This update covers national, international, economy, banking, appointments, awards, defence, science, and important obituaries — tailored for UPSC, SSC, Banking, and other competitive exams.
National News
1. What major policy shift has India announced in its nuclear energy sector?
Answer: India will allow 49% foreign investment in nuclear power by amending the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (2010) and Atomic Energy Act (1960), aiming to expand capacity from 8 GW to 100 GW by 2047.
2. When will the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra resume and through which routes?
Answer: The yatra will resume in June–August 2025 after a five-year suspension, allowing 750 pilgrims via Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim), with computerized registration at kmy.gov.in.
International News
3. What breakthrough hydrogen bomb has China reportedly tested?
Answer: China tested a fissile-free hydrogen bomb using magnesium hydride-based fusion, bypassing uranium/plutonium fission and raising global arms control concerns.
Economy News
4. What record did India achieve in inland waterways cargo movement in FY25?
Answer: India moved 145.5 MMT cargo via inland waterways, up from 18.1 MMT in FY14, driven by expansion to 111 National Waterways and schemes like Jalvahak and green vessel adoption.
Appointments News
5. Who was appointed Executive Director of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL)?
Answer: Anant Ambani was appointed Executive Director (Whole-time) of RIL for five years starting May 1, 2025, marking a generational leadership transition.
Awards News
6. Which Indian filmmaker received a top French honour in April 2025?
Answer: Payal Kapadia was awarded the ‘Officier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres’ for her contributions to cinema, including her Cannes-winning film All We Imagine As Light.
7. Which airport won the ACI Green Airports Platinum Recognition 2025?
Answer: Hubballi Airport in Karnataka was honored for its 8 MW solar plant and sustainable energy practices among airports with <6 million passengers.
Defence News
8. What deal is India finalizing with France for naval aviation?
Answer: A ₹63,000 crore deal for 26 Rafale-M jets (22 single-seaters, 4 trainers) to be deployed on INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, with deliveries starting in 3.5 years.
9. What hypersonic tech milestone did DRDO achieve?
Answer: DRDL successfully tested a scramjet combustor for over 1,000 seconds, validating tech for future hypersonic cruise missiles.
Science & Technology News
10. What medical breakthrough did India achieve in gene therapy?
Answer: India conducted its first-in-human gene therapy trial for Haemophilia, led by BRIC-inStem and CMC Vellore, marking a leap in biotech innovation.
11. What is the Spaghetti Bowl Phenomenon in global trade?
Answer: It refers to the complex, overlapping network of FTAs with differing Rules of Origin, creating inefficiencies in global trade.
12. What unique features does the Bullseye Galaxy possess?
Answer: Located 567 million light-years away, it has nine glowing star rings formed after a collision with a blue dwarf galaxy.
13. What is NASA’s Quantum Gravity Gradiometer Pathfinder (QGGPf)?
Answer: A compact quantum sensor to map Earth’s gravity field with 10x precision, detecting subsurface features like water and minerals.
Obituaries
14. Who passed away on 26th April 2025?
Answer: Historian M. G. S. Narayanan, known for his work on Kerala and South Indian history, passed away at age 92.