The Tamil Nadu state government has established a Moringa (drumstick) Export Facilitation Centre in Madurai. Key Highlights (Source: BL)
Category: Current Affairs
Moringa (drumstick) Export Facilitation Centre
6th BIMSTEC Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 4 presented a comprehensive 21-point action plan during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. About BIMSTEC Significance (Sources: Indian Express and DD News)
Heard and McDonald Islands
The Trump administration’s imposition of tariffs on Australian external territories like Heard and McDonald Islands, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island (10%), and Norfolk Island (29%) seems largely symbolic, especially for places like Heard and McDonald, which have no residents and no exports to speak of. Heard and McDonald Islands: Norfolk Island Exception: (Sources: BBC and UNESCO)
Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha on April 3 after a 12-hour-long debate, with 288 members voting in favor and 232 against. Rajya Sabha also passed the bill on April 4, 2025. What is Waqf? Key Highlights of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025: 🔹 Modernisation & Transparency 🔹 Curbing Misuse 🔹 Inclusive Representation 🔹 Empowerment of Women Judicial Reforms Administrative Reforms Repeal of Obsolete Law
HANSA-3(NG) trainer aircraft
Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on April 4 officially launched indigenous “Trainer Aircraft” technology for Commercial Pilot Licensing (CPL) and also announced the decision to involve the private sector to collaborate in the manufacture of this aircraft. Key Highlights (Source: PIB)
Kannadippaya gets GI Tag
Kannadippaya has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag ensuring market protection and a global platform for this traditional product. Key Highlights (Source: TH)
Pope’s pit viper
A new study has uncoded the mysteries of how the venom of Pope’s pit viper, a snake species native to northern and northeastern parts of India, works. Key Highlights (Source: PIB)
Seaweed and its uses
According to the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, the $5.6 billion global seaweed industry is on the rise — and India is making waves in this space. Key Goals & Achievements: What is Seaweed? Seaweed is a marine plant that: Seaweed & Agriculture: Global Context: (Source: PIB)
Trump announcs reciprocal tariffs
On April 2, 2025 the US President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on imports from about 90 nations that are above a 10% across-the-board tax applied to all imports to the U.S. Key Highlights India-US Trade (Source: TH)
Baku to Belem Roadmap
India has vociferously advocated the need for a Collective Leadership for advancing the 2030 Climate Agenda at the 11th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting, held in Brasilia, Brazil, on April 3, 2025. Key Highlights (Source: PIB)
Ramakien mural paintings
Recently, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi highlighted the release of iStamp depicting Ramakien mural paintings by Thai Government. (Sources: PIB, )
Warangal Chapata chilli gets GI Tag
The Warangal Chapata chilli from Telangana has been granted the Geographical Indication tag by the GI Registry, government of India on March 28. Key Highlights (Source: TH)
Lok Sabha: 200 MPs Participate in Record-Breaking Zero Hour
Lok Sabha on April 3, 2025 made a record when the Zero Hour lasted for more than five hours and a whopping 202 MPs spoke. Earlier, on July 18, 2019, 161 MPs had spoken during the extended Zero Hour. About Zero Hour (Source: TH & SANSAD)
Hungary withdraws from International Criminal Court
Hungary, a founding member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), is now set to become the first European Union nation to withdraw from the court. The withdrawal announcement coincides with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently under an ICC arrest warrant. This timing may suggest a strategic diplomatic alignment or signal a broader political message. Political and Legal Implications
Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200)
The concept design of the lead unit of Bharat Small Modular Reactor 200 MWe has been completed, which includes sizing of the nuclear reactor alongwith the primary heat transport system, Minister of State for the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh said in a written response to a query in Lok Sabha. (Sources: PIB & BL)