NATIONAL NEWS

Madhya Pradesh Launches India’s First AI-Based Real-Time Forest Alert System

Madhya Pradesh becomes the first Indian state to launch an AI-based real-time forest monitoring system.

The system uses a combination of satellite data, AI algorithms, and mobile field reports to detect deforestation, land encroachment, and land use changes.

It is currently being piloted in five forest divisions: Shivpuri, Guna, Vidisha, Burhanpur, and Khandwa.

Real-Time Alerts is generated from satellite imagery and sent directly to forest officers for verification and rapid action.

AI and Machine Learning improve accuracy of alerts using ongoing feedback from ground teams.

Each notification includes GPS-tagged images, voice notes, and mobile app-based survey inputs.

It enables swift detection and prevention of illegal logging and encroachment, strengthening sustainable forest governance.

It is Powered by Google Earth Engine and customized AI models tailored to forest monitoring.

The initiative sets a national precedent for integrating tech-driven forest conservation strategies.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India To Provide $200 Loan To Angola

India has agreed to provide Angola with a $200 million line of credit (loan) to modernise its armed forces. This was announced during Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço’s visit to India on 3rd April 2025.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a $200 million loan to Angola to modernise its armed forces.

Angola will use the amount to buy defence equipment, transport vehicles, ammunition, and other assets from the Indian public and private sector defence companies.

Angola has also expressed interest in getting India's help in modernising and servicing Angolan Russian weapon systems, such as SU-30 fighter jets.

Three agreements and MoUs were signed between the two countries. These are:

Both countries are to cooperate in the Ayurveda field and other traditional medicine systems.

MoU in the field of Agriculture

Cooperation between the two countries in the field of Culture for the period 2025 -29, including a Youth Exchange Program to promote people-to-people ties.

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

PM Lay Foundation Stone Of DRDO's New Missile Testing Range

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Missile Test Range at Nagayalanka in Andhra Pradesh, worth around Rs 1,460 Crore..

Prime Minister, who was on a visit to Andhra Pradesh on 2 April 2025, also laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth over Rs 58,000 crore in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh.

He came to Andhra Pradesh after commissioning the country’s first transhipment and semi-automatic Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport in Kerala.

The new missile testing site will enable the DRDO to test Phase 2 BMD interceptors. Interceptor missiles destroy hostile incoming missiles in the air at a safe distance.

The new missile testing range will be capable of testing both short-range and long-range missiles.

13031. new missile range system will have two missile ranges placed well apart along the missile trajectory.

Missiles will be fired from one range, and an interceptor missile will fire from another range to intercept them.

 

BANKING

RBI Fines Bank Of Maharashtra, IDBI Bank, BOB, Axis Bank and ICICI Bank

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed fines and penalties on Bank of Maharashtra, IDBI Bank, Bank of Baroda (BoB), Axis Bank and ICICI Bank for non-compliance with the its guidelines and directives

During its periodic audit of these banks, the RBI found that they violated its various regulatory guidelines and directives.

The public sector bank, the Bank of Maharashtra, was fined Rs 31.8 lakh by the RBI.

The bank was found guilty of opening several savings bank accounts via Aadhaar OTP-based e-KYC (electronic know you customer) in non-face-to-face mode, without following prescribed regulatory requirements.

Another public sector lender, Bank of Baroda, was fined Rs 61.40 lakhs.

It failed to ensure that no non-cash incentive was paid to its staff engaged in insurance corporate agency services by an insurance company.

The private sector bank, the IDBI Bank, was fined Rs 31.80 lakh by the RBI.

The bank charged more interest rate than prescribed by the government on certain Kisan Credit Card (KCC) accounts.

India’s second-largest private sector bank, the ICICI Bank, was fined Rs 97.80 lakhs. ICICI failed to report a cybersecurity breach within the stipulated time.

India’s third-largest private sector Bank, the Axis Bank, was fined Rs 29.60 lakh.

It was found guilty of unauthorised or unrelated entries through certain internal or office accounts.

 

RANKS, INDICES & REPORTS

India Ranked 4th Largest Economy Globally in IMF’s April 2025 Outlook

According to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (April 2025), India has retained its position as the 4th largest economy in the world with a GDP of $4.39 trillion.
Despite a slight downward revision, India is projected to grow at 6.2% in 2025, maintaining its status as the fastest-growing major economy globally.

The United States remains the largest economy with a GDP of $30.34 trillion, followed by China ($19.53 trillion) and Germany ($4.92 trillion).

India ranks 4th, ahead of Japan ($4.27 trillion).

Growth is fueled by private consumption, particularly in rural areas.

India is expected to become the third-largest economy by 2030.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

AIFF Award 2024-25

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on 2nd May 2025 felicitated the winners of its annual award for the 2024-25 football season.

Subhasish Bose of the Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Soumya Guguloth of Telangana were respectively named the Men's and Women's Players of the Year 2024-25.

The award ceremony was held in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha on Kalinga Super Cup 2025 final between FC Goa and Jamshedpur FC in Bhubaneshwar.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant captain Subhasish Bose has become the seventh defender to win the AIFF Male Player award.

Under Subhasish Bose's captaincy, Mohun Bagan Super Giant became the second team after Mumbai City FC to win the Indian Super League (ISL) Winners' Shield and the ISL Cup in a season.

East Bengal’s Soumya Guguloth became the first player from Telangana to win the Women’s Player of the Year award. Soumya scored nine goals and helped her team win the Indian Women’s League title of 2024-25 season

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force

Air Marshal Narmedashwar Tiwari assumed the office of the Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force.

Air Marshal Tiwari succeeds Air Marshal Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar, who retired as Vice Chief of Air Staff on 30th April 2025.

Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the South Western Air Command before he assumed the office of the new Vice Chief of the Air Staff.

The appointment of Air Marshal Narmedshwar Tiwari is the second significant appointment in the defence sector by the central government after the appointment of Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command of the Indian Army.

Air Marshal Narmedashwar Tiwari was commissioned in the Indian Air Force as a Fighter Pilot in June 1986. He completed his schooling at the Rashtriya Indian Military College in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

He passed from the National Defence Academy, Kahdkwasla, Pune, Maharashtra with the President's Gold Medal in 1985. He is also a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, USA

Air Marshal Tiwari is a Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot.

N Saravana Kumar Appointed as Vice Chairman of Delhi Development Authority

Senior IAS officer N Saravana Kumar took charge as the Vice Chairman of Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on May 1, 2024.

He is expected to play a significant role in key DDA projects Kumar is a 2000-batch IAS officer from the Bihar cadre.

Prior to joining DDA, Kumar served as the Principal Secretary in Bihar’s Department of Food and Consumer Protection.

Kumar's leadership comes at a pivotal time as the Delhi Master Plan 2041 is being finalized, which will guide the capital’s development over the next two decades.

Chairman and Public Interest Director of NSE International Exchange

Neeraj Kumar Gupta, a former IAS officer, has been appointed as Chairman and Public Interest Director (PID) of NSE International Exchange (NSE IX).

The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has approved his appointment to the Governing Board of NSE IX, effective from April 1, 2025.

Neeraj Kumar Gupta retired as Secretary, Ministry of Finance (Department of Investment and Public Asset Management) in 2018.

He was re-appointed by the President of India as Central Information Commissioner of India and completed his tenure in 2023.

Revenue Secretary in the Ministry of Finance

Shri Arvind Shrivastava took charge as the Secretary of the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance on 18th April 2025.

His appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

He is a 1994-batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre.

Prior to this role, he served as Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

He served as Joint Secretary in the Budget Division of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.

He also served as Development Officer at the Asian Development Bank.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Press Freedom Day

World Press Freedom Day is observed every year on May 3.

The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) has declared May 3 as World Press Freedom Day.

This day is observed to raise awareness about the freedom of the press and uphold the right to freedom of expression.

This day is also a remembrance of journalists who lost their lives in the press.

On the recommendation of the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO’s General Conference, World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993.

May 3 acts as a reminder for the Governments to respect their commitments to press freedom.

This day is a reflection for media professionals on issues of press freedom and profession.

World Press Freedom Day is a support day for media persons who are involved in press freedom, Journalists, media, etc.