Current Affairs - April 22, 2025 Current Affairs

The 38th meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Archaeology (CABA) is being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Organized by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ministry of Culture, this event brings together experts and officials to discuss key issues and initiatives in the field of archaeology. The meeting reflects the ongoing efforts to preserve India’s rich cultural heritage and archaeological legacy. As the capital city and a hub for national institutions, New Delhi serves as a strategic and symbolic location for such high-level government gatherings.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off two new train services—Namo Bharat Rapid Rail and Amrit Bharat 2.0—from locations in Bihar. The Namo Bharat Rapid Rail will run from Jaynagar to Patna, while the Amrit Bharat 2.0 train will start from Saharsa Junction and travel to Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Maharashtra. Both events will be conducted via video conferencing from Madhubani, Bihar, emphasizing the state's central role in this major railway initiative. This highlights Bihar's growing significance in national infrastructure development under Indian Railways.

The 'Garia and Borsho Boron Utsav' 2025 was inaugurated at Swami Vivekananda Maidan in Agartala by Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha. This vibrant festival honours Garia Puja, which holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Tripuri and Reang communities. The celebration includes traditional music, dance, and a variety of cultural performances by indigenous artists, showcasing Tripura's diverse heritage. The choice of Agartala, the capital city of Tripura, highlights its role as a cultural hub and a centre for major state-level events, drawing attention to the importance of preserving and promoting tribal traditions.

On April 22, 2025, a terrorist attack occurred in Baisaran, a picturesque meadow near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in 26 fatalities and several injuries. The attack specifically targeted tourists during a high-travel period, sending shockwaves through the region’s tourism sector. Pahalgam, a vital node in Kashmir’s tourism economy and one of the routes for the Amarnath Yatra experienced a massive economic and emotional setback due to this act of violence. The incident raised serious questions about the effectiveness of security during peak tourist seasons and sparked renewed concerns about the stability and safety of the area.

The 'AI Careers for Women' initiative is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Microsoft, aiming to address gender disparity in the tech sector. This program targets 20,000 women from Tier-II and Tier-III towns across six Indian states, offering them a 240-hour AI-focused curriculum developed in alignment with industry standards. Implemented through a hub-and-spoke model, the initiative leverages 30 Centres of Excellence and 150 spoke centres to deliver the training. Microsoft’s involvement underscores its commitment to fostering diversity and empowering women with skills necessary for leadership and innovation in India’s digital economy.

Fire Safety Week 2025 is scheduled from April 21–25 and is a nationwide initiative led by the Union Health Department to enhance fire and electrical safety in healthcare settings. With support from all states, Union Territories, and central ministries, the campaign aims to raise awareness, conduct audits, and train healthcare personnel on emergency preparedness and patient evacuation. A pledge ceremony led by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava marked the official launch. The event emphasizes building a culture of safety across public and private health facilities, aiming to protect patients, staff, and visitors through proactive fire prevention strategies.

The Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran aerobatic team conducted a spectacular air show in Patna as part of the Valour Day Vijayotsav, paying tribute to Babu Kunwar Singh, a revered figure of the 1857 freedom movement. The event celebrated his bravery and legacy in Bhojpur, Bihar. Such commemorative events not only honour historical heroes but also serve to inspire patriotism and showcase the capabilities of India's armed forces. Bihar, being the birthplace and battlefield of Kunwar Singh’s revolutionary acts, was the fitting venue for this grand tribute.

The PoshanTracker application was honoured with the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2024, recognizing its innovative approach to promoting women and child nutrition. The award was presented to the Ministry of Women and Child Development during Civil Services Day. This recognition highlights the role of PoshanTracker as a key tool in the implementation of POSHAN 2.0 and Mission Saksham Anganwadi, both of which aim to strengthen nutrition and health delivery systems across the country. Its contribution to enhancing real-time monitoring and accountability within the nutrition mission was pivotal in securing this award.

The NSDC-PDEU Centre of Excellence was inaugurated in Gandhinagar by Jayant Chaudhary, highlighting a major step towards aligning educational efforts with emerging industry needs. This centre is focused on skill development in crucial sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing, smart technologies, and renewable energy. With over 40 online and hybrid courses planned, the initiative aims to equip youth with the expertise required in future-oriented industries. Gandhinagar, being a hub of educational and technological innovation in Gujarat, serves as a strategic location for launching such a forward-looking skill development centre.

Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited (AISATS), a joint venture involving Air India, inaugurated the AISATS BLR Logistics Park at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. With an investment of ₹200 crore, this park is now one of the largest on-airport logistics facilities in South India. Spread over eight acres, it is designed to enhance cargo handling capacity and streamline logistics operations within the airport. The initiative reflects Air India's strategic focus on expanding its role in aviation infrastructure and logistics services, supporting both domestic and international trade through enhanced supply chain efficiency.