Daily Current Affairs 30th April 2025, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

National News

Centre Issues Guidelines for Bio-Resource Centres under NMNF

• The Centre released guidelines for setting up Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) on April 23, 2025.
• Each BRC will receive financial support of ₹1 lakh to produce and supply bio-inputs for farmers and provide natural farming knowledge.
• However, experts argue the funding is inadequate, especially as infrastructure costs aren’t covered.
• The centres must use local raw materials, and pricing must be affordable to small farmers. The success hinges on consistent end-to-end support.

The Draft of Greenhouse Gases Emissions Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025

• The Draft Greenhouse Gases Emissions Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025, issued by the Ministry of Environment on April 16, 2025, aim to regulate GHG emissions intensity in high-emission industries like cement, aluminium, pulp & paper, and chlor-alkali.
• These rules support India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023, and are key to meeting the Paris Agreement commitment of a 45% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP by 2030.
• The rules offer incentives through carbon credits, enforce compliance, and promote clean technology adoption.

Supreme Court Suggests Minimum Vote Requirement for Unopposed Election Wins

• The Supreme Court of India has suggested that candidates declared elected unopposed under Section 53(2) of the RPA, 1951 should secure a minimum percentage of votes (10–15%) to maintain democratic legitimacy.
• This came in response to a petition by Vidhi Centre, which argued that denying voters the NOTA option violates Article 19(1)(a). The Election Commission opposed the petition, citing the rarity of such cases post-1989 and asserting that any changes would need legislative amendments.
• The Court stressed that democracy requires voter consent, not automatic wins.

CSR Spending Witnessed 16% Rise in FY 23-2024

• CSR spending by Indian listed companies rose 16% to ₹17,967 crore in FY 2023-24, led by HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries, TCS, and ONGC.
• This was driven by an 18% rise in average net profit, and 98% of companies complied.
• Education and healthcare received the most funds, while environmental spending rose by 54%.
• Experts suggest revising CSR eligibility limits due to increased corporate profitability.

Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam’s Green Municipal Bond and sustainable water management initiative

• Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam has issued India’s first Certified Green Municipal Bond, raising ₹150 crore to build a 40 MLD Tertiary Sewage Treatment Plant (TSTP) using microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and RO technologies.
• The plant supplies recycled water to 1,400+ industrial units, promoting urban water sustainability.
• Developed under the PPP-HAM model, the project won the Best Municipal Treated Water Reuse Award and reflects Ghaziabad’s leadership in green finance and smart city initiatives.

Kirthiga Reddy Launches ‘AI Kiran’ to Empower Indian Women in Artificial Intelligence

• Kirthiga Reddy, former Meta India head and now CEO of Verix, has launched AI Kiran on April 21, 2025, in partnership with the Indian government and global bodies, to empower Indian women in AI.
• The initiative offers mentorship, funding access, and blockchain-verified recognition, targeting sectors like healthcare, education, and sustainability.
• Despite high female representation in STEM education, the share of women in GenAI roles is low—just 33% at junior levels and 19% at senior levels—a gap AI Kiran aims to bridge.

Banking News

RBI Initiate to Use PRAVAAH portal from 1st May to All Stakeholders

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has mandated that from May 1, 2025, all regulated entities including banks, NBFCs, and payment operators must use the PRAVAAH portal (Platform for Regulatory Application, Validation and Authorization) to submit applications for licenses, approvals, and authorizations.
• Launched on May 28, 2024, the portal aims to enhance transparency, improve efficiency, and provide a unified digital interface for regulatory communications.
• With over 4,000 applications already processed, the RBI is now ensuring complete compliance with this digital-first platform.

IndusInd Bank CEO Sumant Kathpalia Resigns Amid ₹2,000 Crore Derivatives Accounting Lapse

• In a major leadership shakeup, Sumant Kathpalia, MD & CEO of IndusInd Bank, resigned with immediate effect, citing moral responsibility for severe accounting discrepancies in the bank’s derivatives portfolio, leading to a cumulative loss of ₹1,959.98 crore.
• The irregularities, uncovered through an internal review and confirmed by external audits (PwC and Grant Thornton), involved incorrect accounting of early-terminated internal derivative trades, which falsely recorded notional profits and distorted financial statements.

Appointments News

President Appoints Justice Gavai As 52nd CJI Of India

• Justice B.R. Gavai has been appointed as the 52nd Chief Justice of India by President Droupadi Murmu and will take oath on May 14, 2025. He is the second Scheduled Caste judge to hold this post after Justice K.G. Balakrishnan.
• Justice Gavai has contributed to several landmark constitutional rulings, including on Article 370, demonetisation, and electoral bonds.
• He is known for his progressive legal stance and strong record in protecting constitutional values and social justice.

