Period Covered: April 1, 2025 – April 30, 2025 Current Affairs.
Report Focus: Quantum Technology Breakthroughs, Monetary Policy Easing, and Judicial Reforms.
Target Audience: UPSC CSE (Pre/Mains), SSC CGL, RBI Grade B, and Defence Aspirants.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: THE APRIL PIVOT
April 2025 was a month of high-velocity shifts in India’s strategic landscape. The nation marked a definitive entry into the elite quantum computing club with the unveiling of QpiAI-Indus, India’s first full-stack superconducting quantum computer. Economically, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) continued its accommodative stance, cutting the repo rate to 6.00% to spur consumption. In the judicial arena, the appointment of Justice B.R. Gavai as the 52nd Chief Justice of India marked a new chapter in the Supreme Court’s leadership. Culturally, the 71st National Film Awards celebrated cinema with 12th Fail and Shah Rukh Khan taking top honors.
SECTION 1: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & DEFENCE
Domain: Advanced Computing & Space Strategy | Relevance: GS-III
1.1 World Quantum Day: India’s “Quantum Leap”
Event: On April 14, 2025 (World Quantum Day), Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup QpiAI unveiled QpiAI-Indus.
| Feature | Details & Significance |
|---|---|
| Device Name | QpiAI-Indus |
| Capacity | 25-Qubit (Superconducting Quantum Computer) |
| Integration | First full-stack system integrating quantum hardware, control electronics, and software within India. |
| Strategic Goal | Developed under the National Quantum Mission to provide domestic researchers with hands-on access to quantum computing, reducing reliance on foreign cloud-based quantum services. |
1.2 Space Diplomacy: Artemis Accords
- Development: Bangladesh became the 54th country to sign the Artemis Accords in April 2025.
- Context: The Accords are a US-led framework for civil space exploration, establishing norms for lunar and Martian activity. This signifies Bangladesh’s growing ambition in space following its Bangabandhu satellite program.
1.3 Defence Modernization: Parivartan Chintan
Event: The Parivartan Chintan Tri-Service Conference was held in New Delhi.
- Theme: “Future Ready”.
- Objective: To generate novel ideas and initiatives for the armed forces, focusing on jointness, integration, and preparing for future warfare scenarios involving cyber and space domains.
- New Infrastructure: The CISF Regional Training Center in Thakkolam, Tamil Nadu, was named after the Chola warrior Rajaditya Chola, emphasizing India’s martial history.
SECTION 2: ECONOMY & BANKING
Domain: Monetary Policy & Infrastructure | Relevance: GS-III, Banking Exams
2.1 RBI Monetary Policy (April 2025)
Action: The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) continued its easing cycle on April 9, 2025.
| Indicator | New Rate / Value | Impact Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| Repo Rate | 6.00% | Reduced by 25 basis points (from 6.25% in Feb). Aimed at reviving momentum in real estate and MSME investments. |
| Policy Stance | Accommodative | Signaling support for growth amidst easing inflation. |
| Digital Mandate | Bank.in | RBI set a deadline of October 31, 2025, for all banks to transition digital operations to the ‘bank.in’ domain to enhance cybersecurity and trust. |
2.2 “One State, One RRB” Policy
- Policy Discussion: The government advanced the “One State, One RRB” policy discourse in April 2025.
- Objective: To amalgamate various Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) within a state into a single entity to optimize overhead costs, improve technology adoption, and streamline rural credit delivery.
2.3 Energy & Industry
- Nuclear Power: Rawatbhata Atomic Power Project (RAPP) Unit 7 commenced commercial operations on April 15, 2025. This is a significant addition to India’s baseload clean energy capacity.
- Green Hydrogen: The Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme was formalized to standardize low-carbon hydrogen production, crucial for India’s export ambitions in green fuels.
SECTION 3: POLITY & GOVERNANCE
Domain: Constitution & Schemes | Relevance: GS-II
3.1 5th Anniversary of SVAMITVA Scheme
Observance: April 2025 marked 5 years of the SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme.
- Impact: The scheme has revolutionized rural property rights by using drones to map land parcels and issuing “Property Cards” to villagers.
- Outcome: This has reduced property disputes and enabled villagers to use their property as a financial asset for loans.
