What is the 'Buddha Dhamma and the Culture of Northeast India' conclave?

The 'Buddha Dhamma and the Culture of Northeast India' conclave is a two-day event organized by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and the Ministry of Culture.

Daily Current Affairs 18th April 2025, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update) |

National News

Union Minister inaugurated Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU)

Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated India’s first Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU) at the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), New Delhi, on April 17, 2025, marking a major stride in anti-doping efforts.
As the 17th APMU globally, it will manage Athlete Biological Passports (ABP) by tracking biological markers over time to detect doping patterns without identifying banned substances directly.
This initiative aligns India with global anti-doping standards and strengthens its role as a leader in ethical sports, especially within the Global South.

India Set to Become Fastest-Growing Major Aviation Market by 2026

India is set to become the world’s fastest-growing large aviation market by 2026, surpassing China in growth rate, with a projected 10.5% passenger traffic growth compared to China’s 8.9%.
Key drivers include low trips per capita, a rising middle class, enhanced aviation infrastructure, expanding airline networks, and supportive policies like UDAN and Gati Shakti.
India’s CAGR (2023–2027) is projected at 9.5%, higher than China’s 8.8%, positioning India as the third-largest aviation market globally by the next three decades.

Bhagavad Gita & Natyashastra Added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register

Bhagavad Gita manuscripts and Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra were added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, recognizing India’s rich cultural and intellectual heritage.
With this, India’s total entries on the list rise to 14. The Gita, a universal spiritual-philosophical guide, and the Natyashastra, a foundational treatise on drama, dance, and aesthetics, highlight India’s ancient contributions to world knowledge.
PM Modi and the Culture Minister hailed it as a historic moment, while UNESCO emphasized the importance of preserving such documentary heritage for global memory.

Hike In Minimum Pension under EPS, Complete Evaluation by 2025

A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, led by BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai, has urged the Ministry of Labour and Employment to complete the first-ever third-party evaluation of the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS)—administered by EPFO—by end of 2025.
Launched in November 1995, the scheme has never been independently assessed.
The panel also stressed the urgent need to revise the minimum pension of ₹1,000, citing the rising cost of living and long-overdue policy updates.

International News

China’s Restriction on Rare Earth Exports

China has imposed export restrictions on seven key Rare Earth Elements (REEs)—Samarium (Sm), Gadolinium (Gd), Terbium (Tb), Dysprosium (Dy), Lutetium (Lu), Scandium (Sc), and Yttrium (Y)—citing national security and non-proliferation concerns, escalating global trade tensions following new U.S. tariffs.
As a global leader in REE mining and refining,
China’s move threatens supply chains for industries reliant on REEs’ magnetic and optical properties, such as electronics, clean energy, defense, and EV manufacturing, urging nations to diversify sourcing and reduce dependence on Chinese exports.

Economy News

India’s Economy to Grow by 6.5% in 2025 As Per UNCTAD Forecast

India is projected to remain the fastest-growing major economy in 2025 with a 6.5% GDP growth, according to UNCTAD’s Trade and Development Foresights 2025 report, driven by robust public spending and supportive RBI monetary policies.
While the global economy faces a potential recession amid geopolitical tensions, sluggish trade, and tight financial conditions, China is expected to grow at 4.4%, and the US and EU at 1%.
UNCTAD recommends continued fiscal support, and investment in infrastructure, digitalization, and green transition, especially for developing economies.

Appointment News

Santosh Kumar Appointed Deputy CFO of IndusInd Bank

IndusInd Bank, India’s 5th-largest private lender, has appointed Santosh Kumar as Deputy CFO effective April 18, 2025, following the exit of Arun Khurana as acting CFO.
This leadership change comes amid regulatory scrutiny, driven by rising bad loans in the microfinance sector and accounting discrepancies in derivative transactions.
The appointment of a full-time CFO is still pending.

