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Daily Current Affairs: 21 & 22 April 2025

Current affairs of 21 & 22 April 2025: WHO Pandemic Agreement Draft: PABS System and Equity Terms; India-US Trade Surplus $41.18 Billion: BTA Talks and Strategy; Vice-President’s Judiciary Remarks: Issues and Counterpoints, and 21 more topics. Key facts for every exam, with a quiz.

Take the quiz (15 questions)April 2025
24 TOPICSDaily CurrentAffairs21 & 22 April 2025In focus: WHO Pandemic Agreement Draft: PABS…safalsetu.com

In this issue: 24 topics

National Affairs

  1. Vice-President’s Judiciary Remarks: Issues and Counterpoints
  2. Dr. Mangi Lal Jat Takes Charge as DARE Secretary and ICAR DG

Banking & Finance

  1. RBI Lets Minors Aged 10+ Run Their Own Accounts
  2. RBI Final LCR Norms for Internet and Mobile Banking Deposits
  3. RBI Draft Export-Import Directions for Authorised Dealers
  4. RBI Draft Gold Loan Guidelines: Costs and Impact
  5. AIFs Seek More Time on SEBI NISM Certification Deadline
  6. National Pension Scheme: Tiers, Tax Benefits and Withdrawal Rules
  7. Mutual Fund Exposure to REITs and InvITs: ₹19,485 Crore
  8. SEBI Advisory on Social Media Securities Frauds: Tips
  9. BSE 150th Foundation Day: Coin, Logo and BSE 150 Index
  10. PB Pay Gets RBI In-Principle Nod as Payment Aggregator
  11. Bajaj Allianz Life Superwoman Term Plan for Women

Economy

  1. Sitharaman on Fiscal Deficit, Debt and the India-US Trade Deal
  2. India’s Creative Economy: Size, Exports and Policy Needs
  3. 12% Safeguard Duty on Steel Imports for 200 Days

International Affairs

  1. WHO Pandemic Agreement Draft: PABS System and Equity Terms
  2. India-US Trade Surplus $41.18 Billion: BTA Talks and Strategy

Agriculture & Rural

  1. BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meet: Land Restoration Partnership
  2. TERI Nano Sulphur for Mustard: Higher Yield and Oil
  3. Soil Health, Climate and Food Security: Organic Shift

Science & Technology

  1. ISRO SpaDeX: Second Satellite Docking Completed
  2. PFBR Kalpakkam and India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Programme

Environment & Ecology

  1. Two South African Cheetahs Released at Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

National Affairs

Polity & Governance

1. Vice-President’s Judiciary Remarks: Issues and Counterpoints

  • Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar raised concerns about judicial independence, inquiry transparency and judicial overreach.
  • He objected to Supreme Court timelines for the President and Governors to act on state Bills.
  • He urged revisiting Article 145(3), which needs five judges for Constitution Benches; the SC now has 34 judges versus 8 in 1950.
  • He criticised wide use of Article 142 as risking representative democracy.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Banking & Finance

Economy

4. RBI Final LCR Norms for Internet and Mobile Banking Deposits

  • RBI's final LCR norms take effect from April 1, 2026.
  • Additional run-off factor for internet and mobile banking (IMB) retail deposits is 2.5%, against 5% in the draft.
  • Run-off on deposits from non-financial entities such as trusts and partnerships is 40%, down from the proposed 100%.
  • Estimated 6% LCR improvement and about ₹3 trillion in lendable resources unlocked.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›
Economy

5. RBI Draft Export-Import Directions for Authorised Dealers

  • RBI issued a draft direction under the Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2025.
  • Authorised dealers must send references to RBI via the PRAVAAH platform and frame an internal policy within six months.
  • Exporters with proceeds unrealised for 24 months and above ₹25 crore may export only against full advance or irrevocable LC.
  • Merchanting trade remittance gap is raised to six months.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›
Economy

7. AIFs Seek More Time on SEBI NISM Certification Deadline

  • SEBI requires at least one key investment team member of each AIF to pass the NISM Series XIX-C exam.
  • The compliance deadline for existing AIF schemes is May 9, 2025; new registrations also need it.
  • Industry wants an extension and category-wise exams; SEBI has reportedly asked NISM to build separate tests.
  • AIF commitments touched ₹13.05 trillion by December 2024.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›
Banking & Finance

11. BSE 150th Foundation Day: Coin, Logo and BSE 150 Index

  • BSE marked its 150th Foundation Day in Mumbai on April 17, 2025; it was set up in 1875.
  • The Finance Minister launched a commemorative coin; the MoS Finance launched the BSE 150 Index of 150 scrips.
  • BSE began as the Native Share & Stock Brokers' Association and launched Sensex in 1986 at a base of 100.
  • It was the first Indian exchange with permanent recognition under the Securities Contracts Regulation Act.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Economy

Economy

14. Sitharaman on Fiscal Deficit, Debt and the India-US Trade Deal

  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the FY25 fiscal deficit target of 4.8% of GDP will be met and FY26 should fall below 4.5%.
  • Debt-to-GDP fell from 62% post-COVID to 57.4% in four years, with a goal of nearer 50% by 2030.
  • The first phase of a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the US is expected to be signed by fall 2025.
  • She cited progress in semiconductors, renewable energy, AI and digital infrastructure.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

International Affairs

Agriculture & Rural

Science & Technology

Environment & Ecology

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