NATIONAL NEWS

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Launches 'Mahila Samvad' Campaign

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has launched the Mahila Samvad campaign—an ambitious, statewide drive to connect women with welfare schemes and elevates their voices in governance.

Focusing especially on rural women, the initiative creates a two way communication channel between citizens and officials.

Campaign Objectives include

Educate women on government welfare schemes for healthcare, education, livelihood, and social protection.

Encourage active utilisation of public resources to improve socioeconomic status.

Facilitate direct dialogue between women and government authorities to address grievances and suggestions.

Collect feedback from women to shape future policies and enhance inclusive governance.

BANKING

Zepto Renames Parent Entity Kiranakart Tech

Zepto, a quick-commerce startup, is changing its parent company’s name from Kiranakart Technologies Private Limited to Zepto Private Limited.

The name change has been approved by the Registrar of Companies (RoC) in Mumbai.

This change comes ahead of Zepto's potential stock market debut.

In India, a legal name change requires shareholder approval, followed by RoC filings and clearance from the central government.

This move mirrors competitors like Swiggy (changed from Bundl Technologies to Swiggy Private Limited) and Zomato (changed to Eternal Limited) ahead of their IPOs.

Zepto's name change aims to align its corporate identity with its consumer-facing brand, enhancing brand recognition and simplifying stakeholder engagement.

Zepto, founded in 2021, has become prominent in the 10-minute delivery segment and recently moved its headquarters from Singapore to India.

The company is reportedly preparing for an IPO in the near future.

Financial Intelligence Unit Imposes ₹37 Lakh Penalty on Union Bank Of India

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has slapped a Rs 37 lakh penalty on Union Bank of India for discrepancies in reporting suspicious transactions for 2011-2014.

Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) in its order dated April 15 imposed a penalty of Rs 37 lakh for "discrepancies observed in a matter for the year 2011 to 2014 in reporting of suspicious transactions".

In April 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

SIDBI Plans To Infuse $800 Million In Climate Fund For Small Businesses

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) will sign an agreement with the Green Climate Fund in mid-May to support small businesses in adopting low-emission and climate-resilient technologies.

The bank would infuse $800 million, a major portion of which will be raised to build a $1 billion fund, including the existing Global Climate Fund (GCF) for the project.

Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which the Economic Survey 2024-25 estimated to contribute about 30% of India’s GDP, are a significant emitter of greenhouse gases and vulnerable to extreme weather events.

The International Energy Agency projects India’s energy consumption to increase by 50% by 2030.

In July 2024, the GCF approved $215.6 million to implement Financing Mitigation and Adaptation Projects (FMAP) for Indian MSMEs.

The funding comprised $200 million to be offered at concessional rates, while the remaining $15.6 million is in grant support.

The programme is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of 35.3 million tonnes.

DEFENCE

IAF with Mig-29 and Jaguar Aircraft in UAE for Exercise Desert Flag-10

An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent with its MIG-29 and Jaguar fighter planes has landed at the Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.

The IAF will participate in the 10th edition of the multinational Exercise Desert Flag.

The three-week multinational Exercise Desert Flag-10 will take place from April 21 to May 8, 2025

The United Arab Emirates Air Force hosts the annual multinational Exercise Desert Flag.

The Exercise Desert Flag is a Red Flag-style exercise where exercises are conducted in multiple scenarios designed to provide realistic combat settings.

It aims to provide strategic training to the participating Air Force to operate with multiple countries and various types of aircraft, thereby building a cohesive fighting force.

The exercise will enhance the capability of participating Air Forces at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels, building upon the foundational knowledge and core competencies necessary for effective collaboration.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Vice President of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

Ajay Bhushan Pandey has been appointed as Vice President (Investment Solutions) at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

He will be based in Beijing and will oversee the institution’s sectors, themes, and finance solutions department, sustainability and fiduciary solutions department, and portfolio management department.

India is the second-largest shareholder of AIIB.

AIIB is a Beijing-headquartered multilateral development bank with a capital base of US$ 100 billion and is AAA-rated by major international credit rating agencies.

The bank aims to approve cumulative climate finance of US$ 50 billion by 2030.

Pandey holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota and a Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur.

He previously served as Finance Secretary to the Government of India and as Chairperson of the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA).

As CEO of UIDAI, he expanded Aadhaar to cover 2 billion Indians, which boosted financial inclusion and reduced leakages in welfare schemes.

He played a key role in implementing Aadhaar, UPI, GSTN, and the National Infrastructure Pipeline.

He was instrumental in launching the faceless assessment and appeal scheme in the Income Tax Department.

SPORTS

2025 World Sr. Squash Championships

Indian women's squash player Anahat Singh and Veer Chotrani have qualified for the 2025 PSA Senior World Squash Championships.

Anahat Singh will be the sole Indian woman player to represent India in the 2025 Senior World Squash Championship.

The PSA Senior World Squash Championships will be held in Chicago, United States of America, from May 9-17, 2025.

A qualifier event was held in the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur from 17 to 20 April 2025, to select one male and one female player from Asia for the 2025 PSA Senior World Squash Championships.

17-year-old Anahat Singh defeated Hong Kong’s Toby Tse 3-1 in the final of the Qualifier to book her place in the Chicago event. Anahat is the only Indian woman player who will represent India in the Chicago World Cup.

The other Indian women players, Tanvi Khanna, lost in the quarter-finals, while Akanksha Salunkhe lost her semifinal match against Hong Kong’s Toby Tse.

Veer Chotrani won the men’s final to qualify for the World Championship. In the final, he defeated Ameesha Raj Chandran of Malaysia 3-0.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Civil Service Day

Every year April 21st is celebrated as National Civil Service Day.

The National Civil Service Day is known as the spine of the administration of the country.

The civil service in India includes the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Foreign Service, and the central Group A and Group B services in the country.

In 1947 on 21st April Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, Home Minister of independent India addressed the Probationary Officers at the all-Indian Administrative Service Training School at Metcalfe House in New Delhi.

Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel delivered a powerful speech and empowered the civil servants to adopt the role of national service leaving behind the experience. In his speech, he referred to civil servants as the "Steel frame of India".

The first such function was held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 21st April 2006.

So, since 2006 it has been celebrated as National Civil Service Day on the 21st of April.

On this day the Prime Minister was awarded for excellence in public administration.