April 2025 Current Affairs

Explanation: The indigenously developed Hansa-3 trainer aircraft has been approved for training aircrew to get pilot licences. It will now be manufactured in India by private industry. Hansa-3 is India’s first indigenous flying trainer aircraft. It was designed and developed by the CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-NAL), Bangalore. It was built to meet the needs of Indian flying clubs. It is ideal for Commercial Pilot Licensing (CPL) because of its low cost, simple operation, and low fuel consumption.

Explanation: Union Minister Jitendra Singh launched the first-ever Himalayan High-Altitude Atmospheric and Climate Centre in Nathatop, Chenani, Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir. This new centre will provide accurate climate and weather forecasts for the Himalayan region. It will also focus on research and study of the region’s unique high-altitude weather conditions. The project is supported by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India. It aims to improve climate monitoring and disaster preparedness in the Himalayan belt.

Explanation: The 9th Global Technology Summit was inaugurated in New Delhi by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on 10 April 2025. It is a three-day event from 10 to 12 April and is India’s main platform to discuss geo-technology. The Global Technology Summit brings together leaders from government, industry, academia, and civil society from India and other countries. They discuss how technology is changing and how it affects global politics. The summit aims to build a shared approach that supports innovation while addressing everyone’s concerns. The theme of this edition is “Sambhavna,” which means possibility.

Explanation: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), led by the Prime Minister, approved a ₹63,000-crore deal to buy 26 Rafale-M fighter jets from France for the Indian Navy. Earlier, India planned to buy 126 jets under the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender in 2007, but it was cancelled in 2015. A 2016 deal brought 36 Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF), delivered from 2019 to 2022. The new deal includes 22 Rafale-M single-seater jets for aircraft carriers and 4 twin-seater trainers for practice. These jets will fly from INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. Rafale is a 4.5 generation, twin-engine, delta-wing, multirole fighter made by Dassault Aviation. It can fly at Mach 1.8 and has a combat range of over 1000 kilometers, useful for various missions like air combat, ground attacks, and naval strikes.

Explanation: The National Tribal Youth Festival is celebrated in Mizoram at the State Tribal Resource Centre, Kelsih, near Aizawl, starting from April 8. It is a four-day festival held to mark the 150th birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda. The festival aims to honour tribal heroes and inspire patriotism among the youth and the general public. Top Mizo artists and members of the Mizo Zaimi Insuikhawm (MZI) are performing at the event. Cultural shows by the Mizo Cultural Organisation and other groups showcase a “Mosaic of Cultures.” Artists like Imnainla Jamir from Nagaland and Vawnchawi Vaiphei from Manipur are also part of the celebrations.

Explanation: Telangana government launched the Bhu Bharati portal to make land record management simple, transparent, and accessible. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy launched it on 14th April 2025, marking Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s 135th birth anniversary. The portal replaces the Dharani portal, introduced by the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government on 2nd November 2020 for agricultural land registration. Bhu Bharati was launched at Shilpa Kala Vedika in Hyderabad. It began as a pilot in four mandals – Khammam, Mulugu, Kodangal, and Kamareddy. The portal is based on the Telangana Bhu Bharathi (Record of Rights in Land) Act, 2025.

Explanation: The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) launched the STELLAR Model, a new software tool for planning power generation, transmission, and storage with demand response. STELLAR stands for State-of-the-art, Totally indigenously developed Resource adequacy model. It helps Indian states and power distribution companies (discoms) create resource adequacy plans as per Ministry of Power’s June 2023 guidelines. The model ensures reliable electricity supply through smart planning of power resources. It supports integrated planning with demand response and meets changing yearly requirements. The tool is transparent, user-friendly, and made in India under CEA’s guidance. It is available free of cost to all states and discoms. It was developed with support from The Lantau Group (TLG) and Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Explanation: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its Global Financial Stability Report warned that high geopolitical risks may affect global financial and economic stability. It highlighted threats like conflicts, cyberattacks, and resource competition disrupting global supply chains. Shifts in global power, new trade alliances, and investment centers are changing traditional economic dynamics. The global tax system is becoming fragmented as some countries adopt a minimum global tax while others move away from shared tax rules. Workforce challenges such as ageing populations, low birth rates, cultural tensions, and artificial intelligence (AI) integration are also stressing economies and labour markets. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) releases the Global Financial Stability Report. This report, published twice a year in April and October, provides an assessment of the global financial system and markets, including emerging market financing.

Explanation: China is set to unveil the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, the world’s highest bridge. The suspension bridge is under construction in Zhenfeng County, Guizhou Province, located 800 miles west of Shenzhen. Guizhou is known for impressive structures, with nearly half of the top 100 tallest bridges in the world situated there. The bridge will stand 625 meters (2,051 feet) above Beipan River, 200 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower. It will surpass the Millau Viaduct in France, which held the record at 343 meters (1,125 feet). The bridge is 2,890 meters (9,482 feet) long and weighs 22,000 tons.

Explanation: Indian athletes won 11 medals at the 6th Asian Under-18 (U18) Athletics Championship 2025 held in Saudi Arabia from April 15 to 18. The event was organised by the Asian Athletics Association at Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz Sports City. Athletes under 18 years from 31 Asian countries took part in the championship. India won one gold, five silver, and five bronze medals in total. Himanshu won the gold medal in the boys’ javelin throw event. In the previous 5th edition held in 2023 at Tashkent, Uzbekistan, India had won 24 medals.

