Asia Current Affairs — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Thu, 17 Apr 2025
ARIES astronomers use India's largest optical telescope to study an intermediate-mass black hole in NGC 4395
Astronomers led by ARIES used the 3.6m Devasthal Optical Telescope to measure an intermediate-mass black hole in the faint galaxy NGC 4395, about 4.3 million light-years away, the Science Ministry said on 17 April 2025.
Bose Institute, Kolkata, team shares 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics through ALICE at CERN
The Experimental High Energy Physics group of Bose Institute, Kolkata, has been awarded the Breakthrough Prize 2025 in Fundamental Physics as part of the ALICE collaboration at CERN, the Science Ministry said on 17 April 2025.
MSME Minister visits CTTC Bhubaneswar, which makes parts for Chandrayaan-3 and Gaganyaan
Union MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi visited the Central Tool Room & Training Centre (CTTC), Bhubaneswar, and the pharmaceutical cluster at Mancheswar Industrial Estate, Odisha, on 17 April 2025.
220-bed ESIC Hospital inaugurated at Namkum, Ranchi
Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the newly developed 220-bedded ESIC Hospital at Namkum, Ranchi, Jharkhand, on 17 April 2025.
Wed, 16 Apr 2025
Retail inflation at 4.6% in 2024-25, lowest since 2018-19; March 2025 CPI at 3.34%
CPI retail inflation fell to 4.6% in 2024-25, the lowest since 2018-19, and to 3.34% year-on-year in March 2025, the lowest monthly rate since August 2019, the Finance Ministry said on 16 April 2025.
India's total exports estimated at US$ 820.93 billion in 2024-25, up 5.5%
India's merchandise and services exports in 2024-25 are estimated at US$ 820.93 billion, 5.50% higher than US$ 778.13 billion in 2023-24, the Commerce Ministry said on 16 April 2025.
Over 1.3 crore persons insured through GeM in 2024-25
Government e Marketplace (GeM) facilitated insurance for more than 1.3 crore individuals and the hiring of 1 million manpower resources in 2024-25, the Commerce Ministry said on 16 April 2025.
Mines Ministry issues guidelines for Centres of Excellence under National Critical Mineral Mission
The Ministry of Mines issued guidelines on 16 April 2025 for setting up Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for critical-mineral R&D under the National Critical Mineral Mission, to work on a hub-and-spoke model.
India–Uzbekistan joint military exercise DUSTLIK-VI begins at Aundh, Pune
The sixth edition of the India–Uzbekistan joint military exercise DUSTLIK began at the Foreign Training Node, Aundh (Pune), on 16 April 2025 and is scheduled till 28 April.
CCI penalises UFO Moviez and Qube Cinema for anti-competitive lease terms with cinema owners
The Competition Commission of India, by an order dated 16 April 2025, imposed monetary and non-monetary sanctions on UFO Moviez (with subsidiary Scrabble Digital) and Qube Cinema Technologies for violating Section 3(4) of the Competition Act.
Five Armed Forces personnel honoured with MacGregor Memorial Medal for 2023 and 2024
CDS General Anil Chauhan presented MacGregor Memorial Medals for 2023 and 2024 at the United Service Institution of India, New Delhi, on 16 April 2025, for contributions to military reconnaissance, exploration and adventure.
Jitendra Singh hails India's first indigenous hydrogen fuel cell inland waterway vessel, backed by CSIR research
Science Minister Jitendra Singh, reviewing CSIR on 16 April 2025, hailed India's first indigenous green hydrogen fuel cell inland waterway vessel, built by Cochin Shipyard with a KPIT fuel-cell drivetrain drawing on CSIR's foundational work.
PM Vishwakarma–National SC-ST Hub Conclave held at Baripada, Odisha
The MSME Ministry held the PM Vishwakarma–National SC-ST Hub Conclave at Baripada, Mayurbhanj, Odisha, on 16 April 2025, co-chaired by Union MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
In a first, ECI trains Booth Level Agents of political parties, starting with Bihar
The Election Commission of India began its first-ever training for Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of political parties on 16 April 2025, with about 280 BLAs from Bihar of 10 recognised parties at IIIDEM, New Delhi.
