Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 18th April 2025

 1. Former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala sentenced to 15 years in prison for money laundering case. 

•  He was convicted by a court in Lima for unlawfully receiving financial support from the Venezuelan government and a Brazilian construction firm to fund his presidential campaigns in 2006 and 2011. 
• The court also handed a 15-year jail term to his wife, Nadine Heredia, after finding her guilty of money laundering. 
•  However, after seeking asylum at the Brazilian Embassy, she was granted permission to travel to Brazil. 
•  Humala and his wife, who are co-founders of the Nationalist Party, accepted $3 million in illegal contributions from the company for his 2011 presidential campaign. 
•  The couple also faced accusations of accepting $200,000 from Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez to support their 2006 election bid. 
•  Humala was the first of four Peruvian presidents to be investigated in connection with the Odebrecht scandal. 
•  Last year, Alejandro Toledo, president from 2001 to 2006, was also handed a prison sentence of more than 20 years for receiving $35 million (£26 million) in bribes from the company. 
•  Peru is located in the western part of South America. Its capital and largest city is Lima. Its currency is Sol. 

2. Baisakhi celebrated for the first time at Washington State Capitol in Olympia. 

•  For the first time in the United States, Baisakhi was celebrated at the State Capitol in Olympia, Washington's capital city, earlier this week, with special proclamations issued to mark the occasion of the Indian festival. 
•  The Consulate General of India in Seattle hosted the event. 
• The Washington State Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Senators, Legislators from the Washington State Legislature, and prominent members of the Sikh community in Washington attended the event. 
•  In addition, King County, covering 39 cities in the Greater Seattle area, along with Snohomish County, Kent, Auburn, and Marysville, issued proclamations declaring April 14th as Baisakhi Day across the region. 
•  Baisakhi is celebrated as the birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. 
•  He is known for founding the Khalsa Panth in 1699, a collective body of Sikhs that played a key role in shaping Sikh identity and values. 

3. India and other G4 nations opposed seats in the reformed UN Security Council based on religion. 

• India and other G4 nations- Brazil, Germany, and Japan- have opposed proposals to allocate seats based on religion in a reformed UN Security Council. 
•  Parvathaneni Harish, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said that proposals to introduce new dimensions in reforming the Council, such as religious affiliation, were against established UN practice.
•  India’s UN envoy emphasized that regional representation is the established basis for Council membership and not religion. 
• Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently said that an Islamic country should be a permanent member of the Council. 
•  The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation had backed representation for the Islamic Ummah. 
•  Currently, there are five permanent members in the UN Security CouncilChina, US, UK, France, and Russia. 

 G4 nations: 

• Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan are G4 countries that support each other's bids for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council. 
•  It was formed in 2005. 

4. Venue finalized for the Cricket competition to be held at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 

•  Cricket will be played in a temporary, purpose-built venue at the Fairgrounds in Pomona for the 2028 Olympics. 
•  Pomona is located in Southern California, approximately 50 kilometres from Los Angeles. 
•  The tournament will be played in the T20 format with six teams each in both men’s and women’s competitions. 
•  The cricket sport is returning to the Olympics after more than a century since it last appeared at the Paris Olympics in 1900. 
•  The Los Angeles Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 14 to 30 in 2028. 

5. Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated world’s 17th Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU) in New Delhi. 

• The Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU) was inaugurated at the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) in New Delhi. 
•  The Athlete Passport Management Unit is a specialized unit dedicated to monitoring and managing athletes biological passports, ensuring fair play and upholding the integrity of clean sport. 
•  The minister said that APMU is a key milestone in India’s fight against doping, enabling the longitudinal tracking of Athletes Biological profiles through the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) system.
•  India will help its neighbouring countries that don’t have enough resources to set up similar systems and, in this way, AMPU will act as a beacon of support for Global South. 
•  Global South refers to the term comprising developing and least developed nations majority of which are located in Africa, Asia and Latin America. 
•  The idea of the "Athlete biological passport" came into discussion when scientists identified monitoring blood markers as a way to detect doping. After that, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) refined and standardized this idea, leading to the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP). 
• A biological passport is an electronic document that compiles data on an athlete's biological markers over time. By tracking variables such as blood parameters, hormonal levels, and other physiological markers, the APMU can detect any anomalies or trends indicative of doping without directly identifying banned substances. 
• World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is an international organization co-founded by the International Olympic Committee and the governments of over 140 nations. It aims to promote, coordinate, and monitor the fight against drugs in sports. Its headquarters are located in Montreal, Canada. 

