Current Affairs - April 23, 2025 Current Affairs

India imposed a 12% safeguard duty on steel imports specifically in response to fears of dumping linked to China. This action was taken after high U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods led to a surge in steel imports into India, raising concerns about market disruption and injury to the domestic steel sector. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies found evidence that supported these concerns, prompting the protective measure. The goal of the duty is to shield Indian manufacturers from unfair pricing practices and maintain stability in the domestic steel industry.

Achyuta Samanta, the founder of KIIT and KISS, received the 2025 Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma Award for his lifelong dedication to education and societal development, particularly for underprivileged and tribal communities. The award, presented in Kokrajhar, Assam, by the Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma Trust, recognizes individuals making exceptional contributions to social upliftment. Samanta’s work has empowered thousands through free education, housing, and healthcare. In a notable gesture of generosity, he donated the Rs 1 lakh prize money back to the Trust. His commitment reflects the values of Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma, a spiritual leader and reformer known as the “Mech Gandhi of Assam.”

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has updated its Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) framework to improve liquidity risk management and better align with global banking standards. A key revision includes the imposition of a 2.5% additional run-off factor on retail deposits enabled through digital platforms such as Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, and UPI. This percentage reflects the estimated portion of deposits that might be withdrawn during a period of financial stress, prompting banks to hold sufficient high-quality liquid assets. Initially, the draft guidelines proposed a 5% run-off, but after industry feedback, the final figure was reduced to 2.5%, offering relief to banks.

India nominated Ms M. Revathi, who currently serves as Joint Wireless Advisor at the Department of Telecommunications, for the position of Director at the International Telecommunication Union's Radiocommunication Bureau. With a distinguished career spanning over 30 years, her nomination is not only significant in terms of her professional experience but also historic. If elected, she would become the first woman and the first individual from ITU Regions E and D to assume this prestigious leadership role in the Bureau, marking a milestone in gender and regional representation within the ITU.

The ‘Garia and Borsho Boron Utsav 2025’ was inaugurated in the state of Tripura by its Chief Minister, Manik Saha. Held in Agartala at Swami Vivekananda Maidan, this two-day cultural event celebrates the traditions of the Tripuri and Reang communities. Central to the festival is the Garia Puja, a spiritual ritual dedicated to Lord Shiva (Mahadev), which holds immense cultural importance among Tripura’s indigenous population. The event features traditional dances, folk music, and other artistic expressions that showcase the state's cultural vibrancy. Prominent political leaders and community members participated, reflecting the significance of the celebration in preserving regional heritage.

The 2025 Yashraj Bharti Samman Awards were presented in Maharashtra by Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, recognizing outstanding grassroots contributions in healthcare, education, and governance. The event took place in Mumbai and honoured organizations such as Jan Swasthya Sahayog, Pratham Education Foundation, and the Services Plus platform by NIC. The ceremony celebrated efforts that have created a sustainable impact at the community level, particularly in underserved areas. With dignitaries like former Assembly Speaker Dilip Walse Patil and G-20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant in attendance, the event underscored Maharashtra's role in promoting initiatives that foster inclusive development and acknowledge social change agents.

India’s Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system has been a transformative reform in the field of welfare and subsidy delivery. Launched to curb leakages and increase the effectiveness of government spending, the DBT mechanism has helped ensure that subsidies directly reach the intended beneficiaries. Between 2009 and 2024, it led to cumulative savings of ₹3.48 lakh crore. The number of beneficiaries also increased 16-fold during this period, reflecting its broad impact. The system reduced subsidy expenditure from 16% to 9% of total government spending and introduced the Welfare Efficiency Index (WEI) to track performance, establishing India as a global leader in welfare digitization.

In March 2025, India’s core infrastructure sector output recorded a year-on-year growth of 3.8%, showing a marginal rise from the 3.4% growth in February 2025. This growth was primarily fueled by a sharp increase in electricity generation, spurred by early summer conditions and widespread heat waves. The core sector includes eight major industries that account for over 40% of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). While this growth was lower than the 6.3% seen in March 2024, it still reflects positive momentum, especially in the power, steel, and cement sectors, supported by higher government and private sector investments in infrastructure.

China hosted a groundbreaking event where humanoid robots raced alongside human participants in the Yizhuang half-marathon held in Beijing. A total of 21 robots from companies such as DroidUP and Noetix Robotics took part in the 21 km race. One of the standout performances came from a robot named Tiangong Ultra, which completed the marathon in 2 hours and 40 minutes. While the robots couldn’t match the human winner’s time of 1 hour and 2 minutes, the event showcased China's strides in robotics and artificial intelligence, highlighting the integration of technology into public and sporting events.

The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) was signed in the year 1960 under the mediation of the World Bank, marking a rare example of cooperation between India and Pakistan despite their otherwise strained relations. The treaty allocated specific rivers from the Indus basin to each country and established mechanisms for information sharing, conflict resolution, and joint oversight. Its termination in recent developments underscores a dramatic shift in India's diplomatic and strategic approach. Ending such a long-standing agreement not only disrupts regional water cooperation but also signals India's intent to assert hydro-sovereignty amid growing tensions with Pakistan.