Agreements News

Agreement Signed As India to Host International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Headquarters

In a landmark move, India signed an agreement with the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) to host its headquarters and secretariat, reaffirming its leadership in global wildlife conservation.
Launched by PM Modi in April 2023 during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger, the IBCA focuses on the protection of seven major big cats—tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma.
Now a treaty-based intergovernmental body (from 2024), with India, Liberia, Eswatini, Somalia, and Nicaragua ratifying it, the alliance will receive ₹150 crore support (2023–2029) from India for infrastructure and operations.

Kerala State Electricity Board’s (KSEB) Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Collaboration with IIT-Bombay

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), in collaboration with IIT Bombay, is launching a pilot project to integrate Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, which enables EV batteries to both draw and supply electricity to the power grid.
This initiative aims to support renewable energy integration, enhance grid stability, and promote clean energy by using EVs as decentralized energy storage.
The project involves financial incentives, such as premium tariffs for EV owners feeding energy during peak hours.

Defense News

India’s Defence Production Target by 2029 To Achieve 3 Lakh Crore

Under Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, India is setting ambitious goals for defence production, targeting ₹1.60 lakh crore in 2025 and ₹3 lakh crore by 2029, with a focus on Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India).
The country aims to increase defence exports to ₹30,000 crore in 2025 and ₹50,000 crore by 2029, reducing dependency on imports, fostering indigenous innovation, and enhancing global supply chain resilience.
This strategic vision seeks to establish India as a self-reliant leader in defence manufacturing.

Ranks & Reports News

Cap-and-Trade Scheme in Gujarat’s Surat Achieves 30% Pollution Cut

A landmark study in The Quarterly Journal of Economics highlights the success of Surat’s cap-and-trade programme for particulate matter (PM) emissions—the world’s first ETS for PM and India’s first pollution trading system.
Launched in September 2019 by the GPCB and the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, the scheme used CEMS, emission permits, and auctions to regulate 318 industrial plants.
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) led by researchers from Chicago, Yale, and Warwick showed significant pollution reduction, better compliance, and lower abatement costs, proving the potential of market-based regulation in low-state-capacity regions like India.

Summits & Conferences News

2-day Conclave on Buddhism in Arunachal Pradesh

A two-day conclave titled ‘Buddha Dhamma and the Culture of Northeast India’ will be held in Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh, from April 21-22, 2025, organized by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and the Ministry of Culture.
The event will explore Buddhism’s influence on the region’s art, culture, and history, with a special focus on Theravāda Buddhism practiced by the Tai Khamti tribe.
Day 1 will feature panel discussions on Buddhism’s historical relevance and cultural impact, while Day 2 will include Vipassana meditation and prayers for world peace at the Golden Pagoda.
Key participants include CM Pema Khandu, Deputy CM Chowna Mein, and international Buddhist scholars.

Science & Technology News

India’s First Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Over Multi-Core Fibre

India has achieved a major milestone in secure communication with the successful testing of the country’s first Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) over a 4-core Multi-Core Fibre (MCF) by C-DOT and Sterlite Technologies Ltd. (STL).
The test sustained QKD transmission over 100 km, using one core for quantum signals and the other three for high-speed classical data, showcasing the cost-effective, interference-free advantages of MCF for building a national quantum communication network.

James Webb Telescope Founds Possible Life on Exoplanet K2-18b

In a breakthrough discovery, scientists from Cambridge University using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have detected potential biosignature molecules Dimethyl Sulphide (DMS) and Dimethyl Disulphide (DMDS) in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b, located 124 light-years away in the Leo constellation.
These molecules, produced by marine phytoplankton and bacteria on Earth, suggest possible extraterrestrial life, marking a significant advancement in astrobiology.

Important Days News

World Heritage Day 2025, Date, Theme, Significance, Sites

World Heritage Day, also known as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, is observed on April 18 annually to promote the preservation of cultural and natural heritage, organized by ICOMOS and recognized by UNESCO since 1983.
The 2025 theme, “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts,” highlights the need for preparedness and resilience.
India, ranked 6th globally with 43 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (35 Cultural, 7 Natural, 1 Mixed), includes iconic sites like the Taj Mahal, Ajanta & Ellora Caves, and Kaziranga National Park.
Recent additions include Santiniketan, Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas, and Ahom Dynasty Moidams.