6. World Heritage Day 2025: 18 April 

• International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day, is observed every year on 18 April by ICOMOS. 
•  Its aim is to encourage individuals and local communities to cherish their cultural heritage.
•   “Disaster and Conflict Resilient Heritage – Preparedness, Response and Recovery” was selected as the theme for the Triennial Scientific Plan (TSP) 2024-2027 at the 2023 General Assembly in Sydney. 
•  This year, the theme of the day is Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 years of ICOMOS Actions. 
•  International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is a non-governmental organisation working to conserve and protect cultural heritage sites around the world. 
•  ICOMOS is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025.

 7. AIIMS, New Delhi, has secured the 97th position in the 2024 World’s Best Hospitals ranking by Newsweek and Statista. 

• The ranking evaluated over 2,400 hospitals from 30 countries. 
•  It focused on factors like patient satisfaction, clinical outcomes, hygiene, and recommendations from healthcare professionals. 
•  AIIMS is recognized for its high-quality healthcare, research, and affordable treatment options. 
•  Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh ranks 228th on the global list. 
•  Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, established in 1962, is a vital healthcare and medical training center in northern India. 
•  A private hospital in Gurgaon (Medanta - The Medicity in Gurgaon) is ranked 146th globally. 
•  The recognition of these hospitals highlights India’s growing influence in global healthcare. 
•  In 2023, AIIMS, New Delhi, was ranked 122nd in the global list.
•   It has now reached to the 97th rank.
•   The World's Best Hospitals 2024 report was released by Newsweek. 
•  Newsweek is an American media company. 
• The report was created in partnership with Statista, a global data platform. 
• The Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, United States, was ranked as the best hospital in the world. 
•  Cleveland Clinic in the U.S. secured the second position. 
•  Toronto General Hospital in Canada was ranked third. 
•  Johns Hopkins Hospital in the U.S. took the fourth spot. 
•  Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden was ranked fifth. 

8. A new digital platform launched by Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil in Delhi to promote freshwater biodiversity conservation. 

•  The platform was launched during a review of projects by the Wildlife Institute of India under the National Mission for Clean Ganga. 
• The platform will act as a central hub, offering ecological data, case studies, and conservation insights. 
•  It will provide detailed information on physiography, biodiversity, and community activities along major rivers like the Ganga, Cauvery, and Godavari. 
•  The Minister highlighted the importance of involving local communities and building capacity in conservation efforts. 
• The Minister acknowledged the success of outreach and educational programs across river basins.
•  He specifically mentioned the role of Ganga Praharis in spreading awareness.
•   National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) was registered as a society on 12th August 2011.

 9. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) have made an agreement to strengthen efforts against money laundering. 

•  This agreement is in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). 
•  It aims to support the implementation of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and its regulations. 
•  Vivek Aggarwal, Director of FIU-IND, and R.L.K. Rao, Executive Director of RBI’s Department of Regulation, signed the MoU. 
•  Both organizations will collaborate on areas of shared interest, such as exchanging relevant intelligence and information. 
•  They will work on improving Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Terrorist Financing skills in regulated entities. 
• Training and outreach activities will be conducted for these entities. 
• They will also assess the risks and vulnerabilities related to money laundering and terrorism financing in various financial sectors. 

10. DPS wetland in Navi Mumbai has been declared as a Flamingo Conservation Reserve by the Maharashtra State Board of Wildlife. 

•  This decision was made during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. 
•  Forest Minister Ganesh Naik and senior government officials were also present at the meeting. 
•  Kishor Rithe, Director of the Bombay Natural History Society, shared details about the decision. 
•  He said that BNHS and other local groups had requested the government to protect the DPS wetland. 
•  He also mentioned that conserving DPS lake could help reduce bird strike risks near Navi Mumbai International Airport. 
•  The board approved the expansion of Bor Wildlife Sanctuary in Wardha district. 
•  The expansion will include the villages of Garamsur, Yenidodka, Methiraji, Umarvihori, and Maraksur. 
•  The board also agreed to protect Devrais, which are sacred groves located in the Western Ghats. 
• A committee will be formed under the chairmanship of APCCF West to prepare proposals for declaring the groves as conservation reserves. 

