National News

New Microdata Portal Launched

• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) launched a new microdata portal during the State Government Ministers' Conference.

Dam Safety Act, 2021

• Union Minister C R Patil inaugurated a seminar on 'Dam Safety Act, 2021: Towards Integrated Dam Safety Management' in New Delhi.

Dam Safety Act, 2021:

State Special

Inauguration of All India Police Handball Cluster 2024-25

• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the All India Police Handball Cluster 2024-25 in Lucknow.
• The event took place at the 35th Battalion PAC, Lucknow, and saw participation from players of the police department.

Uttar Pradesh :

International News

150th IPU Assembly

• The 150th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly is being held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, from April 5th to 9th, 2025.
• The Indian Parliamentary delegation at the IPU Assembly is being led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly:

India and Nepal

• The Supreme Courts of India and Nepal have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the aim of promoting judicial cooperation.

Nepal:

Banking and Economy

10 Years of PMMY

• The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) completed its 10th year on April 8, 2025.
• This scheme was launched on April 8, 2015, with the primary objective of providing institutional credit to micro and small units, enabling them to set up and expand their businesses.

Key achievements:

SBI Funds Management Report

• According to a report by SBI Funds Management, "investors should focus on companies that have strong business models, clear earnings growth potential, and stable cash flows, especially during times of broad macroeconomic volatility."
• The report stated that India's central bank, the RBI, has been active in liquidity management. Since December 2024, it has injected over ₹8.9 lakh crore into the system through open market operations and other liquidity instruments.

State Bank of India (SBI):

Announcement of RRB Merger

• The central government has announced the merger of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), effective from May 1, 2025, with the aim of reducing the number of these banks from the current 43 to 28.
• These banks will acquire their individual assets, powers, rights, liabilities, and duties in accordance with the authority granted under Section 23A(1) of the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976.

Reports and Indexes

First Digital Threat Report 2024

• The Government of India has launched the First Digital Threat Report 2024 with the aim of strengthening cyber security in the Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) sector.
• This report analyzes the increasing cyber threats in the BFSI sector and provides strategic recommendations to deal with them.

Cyberattacks in India (2024):

ADR Report 2023-24

• As per a report by the election rights body Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), the BJP received the highest donations among national parties in the financial year 2023-24, with over ₹2,243.94 crore declared from 8,358 donations.

ADR Report on Donations to National Parties (2023-24):

Sports News

ISSF World Cup 2025

• Former world champion Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil won the gold medal in the men's 10m air rifle shooting event at the ISSF World Cup 2025 in Buenos Aires.

International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF):

Defense News

Trishakti Nari Navik Abhiyan 'Samudra Parikrama'

• The Trishakti Nari Navik Abhiyan 'Samudra Parikrama' commenced its 55-day voyage on April 7, 2025.
• The expedition was carried out by a 12-member women crew of the Indian Navy on board IASV Triveni.

Related Facts:

Passage Exercise (PASSEX)

• A Passage Exercise (PASSEX) was conducted between the Indian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy in the Gulf of Aden. The Indian Navy participated with its stealth frigate INS Tarkash, while the Royal New Zealand Navy was represented by its ANZAC-class frigate HMNZS Te Kaha.

Related Facts:

Honours and Awards

Key of Honour

• During her visit to Portugal, President Droupadi Murmu was conferred with the "Key of Honour" by the Mayor of Lisbon.

Portugal:

Person In News

Pandit Kumar Gandharva

• Pandit Kumar Gandharva was born on 8th April 1924 in Sulebhavi village, near Belgaum, in the state of Karnataka.
• He is celebrated as one of the greatest Indian classical vocalists, known for his innovative style, distinctive voice, and experimentation with ragas.

Biography:

Important Days

International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda

• Every year on 7th April, UNESCO observes the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2003.
• This date marks the beginning of the genocide orchestrated by the Hutu extremist-led government against the Tutsi minority in Rwanda, which led to the deaths of around 800,000 people in just 100 days.

Tutsi: