Daily Current Affairs and GK | 29 April 2025

Topic: Sports

1. India's Sudirman Cup 2025 campaign ended with a 1-4 defeat against Denmark.

• On 27 April, India’s BWF Sudirman Cup 2025 journey was brought to an early end after a 1-4 defeat against Denmark in their opening Group D match at Xiamen, China.
• India had been placed in a tough group alongside Indonesia and England, making a strong start crucial for qualification hopes.
• Denmark managed to defeat India despite missing their top singles players, Viktor Axelsen and Mia Blichfeldt.
• India's star shuttlers Prannoy and Sindhu lost their respective matches in straight games.
• India’s only win of the tie was secured by the women's doubles pair Tanisha Crasto and Shruti Mishra.
• Tanisha and Shruti defeated Alexandra Boje and Natasja Anthonisen 21-13, 21-18 in straight games.
• In the mixed doubles, Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila were beaten by Jesper Toft and Amalie Magelund 13-21, 14-21.
• Men’s doubles pair Hariharan Amsakuranan and Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi were outclassed by Kim Astrup and Anders Rasmussen.
• The Sudirman Cup 2025 badminton tournament is being held from April 27 to May 4 in Xiamen, China.
• The Sudirman Cup 2025 is the 19th edition of the biennial international mixed team badminton tournament organised by Badminton World Federation (BWF).

Topic: Indian Economy

2. Foreign investors invested over ₹17,000 crore in Indian equities last week.

• This followed a net inflow of ₹8,500 crore in the week ending April 18. 
• Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) made a net investment of ₹17,425 crore from April 21 to April 25. 
• However, FPIs have pulled out ₹5,678 crore from Indian equities so far in April. 
• At the beginning of the month, there was significant FPI selling. 
• This was mainly due to global uncertainties related to developments in US tariff policies.

Topic: National News

3. PM Narendra Modi participated in YUGM Innovation Conclave in New Delhi.

• YUGM means confluence in Sanskrit.
• It is a first-of-its-kind strategic conclave convening leaders from government, academia, industry, and innovators.
• It will contribute to the India’s innovation journey.
• It will be driven by a collaborative project of around 1,400 crore rupees with joint investment from the Wadhwani Foundation and Government Institutions like Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).

Topic: Indian Polity

4. A meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence conducted in New Delhi.

• Under the chairmanship of BJP MP Radha Mohan Singh, a meeting was conducted on the welfare of Ex-servicemen.
• The Committee took oral evidence from the representatives of the Ministry of Defence concerning the examination of the subject titled “A Review of the Resettlement Policies, Healthcare Facilities, and Avenues for Ex-servicemen.”
• Other members of the Committee, includes Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Lumbaram Choudhary.
• Parliamentary Standing Committee:
  • It is a committee consisting of Members of Parliament (MP).
  • It is a permanent and regular committee which is constituted from time to time according to the provisions of an Act of Parliament or Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.

Topic: Defence

5. India signed a 26-Rafale Marine Fighter Aircraft procurement deal with France.

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of Armed Forces of France Sebastien Lecornu signed the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) in New Delhi.
• Out of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft, 22 will be single-seaters and four double-seaters and these will be designed and prepared as per the requirement of the Indian Navy.
• The delivery of these aircraft would be completed by 2030.
• The terms of agreement include:
  • Training, a simulator, associated equipment, weapons and performance-based logistics.
  • It also includes additional equipment for the existing Rafale fleet of the Indian Air Force.
  • It will facilitate the transfer of technology for the integration of indigenous weapons in India.
  • It will also promote setting up of production facilities for Rafale Fuselage as well as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facilities for aircraft engines, sensors and weapons.
• These fighter aircraft will be deployed in aircraft carriers like INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.
• Rafale will be equipped with advanced weapon systems and missiles.
• The Rafale-Marine is manufactured by France’s Dassault Aviation. It is a carrier-borne combat-ready aircraft with proven operational capabilities in maritime environments.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

6. President Droupadi Murmu presents Padma Awards 2025 to 71 famous personalities.

• The President gave away Padma Awards for the year 2025 at the first Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
• This year, a total of 139 names have been announced for the Padma Awards.
• The list comprises 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards.
• Former SBI chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya was given Padma Shri for her role in expanding the Jandhan scheme.
• Carnatic Vocalist Dr. K Omankutty Amma got the Padma Shri award for her contribution to the field of art.

