Today’s Top News – 17 April 2025

TODAYS TOP NEWS
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1. The PM Vidyalaxmi scheme was launched to support meritorious students in India. This initiative aims to provide financial assistance for higher education through collateral-free loans.

2. The T-8 and T-8-M tunnels between Janasu in Pauri Garhwal under the Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail project have been completed. On this occasion, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the breakthrough program of the tunnel of the rail project in Janasu.

3. Central Railway has introduced an automated teller machine (ATM) inside the Mumbai-Manmad Panchavati Express.

4. In Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah launched the e-SEHAT App, a comprehensive one-stop digital solution designed to cater for the healthcare needs of the people of the Union Territory.

5. Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, George Kurian has said that, country’s fish production rose to 184 lakh tonne from 95 lakh tonne under the NDA government in the past ten years.

6. Justice Arun Palli took oath as the Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court. He was administered the oath by Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

7. National Commission for Women (NCW) has formed an inquiry committee to investigate the violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad. The four-member Committee, led by NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, will visit violence-affected areas in Murshidabad to interact with local victims and their families and meet with the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police.

8. 2 maoists killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region.

9. Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi has been ranked ninth among the world’s busiest airports in 2024, handling 77.8 million passengers. This marks a 7.8 per cent increase from 2023 and a 13.6 per cent rise compared to 2019, indicating strong growth.

10. In Jammu and Kashmir, the historic three-day Baisakhi Devika Mela, which commenced from pril 13 on the banks of the holy Devika Rivulet in Udhampur, concluded.

11. Telangana state government has declared heat waves, sunstrokes, and sunburns as “State-Specific Disasters.” This classification will allow victims’ families to receive an ex-gratia compensation of 4 lakh per rupees under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

12. Madhya Pradesh government assures continuation of Ladli Behana Yojana, sets new time frame for monthly payments.

13. The Delhi government has implemented increase in minimum wages for workers across various categories. Announced by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the new wage structure takes effect from 1 April 2025.

14. Maharashtra CM Fadnavis Inaugurates Amravati Airport, Announces Southeast Asia’s Largest Pilot Training Institute. Flying Training Organisation (FTO) to be established in the Amravati City of Vidarbha, will train 180 pilots each year, through its fleet of 34 training planes.

15. Maharashtra Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with IBM Technology (India) for administrative transformation through AI.

16. No Compulsion for Private Books in Haryana Schools; Flying Squads to Inspect Compliance : Haryana School Education Board Chairman Dr. Pawan Kumar said that, as per the orders of the Haryana Government, no school can force parents to buy expensive books from private publishers.

17. The much-anticipated inauguration of the train service connecting Katra to Kashmir, originally scheduled for April 19, 2025, has been postponed due to adverse weather conditions forecasted for the region.The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir on April 18 and 19.

18. Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has recommended the name of Justice B R Gavai as the next Chief Justice.

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LEGAL REPORT
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1. Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned Robert Vadra for the second consecutive day yesterday in connection with a money-laundering probe linked to a land deal in Haryana.

2. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting searches at several locations in Hyderabad as part of a money laundering probe involving Surana Group and Sai Surya Developers.

3. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against three accused, including a Pakistani handler, in a terror conspiracy case involving the seizure of arms and ammunition in the border district of Poonch.

4. Supreme Court did not issue any interim order on the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 while hearing a batch of petitions challenging it. The Centre asked for more time to prepare its argument on the three points raised by the apex court.

5. The Supreme Court did not issue any interim order on the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 while hearing a batch of petitions challenging it. The Centre asked for more time to prepare its argument on the three points raised by the apex court.

6. Punjab and Haryana high court directed the Punjab government on Wednesday not to take any coercive action against Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa till April 22 in connection with an FIR lodged against him over his “50 bombs have reached Punjab” remarks.

7. Smita Sabharwal, an IAS officer from the Telangana cadre, received a notice from the Cyberabad Police on Wednesday for reposting an AI-generated image of a 400-acre plot in Kancha Gachibowli, located near the University of Hyderabad (UoH).

On March 31, Smita Sabharwal reshared a post on X that originally depicted an AI-generated image showing earthmoving equipment, alongside two deer and a peacock.

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FINANCE
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Yuan ¥ : ₹ 12
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Rates in Financial Capital Mumbai

GOLD : ₹ 96,200/ 10gm (24 krt)

SILVER : ₹ 100,100/KG

1. The Select Committee of Lok Sabha on the new Income Tax Bill – 2025 held a meeting at the Parliament House in New Delhi. The 31-member panel is headed by BJP MP Baijayant Panda.

2. India’s bank credit is forecasted to grow by 12-13% in FY26, slightly surpassing the projected 11-11.5% growth for FY25. This growth will be supported by a combination of favorable regulatory changes, tax cuts, and lower interest rates, all of which will likely drive increased borrowing.

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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
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1. WAVEX 2025, India’s premier platform for startups in the media and entertainment technology space has extended the deadline for receiving applications to 21st April.

2. On 14 April 2025 — the third anniversary of KGF: Chapter 2 — Hombale Films confirmed the return of its most iconic franchise with a special announcement: KGF Chapter 3 is in the works and is expected to hit theatres in 2025.

3. Banaras Shehnai’s recent recognition through a GI tag stands as a powerful homage to the musical and cultural traditions of Varanasi. Rooted in sacred geography and brought to global fame by Ustad Bismillah Khan, this wind instrument has now officially earned the status.

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DEFENCE News
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1. Indian Army conducts field exercise in forward areas of Arunachal, demonstrates integration of new-generation equipment.

2. In a significant move aimed at simplifying the Agniveer recruitment process, the Indian Army has announced major reforms that will benefit thousands of aspirants across the country. The most noteworthy change is the direct selection of candidates holding the NCC ‘C’ certificate—who will now be exempted from the written examination phase and directly called for recruitment rallies.

3. The Defence Literature Festival ‘Kalam & Kavach 2.0’ held in New Delhi on April 15, 2025, provided a platform for discussions on India’s defence reforms, with a special focus on defence technology and future warfare. The event, aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision for a self-reliant India.

4. Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd marked a significant milestone on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, by commencing the construction of a state-of-the-art Acoustic Research Ship (ARS) for the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), a unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

5. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh undertook an official visit to Rome from April 14-15, 2025, with the primary objective of advancing India-Italy bilateral defence cooperation—a key pillar of the growing strategic partnership between the two countries.

6. The Indian Air Force is poised to significantly expand its Rafale fighter jet fleet with 40 additional aircraft from France through a government-to-government deal, coinciding with the Indian Navy’s imminent acquisition of 26 Rafale-M fighters.

17 Apr (Thursday)
Vedic Ritu/ Vasanta
Drik Ritu : Vasanta
पक्ष :: Krishnapaksh
(In Purnimanta calendar)
Vikram Samvat – 2082
Month : Vaishak 05
(In Amanta calendar)
Shaka Samvat – 1947
Month : Chaitra 19
Tithi : Chaturthi (up to 3:23 pm)Panchami
Nakshatra: Jyeshta
Rahu 02:01 PM – 03:35 PM
Yamaganda 06:08 AM – 07:42 AM

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