National News

52nd Chief Justice of India Appointed

• Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, a judge of the Supreme Court, has been appointed as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI).
• His tenure will begin from 14th May 2025.

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Tax Exemption Granted to National Mission for Clean Ganga

• The Ministry of Finance has granted tax-exempt status to the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
• The notification also states that NMCG, the implementing body of the government’s flagship Namami Gange programme, is now recognized as an authority constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG):

New Placement Record by IIT-ISM Dhanbad

• IIT-ISM Dhanbad has set a new record in placements this year.
• In the 2025 placement session, a total of 1,622 students participated, out of which 985 students were placed, reflecting a placement rate of approximately 60.73%.

Key statistics:

India's First Certified Green Municipal Bond Issued

• Under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban, the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation successfully issued the country’s first certified green municipal bond on 29th April 2025.

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International News

Foreign Office Consultations Held Between India and Jordan

• Foreign Office Consultations (FoC) between India and Jordan were held in Amman on 29th April 2025.
• The meeting was co-chaired by Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (CPV & OIA), and Majid T. Qatarneh, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan.

Jordan:

General Elections in Trinidad and Tobago

• In the general elections held in Trinidad and Tobago on 28th April 2025, the United National Congress (UNC) secured a majority, paving the way for Kamla Persad-Bissessar to become the Prime Minister of the country for the second time.

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Economy and Banking

Launch of Green Hydrogen Certification Initiative (GHCI)

• Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Initiative (GHCI) on 29th April 2025.
• This initiative, under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, will ensure transparency and standardization in the production of green hydrogen.

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RBI Directs Increased Availability of ₹100 and ₹200 Notes

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed banks and White Label ATM Operators (WLAOs) to increase the availability of ₹100 and ₹200 denomination notes starting from 1st May 2025.
• This decision aims to meet the rising demand for lower denomination currency and to facilitate smoother cash management.

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Art and Culture

42-Foot Tall Flag Mast Installed at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple

• A 42-foot tall flag mast was ceremoniously installed atop the main spire of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.
• The installation was completed on 29th April 2025, on the auspicious occasion of Vaishakh Shukla Dwitiya (Parashurama Jayanti).

Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Ayodhya:

Person In News

Professor Sunny Thomas Passes Away

• Former national shooting coach and Dronacharya Award recipient, Professor Sunny Thomas, passed away in Uzhavoor, Kottayam (Kerala).

Dadasaheb Phalke's 155th Birth Anniversary Celebrated

• On 30th April 2025, India celebrated the 155th birth anniversary of legendary filmmaker Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (Dadasaheb Phalke).
• He is regarded as the Father of Indian Cinema.

Biography:

Sports News

2026 Asian Games

• The 2026 Asian Games will be held in Japan's Aichi Prefecture and its capital Nagoya from 19 September to 4 October, with cricket retained while mixed martial arts (MMA) will be included in the competition for the first time.

Asian Games:

Science And Technology

Outbreak of ASF in Mizoram

• According to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Mizoram, the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) has resulted in the death of over 3,050 pigs across four districts of Mizoram.

African Swine Fever (ASF):

SBaaS Initiative Launched

• ISRO's commercial arm, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), has launched the Satellite Bus as a Service (SBaaS) initiative to promote private sector participation in satellite development.
• The program aims to create modular small satellite platforms designed by Indian Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs) for hosting payload applications.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):

Amazon's First Internet Satellite Launched

• E-commerce company Amazon has launched its first internet satellite.
• On 27th April 2025, Amazon successfully placed 27 internet satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) under its Project Kuiper, using United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket.