Daily Current Affairs 29th April 2025, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

National News

NMCG Approves Action Plan 2025 for Urban River Rejuvenation under River Cities Alliance

• In a significant step for sustainable urban river management, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved Action Plan 2025 under the River Cities Alliance (RCA), a joint initiative of the Ministry of Jal Shakti and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, now comprising 145 cities.
• The plan emphasizes river-sensitive urban planning, development of Urban River Management Plans (URMPs), capacity-building, technical support, and knowledge-sharing through platforms like DHARA events and the RCA website.
• Key focus includes URMPs for Delhi, international collaboration (e.g., World Economic Forum, Davos 2025), and financial advisory for project mobilization—aiming for 60 URMPs in 2–3 years.

National Supercomputing Mission: Powering India’s Technological Future

• The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), launched in 2015, aims to make India self-reliant in high-performance computing (HPC) by deploying indigenous supercomputers and enhancing R&D.
• As of March 2025, 34 supercomputers (35 petaflops capacity) support 10,000+ researchers across institutions like IISc, IITs, and C-DAC, advancing research in drug discovery, climate modeling, disaster management, and more.
• Notable systems include PARAM Rudra, PARAM Pravega, and Param Shivay, while AI supercomputer AIRAWAT ranked 75th globally in ISC 2023. NSM is further strengthened by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) to promote complete indigenization in supercomputing.

State News

African Swine Fever Outbreak in Mizoram: Over 3,000 Pigs Dead in Four Districts

• Mizoram is facing a severe African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak, with over 3,050 pigs dead in the past month across Siaha, Lawngtlai, Lunglei, and Mamit districts, prompting the declaration of 46 infected zones and the culling of nearly 1,000 pigs. Siaha is the worst-hit, recording 1,651 deaths.
• The outbreak has caused a massive economic loss of ₹336.49 crore in 2024, following similar losses in 2021 (₹334.14 cr), 2022 (₹210.32 cr), and 2023 (₹15.77 cr). Authorities are enforcing quarantine, culling, and compensation to affected families to control the spread.

International News

Mark Carney Secures Fourth Term for Canada’s Liberal Party

• In a historic victory, Prime Minister Mark Carney has secured a fourth term for Canada’s Liberal Party, though early results indicate a possible minority government, potentially requiring support from the Bloc Québécois. The New Democratic Party (NDP) lost seats, weakening its influence.
• This election saw record voter turnout, with 7.3 million early votes, driven by public frustration over U.S. politics under President Trump. Notably, foreign policy became a key issue for the first time since 1988, amid rising trade tensions and a cost-of-living crisis.

Banking News

RBI Imposes Fines on IOB and Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited for Non-Compliance

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed fines on Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) (₹63.60 lakh) and Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited (MMFSL) (₹71.30 lakh) for non-compliance with regulatory norms.
• IOB violated collateral-free loan guidelines for agricultural and MSME loans, while MMFSL was penalized for issues like non-disclosure of fees, lack of loan agreement transparency, and multiple customer IDs, highlighting RBI’s role in consumer protection and regulatory discipline.

RBI Directs Banks to Ensure Regular Dispensing of ₹100 and ₹200 Notes

Economy News

Factory Output Growth Marginally Improves to 3% in March 2025

• India’s factory output, measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), grew 3% in March 2025, slightly improving from February’s 2.7% but much lower than 5.5% in March 2024.
• For the full FY25, industrial growth slowed to 4% from 5.9% in FY24, driven by weak mining (0.4%) and moderate manufacturing (3%) gains, despite stronger electricity output (6.3%) and a 17-month high 8.8% growth in infrastructure industries.
• Capital goods growth weakened to 2.4%, while consumer durables rose by 6.6% and consumer non-durables contracted by (-)4.7%, reflecting mixed investment and consumption trends.

Govt Sets Up Panel to Draft Plan for New National Manufacturing Mission

• The Indian government has formed an inter-ministerial committee, led by Niti Aayog CEO B V R Subrahmanyam, to develop a comprehensive framework for the National Manufacturing Mission, announced in the 2025 Union Budget.
• The mission aims to increase the manufacturing sector’s contribution to India’s GDP (currently at 16-17%) through initiatives focused on ease of doing business, workforce development, strengthening MSMEs, technology integration, and ensuring high-quality manufacturing.
• It builds on the Make in India initiative, aiming to enhance competitiveness, foster innovation, and integrate Indian manufacturing into global value chains.

Agreement News

GoI & Kotak Mahindra Bank Partner to Boost Investor Education through Digital Outreach

Books & Authors News

Book Launch of “Ramanujan: Journey of a Great Mathematician”

• The National Archives of India, in collaboration with Vani Prakashan, will launch the book “Ramanujan: Journey of a Great Mathematician” on April 30, 2025. Authored by Arun Singhal and Devendra Kumar Sharma, the book explores Srinivasa Ramanujan’s genius, struggles, and legacy in mathematics.
• It highlights his remarkable contributions, drawing from rare original documents and personal letters. The launch event, held at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, celebrates his enduring influence on mathematics and India’s archival heritage.

Ranks & Reports News

Hindu Kush ICIMOD 2025 Report

• The ICIMOD 2025 report released on April 21, 2025, reveals a 23.6% decline in snow persistence in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, the lowest in 23 years, posing serious threats to water security across South Asia.
• This reduced snow cover impacts major rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus, and threatens the water supply, agriculture, and hydropower generation for over 2 billion people.
• The report highlights the risks of droughts, groundwater over-extraction, and the need for better cross-border river management to mitigate the effects of accelerated glacier melting.

Top Military Spenders of 2024-25: India’s Position in the Global Military Expenditure Race

• According to the SIPRI report, global military expenditure surged to $2,718 billion in 2024, the steepest rise since the Cold War, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions.
• The top five spenders were the United States ($997B), China ($314B), Russia ($149B), Germany ($88.5B), and India ($86.1B), with India accounting for 3.2% of global defense spending and ranking fifth.
• India’s defense budget grew by 1.6%, highlighting its focus on modernization amid regional threats, with spending now nine times that of Pakistan.

Summits & Conferences News

India and Bhutan Strengthen Customs Cooperation at 6th JGC Meeting

• India and Bhutan held the 6th Joint Group of Customs (JGC) Meeting on 24–25 April 2025 in Thimphu, reaffirming their commitment to Customs cooperation, trade facilitation, and secure border management.
• Co-chaired by Mr. Surjit Bhujabal (CBIC, India) and Mr. Sonam Jamtsho (Bhutan), discussions included automation of transit, Coordinated Border Management (CBM), Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS), and the Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA).

Sports News

14-Year-Old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Youngest to Smash IPL’s Second-Fastest Century

• In just his third IPL match, Vaibhav Suryavanshi made a sensational impact, scoring a century off 35 balls against Gujarat Titans on April 28, 2025. His innings, featuring 7 fours and 11 sixes, placed him second on the list for the fastest IPL centuries, behind Chris Gayle.
• At just 14 years and 32 days old, he also became the youngest batter to score a fifty in T20 cricket.
• Despite being dismissed for 101 runs off 37 balls, his knock left a lasting mark on the game.

Manush Shah and Diya Chitale Clinch Mixed Doubles Title at WTT Contender Tunis 2025

• Manush Shah and Diya Chitale created history by winning the Mixed Doubles title at the 2025 WTT Contender Tunis, becoming only the second Indian pair after Manika Batra and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran (2021) to achieve this feat.
• They defeated Japan’s Sora Matsushima and Miwa Harimoto 3-2, avenging their previous loss at WTT Star Contender Doha.
• The event, held from April 22–27, 2025, at Salle Omnisport de Rades, Tunisia, also saw victories by Miwa Harimoto (Women’s Singles), Felix Leburn (Men’s Singles), Duda & Bertelsmeier (Men’s Doubles), and Harimoto & Kihara (Women’s Doubles).

India Clinches Record 83 Gold Medals at the 2nd Asian Yogasana Sport Championship

• India reaffirmed its leadership in yogic sports by winning a record-breaking 83 gold medals at the 2nd Asian Yogasana Sport Championship held at KD Jadhav Arena, New Delhi, with participation from 21 countries.
• Japan ranked second with only 3 golds, while Nepal stood out with 27 silver medals.
• The event, concluded on April 27, 2025, featured a vibrant cultural showcase and was lauded by dignitaries including Dr. Sanjay Malpani (President, Asian Yogasana Federation) and Dr. Jaideep Arya (Secretary General, World Yogasana Federation), who emphasized the importance of yogasana for holistic health and mental resilience.

Obituaries News

Legendary Malayalam Filmmaker Shaji N Karun Passes Away at 73

• The Malayalam film industry mourns the loss of Shaji N Karun, a visionary filmmaker who passed away at 73, just days after receiving the J C Daniel Award.
• Known for masterpieces like Piravi, Swaham, and Kutty Srank, his works garnered international acclaim, including a Palme d’Or nomination at Cannes.
• Honored with 7 National Awards, the Padma Shri, and France’s Order of Arts and Letters, Karun also played key leadership roles in Kerala’s film institutions, leaving behind a profound legacy in Indian and global cinema.

Miscellaneous News

Department of Posts to Honor Tabla Legend Pandit Chatur Lal with Commemorative Stamp

• The Department of Posts will release a commemorative stamp to celebrate the centenary of Pandit Chatur Lal, a legendary tabla exponent.
• Known for introducing the tabla to Western audiences, he collaborated with notable figures like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Yehudi Menuhin, and was a pioneer in fusion music, working with jazz drummer Papa Jo Jones.
• His contributions earned him an Oscar nomination in 1957 for the film A Chairy Tale, and he famously performed for Queen Elizabeth in 1962. His legacy continues to inspire generations of tabla players.

Current Affairs Today | 29 April Current Affairs 2025 | Daily Current Affairs By Ashish Gautam