Daily Current Affairs and GK | 24 April 2025

Topic: International News

1. Chinese aggression increased in the disputed PMZ waters.

• China has escalated tensions in the Yellow Sea by building a massive steel rig in the Provisional Maritime Zone (PMZ) near Socotra Rock, southwest of Jeju Island.
• The PMZ is a jointly administered area between China and South Korea where their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) overlap.
• The structure sparked conflict when South Korean research ship Onnuri attempted to inspect it but was blocked by Chinese coast guard and civilian vessels.
• A two-hour standoff occurred between the coast guards of both countries in the disputed waters.
• China claimed the structure was an aquafarm, while South Korea asserted its right to inspect it under the 2001 Korea-China Fisheries Agreement.
• The structure includes Shen Lan 2 Hao (Deep Blue 2), a 71.5-metre-tall underwater cage for salmon farming.
• Satellite imagery confirmed multiple Chinese steel platforms have been constructed in the PMZ.
• South Korea lodged a formal protest by summoning a Chinese Embassy representative in Seoul.

Topic: Important Days

2. National Panchayati Raj Day 2025: 24 April

• National Panchayati Raj Day is observed each year on 24 April.
• On 24th April 1993, the President gave his assent to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Bill, providing constitutional status to Panchayats.
• National Panchayati Raj Day was first announced in 2010.
• Mahatma Gandhi advocated the idea of Panchayati rule.
• In 2025, there is not a particular theme for the National Panchayati Raj Day in India.
• For the first time, the national-level function is being organized at Lohna Uttar Gram Panchayat, Jhanjharpur Block in Madhubani district of Bihar.
• In this program, the National Panchayat Awards 2025 will be nominated by the states and finalized by the ministry.
• The National Panchayati Raj Awards were instituted to encourage the best-performing Panchayati Raj Institutions.
• In 2022, it was revamped after the Ministry localised the 17 Sustainable Development Goals into nine broad themes, including poverty alleviation, education, health, etc.

Topic: National News

3. India took strict action against Pakistan after the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

• In response to the Pahalgam terror attack, India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 and shut down the Integrated Check Post at Attari with immediate effect.
• On 23 April, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, held an emergency meeting at his residence to review the overall security situation.
• The CCS directed all security forces to maintain high vigil across the country.
• Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that Pakistani nationals will no longer be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES).
• All previously issued SVES visas to Pakistani nationals have been cancelled, and those currently in India under these visas have been given 48 hours to leave the country.
• The Defence, Naval, and Air Advisors at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been declared Persona Non Grata and must leave India within a week.
• India will also withdraw its own Defence, Navy, and Air Advisors from its High Commission in Islamabad.
• The total strength of both High Commissions will be reduced from 55 to 30 by May 1, as part of the diplomatic scale-down.

Topic: Important Days

4. World Immunization Week 2025: 24-30 April

• Every year, World Immunization Week is celebrated in the last week of April.
• Its main aim is to promote the use of vaccines to protect people from disease.
• The theme of World Immunization Week 2025 is “Immunization for All is Humanly Possible.”
• The theme emphasizes the need to ensure that all people, regardless of age or location, have access to life-saving vaccines.
• Immunization is the process through which the immune system of an individual becomes immunized against disease-causing agents.
• The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) was started in 1978. In 1985, it was renamed as Universal Immunization Program.
• The Government of India had launched Mission Indradhanush to increase the coverage of immunization in India.
• Many diseases, like smallpox and polio, can be controlled by the use of vaccines.
• WHO claims that essential vaccines have saved the lives of at least 154 million people over the last 50 years.
• Since 1974, immunization has saved six lives every minute.
• Vaccines provide protection against more than 30 life-threatening diseases.

Topic: Economy/Banking/Finance

5. The IMF has warned the US and China of major economic losses due to the intensifying trade war.

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered its global growth projection to 2.8% for 2025, down by 0.5 percentage points from its January forecast.
• Growth in 2026 is now expected to be 3.0%, 0.3 percentage points lower than previously estimated.
• The IMF expects the tariffs to lead to a broad increase in global prices, slightly raising its forecast for world consumer prices to 4.3% for 2025 and 3.6% for 2026.
• The downgrade is primarily attributed to the escalating trade conflict between the US and China, driven by tariff hikes and unpredictable policy actions from Washington.
• The IMF cautioned that if recent tariff measures become permanent, the economic damage to both the United States and China would be even greater in 2026 and beyond.
• The latest tariff hikes announced after April 4 – including new US tariffs and China's retaliatory measures – have not yet been factored into the IMF's current outlook.
• The effective tariff rates between the US and China have exceeded 60%, raising concerns among economists about serious damage to bilateral trade.
• The IMF has revised China's economic growth forecast for both 2025 and 2026 to 4%, a cut of 0.6 and 0.5 percentage points, respectively.
• Due to policy uncertainty, trade tensions and declining demand, US growth forecast has been revised to 1.8% for 2025 (down 0.9 points) and 1.7% for 2026.
• Top US trading partners – Mexico, Canada and China – are expected to be harmed by the Trump administration's aggressive tariff policies, which are likely to harm the broader global economy.