Karad in Maharashtra sets benchmark in sanitary waste management
Karad, a city in Maharashtra's Satara district, achieves 100% segregation, collection and processing of sanitary and biomedical waste, the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said on 16 April 2025.
MoS Savitri Thakur reviews women and child schemes in East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya
Union MoS for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur reviewed flagship schemes in East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, on 16 April 2025, visiting the One Stop Centre 'Shakti Sadan' at Mawroh and an Anganwadi centre at Mawsmai.
Six judicial officers appointed Judges of the Allahabad High Court
The President, after consulting the Chief Justice of India, appointed six judicial officers as Judges of the Allahabad High Court by a notification dated 16 April 2025.
Tue, 15 Apr 2025
IMD forecasts above-normal 2025 southwest monsoon at 105% of LPA
The India Meteorological Department's first-stage forecast, issued on 15 April 2025, says the June–September 2025 southwest monsoon rainfall is most likely to be above normal at 105% of the Long Period Average, with a model error of ±5%.
WPI inflation eases to 2.05% in March 2025
Annual inflation based on the all-India Wholesale Price Index was 2.05% (provisional) in March 2025, down from 2.38% in February, the Commerce Ministry said on 15 April 2025.
JP Nadda presides over AIIMS Rishikesh's 5th convocation; 434 students get degrees
Union Health Minister JP Nadda presided over the fifth convocation of AIIMS Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, on 15 April 2025, where 434 students were awarded degrees.
First state-level Himachal Day function held in Pangi valley; Pangi to be first natural farming sub-division
Himachal Pradesh held its state-level Himachal Day function at Killar in the remote Pangi valley of Chamba district for the first time on 15 April 2025, where CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu declared Pangi the state's first natural farming sub-division.
IREDA posts highest-ever annual profit of ₹1,699 crore for 2024-25
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) reported its highest-ever annual profit after tax of ₹1,699 crore for 2024-25, up 36%, and became the first PSU and first company in the NBFC and banking sector to publish audited results within 15 days, the MNRE said on 15 April 2025.
28 blocks awarded under OALP Round-IX; Special DSF Round-IV launched
At the OALP Round-IX and Special Discovered Small Field signing ceremony on 15 April 2025, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said 28 blocks across eight sedimentary basins covering 1.36 lakh sq km had been awarded.
Labour Ministry signs MoU with Swiggy to list gig and logistics jobs on National Career Service portal
The Ministry of Labour & Employment signed an MoU with Swiggy on 15 April 2025 to link gig and logistics jobs to the National Career Service (NCS) portal, with Swiggy aiming to mobilise over 12 lakh job opportunities in 2–3 years.
Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approves ordinance for sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on 15 April 2025 approved issuing an ordinance to sub-categorise the state's 59 Scheduled Castes into three groups for reservation, along with the AP Minor Mineral Policy 2025.
DRI seizes 7.56 kg cocaine worth about ₹75.6 crore at IGI Airport
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence intercepted an Indian woman arriving from Dubai at IGI Airport, New Delhi, and recovered 7.56 kg of cocaine worth about ₹75.6 crore hidden in handbags, the Finance Ministry said on 15 April 2025.
Sixth National Highways Excellence Awards (2023) presented at Bharat Mandapam
The sixth edition of the National Highways Excellence Awards 2023 was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, in the presence of Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, the ministry said on 15 April 2025.
Mon, 14 Apr 2025
PM lays foundation of 800 MW Yamunanagar thermal unit, opens Rewari Bypass
In Yamunanagar, Haryana, on 14 April 2025, PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of an 800 MW unit at the Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant and a compressed biogas plant at Mukarabpur, and inaugurated the ₹1,070 crore Rewari Bypass.
Telangana becomes first state to implement SC sub-categorisation
On 14 April 2025, Ambedkar Jayanti, Telangana published the Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservation) Act, 2025 in the state gazette and issued orders dividing Scheduled Castes into three groups within the 15% SC quota, becoming the first state to implement SC sub-categorisation.
135th Ambedkar Jayanti: President, Vice-President and PM pay floral tributes at Prerna Sthal
On 14 April 2025, the 135th birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Lok Sabha Speaker paid floral tributes at his statue at Prerna Sthal in the Parliament House lawns, at an event organised by the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation.