Global Perspectives: Highlights from April 3, 2025

Summary of Recent Current Affairs (April 3, 2025)

This summary provides key updates from significant events reported on April 3, 2025, encompassing a range of topics important for competitive exams like Banking, SSC, UPSC, and more.

National Affairs

1. Sagarmala Programme: The Sagarmala Programme, initiated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways in March 2015, has completed ten years. The initiative aims to enhance port-led development in India’s 7,500 km coastline and 14,500 km of navigable waterways. It targets making India a leading maritime hub by 2047 with various ambitious goals, including achieving 4 million Gross Tonnage in shipbuilding by 2047.

2. ZooWIN Portal: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the ‘ZooWIN’ portal to monitor the availability of Anti-Rabies Vaccines (ARV) and Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) in real-time. This digital platform aids in preventing shortages and is part of broader efforts to address snakebite and rabies deaths across India.

3. 90th Anniversary of RBI: President Droupadi Murmu released a commemorative stamp to honor the Reserve Bank of India’s 90th anniversary, highlighting its role in maintaining economic stability and growth.

4. NITI NCAER States Economic Forum: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated a portal aimed at providing data on various socio-economic parameters across Indian states, developed by NITI Aayog and NCAER.

International Affairs

1. Forbes Billionaires List: Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg topped the 2025 Forbes list of the world’s billionaires, with Musk’s net worth at $342 billion, followed by Zuckerberg at $216 billion. The list features 3,028 billionaires, reflecting significant wealth accumulation.

2. India-Nepal Agreements: India and Nepal signed Memoranda of Understanding for funding ten community development projects focusing on education, health, and culture under a grant assistance of NRs. 625 million by the Indian government.

Banking and Finance

1. Fed StarBiz Credit Card: Federal Bank, in partnership with NPCI and Visa, launched the Fed StarBiz Credit Card tailored for SMEs. This product aims to streamline business transactions with enhanced security features.

2. Moody’s Economic Projection: Moody’s reported that India’s GDP growth for FY26 is projected at 6.5%, making it the highest among G-20 nations, despite a slight decrease from the previous year’s 6.7% growth.

Technology

1. AI Centers of Excellence: The Government of Maharashtra partnered with Microsoft to establish three AI Centers of Excellence aimed at enhancing governance and law enforcement using AI.

2. Satellite Communications: Dhruva Space collaborated with Infostellar to improve satellite communications, focusing on integrating ground station technology.

Appointments and Resignations

1. Leadership Changes: Subhash Chander Ralhan was appointed President of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), while Sivasubramanian Ramann was appointed Chairman of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). Additionally, economist Poonam Gupta became the new Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.

Additional Highlights

1. Vandana Katariya Retires: The Indian hockey player announced her retirement, marking the end of a notable career that contributed significantly to the sport.

2. World Autism Awareness Day: Celebrated on April 2nd, with the theme focusing on advancing neurodiversity, reinforcing global commitments to inclusion and support for individuals with autism.

3. Assam’s Women Empowerment Initiative: The ‘Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan’ was launched to promote entrepreneurship among women in Assam, offering structured financial assistance to empower women economically.

This overview captures the key events and initiatives that shape the current landscape in India and are crucial for various competitive examination preparations.

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