Daily Current Affairs and GK | 23 April 2025

Topic: Important Days

1. World Earth Day 2025: 22 April

• Every year on April 22, World Earth Day is celebrated.
• People around the world come together to celebrate Earth Day, organize events, and raise awareness about environmental threats.
• The theme of World Earth Day 2025 is ‘Our Power, Our Planet.’
• This day is an opportunity for people to contribute to the dire crisis facing the Earth and celebrate green initiatives taken across the world.
• It was first celebrated on 22 April 1970.
• Grammy Award-nominated singer, actress, and longtime climate activist Antonique Smith has been named the official Earth Day Ambassador for Earth Day 2025.
• International Mother Earth Day is celebrated every year on 22 April.

Topic: National News

2. 26 tourists died in the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

• Unidentified gunmen opened fire on innocent civilians in Pahalgam’s Baisaran in Jammu and Kashmir.
• It has been reported that the terrorists came down from the mountain in Baisaran valley and started firing at the tourists.
• The place is often called as ‘mini Switzerland’ due to its long, lush green meadows.
• Jammu and Kashmir administration issued helpline numbers.
•  38-day Amarnath pilgrimage is scheduled to begin on July 3.

Topic: National News

3. Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the ‘Save Earth Conclave’ on Earth Day.

• He inaugurated the ‘Save Earth Conclave’ at the NASC Complex in New Delhi
• The conclave was inaugurated to explore the potential of bamboo to mitigate climate change and drive economic growth.
• The organisers also gave away the India Sustainability Awards 2025 to 15 pioneers, who have led transformative change in climate action and green innovation.
•  The first Earth Day celebrations were held in 1970 after the day was suggested at the UNESCO summit in 1969.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

4. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off Cruise Operations from India’s largest cruise terminal.

• Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoSPW), Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated Cruise Operations from the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal (MICT).
• MICT has been developed under the Cruise Bharat Mission as per latest global standards and will play a major role in developing cruise tourism in India.
• MICT is designed to handle 1 million passengers every year with an approx. 10,000 passengers per day.
• This terminal adds to existing top-class international terminals at Visakhapatnam and Chennai.
• He also inaugurated renovated Fire Memorial at Victoria Docks as well as renovated two heritage buildings — Fort House Ballard Estate and Evelyn House at Colaba.
• He also inaugurated the Sagar Upvan garden along with Shore to Ship Electric Supply under the Green Port Initiative.
• Cruise Bharat Mission:
  • It was launched on September 30, 2024, from the Mumbai port.
  • The mission aims to make India one of the top cruise destinations in the world.
  • The mission embraces three pillars—Ocean and Harbour Cruises, River and Inland Cruises, and Island and Lighthouse Cruises.
  • The goals under the mission include the development of 10 international sea cruise terminals, the creation of 100 river cruise terminals, the Launch of 5 marinas along our coast, Seamless integration of more than 5000 km of waterways.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

5. Secretary to the Ministry of Women and Child Development receives PM’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration for Poshan Tracker app.

• The Secretary of the Ministry received the PM’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in the innovation category.
• The Poshan Tracker is a mobile-based application used by Anganwadi workers to provide real-time data on the delivery of nutrition and childcare services.
• The app has been developed under the Saksham Anganwadi and Mission Poshan 2.0 of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• For the year 2024, the scheme for Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration aims to recognize the contribution of civil servants under the following categories :-
  • Category 1 - Holistic Development of Districts
  • Category 2- Aspirational Blocks Programme
  • Category 3 – Innovation

Topic: State News/Bihar

6. Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran aerobatic team performed over Patna.

• This was a tribute to Babu Kunwar Singh, a hero of the 1857 revolt. 
• A key moment featured a parachute jump from an IAF helicopter. 
• The skydiver unfurled the Indian national flag during the descent. 
• The two-day airshow began with impressive aerial displays. 
• The Surya Kiran squadron showcased precision flying and stunning formations. 
• Nine Hawk jets performed high-speed manoeuvres and aerobatic stunts. 
• The event is part of Valour Day Vijayotsav, celebrating Babu Kunwar Singh’s legacy. 
• He played a major role in the 1857 rebellion in Bihar’s Bhojpur region. 

Topic: Agriculture and Allied Sectors

7. Unexpected heavy snowfall and rain have damaged apricot orchards across Kargil district in Ladakh. 

• Local farmers are facing major financial losses. 
• The sudden weather change destroyed much of their harvest. 
• Apricot blossoms, once a sign of celebration, have become a reminder of loss. 
• Erratic weather patterns are becoming more common in the region. 
• The disaster shows the urgent need for climate-resilient farming. 
• Ladakh’s farmers are increasingly vulnerable to climate change. 
• Long-term support and sustainable solutions are urgently needed. 

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

8. Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein inaugurated the International Conclave in Namsai.

• The theme of the conclave is ‘Buddha Dhamma and North-East India’s Cultural Heritage’. 
• The event is spread over two days. 
• It is organized by the International Buddhist Confederation and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. 
• The conclave explores the spiritual and cultural influence of Buddhism in the North-East region. 
• Bhutan’s Consul General Jigme Thinley Namgyal attended the inaugural session. 
• On the first day, there were three panel discussions. 
• These focused on history, art, and the cultural exchange of Buddha Dhamma. 
• The second day will include Vipassana meditation sessions. 
• Prayers for world peace will be held at the Golden Pagoda in Namsai. 

Topic: State News/Punjab

9. The Punjab Government has launched a ₹500 crore plan to tackle stubble burning. 

• The plan will provide farmers with subsidized Crop Residue Management machinery. 
• Farmers can receive a 50% subsidy on Crop Residue Management machinery equipment. 
• Farmer groups, Cooperative Societies, and Gram Panchayats can get an 80% subsidy. 
• The initiative is managed by the State Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department. 
• The goal of the initiative is to eliminate stubble burning in Punjab.

Topic: Science and Technology

10. The ocean absorbs nearly a quarter of the CO₂ emissions from human activities, especially fossil fuel use. 

• Project SeaCURE, launched in Weymouth, England, seeks to enhance the ocean’s ability to capture CO₂. 
• This pilot initiative aims to extract CO₂ directly from seawater, increasing the ocean’s carbon absorption. 
• Funded by the UK government, SeaCURE explores whether this process could be a cost-effective and scalable method for reducing CO₂. 
• Unlike conventional carbon capture methods, SeaCURE focuses on seawater, where CO₂ concentrations are much higher than in the atmosphere. 
• Seawater is pumped from the English Channel and made more acidic. 
• The acidity encourages the CO₂ to turn into gas, which is then captured. 
• The CO₂ is concentrated using sustainable materials, like charred coconut husks, and stored securely. 
• After carbon removal, the seawater is neutralized and returned to the ocean. 
• This allows the seawater to continue absorbing CO₂. 
• Currently, SeaCURE removes about 100 metric tonnes of CO₂ each year. 
• The project faces challenges, including the energy needed for carbon extraction. 
• This energy must come from renewable sources to avoid offsetting environmental benefits. 
• There are concerns about the ecological impact of releasing altered water back into the ocean. 
• It could affect marine life, such as mussels and phytoplankton. 
• SeaCURE also highlights the problem of ocean acidification. 
• Ocean acidification threatens marine life by lowering water alkalinity. 
• SeaCURE is part of the UK’s £3 million carbon capture program. 
• It is one of 15 pilot projects funded under this initiative.