Stay updated with the top headlines from 22nd April 2025. This GK update covers national, international, economy, banking, appointments, awards, sports, and important days — tailored for UPSC, SSC, Banking, and other competitive exams.
State News
1. What language has been made mandatory in Classes 1–5 in Maharashtra?
Answer: Hindi has been made mandatory as the third language in Marathi and English-medium schools from 2025–26, aligning with NEP’s three-language formula.
2. What compensation was released for the Etalin Hydro Power Project in Arunachal Pradesh?
Answer: SJVN Ltd released ₹269.97 crore as land compensation for the 3,097 MW Etalin Hydro Electric Project in Dibang Valley, supporting India’s renewable energy expansion.
Economy News
3. What milestone did India’s smartphone exports achieve in FY25?
Answer: Smartphone exports crossed ₹2 lakh crore for the first time, driven by the PLI scheme and Apple’s iPhone exports, marking a 54% growth over the previous year.
4. What tariff was imposed on steel imports by India?
Answer: A 12% provisional safeguard duty was imposed on select steel imports for 200 days to protect domestic manufacturers from low-cost imports.
Banking News
5. What new banking facility has RBI allowed for minors?
Answer: RBI now permits minors aged 10 and above to independently open and operate savings and term deposit accounts, promoting early financial literacy.
Appointments News
6. Who were appointed as Special Directors in the Enforcement Directorate (ED)?
Answer: Five officers including Viplav Kumar Choudhry (IPS) and four IRS officers were appointed, raising the ED’s SD strength to eight.
7. Who was appointed Registrar (Vigilance) of Delhi High Court?
Answer: Judge Kaveri Baweja was appointed Registrar (Vigilance), while Judge Arun Bhardwaj will become Registrar General from May 1, 2025.
8. Who is the new Secretary of DARE and DG of ICAR?
Answer: Dr. Mangi Lal Jat was appointed for a three-year term, bringing expertise in agronomy and climate-resilient farming systems.
Awards News
9. Who were the winners at the Laureus World Sports Awards 2025?
Answer: Mondo Duplantis (Sportsman), Simone Biles (Sportswoman), Real Madrid (Team), Lamine Yamal (Breakthrough), and Rafael Nadal (Sporting Icon) were among the honorees.
10. Which app won the PM’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2024?
Answer: The PoshanTracker App by MoWCD won under the Innovation (Centre) category for advancing tech-driven nutrition governance.
Ranks & Reports
11. What does the WTO Global Trade Outlook 2025 project?
Answer: A 0.2% decline in global merchandise trade, with risks of a deeper 1.5% contraction due to US-China tariff tensions. Services trade may grow by 4.0%.
12. Who were featured in TIME’s 2025 Most Influential People list?
Answer: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Keir Starmer, and Muhammad Yunus were included. No Indian figures were featured this year.
Sports News
13. Who won silver at the Asian U-18 Athletics Championship in shot put?
Answer: Nishchay from Haryana won silver with a personal best throw of 19.59 meters, surpassing his previous record of 18.93 meters.
Important Days
14. What is the theme of World Earth Day 2025?
Answer: “Our Power, Our Planet,” emphasizing collective responsibility for climate action, renewable energy, and sustainable living.