The General Assembly, in its resolution A/RES/65/271 of 7 April 2011, declared 12 April as the International Day of Human Space Flight “to celebrate each year at the international level the beginning of the space era for mankind, reaffirming the important contribution of space science and technology in achieving sustainable development goals.
12 April 1961 was the date of the first human space flight, carried out by Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet citizen. This historic event opened the way for space exploration for the benefit of all humanity. On 4 October 1957 the first human-made Earth satellite Sputnik I was launched into outer space, thus opening the way for space exploration.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the Release Trials of Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) ‘Gaurav’ between April 08-10, 2025 from the Su-30 MKI aircraft. During the trials, the weapon was integrated to multiple stations in different warhead configurations, with land target on Island.
The trials successfully demonstrated range close to 100 kms with pin-point accuracy. The system has been realised with the support of Development-cum-Production Partners - Adani Defence Systems & Technologies, Bharat Forge and various MSMEs.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO: - Dr Samir V Kamat
India hosted the 8th meeting of the AITIGA Joint Committee to review the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, from April 07 to 11, 2025. The event was conducted in a hybrid format. The next AITIGA JC meeting is scheduled for June 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The meeting saw participation from delegates representing ASEAN countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. ASEAN remains a pivotal trade partner for India, accounting for approximately 11% of India's global trade.
NITI Aayog has released an insightful report titled "Automotive Industry: Powering India’s Participation in Global Value Chains". In 2023, global automobile production reached approximately 94 million units. The global automotive components market was valued at USD 2 trillion, with the export share reaching approximately USD 700 billion.
India has emerged as the fourth-largest global producer after China, USA and Japan, with an annual production of nearly 6 million vehicles. India has a modest share (around 3%) in the global automotive component trade, which amounts to approximately $20 billion. NITI Aayog's vision for India’s automotive sector by 2030 is ambitious yet achievable.
The report envisions the country’s automotive component production growing to $145 billion, with exports tripling from $20 billion to $60 billion. This growth would lead to a trade surplus of approximately $25 billion and a significant increase in India’s share of the global automotive value chain, from 3% to 8%.
India’s outward foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments rose about 20 per cent to $5.81 billion in March 2025, up from $ 4.84 billion the same month last year. Sequentially, they rose marginally from $5.57 billion in February, according to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Outbound FDI, expressed as a financial commitment, has three components: equity, loans, and guarantees. Equity commitments fell to $ 2.49 billion in March, compared to $2.55 billion a year ago and $3.11 billion in February. Loan commitments increased more than three-fold to $2.10 billion in March, up from $ 617 million a year ago.
They were higher than the $1.14 billion committed in February. Guarantees for overseas units fell to $1.21 billion in March, from $1.67 billion a year ago and down from $1.31 billion in February, RBI data showed. According to RBI data the actual outward FDI in April 2024-January 2025 stood at $ 20.19 billion, up from $ 11.78 billion in April 2023-January 2024.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that it will conduct an open market operation auction on April 17 to purchase government securities worth Rs 40,000 crore. This auction comes in addition to the previously announced Rs 80,000 crore OMO programme, which is being conducted in four tranches of Rs 20,000 crore each on April 3, April 8, April 22, and April 29.
Additionally, the central bank will also conduct a long-term 43-day variable rate repo auction on the same day to infuse Rs 1.5 trillion into the banking system. The RBI has infused Rs 2.9 trillion via OMO auctions so far. It has also infused Rs 2 trillion via long-term variable rate repo (VRR) auctions.
State-owned NTPC Group looks to add 30,000 megawatt (MW) of new thermal capacity by 2031-32 under its revised capacity addition plans, according to an industry source. The company was earlier aiming to install 26,000 MW of fresh coal-based capacity by 2030-31.
NTPC has revised its plans for thermal capacity additions, adding another 4,000 MW capacity to the initial plan. The group now plans 30,000 MW of new thermal capacity by 2031-32, instead of 26,000 MW planned by 2030-31." For FY26, it has set a target to add 3,580 MW of thermal capacity, which is more than fivefold of the 660 MW coal-based capacity added in FY24.
According to the Group, its total installed and commercial capacity is at 80,020 MW, of this 62,854 MW is thermal, 6,511 MW liquid fuel-based capacity, 3,757 MW of hydro, 6,211.5 MW solar and 686 MW wind. In the renewable energy space, NTPC aims to have 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced that the state government would launch a new scheme to bolster milk production on April 14 and name it after Dr B R Ambedkar to mark his 134th birth anniversary. Madhya Pradesh's contribution to the national milk production is around 9 per cent.
Madhya Pradesh currently ranks third in milk production in the country, after Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. MP government has set a target to increase this to 20 per cent through cattle conservation.
The Karnataka government has signed a memorandum of understanding with European companies to start a pilot electric rapid transit (e-RT) project between Hubballi and Dharwad. A memorandum of understanding was signed with Hess AG, Hess India and SSB AG to start the pilot electric rapid transit project between Hubballi and Dharwad.
Insurance watchdog IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) fined e-commerce platform Flipkart Internet Private Limited (FILP) a whopping Rs 1.06 crore in its order dated April 07 for violating e-commerce norms in a matter related to online insurance distribution.
Flipkart Internet Private Limited, which was operating as a corporate agent and ISNP platform (Insurance Self-Network Platform) was found to be redirecting consumers towards the “Buy Insurance” section of the insurer intermediary who was advertising with them. As per IRDAI norms, ISNP platforms can only integrate with an insurer, and not another insurance intermediaries.
The Telangana government has launched a new scheme called ‘Rajiv Yuva Vikasam Scheme 2025’. Under this scheme eligible individuals who belong to the SC, ST, BC, Minority and EBC/EWS communities. The scheme is implemented through the respective corporations to enhance their economic self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship capabilities.
Under this scheme, eligible individuals can take concessional subsidised loans of up to Rs 4 lakh to start their own business.
OpenAI's ChatGPT has surged past Instagram and TikTok to become the world’s most downloaded app in March, according to analytics firm AppFigures. The app recorded an estimated 46 million downloads — edging past both Instagram and TikTok — driven by widespread user interest in its newly launched image generation feature.
Instagram matched ChatGPT’s overall figure but had a different split, with 5 million iOS downloads and 41 million on Android. TikTok followed closely with 45 million total downloads (8 million on iOS and 37 million on Android).