • The industry added 11,15,661 new individual life insurance agents in 2024-25, resulting in a 7.88 percent growth in total agent count.

Source: IE

2. HDFC Bank Crosses ₹15 Lakh Crore Market Cap

• What:
  • HDFC Bank became the third Indian company to cross the ₹15 lakh crore mark in market capitalization.
• Why:
  • Consistent share price appreciation and strong investor interest supported this milestone.
• Tell me more:
  • The total traded quantity of the stock stood at 8.91 lakh shares.
  • Reliance Industries and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) are the other Indian companies with market caps above ₹15 lakh crore.
  • ICICI Bank and Bharti Airtel are next in line in terms of market cap.

Source: ET

3. Ambuja Cements Completes Acquisition of Orient Cement Stake

• What:
  • Adani Group-owned Ambuja Cements has completed the acquisition of a 37.8 per cent promoters’ stake in CK Birla group firm Orient Cement Ltd (OCL), becoming a promoter.
• Tell me more:
  • Ambuja Cements’ total shareholding in OCL has increased to 46.66 per cent, including the acquisition of 8.87 per cent from public shareholders.
  • Ambuja has acquired sole control of OCL and has become the promoter of the company.
  • Last October, Ambuja Cements announced the acquisition of OCL at a valuation of Rs 8,100 crore.
  • OCL is a CK Birla group firm.

Source: ET

4. LIC Increases Stake in Bank of Baroda

• What:
  • LIC has increased its stake in state-owned Bank of Baroda (BoB) by nearly two percent.
• Tell me more:
  • LIC’s stake in Bank of Baroda has increased from 5.03 percent to 7.05 percent.
  • Bank of Baroda is based in Mumbai.

Source: ET

Reports and Indices

1. Indian Universities Feature in Asia University Rankings 2025

• What:
  • Times Higher Education (THE) released its Asia University Rankings for 2025, with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) ranked as the highest Indian institution.
• Why:
  • The rankings highlight the performance and global standing of universities across Asia, helping to compare academic excellence.
• Tell me more:
  • Tsinghua University and Peking University from China secured the top two spots, and five of the top ten universities are from China.
  • The National University of Singapore is ranked third, with universities from Japan and Hong Kong also in the upper tier.
  • IISc is ranked 38th with a score of 65.2, making it the top Indian university in the list.
  • Anna University is ranked 111th with a score of 52.3, followed by IIT Indore at 131st with 49.4.
  • Mahatma Gandhi University is ranked 140th with a score of 48.6, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences is 146th with 48.1, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences is 149th with 47.8, and Jamia Millia Islamia is 161st with 46.9.
  • All Indian universities listed have slipped in position compared to the 2024 rankings, with IISc moving from 32nd to 38th, Anna University from 119th to 111th, and Mahatma Gandhi University from 134th to 140th.

Source: IT

Important Days

1. International Girls in ICT Day – April 24

• Theme: “Girls in ICT for inclusive digital transformation”

Source: ITU

2. National Panchayati Raj Day – April 24

3. International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace – April 24

Source: UN

4. World Day for Laboratory Animals 2025 – April 24

Sports

1. South Asian Athletics Championships Postponed Due to Visa Delay

• What:
  • The South Asian (SAAF) Senior Athletics Championships, scheduled for May 3-5, 2025 in Ranchi, have been postponed for the second time, mainly due to delays in granting visas to the Pakistani contingent.
• Why:
  • The event was postponed to ensure participation of all teams, as Pakistani athletes had not received their visas in time.
• Tell me more:
  • The event was set to bring together athletes from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives for a three-day competition.
  • The team from Bhutan had already arrived in Ranchi and started training.
  • Pakistan had sent a list of 43 athletes, including Olympic Javelin Champion Arshad Nadeem, but visa delays led to the postponement.
  • Other top athletes like Sri Lanka’s Yupun Abeykoon and Aruna Darshana had also confirmed participation.
  • The event cannot be held after the first week of June, as elite athletes will prepare for the Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea starting May 27.
  • The Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium, the event venue, has a new practice track and improved lighting after recent complaints.

Source: IE

2. Neeraj Chopra Wins Potch Invitational Meet

• What:
  • Neeraj Chopra won the Potch Invitational Meet in Potchefstroom, South Africa, with an 84.52m throw.
• Why:
  • It was his first competition of the 2025 athletics season.
• Tell me more:
  • The event was held at McArthur Stadium, where he qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
  • Douw Smit came in second with 82.44m, and Duncan Robertson was third with 71.22m.
  • Neeraj Chopra’s personal best and the Indian national record stand at 89.94m.
  • He is also scheduled to compete at this year’s Doha Diamond League on May 16.
  • Neeraj is training under his new coach, Jan Zelezny, in Potchefstroom.

Source: OC

Memorandum of Understanding

1. CAG, ICAI Partner to Strengthen Capacity Building

• What:
  • The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
• Why:
  • The MoU aims to strengthen the capacity building framework in commercial accounting, financial auditing, taxation, and related areas within the CAG.
• Tell me more:
  • The partnership covers Entry Level training programs for recent recruits, Advance Level programs for experienced officers, and a Continuous Professional Education (CPE) mechanism.
  • Comprehensive training programs will cover accounting standards, auditing standards, digital systems like ERP, forensic accounting, and fraud investigation.

Source: CAG

Appointments

1. Renowned Indian Filmmaker Leads UNESCO’s CIFEJ

• What:
  • Indian filmmaker Jitendra Mishra has been elected President of the UNESCO-supported International Centre of Films for Children and Young People (CIFEJ) for 2025-2027.
• Why:
  • His election reflects an endorsement of his vision to use cinema to engage, educate, and empower young audiences globally.
• Tell me more:
  • Mishra received support from over 50 active members from 40 countries.
  • He is known as the Festival Director of the Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFFCY).
  • CIFEJ, founded in 1955 under UNESCO, promotes educational content for young people and is now headquartered in Athens, Greece.
  • The new board includes members from Canada, Cyprus, China, Tunisia, Romania, Iran, and Japan.
  • Vassilis Karamitsanis and Irene Andriopoulou from Greece will serve as Secretary General and Executive Director, respectively.
  • SIFFCY Chairman Santanu Mishra emphasized cinema’s transformative power in shaping young minds.

Source: TOI

2. Air India Express Gets New Chairman, COO

• Air India MD & CEO Campbell Wilson has stepped down as chairman of AI Express, with Nipun Aggarwal taking over.

Source: TOI

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