A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake strikes central Myanmar, causing buildings to collapse hundreds of miles away in Thailand. Myanmar’s military junta declares an emergency across central areas, including Mandalay and the capital, Naypyidaw. In Thailand, the prime minister declares an emergency zone in Bangkok after the quake causes an under-construction high-rise to collapse, killing one person and injuring 50 others. Authorities rush to rescue dozens trapped under the rubble, while officials warn residents to stay cautious as many high-rise buildings sustain damage.
The National Statistics Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, has released its annual report, "Energy Statistics India 2025," highlighting a significant expansion in India's energy sector. According to the report, Total Primary Energy Supply (TPES) recorded a 7.8% growth in FY 2023-24 compared to the previous year, reaching 9,03,158 KToE. The data also reflects a steady rise in India's per-capita energy consumption, which has increased from 14,682 Mega Joule per person in FY 2014-15 to 18,410 Mega Joule per person in FY 2023-24, marking a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.55% over the past decade.The report further highlights improvements in electricity utilization efficiency, with transmission and distribution (T&D) losses dropping from 23% in FY 2014-15 to approximately 17% in FY 2023-24. This reduction signifies enhanced infrastructure and operational efficiency in the power sector.The findings underscore India's commitment to energy efficiency and economic growth, reflecting a stronger and more sustainable energy landscape for the future.
India is sending two more Indian Air Force aircraft with relief supplies to Myanmar as part of Operation Brahma, its earthquake relief mission. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, these aircraft will soon depart from Hindon Air Force Station. Earlier today, an Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft carrying 15 tonnes of urgent humanitarian aid landed in Yangon. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar shared on social media that a search-and-rescue team and a medical team are also on board. India launched Operation Brahma after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand yesterday. The aid package includes essential supplies like tents, blankets, sleeping bags, food packets, hygiene kits, generators, and kitchen sets. Medical supplies such as paracetamol, antibiotics, syringes, gloves, and bandages are also being sent to help those affected.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is taking part in Exercise INIOCHOS-25, a major multinational air exercise organized by the Hellenic Air Force. The IAF team includes Su-30 MKI fighter jets, along with IL-78 and C-17 aircraft for support.INIOCHOS is held every two years and brings together air forces from fifteen countries. It provides a platform to improve skills, share tactical knowledge, and build military cooperation. The exercise features realistic combat scenarios that test both air and surface assets in modern warfare situations. By joining INIOCHOS-25, the IAF aims to strengthen international cooperation, improve synergy, and enhance interoperability with other air forces.
ISRO is making progress in designing and developing a semi-cryogenic engine, also known as a Liquid Oxygen/Kerosene engine, with a high thrust of 2000 kN. This engine will power the semi-cryogenic booster stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle. A major breakthrough occurred when ISRO successfully conducted the first hot test of the Engine Power Head Test Article (PHTA) at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. This semi-cryogenic propulsion system uses non-toxic and non-hazardous propellants—Liquid Oxygen and Kerosene—offering better performance than the existing L110 stage. Combining the semi-cryogenic propulsion system with an upgraded cryogenic stage in LVM3 increases its payload capacity from 4 to 5 tonnes in GTO.
A recent faunal survey at Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala’s youngest protected area, has identified 63 new species, reinforcing its status as a biodiversity hotspot. Conducted by the Kerala Forest Department in collaboration with the Society for Tropical Ecology and Research (STEAR) Nilambur and Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS), the survey covered the 227.97 sq. km. sanctuary, part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Among the discoveries were 41 new odonate species, six butterflies, and 16 birds, including the Eurasian Sparrowhawk and White-rumped Vulture. The survey also recorded 141 moth species, four cicadas, 38 ant species, five bees, and four fish species. The findings highlight the sanctuary’s rich biodiversity and the need for continued conservation efforts.
Since the establishment of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC), the government has amended the IBC six times and the regulations 122 times in order to expedite the resolution process and guarantee that the IBC's provisions are properly implemented. In order to maximise the value of assets, the bankruptcy and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) aims to create a unified framework for corporate individuals, partnership companies, and corporate entities' reorganisation, bankruptcy resolution, and liquidation. In the Financial Year 2023-24, the IBC accounted for 48% of all bank recoveries, making it the most popular recovery route, followed by the SARFAESI Act (32%), Debt Recovery Tribunals (17%), and Lok Adalats (3%), according to the RBI Report.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has reported a significant rise in India’s adoption ecosystem for the Financial Year 2024-25, with a record 4,515 child adoptions—the highest in the past 12 years. Of these, 4,155 were domestic adoptions, highlighting the increasing acceptance of legal adoption in the country. Additionally, the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) added over 8,000 newly identified children to the adoption pool, expanding opportunities for children in need to find loving families. To further streamline the adoption process, the Ministry, in collaboration with state governments, established 245 new adoption agencies across the country.
Parliament passes the Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025, with the Lok Sabha approving it after the Rajya Sabha. The bill aims to protect interests in aircraft objects and implement the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and its Protocol on Aircraft Equipment, both signed in Cape Town in 2001. The Convention and Protocol establish uniform rights for high-value assets like aircraft, helicopters, and engines. The bill empowers the central government to frame rules for implementing these provisions and designates the Directorate General of Civil Aviation as the registry authority. The registry authority handles the registration and de-registration of aircraft.
India ranked 10th globally in private AI investments in 2023. According to the 2025 UNCTAD Technology and Innovation Report, India improved to 36th on the Readiness for Frontier Technologies Index in 2024, up from 48th in 2022. The report highlights India, China, Germany, the UK, and the US as AI scientific leaders. The US led AI investments with $67 billion (70% of the global total), followed by China at $7.8 billion. India secured the tenth spot with $1.4 billion in private AI investments.
The 14th edition of the bilateral Naval Exercise INDRA 2025 between the Indian and Russian Navies focused on enhancing interoperability to counter common maritime threats. The exercise featured complex manoeuvres and simulated engagements, showcasing joint combat capabilities. It strengthened operational coordination, promoted the exchange of best practices, and deepened mutual understanding of naval doctrines. Since its inception in 2003, the INDRA series has been a key pillar of India-Russia defence ties, reaffirming their shared commitment to maritime security, global peace, and stability.
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Israel’s Agriculture Minister, Avi Dichter, signed agreements in New Delhi to strengthen bilateral cooperation in agriculture. During the meeting, Mr. Chouhan emphasized the steady progress in the India-Israel partnership, noting the strong collaboration between the two countries in agriculture, innovation, water management, and technology. He pointed out that landholdings in India are generally small and highlighted the ongoing efforts under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership to enhance the profitability of farming for small-scale farmers.
China imposes a 125 per cent tariff on goods from the United States starting today. This follows US President Donald Trump’s move earlier this week to raise tariffs on Chinese goods to 145 per cent. Amid the ongoing trade war between the world’s two largest economies, China’s finance ministry says it will ignore any further action from the US, as the current tariff level makes US goods unacceptable in the Chinese market. Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping calls on the European Union to join China in standing against what he describes as unilateral bullying by the US. On the other hand, President Trump says he will impose reciprocal tariffs on countries that don’t reach an agreement with the US by July 9, when the 90-day pause ends. After a cabinet meeting, Trump states that if no fair deal is reached, the US will return to reciprocal tariffs.
The inaugural edition of the Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME)—a large-scale multilateral maritime exercise—will be held from 13th to 18th April 2025. The name AIKEYME, meaning ‘Unity’ in Sanskrit, reflects the spirit of collaboration. The exercise will see participation from Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa, along with the co-hosts, India and Tanzania. This initiative supports the vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR). As part of the preparations, INS Chennai (a destroyer) and INS Kesari (a Landing Ship Tank – Large) arrived in Dar-es-Salaam on 10th and 11th April 2025, respectively. The inaugural ceremony of AIKEYME will be co-hosted onboard these Indian Navy ships in collaboration with the Tanzanian People's Defence Force (TPDF).
India has emerged as the world’s second-largest silk producer and top consumer, with raw silk production increasing from 31.9 thousand MT in 2017–18 to 38.9 thousand MT in 2023–24. Producing all four major silk types—mulberry, tussar, eri, and muga—India supports sericulture through government schemes, institutional bodies like the Central Silk Board, and skill-building programs. Major silk-producing states include Karnataka, Assam, and Jharkhand. Export earnings reached ₹2,027.56 crore, reflecting the sector’s growth and global competitiveness.
The Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra have been inscribed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register — a prestigious initiative that safeguards documentary heritage of exceptional significance. This recognition honours historical texts, manuscripts, and documents that have shaped civilizations through the ages. The inclusion of the Gita and the Natyashastra is a proud global acknowledgment of India’s enduring wisdom and vibrant cultural legacy.
South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) is set to become the first coal PSU in India to implement paste fill technology in its mining operations—a significant move toward sustainable and eco-friendly mining practices. To roll out this advanced underground mining method, SECL has signed a ₹7,040 crore agreement with TMC Mineral Resources Private Limited. Paste filling involves backfilling mined-out voids with a specially formulated paste made from fly ash, crushed overburden from opencast mines, cement, water, and binding agents. This innovative technique eliminates the need for surface land acquisition, prevents land subsidence, and enhances the structural stability of underground mines.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated the first commercial sea shipment of Indian pomegranates from Maharashtra to the United States. According to a statement from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the initial sea consignment—comprising 4,620 boxes of the Bhagwa variety of pomegranates and weighing approximately 14 tons—arrived on the U.S. East Coast in the second week of March, within five weeks of departure. The Ministry hailed this development as a significant achievement in India’s fresh fruit export sector. Following the U.S. granting market access to Indian pomegranates during the 2023 season, APEDA, in coordination with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), and the National Research Centre for Pomegranate in Solapur, successfully carried out a trial air shipment of pomegranates to the U.S.