Bhutan is exploring ways to mine and leverage green cryptocurrencies using hydropower to boost its economy and create jobs to reduce brain drain.
Category: UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS
Green cryptocurrencies
India Sends Second Batch of BrahMos Missiles to the Philippines
India has dispatched a second tranche of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system to the Philippines, strengthening defense ties between the two nations.
India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, completes 50 years
India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, completed 50 years on 19th April. Launched on this day in 19th April 1975, the satellite was named after the ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer, Aryabhata.
Two cheetahs released into Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary
Two cheetahs, Prabhas and Pawak, moved to their new home as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav released them into the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary on 20 April 2025.
Exercise Desert Flag-10
A contingent of the Indian Air Force reached Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates to participate in Exercise Desert Flag-10, a premier multinational air combat exercise. Key Highlights
Paste fill technology
South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) is set to become the first coal PSU in India to adopt paste fill technology for coal mining—marking a major step toward sustainable and environmentally friendly mining practices. (Source: PIB)
Colossal squid caught on camera for the first time
A colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) has been filmed alive in its natural environment for the first time—100 years after the species was first discovered. The sighting was announced on April 16, 2025, by the Schmidt Ocean Institute. Colossal squids About Squids (Source: BBC)
Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD)
A study by the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, has requested the Union Environment Ministry to roll back its 2015 policy mandating all of India’s 537 coal-fired. The study was commissioned by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser. Key Recommendations: Current Scenario: Rationale Behind NIAS’s Recommendation: Environmental and Energy Impacts of FGD Installation: Alternative Focus Recommended: (Source: TH)
Coenzymes
Coenzymes are organic helper molecules that assist enzymes (proteins) in catalyzing reactions efficiently. Coenzyme Q (Ubiquinone) is one such coenzyme, made of several isoprene units, and acts as an antioxidant, providing cellular stability under stress. Types and Sources of Coenzyme Q: Biotechnology Insight: (Source: TH)
Signs of life on K2-18b!
A Cambridge team studying the atmosphere of a distant exoplanet called K2-18b has detected signs of molecules which on Earth are only produced by simple organisms. About K2-18b Atmospheric Clues: Why It’s Exciting: Caution Flags: (Source: BBC)
MacGregor Memorial Medal Award
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan felicitated four individuals from the Armed Forces for their outstanding contributions in the fields of military reconnaissance, exploration and adventure activities during the MacGregor Memorial Medal Award Ceremony held at the United Service Institution of India in New Delhi.
PEN-Plus Model
Over the past four years, twenty African countries have significantly expanded access to treatment for severe non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by implementing the PEN-Plus model, according to a new report highlighting progress in regional healthcare delivery.
150th anniversary of the BSE
On April 17, 2025, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman commended the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) for its remarkable technological strides and its enduring role in shaping India’s economic landscape. The remarks came during a grand celebration marking the 150th anniversary of the BSE, the oldest stock exchange in Asia. About BSE
Curiosity Mars rover found Siderite on the red planet
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has discovered a key mineral that may help solve one of the long-standing mysteries of the Red Planet: what happened to Mars’ thick, ancient atmosphere. The mineral, called siderite, could provide vital clues about how the Martian climate evolved and how the planet lost its ability to support surface water. Key Highlights Source: NASA
IISR Surya-a new light-coloured turmeric variety
The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode, has developed IISR Surya-a new light-coloured turmeric variety specifically for the masala industry. Key Highlights (Source: TH)