Explanation: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is taking part in Exercise Desert Flag-10 from April 21 to May 8, 2025, at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Exercise Desert Flag is a major multinational air combat exercise that trains different air forces under realistic war-like conditions. IAF has deployed two powerful aircraft: MiG-29, an air superiority fighter, and Jaguar, a deep strike ground attack aircraft. This year is special as it marks 50 years since the MiG-29 was first launched. Air forces from 12 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and France, are also participating. The goal is to share knowledge, improve tactics, and boost coordination in complex air combat missions.

Explanation: Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22 and is one of the largest global movements for environmental protection. The theme for Earth Day 2025 is “OUR POWER, OUR PLANET,” calling for a major shift to renewable energy. It urges individuals, businesses, and governments to triple clean energy production by 2030. The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, led by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson to raise awareness about environmental issues. Around 20 million Americans joined that day, making up 10% of the U.S. population. In 1990, Earth Day became a global event with over 200 million people from 141 countries participating. It reminds us of our shared duty to care for nature and tackle climate change.

Explanation: Indian Navy ships INS Chennai and INS Kesari successfully performed manoeuvring exercises and Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) drills during the sea phase of Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025. INS Chennai is the third and final ship of the Kolkata-class stealth-guided missile destroyers under Project 15A. The first two ships of this class were INS Kolkata and INS Kochi. INS Chennai was built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. It was commissioned into the Indian Navy on November 21, 2016. It operates under the Western Naval Command, ensuring security in the Arabian Sea region.

Explanation: The Maharashtra government has launched the Pink E Rickshaw Scheme to empower women and make them financially independent. It was officially launched by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on April 21, 2025, in Pune, where electric three-wheelers were distributed to selected women. The scheme is administered by the Women and Child Development Department of Maharashtra. Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions Limited is the official partner and will supply the electric three-wheelers. A total of 10,000 e-rickshaws will be given in eight districts, including Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Kolhapur, Amravati, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. Women aged between 20 and 50 years who are widows, divorcees, or from economically weaker sections will get preference under this scheme.

Explanation: Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), faced severe flooding in April 2025 due to poor urban planning and twin sources of floodwater. The disaster was caused by both local rainfall and runoff from the Congo Central Province, which overwhelmed rivers like the Ndjili and Lukaya. This led to 70 deaths, 150 injuries, and displacement of over 21,000 people. It also damaged 73 healthcare facilities and disrupted water and transport systems. Kinshasa is one of 38 flood hotspots in the Congo Basin due to rapid urbanisation and twin flood sources. The crisis was worsened by ongoing instability in eastern DRC caused by the M23 armed group, leading to more displacement. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the second-largest country in Africa after Algeria and the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Explanation: India and Nepal recently inaugurated the start of electromechanical works at the Arun-3 Hydroelectric Project to ensure its timely completion. The Arun-3 Hydroelectric Project is located on the Arun River, a tributary of the Kosi River, in Sankhuwasabha District of eastern Nepal. It is a 900 Megawatt (MW) Run-of-River scheme, which means it uses the river’s natural flow without needing a large reservoir.

Explanation: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in partnership with Microsoft, launched the ‘AI Careers for Women’ initiative on April 22, 2025. The program aims to train 20,000 women from Tier-II and Tier-III towns across six Indian states in Artificial Intelligence (AI). It focuses on empowering women with digital skills, leadership abilities, and entrepreneurship knowledge. A 240-hour curriculum has been developed in collaboration with the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET). Training will be delivered using the Hub-and-Spoke model, with 30 Centres of Excellence and 150 spoke centers. The initiative promotes digital inclusion and bridges the gender gap in tech fields.

Explanation: Following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted “Exercise Aakraman” (Attack). The exercise took place over a large area in the central sector and involved IAF’s mainstream fighter aircraft, led by Rafale combat jets. The IAF operates two Rafale squadrons based in Ambala and Hashimara, West Bengal. In a show of strength, fighter jets and transport aircraft were active through the night, flying close to the border areas. Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)-equipped aircraft conducted intense surveillance of enemy movements.

Explanation: Around 17,000 personnel are participating in the annual Balikatan Exercise 2025, which will simulate a full-scale battle scenario to deter China’s ambitions in the region. Balikatan Exercise is the largest bilateral military exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States. The word “Balikatan” is a Tagalog phrase meaning “shoulder-to-shoulder,” symbolizing strong cooperation between the two countries. This exercise is held every year to improve military interoperability and readiness. It supports the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines, strengthening their defence partnership.

Explanation: April 27th is celebrated as International Hyena Day to encourage people to change their negative views about hyenas and recognize their importance to the environment. Conservation group Wild Africa has warned that the four living species of hyenas are facing rising threats, leading to declining populations. Hyenas are dog-like carnivores belonging to the family Hyaenidae, and they are native to Asia and Africa. The four existing species are the Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta), Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena), Brown Hyena (Parahyaena brunnea), and Aardwolf (Proteles cristatus). Hyenas live in forest edges, grasslands, savannas, sub-deserts, and mountains up to 13,000 feet high. Their distribution spans across Africa, parts of the Middle East, and Asia.