Padma Vibhushan Awardees

1. Shri M. T. Vasudevan Nair (Posthumous), Literature and Education, Kerala
2. Dr. Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy, Medicine, Telangana
3. Dr. Lakshminarayana Subramaniam (Violinist), Art, Karnataka
4. Shri Osamu Suzuki (Posthumous), Trade & Industry, Japan
5. Justice (Retd.) Shri Jagdish Singh Khehar, Public Affairs, Chandigarh
6. Smt. Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia (Kathak dancer), Art, Gujarat
7. Smt. Sharda Sinha (Posthumous) (Maithili and Bhojpuri singer), Art, Bihar

Some of Padma Bhushan Awardees

1. Shri Nandamuri Balakrishna, Art, Andhra Pradesh
2. Shri Vinod Kumar Dham, Science and Engineering, United States of America
3. Shri Sushil Kumar Modi (Posthumous), Public Affairs, Bihar
4. Shri Shekhar Kapur, Art, Maharashtra
5. Shri S. Ajith Kumar, Art, Tamil Nadu
6. Shri Pankaj R. Patel, Trade and Industry, Gujarat
7. Dr. Jose Chacko Periappuram, Medicine, Kerala
8. Dr. Arkalgud Anantaramaiah Surya Prakash, Literature and Education (Journalism), Karnataka
9. Shri Sreejesh P. R., Sports, Kerala
10. Shri Pankaj Keshubhai Udhas (Posthumous), Art, Maharashtra

Some of Padma Shri Awardees

1. Dr. Shyam Bihari Agrawal, Art, Uttar Pradesh
2. H.E. Shka. Shaikha Ali Jaber Al-Sabah, Yoga, Kuwait
3. Dr. K. Omanakutty Amma, Art, Kerala
4. Shri Miriyala Apparao (Posthumous), Art, Andhra Pradesh
5. Shri Ravichandran Ashwin, Sports, Tamil Nadu
6. Shri Joynacharan Bathari, Art, Assam
7. Smt. Begam Batool, Art, Rajasthan
8. Smt. Arundhati Bhattacharya, Trade and Industry, Maharashtra
9. Prof. Anil Kumar Boro, Literature and Education, Assam
10. Shri R. G. Chandramogan, Trade and Industry, Tamil Nadu
11. Shri Maruti Bhujangrao Chitampalli, Literature and Education, Maharashtra
12. Shri Bheru Singh Chouhan, Art, Madhya Pradesh
13. Dr. K. Damodaran, Culinary, Tamil Nadu
14. Shri Gokul Chandra Das, Art, West Bengal
15. Smt. Nirmala Devi, Art, Bihar

• Padma Awards:
  • Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian Awards in India. It is conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
  • ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field.
  • Padma awards are given in various fields like art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service.
  • These are announced every year on Republic Day.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National News

7. Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia announced the Gyan Post service in New Delhi.

• Gyan Post service will enable affordable delivery of books and study material through post offices across the country.
• The services will be operational from 1st May.
• The books and printed educational material sent under Gyan Post will be trackable and transported through surface mode to ensure cost-effective delivery.
• Only non-commercial, educational material will be eligible under 'Gyan Post'.

Topic: Sports

8. India clinches top position in Asian Yogasana Sport Championship with record 83 gold medals.

• India won a total of 87 medals with 83 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze medal.
• India is followed by Japan with 3 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze medals.
• Over 21 countries, including Mongolia, Oman, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Kazakhstan and Bhutan, participated in the second edition of the championship.
• Competitions were held in four age categories — 10-18, 18-28, 28 to 35 and 35 to 45 years.
• The mascot for the 2nd Asian Yogasana Championships was “Sinvha”.
• The 1st Asian Yogasana Championships was held in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2022.

Topic: International News

9. EU GSP+ Monitoring Mission arrives in Sri Lanka for biannual review of compliance.

• Sri Lanka is one of eight countries benefiting from GSP+. The other countries include Bolivia, Cape Verde, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines and Uzbekistan.
• India benefits from GSP but not GSP+.
• The current GSP+ is valid until 2027.
• Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) is a special EU scheme granting duty-free access for countries implementing 27 international conventions on human rights, labour rights, environmental protection, and good governance.
• The EU, a single market of 450 million people, is Sri Lanka’s second-largest export destination after the US.

Topic: Sports

10. Vaibhav Suryavanshi becomes youngest player in IPL history to score the fastest century.

• During the IPL match between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals, Rajasthan Royals won the match by two wickets in 15.5 overs.
• Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored 101 runs in 38 balls and was declared Player of the Match.
• He became the youngest Indian player to score the fastest century (35 balls) at the age of 14 years 32 days.
• It is also the second fastest century in the tournament, behind only Chris Gayle, who did it in 30 balls.