Apr 02, 2025 | Current Affairs for UPSC, State PCS & other Govt. Exams

On 1st April 2025, Shirley Botchwey (Ghana) assumed office as the 7th Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, becoming the first African woman to hold the position.

India's defence exports reached a record high of ₹23,622 crore in the financial year (FY) 2024-25, marking a 12.04% growth over the previous fiscal year, the Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on April 1, 2025.

The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, launched the "NITI NCAER States Economic Forum" portal on April 1, 2025, in New Delhi. Developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), the portal serves as a comprehensive repository of data on various social, economic, and fiscal parameters for states across India.

This initiative aims to facilitate a data-driven approach to informed policymaking, particularly in managing state finances. The portal contains data spanning over 30 years, from 1990-91 to 2022-23, offering valuable insights into state finances, revenue generation, debt management, and fiscal interventions.

In April 2025, the Kumbakonam betel leaf from Thanjavur and the Thovalai flower garland from Kanyakumari have been granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags by the Government of India. With this recognition, the total number of GI-tagged products from Tamil Nadu has reached 62.

IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation successfully completed the training of the first batch of Cyber Commandos on April 1, 2025.

The Cyber Commandos Programme, an initiative of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, aims to train officers in cutting-edge cybersecurity practices. The first batch of 37 law enforcement officers has successfully completed their training at IIT Madras.

Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, was honored with the Gold Mercury Award for Peace and Sustainability at a special ceremony held at his residence in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, on April 1, 2025.

The award was presented by Gold Mercury International, a globally recognized think tank dedicated to promoting peace, governance, and sustainable development.

In April 2025, N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, was appointed as a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director's Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth.

The Navika Sagar Parikrama II (NSP-II) expedition, undertaken by two Indian Navy women officers, Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A, has reached Cape Town, South Africa.

Flagged off on October 2, 2024, from Goa aboard the vessel INSV Tarini, the expedition aims to cover over 23,400 nautical miles (approximately 43,300 kilometers) in eight months, with a planned return in May 2025.