11. Haryana mountaineer seeks better job, higher cash reward 

•  Reena Bhatti, a 35-year-old mountaineer from Hisar, Haryana, has appealed to Chief Minister Nayab Saini for a Grade A government job and financial assistance in recognition of her achievements. 
•  Ms. Bhatti recently became the fastest Indian woman to summit both Mt. Everest and Mt. Lhotse — two of the world’s highest peaks — within just over 20 hours. She expressed disappointment over the current State policy offering minimal benefits to climbers compared to athletes in other sports. The daughter of a tractor mechanic, Ms. Bhatti claims to have scaled over 20 peaks, overcoming significant financial and logistical hurdles. 
•  On August 15, 2022, she became the first Indian woman to ascend Mt. Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak, from both the north and south sides within 24 hours, as part of the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign. Speaking to The Hindu, she pointed out that Haryana’s sports policy, formulated in 2021, offers only a ₹5 lakh cash reward and a Grade C Sports Gradation Certificate for climbing the top 10 highest peaks. 
•  “While the cost to climb the highest peaks ranged from ₹20-30 lakh, the government gave just ₹5 lakh and no job guarantee. But cash reward for the sportspersons in other fields ran into crores of rupees and they were also given Grade A and B certificates, entitling them to better jobs,” said Ms. Bhatti, also known by the nickname ‘Himputri’. 

12. Modi to inaugurate Vizhinjam international seaport on May 2 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the Vizhinjam international seaport on May 2. Governor Rajendra Arlekar and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will attend the function with other dignitaries. 
• Official sources said the Prime Minister’s Office had sent a letter to the Kerala government confirming Mr. Modi’s visit. The State police are preparing a comprehensive security scheme with the Prime Minister’ Special Protection Group concerning this. 

13. Hindi mandatory third language for primary classes in Maharashtra 

•  The Maharashtra School Education Department on Thursday announced that Hindi would be compulsory as the third language in Marathi- and English-medium schools from Class 1 to 5. 
•  Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the decision, saying it will facilitate better communication with the Union government. “This is not a new notification, it has always been there in the education policy. 
•  The Union government, through this medium, is making bridges for communication,” Mr. Fadnavis said. However, regional political parties, including Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), questioned the need to impose Hindi on the State. MNS chief Raj Thackeray said, 
•  “The party will not allow the government’s efforts to impose Hindi everywhere as it is not a national language.” “Hindi is a State language, then why should it be taught in Maharashtra from the first grade? Whatever your three-language formula is, limit it to government affairs, do not bring it to education.” 

14. Prisons plagued by lack of medical, mental health professionals: report 

• With a national average occupancy rate of more than 131%, Indian jails face extreme overcrowding and are battling multiple health challenges, according to the recently released India Justice Report 2025. 
• The report highlights the fact that India’s prison inmate population is projected to reach 6.8 lakh by 2030, even though prison capacity is only likely to grow to 5.15 lakh. 
• The capacity shortage is not restricted to space alone, but extends to health staff. There are only 25 psychologists for the entire nation’s prisoners, at a time when the recorded number of prisoners with mental illnesses has jumped from 4,470 in 2012 to 9,084 in 2022. 
•  Yet, the response remains largely absent, the report says. 43% vacancy Prisons also record a 43% vacancy among medical officers. The report, titled “The State of Public Health in India’s Prisons: India Justice Report 2025 — Findings on Gaps in Staffing & Medical Care”, explains that the model prison manual (2016) benchmarks the prisoner-doctor ratio at 300 prisoners to one doctor. “India’s national average far exceeds that, standing at 775 prisoners per doctor,” says the report. 
•  It also highlights the non-availability of health data on prisoners entering jail with a disability, and those who acquire a disability within the prison. Overcrowding could also be a root cause of the spread of several communicable diseases, the report says. 
•  In the decade between 2012 and 2022, there have been worrisome upward shifts in prison populations in several areas. As of 2022, no State or Union Territory met the benchmark of one psychologist or psychiatrist per 500 inmates. 
•  At that time, there were only 69 sanctioned posts for psychologists and psychiatrists across India’s 1,330 prisons and 5.7 lakh inmates, but not even half of these positions were filled. 
•  “The data record the presence of only 25 or one for every 22,929 prisoners. Twenty-five States/Union Territories make no provision for a psychologist or psychiatrist within their cohort of correctional staff,’’ said Valay Singh, the lead author of the India Justice Report. 