IAS Vinod Kumar Gunjiyal Assumes Charge as the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar

• The Election Commission of India has appointed IAS Vinod Kumar Gunjiyal, a 2007-batch Bihar cadre officer, as the new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar, replacing H R Srinivas. Gunjiyal, a Mechanical Engineering graduate, brings a wealth of experience, having served as Secretary of the Prohibition, Excise & Registration Department, and Director of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries.
• His appointment comes ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections in Oct–Nov 2025, aiming to ensure transparent, fair, and efficient electoral administration in the state.

Agreement News

India Post Partners with SBI Mutual Fund to Streamline KYC

• In a move to boost financial inclusion, India Post has signed an MoU with SBI Mutual Fund to provide doorstep KYC verification services across India. The initiative will leverage India Post’s nationwide network of 1.64 lakh post offices to collect KYC documents from investors, especially in rural and remote areas, ensuring convenient and secure access to mutual fund investments.
• The project supports the goals of Jan Nivesh and Digital India, and builds on India Post’s prior success in completing over 5 lakh KYC verifications in earlier collaborations.
• This partnership is expected to enhance financial literacy, investment accessibility, and compliance among the masses.

Ranks & Reports News

World Social Report 2025 – A Global Call for Equity and Security

• The World Social Report 2025, published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, emphasizes economic insecurity faced by 60% of people, rising global inequality, declining trust in institutions, and the impact of climate change and conflict.
• It highlights that the richest 1% hold more wealth than 95% of the global population, and calls for a rebuilding of social contracts, fair taxation, and stronger institutions to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in health, education, poverty reduction, and inequality.
• The report underscores urgent global cooperation to reverse regressive trends and foster inclusive growth and security.

Schemes News

Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme Launched By MNRE Minister

• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) held a National Workshop in New Delhi to promote MSME participation in the Green Hydrogen Supply Chain.
• Union Minister Pralhad Joshi launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme (GHCI), a key initiative to ensure traceability and transparency in green hydrogen production.
• The event featured technical sessions on technology collaboration, biomass-based hydrogen, investments, and supply chain opportunities.
• It reinforced India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, targeting 5 MMT green hydrogen capacity, ₹8 lakh crore investment, and 6 lakh jobs by 2030, while empowering MSMEs to become vital contributors in the green hydrogen economy.

Science & Technology News

From Earth to Orbit: Shubhanshu Shukla’s Journey to the ISS Begins May 29

• Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force officer and Gaganyaan astronaut-designate, will fly aboard Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS) on May 29, 2025, becoming the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS.
• The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will carry a multinational crew for 14 days, conducting 60+ scientific experiments from 31 countries, including 7 Indian microgravity studies shortlisted by ISRO.
• These include research on microalgae, muscle regeneration, tardigrades, and India-centric food sprouting like moong and fenugreek, reinforcing India’s growing contribution to global space research and human spaceflight.

Amazon Launched Satellite for Project Kuiper Broadband Internet

• Amazon launched the first 27 satellites for its Project Kuiper from Florida using a ULA Atlas V rocket, aiming to build a 3,236-satellite constellation for global broadband coverage, especially in rural areas.
• The move sets Amazon in direct competition with SpaceX’s Starlink, which already leads the market. Project Kuiper, backed by a $10 billion investment, is expected to begin services later in 2025, with plans for up to five additional launches this year.
• The FCC deadline requires 1,618 satellites to be in orbit by mid-2026, and Amazon hopes its consumer-focused hardware and cloud integration with AWS will give it an edge.

Important Days News

Dadasaheb Phalke Birth Anniversary, Father of Indian Cinema

• On April 30, 2025, India celebrates the 155th birth anniversary of Dadasaheb Phalke, the Father of Indian Cinema, who created India’s first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913).
• Born in Trimbak, Maharashtra, Phalke was inspired by the silent film The Life of Christ and overcame immense financial, technical, and societal challenges to pioneer filmmaking in India.
• With no support, he mortgaged assets, learned filmmaking in London, and cast men in female roles due to taboos—ultimately delivering a cultural milestone that launched Indian cinema.

International Jazz Day 2025, Date, Significance, Origin

• International Jazz Day 2025, observed on April 30, is a UNESCO initiative started in 2011 with support from jazz legend Herbie Hancock.
• It aims to celebrate jazz music as a symbol of peace, freedom, diversity, and creativity, uniting people through global concerts, educational workshops, and cultural dialogue.
• Originating in the early 20th century in the USA, jazz remains a powerful tool for social change, expression, and unity across the globe.

International Labour Day 2025, Date, History, All Things You Need To Know

• International Labour Day 2025, observed on May 1, commemorates the historic labour movement that began with the 1886 Haymarket Affair in the United States, advocating for an eight-hour workday. In India, the first Labour Day was celebrated in 1923 in Chennai by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan.
• The day honours workers’ rights, workplace equality, and social justice, while also reflecting on modern challenges like the gig economy, automation, and the informal sector.
•  India’s labour protections include constitutional articles and major reforms through four labour codes.

Current Affairs Today | 30 April Current Affairs 2025 | Daily Current Affairs By Ashish Gautam