Daily Current Affairs and GK | 20 and 21 April 2025

Topic: National News

1. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a clarification.

• There is no confirmed plan to launch a satellite-based tolling system across India on 1st May 2025. 
• Reports suggesting that FASTag will be replaced by satellite tolling from that date are incorrect. 
• A new toll collection system will be introduced at selected toll plazas instead. 
• This system will use a combination of ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) and FASTag technology. 
• It is designed to allow vehicles to pass through toll plazas without stopping. 
• ANPR cameras will identify vehicle number plates. 
• FASTag readers will automatically deduct toll charges. 
• This creates a seamless and barrier-free tolling experience. 
• If a vehicle fails to comply, an electronic notice will be sent. 
• Non-payment may result in suspension of the FASTag. 
• It could also lead to penalties under the VAHAN system. 
• NHAI has invited bids for installing the ANPR-FASTag-based Barrier-Less Tolling System at selected sites. 
• Nationwide rollout will depend on how the system performs. 
• Public feedback and operational efficiency will also be considered.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

2. India took part in GITEX Africa 2025, the largest tech and startup event in Africa.

• The event was held in Marrakesh, Morocco. 
• It brought together global policymakers, innovators, and leaders. 
• The focus was on building partnerships for inclusive and equitable economic growth. 
• Minister of State Jayant Chaudhary led the Indian delegation. 
• He participated in bilateral meetings, panel discussions, and engaged with Indian startups. 
• He highlighted India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, including Aadhaar, UPI, ONDC, and digital healthcare tools. 
• The Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) has registered over one crore users in just 18 months. 
• Jayant Chaudhary pointed out India’s fast-growing AI talent base, with a 33.39% increase in hiring, according to the AI Stanford Index 2025. 
• India’s presence at GITEX reaffirmed its leadership in digital innovation and skill development. 
• Initiatives like Skill India, Digital India, Aadhaar, UPI, SIDH, DIKSHA, and DigiLocker are being seen as global benchmarks.

Topic: Defence

3. The multinational Exercise Desert Flag-10 is being participated in by the Indian Air Force in UAE.

• A contingent of the Indian Air Force arrived at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates to take part in the major multinational air combat exercise, Exercise Desert Flag-10.
• The exercise is being conducted from 21 April to 08 May 2025.
• MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft of the Indian Air Force are participating in the exercise.
• Exercise Desert Flag is a multinational exercise organised by the UAE Air Force.
• Apart from the Indian Air Force, the air forces of Australia, Bahrain, France, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom and the United States are participating in it.
• The aim of this exercise is to carry out complex and diverse combat missions while exchanging operational knowledge and best systems with some of the most capable air forces in the world.
• Participation in such exercises enhances mutual understanding and inter-operability and strengthens military cooperation among the participating nations.
• The Indian Air Force's participation reflects India's commitment to strengthen defence relations and interoperability with friendly countries in the region and beyond.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

4. Prime Minister presented Awards of Excellence at the 17th Civil Services Day event.

• On April 21, 2025, PM Narendra Modi addressed the public servants of the country on the 17th Civil Services Day.
• National Civil Service Day is observed every year on April 21.
• On this occasion, the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration were presented for effective implementation of identified priority programs and innovations in the districts and Central/State Governments.
• The award was instituted in 2006.
• The award has been launched to recognize exceptional and innovative work done by districts and organisations of the Central and State Governments for the welfare of the common citizens.
• For the Prime Minister’s Awards Scheme 2024, the following priority programs have been identified for awards to be conferred on Public Service Day 2025:
• Category 1 - Holistic Development of Districts
• Category 2 - Aspirational Blocks Programme
• Category 3 – Innovation
• After comprehensive evaluation, 14 awardees have been shortlisted from 1588 nominations.
• The Prime Minister's Award consists of: (i) Trophy, (ii) Scroll and (iii) Incentive of Rs. 20 lakhs to the awarded district/organization.
• Additionally, e-books on Holistic Development and on Innovations were released by PM Narendra Modi.
• These books contain success stories of the implementation of identified priority programs and innovations.
• This was the 7th occasion when Prime Minister Modi addressed the National Public Service Day celebrations.
• Civil Service Day is an occasion for public servants across the country to rededicate themselves to the cause of the citizens and to reaffirm their commitment to public service and excellence in their work.
• The date was chosen to commemorate the day when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the probationers of Administrative Service Officers at Metcalfe House Delhi in 1947.

Topic: Space and IT

5. On 19 April 2025, India's first satellite, Aryabhatta, completed its 50 years.

• In 1975, this satellite, launched on this day, was named after the ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata.
• Built by the ISRO, the satellite was launched from Kapustin Yar with the assistance of the USSR.
• Aryabhatta's project director, Udupi Ramachandra Rao, who passed away in 2017, played a key role.
• The satellite was intended to explore fields including solar physics, aeronomy, and X-ray astronomy.
• Aryabhata was designed as a 26-sided polyhedron, with a diameter of 1.4 meters and weighing 360 kilograms.
• All the remaining 24 hours of the satellite, except the top and bottom, were covered with solar panels.
• After spending five days in orbit, Aryabhata encountered electrical problems, due to which all experiments were stopped.
• Despite this, valuable data was collected, and scientists were provided with important experience in satellite development.
• Aryabhata marked India's entry into space exploration and laid the foundation for the country's future space missions.
• With its successful launch, India became the 11th country in the world to send a satellite into orbit.

Topic: Environment and Ecology   

6. Two cheetahs released in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary by Madhya Pradesh CM.

• On 20 April, two cheetahs named “Prabash” and “Paavak” were released in the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Mandsaur by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav.
• On this occasion, he said that PM Narendra Modi has also given the honour of turning Tiger State Madhya Pradesh into a Cheetah State.
• These six-year-old male cheetahs are from a group of cheetahs brought to Kuno National Park from South Africa in February 2023.
• The cheetahs will now roam freely within their 64-sq. km enclosure in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, located between Mandsaur and Neemuch districts, with the Chambal River dividing the sanctuary into nearly two equal parts.
• In September 2022, cheetahs were introduced to Kuno for the first time, with the aim of increasing the number of cheetahs in India and preserving the species.
• Four cheetahs are scheduled to be translocated from Botswana to Gandhi Sagar in May, while four more will arrive in the second phase later.
• With the relocation of two cheetahs, there are now 24 cheetahs in Kuno — 14 in the wild and 10 in enclosures.

Topic: Banking/Finance

7. India's foreign exchange market has grown significantly.

• It increased from 32 billion dollars in 2020 to 60 billion dollars in 2024, according to RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra. 
• Daily trading volumes in the overnight money market have also risen sharply.
• They went from around ₹3 lakh crore to over ₹5.4 lakh crore in the same period. 
• The government securities market has seen a 40% increase in average daily volumes.
• These volumes now stand at ₹66,000 crore. 
• Malhotra stated that India’s financial markets have become more robust and adaptive.
• He said they are now a strong driver of economic growth. 
• He also noted that transparency in Indian markets has reached global standards. 
• Recent regulatory reforms have expanded the variety of financial products and market participants. 
• The connection between domestic and international markets has become much stronger.

Topic: Space and IT

8. ISRO has developed a locally-made nozzle divergent for the fourth stage of the PSLV. 

• It uses a material called Stellite, which replaces the previously imported Columbium. 
• Stellite is a cobalt-based alloy that includes Chromium, Nickel, Tungsten, and Iron. 
• The new nozzle can withstand extremely high temperatures of up to 1150 degrees Celsius. 
• ISRO tested the Stellite nozzle in a series of trials. 
• The final hot test was conducted on April 8 and lasted for 665 seconds. 
• This test was successfully carried out at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. 
• By using Stellite, ISRO will reduce its import costs for the nozzle by nearly 90 percent. 
• The Mahendragiri facility also tested the human-rated Vikas Engine for the Gaganyaan mission. 
• The Vikas Engine is designed and built in India. 
• It is named after Vikram Sarabhai, the founder of India’s space program. 
• The Gaganyaan launch vehicle, LVM 3 G, will use two Vikas engines in a clustered arrangement. 
• These engines will help carry Indian astronauts into space.

Topic: International News

9. US Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s use of an old law to deport Venezuelan migrants.

• The law would have allowed deportations without court hearings. 
• It was the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a statute not used since World War II. 
• Trump attempted to bring it back to speed up migrant removals. 
• The Court issued its decision and put a pause on any deportations under that law for now. 
• Justice Samuel Alito disagreed with the decision. He said the Court acted improperly by not hearing both sides. 
• Democrats and civil rights groups say Trump is misusing his power and ignoring legal safeguards. 

Topic: International News

10. Bangladesh's National Central Bureau has requested Interpol to issue a Red Notice for 12 individuals. 

• This includes former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 
• The request also involves former transport minister Obaidul Quader and ex-home minister Asaduzzaman Khan. 
• Enamul Haque Sagor, Assistant Inspector General of Media at the Police Headquarters, confirmed the request. 
• He explained that such requests are made following appeals from courts, prosecutors, or investigative agencies. 
• The Red Notice request is still being processed. 
• In November of the previous year, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka made an official request. 
• They asked for Interpol’s help in capturing Sheikh Hasina and the others, who are considered fugitives.
• Red Notice:
  • A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement around the world to find and detain an individual while they await extradition, surrender, or other legal action.  An international arrest warrant is not the same as a Red Notice.
  • Member countries apply their own laws in deciding whether to arrest a person.
  • The majority of Red Notices are restricted to law enforcement use only.