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Art and Culture
01 May, 2025
GK update
Tue 22 Apr, 2025
NATIONAL NEWS
NSDC-PDEU Skill Centre
- Union Minister of State for Skill Development, Jayant Chaudhary inaugurated the NSDC-PDEU Centre of Excellence at Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU) in Gandhinagar
- This Centre of Excellence is jointly set up by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and PDEU.
Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU)
| Founded: 4 April 2007 | Chairman: Hasmukh Adhia | President: Mukesh Ambani |
Liver Health Pledge Ceremony
- In observance of World Liver Day 2025, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda led the “Liver Health Pledge Ceremony” at the health camp organized by the Ministry, at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi.
STATE SPECIAL NEWS
Action plan to curb stubble burning
- The Punjab Government has formulated an action plan worth 500 crore rupees to provide farmers with the latest Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery on subsidy and implement other strategies to efficiently manage the paddy straw.
Punjab
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Pollution-free power plant in West Bengal
- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee laid the foundation stone for a pollution-free power plant by Jindal group at Salboni in Paschim Medinipur district.
West Bengal
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Governor: C. V. Ananda Bose Date of Formation: 26, January 1950 Beaches: Digha, Shankarpur, Bakkhali, Tajpur, and Mandarmani |
National Park: Sundarbans National Park, Singalila National Park, Gorumara National Park, Neora Valley National Park |
Tiger Reserves: Sunderbans, Buxa Tiger reserve Tribes: Kora, Ho, Meu, Tamang, Lohara, Chero, Mahli, Malpahariya |
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Preferential voting change in Maldives
- In Maldives, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has endorsed a change in the preferential voting system for the archipelago’s presidential elections, aiming to eliminate costly and time-consuming runoff rounds.
Maldives
| Capital: Male | Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa | Official Language: Dhivehi |
ECONOMY & BANKING
Minors above 10 to operate bank accounts
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) permitted banks to allow minors above the age of 10 years to open and operate savings/ term deposit accounts independently.
- Minors of any age may be allowed to open and operate savings and term deposit accounts through his/ her natural or legal guardian.
RBI
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India’s Largest Cruise Terminal
- Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off cruise operations from the India’s largest world-class cruise terminal Mumbai International Cruise Terminal (MICT) in Mumbai.
- The newly inaugurated MICT is designed to handle 1 million passengers every year, with approximately 10,000 passengers per day. It can also handle 5 ships simultaneously.
Major Sea Ports in India
| Sea Port | State | Significance |
| Mumbai Port | Maharashtra | Oldest natural harbor, handles bulk cargo, oil, and general industrial goods. |
| Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT/Nhava Sheva) | Maharashtra | Largest container port in India, handles over 50% of India’s container traffic. |
| Kolkata Port (Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port) | West Bengal | Only riverine port in India; gateway to eastern and northeastern India. |
| Chennai Port | Tamil Nadu | One of the oldest artificial ports, handles automobiles and general cargo. |
| Kandla Port (Deendayal Port) | Gujarat | Major port for crude oil imports and agriculture exports (grains, salt, etc). |
12% Safeguard Duty on Steel Imports
- The Centre has imposed a 12 per cent safeguard duty on the import of certain non-alloy and alloy steel flat products with a view to shielding the Indian steel sector.
Important steel-producing states
| State | Major Iron Ore Mines |
| Jharkhand | Gua, Chiria, Noamundi, Kiriburu |
| Odisha | Barbil, Koira, Daitari, Gandhamardan, Banspani |
| Chhattisgarh | Bailadila (NMDC), Dalli-Rajhara |
| Karnataka | Donimalai, Kudremukh, Sandur |
| Maharashtra | Surjagarh (Gadchiroli), Lohara (Chandrapur) |
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Earth Day
- Earth Day is celebrated on April 22nd each year to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote action to protect the planet.
- The theme for this year 2025 is “Our Power, Our Planet”.
PERSON IN NEWS
Pope Francis’ Demise
- Pope Francis I, the Roman Catholic Church's first Latin American head, has passed away due to stroke, heart failure at the age of 88.
AWARDS & HONOURS
Laureus World Sports Awards
| Award | Awardee |
| Sportsman of the Year | Mondo Duplantis |
| Sportswoman of the Year | Simone Biles |
| World Team of the Year | Lifetime Achievement |
| Real Madrid | Kelly Slater |
RANKS, REPORTS & INDICES
ICIMOD report
- According to a report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Snow persistence over the Hindu Kush Himalaya region between November and March this year was 23.6 per cent below normal levels, a record low in the last 23 years.
- Snow persistence measures the fraction of time snow remains on the ground after snowfall.
ICIMOD
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Director General: Pema Gyamtsho | Members: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan |
ART & CULTURE
Buddha Dhamma & Culture of North-East India
- Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein inaugurated the International Conclave on the theme Buddha Dhamma and the Culture of North-East India” in Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh.
- This two-day conference is being organised by the International Buddhist Confederation in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
Buddism
| Fact | Description |
| Founder | Gautama Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama), a prince from the Shakya clan in the 6th century BCE |
| Birthplace | Lumbini, located in present-day Nepal |
| Enlightenment | Attained under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, Bihar |
| First Sermon | Delivered at Sarnath, near Varanasi – known as Dharmachakra Pravartana |
| Mahaparinirvana (Death) | Passed away in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh at the age of 80 |
| Core Teachings | Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path form the essence of Buddhism |
| Buddhist Scriptures | Tripitaka – divided into Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, and Abhidhamma Pitaka |
| Buddhist Councils | Four major councils: 1st - Rajgir, 2nd - Vaishali, 3rd - Pataliputra, 4th - Kundalvana (Kashmir) |
DEFENCE NEWS
Arms facility in Hyderabad
- The UAE-based CARACAL, inaugurated a small arms manufacturing facility at ICOMM’s integrated engineering facility in Hyderabad.
‘MAHASAGAR’ Vision
- The Indian Navy successfully completed a major refit of the Maldivian Coast Guard Ship MNDF Huravee at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, as part of India’s commitment to regional maritime security under the vision of ‘Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth for All in the Region (MAHASAGAR)’ and its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
- The Make in India ship was handed over to the MNDF (Maldives National Defence Force) in May 2023 as a replacement for an older platform.
Indian Navy
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Aerobatic airshow
- In Bihar, the Surya Kiran team of the Indian Air Force began its aerobatic air show on the occasion of Vijayotsav of Babu Kunwar Singh, the freedom fighter of the 1857 revolution in Bhojpur.
ENVIRONMENT + SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Save Earth Conclave
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the ‘Save Earth Conclave’ at the NASC Complex in New Delhi to explore the potential of bamboo to mitigate climate change and drive economic growth.
APPOINTMENTS
Dr. Mangi Lal Jat
- Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, a distinguished Agronomist, has assumed charge today as the Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General (DG) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
SPORTS
Simranpreet Kaur Brar
- In Shooting, India’s Simranpreet Kaur Brar won a silver medal in the women’s 25m pistol event at the International Shooting Sport Federation, ISSF World Cup in Lima, Peru.
- This marks India’s fourth silver medal at the Lima World Cup, adding to the country’s tally of two golds and one bronze.