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.
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved an annual master plan for the River Cities Alliance (RCA), advancing sustainable urban river rejuvenation. Launched in 2021 by the Ministries of Jal Shakti and Housing & Urban Affairs, the RCA now includes 145 member cities. The plan outlines initiatives such as capacity-building programs, knowledge sharing, expert guidance, and technical tools to integrate river-sensitive planning into urban development. It aims to strengthen institutional capacities, foster inter-city collaboration, and support Urban River Management Plans (URMPs), marking a strategic push toward sustainable and resilient river-centric urban growth across India.
Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme Guidelines and an online portal in New Delhi. Recently approved by the Union Cabinet with a ₹22,919 crore outlay, the scheme aims to strengthen India’s electronics supply chain and will open for applications from May 1. The guidelines were developed through extensive industry consultations. The scheme targets attracting investments of over ₹59,000 crore, creating over 91,000 direct jobs, and boosting domestic value addition by integrating Indian firms with global value chains. Incentives will be based on job creation, capital expenditure, and company turnover.
India and France have signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine fighter aircraft, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu formalizing the deal in New Delhi. The order includes 22 single-seaters and four twin-seaters, customized for the Indian Navy, with deliveries by 2030. The agreement also covers training, simulators, weapons, and performance-based logistics, along with additional equipment for the Indian Air Force's existing Rafale fleet. It features a technology transfer for indigenous weapon integration and the establishment of production and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) facilities. The deal is expected to boost job creation and benefit India’s MSME sector.
On May 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport in Kerala — India’s first dedicated container transshipment facility — marking a significant step toward the country’s goal of becoming a global maritime hub. Strategically located, the Vizhinjam port has been given high priority for its potential to revolutionize maritime logistics as part of the central government's 'Viksit Bharat' vision. The port has been developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) through a public-private partnership with the Kerala government.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has increased its gold reserves to 880 tonnes as of March 2025, marking a 35% rise from 653 tonnes in FY20. In FY24–25 alone, it purchased 57.5 tonnes and repatriated 214 tonnes since 2022. This strategic accumulation aims to hedge against dollar volatility and strengthen India's foreign exchange base. Gold now constitutes 11.35% of India's total forex reserves, up from 6.86% in 2021, reflecting a shift towards gold as a stable asset amid global economic uncertainties.