15. ‘Environment Ministry must roll back order on desulphurising coal plants’ 

•  The Union Environment Ministry should roll back its 2015 policy mandating all of India’s 537 coal-fired plants to install a class of equipment called Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) in order to reduce sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions. 
•  Instead, it should only apply to those plants using imported coal or high (>0.5%) sulphur coal, a study commissioned by the O ce of the Principal Scientific Adviser, and executed by the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, has found. 
•  Although coal-fired plants were to have installed FGD by 2018, only 8% of the plants have set up the equipment after the Ministry extended deadlines. 
•  As of now, compliance has been pushed to 2027, 2028, and 2029, respectively, depending on the category of the thermal power plant. Currently, 230 thermal power plants are in various stages of installing FGD, and 260 have not yet placed an order. 
•  It is estimated, according to the Central Electricity Authority, that FGD costs ₹1.2 crore per megawatt (MW) to install. India has an installed coal capacity of 218,000 MW, which is expected to rise to 283,000 gigawatt (GW) by 2032. 
•  The rationale underlying the NIAS analysis is that 92% of the coal used in Indian plants has low sulphur content (0.3%-0.5%). Norms mandated by the Central Pollution Control Board requiring that the stack heights (exhaust columns) in the thermal power plants be a minimum 220 metres, coupled with “Indian climatic conditions”, ensured that SO2 emissions did not threaten local air quality. 
• A study by the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi in 2024, which the NIAS study references, found that ‘acid rain’, the most visible consequence of high SO2 emissions, “was not a significant issue” in India. 
•  Moreover, installing FGD in all plants would increase power consumption as well as freshwater consumption in the plants, resulting in an additional 69 million tonnes of CO2 (2025-30), while reducing SO2 emissions by 17 million tonnes. 
•  The study argues for SO2 emissions, citing an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment as having “masked” global warming by 0.5 degrees Celsius from 2010-2019 relative to 1850-1900. 

16. Ministry of Ayush Organises Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Programme

•  The Ministry of Ayush, in collaboration with the Capacity Building Commission under Mission Karmayogi, organised a special session of the Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Programme at Ayush Bhawan to enhance employees’ service orientation and professional skills. 
• The second phase of the programme, led by Dr. Subodh Kumar and facilitated by Shipra Singh, featured interactive, team-based learning modules focusing on self-awareness, motivation, leadership, and real-world case studies from Ayurveda, Yoga, and traditional medicine. 
• The initiative reflects the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to building a responsive and efficient workforce, encouraging officials to apply training insights for improved public service delivery. 

17. Bose Institute’s High-Energy Physics Team Wins 2025 Breakthrough Prize for Contribution to ALICE Collaboration at CERN 

• Scientists from Bose Institute’s Experimental High Energy Physics group were awarded the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for their contribution to the ALICE collaboration at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC). 
•  Over 13,500 researchers across four LHC experiments shared a total prize of $3 million, with $500,000 allocated to the ALICE collaboration to fund a Breakthrough Prize studentship program for PhD students at CERN. 
•  The institute contributed significantly to the ALICE experiment, including the development of the Photon Multiplicity Detector (PMD) and the upgrade of ALICE’s Time Projection Chamber (TPC), improving particle detection and analysis capabilities. 

Recent Award 

•  Knighthood for his services to Cricket – James Andersons 
• Key to the City of Lisbon – President Droupadi Murmu 
•  Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana (nation’s highest civilian honour for a foreign head of state) – PM Narendra Modi 
•  Fred Darrington Sand Master Award – Sudarsan Pattnaik (for his outstanding contributions to sand art) 
•  Uttar Pradesh Anmol Ratan Award – Nikhil Singhal 
•  Ugadi Award from the Andhra Pradesh government – Historian and archaeologist MyNaa Swamy 

18. Bangladesh becomes the 54th country to join NASA’s Artemis Accord 

•  Bangladesh has become the second South Asian country, after India, and the 54th in the world to join the Artemis Accord of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States. 
• India joined the Artemis Accords as the 27th country on 21st June 2023. About the Artemis Accord 
•  Artemis is a NASA-led effort to explore the moon, establish a human settlement on the moon and explore the planet Mars and beyond.
•  NASA established the Artemis Accord in coordination with the United States government’s State Department (the foreign ministry) on 13 October 2020. 
•  The seven founding countries of the Artemis Accord were Canada, Italy, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America. 

19. Inder Singh Suruchi and Saurabh Chaudhary win mixed Team Gold

•  In Shooting, the Indian pair of Inder Singh Suruchi and Saurabh Chaudhary clinched a gold medal beating Chinese duo of Qianxun Yao and Kai Hu by 17-9 in the finals of 10 metre Air Pistol Mixed Team event at ISSF World Cup 2025 in Lima, Peru. 
•  Earlier, the Indian mixed duo of Olympic medalist Manu Bhakar and Ravinder Singh missed out on a podium finish after losing to Chinese pair of Qianke Ma and Yifan Zhang in the crucial Bronze medal match.