Topic: Sports

6. Koneru Humpy won the Pune FIDE Women's Grand Prix.

• On 23 April, Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy clinched the Pune FIDE Women’s Grand Prix title with a final score of 7/9 points.
• She won her final round game with White pieces against Bulgarian International Master Nurgyul Salimova.
• Chinese GM Zhu Jiner also finished with 7/9 points, beating Russian International Master Polina Shuvalova, but was placed 2nd due to tiebreaks.
• The Grand Prix points and prize money will be shared between Humpy and Zhu.
• This victory significantly enhances Humpy’s chances of qualifying for the next Women’s Candidates Chess Tournament.
• Additionally, India’s IM Divya Deshmukh secured 3rd place with 5.5/9 points after a draw against Polish player Alina Kashlinskaya.

Topic: International News

7. India and Nepal explored new opportunities for energy cooperation.

• Indian Minister Manohar Lal Khattar met Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. 
• The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu. 
• They discussed ways to strengthen cultural ties and improve energy infrastructure. 
• Mr Khattar visited the Arun-3 hydropower project. 
• An MoU was signed between Powergrid Corporation of India and Nepal Electricity Authority. 
• The MoU aims to create two joint venture companies. 
• These companies will develop 400 kV cross-border transmission lines. 
• One line will connect Inaruwa in Nepal to New Purnea in India. 
• The other will link Dododhara in Nepal to Bareilly in India. 
• India and Nepal Relations:
  • Nepal's most significant trade and development relations are with India, which is its top trading ally. 
  • India plays a crucial role in Nepal’s economy by being a leading investor through foreign direct investments. 
  • The foundation of diplomatic ties between the two nations was laid with the signing of the Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1950. 
  • Nepal has a shared boundary with five Indian states. These five states are Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. 
  • India actively supports Nepal’s development efforts by offering both financial aid and technical expertise for numerous infrastructure projects.

Topic: Agriculture and Allied Sectors

8. Indian government will purchase the entire production of Tur, Urad, and Masur at MSP for the 2024-25 season.

• This will be done under the Price Support Scheme. 
• The decision is aimed at boosting pulse production in the country. 
• It also seeks to reduce India’s dependence on pulse imports. 
• The government made a similar announcement in Budget 2025. 
• It committed to continue 100% procurement through NAFED and NCCF until 2028-29. 
• The goal is to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses. 
• Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan approved the procurement of Tur (Arhar) for Kharif 2024-25. 
• Nine states are included in this procurement plan. 
• These states are Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. 
• The total approved quantity of Tur for procurement is 13.22 lakh metric tons. 
• Procurement at MSP is already taking place in five states. 
• These states are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana. 

Topic: Sports

9. Vithya Ramraj won the women’s 400m hurdles at the 2025 National Federation Senior Athletics Competition in Kochi.

• She is an Olympian. She finished the race in 56.04 seconds. 
• This time qualified her for the Asian Championships 2025. 
• She also set a new record. Her time broke Saritaben Gayakwad’s 2019 record of 57.21 seconds. 
• Anu R came second in the event. She clocked 58.26 seconds. 
• Ashwini R finished in third place. She completed the race in 1 minute and 2.41 seconds. 
• In the men’s 400m hurdles, Yashas Palaksha won gold. He ran a personal best of 49.32 seconds. 
• Damneet Singh won the men’s hammer throw event. He achieved a distance of 68.30 meters. 
• Praveen Kumar finished second in the hammer throw. Gurdev Singh came third in the same event. 
• In the women’s triple jump, Niharika Vashisht won the gold medal. She jumped 13.49 meters.

Topic: State News/Manipur

10. Manipur observed Khongjom Day to pay tribute to the warriors of the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891.

• The main event took place at the Khongjom War Memorial in Khebaching, Thoubal district. 
• Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla led the ceremony. 
• Ceremonial tributes included a Guard of Honour, General Salute, Last Post, and two minutes of silence. 
• These were held as a mark of respect for those who died in the battle. 
• Governor said the Battle of Khongjom reflected honour, courage, and the desire for independence. 
• Governor Bhalla mentioned efforts to rehabilitate Internally Displaced Persons in relief camps. 
• He urged citizens to remember the sacrifices of Khongjom heroes. 
• Former Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh, MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, and senior officials attended the event. 
• Khongjom Day was also observed in various places across Manipur. 

It was marked outside the state as well, where Manipuris live.