3.2 Landmark Supreme Court Ruling: Arbitral Awards
Judgement: On April 30, 2025, a five-judge Constitution Bench delivered a verdict in Gayatri Balasamy v. ISG Novasoft Technologies Ltd.
- Ruling: Courts possess a limited power to modify arbitral awards under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act.
- Nuance: While courts cannot rewrite the award, they can modify it under the doctrine of “severability” (separating the valid part from the invalid) or correct computational/clerical errors. This settled a long-standing debate on whether courts could only “set aside” or also “modify” awards.
SECTION 4: AWARDS & HONOURS
Domain: Culture & Sports | Relevance: SSC, Banking, State PSC
4.1 71st National Film Awards (Announced/Conferred context)
| Category | Winner / Film | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Best Feature Film | 12th Fail | Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra; hailed for its inspirational narrative. |
| Best Actor | Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan) & Vikrant Massey (12th Fail) | Shared award acknowledging both mass appeal and critical performance. |
| Best Actress | (Contextual data implied) | – |
| Dadasaheb Phalke Award | (Contextual data implied) | Highest honour in Indian Cinema. |
4.2 Wisden Cricketers of the Year (2024 Performance)
Announcement: April 22, 2025.
- Leading Cricketer in the World: Jasprit Bumrah.
- Leading Woman Cricketer: Smriti Mandhana.
- Significance: Reaffirms India’s dominance in global cricket across genders.
4.3 World Press Photo of the Year 2025
- Winner: Samar Abu Elouf (Palestinian photographer).
- Context: Awarded for documenting the humanitarian crisis and conflict zones with poignant visual storytelling.
SECTION 5: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Domain: Diplomacy | Relevance: GS-II
- Diplomatic Milestones: India marked 75 years of diplomatic relations with China and 25 years of strategic partnership with Russia. These anniversaries were observed amidst complex geopolitical dynamics.
- 6th BIMSTEC Summit: Focused on regional connectivity, maritime security, and the role of the Indian diaspora in Bay of Bengal diplomacy.
- Artemis Accords Expansion: Bangladesh joining as the 54th signatory signals a shift in South Asian space policy towards US-led norms.
SECTION 6: APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Domain: Persons in News | Relevance: All Exams
| Appointee | New Designation | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Justice B.R. Gavai | 52nd Chief Justice of India | Appointed in April 2025; succeeded Justice Sanjiv Khanna. |
| Poonam Gupta | Deputy Governor, RBI | Replaced Michael Patra. First woman in recent times to hold this specific portfolio. |
| Vineet Joshi | Chairperson (Acting), UGC | Taking charge of the University Grants Commission. |
SECTION 7: IMPORTANT DAYS (APRIL 2025)
Domain: General Awareness
- April 13: Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Day (Observed to remember the 1919 tragedy).
- April 14: Ambedkar Jayanti (Birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar).
- April 14: World Quantum Day (Marked by the launch of QpiAI-Indus in India).
- April 21: Civil Services Day.
- April 24: National Panchayati Raj Day (5th Anniversary of SVAMITVA noted).
RAPID FIRE EXAMINATION BANK (APRIL 2025)
Q1. Which Indian film won the Best Feature Film award at the 71st National Film Awards?
A. Jawan
B. 12th Fail
C. RRR
D. Animal
Answer: (B) 12th Fail
Q2. QpiAI-Indus, India’s first full-stack superconducting quantum computer, has a capacity of how many qubits?
A. 10-Qubit
B. 25-Qubit
C. 50-Qubit
D. 100-Qubit
Answer: (B) 25-Qubit
Q3. Who was appointed as the 52nd Chief Justice of India in April 2025?
A. Justice Surya Kant
B. Justice B.R. Gavai
C. Justice Sanjiv Khanna
D. Justice Vikram Nath
Answer: (B) Justice B.R. Gavai
Q4. Bangladesh became the 54th signatory to which space agreement in April 2025?
A. Moon Treaty
B. Artemis Accords
C. Outer Space Treaty
D. Gateway Memorandum
Answer: (B) Artemis Accords
Q5. The RBI set a deadline of October 31, 2025, for all banks to transition to which domain?
A. bank.gov.in
B. bank.org
C. bank.in
D. bank.com
Answer: (C) bank.in
