Find the Weekly Current Affairs for the 2nd week of April 2025. Stay informed with the most important news and events from around the world. Our curated updates provide a comprehensive summary of the week’s key happenings, covering politics, economics, science, technology, sports, and international affairs.
Designed for competitive exam aspirants, these weekly current affairs help you stay updated and enhance your general knowledge. Each week, we offer summaries, in-depth information in the form of downloadable free PDFs for easy revision.
Keep your preparation on track with our expert-curated content, ensuring you are always ready for your exams.
Highlights of April 2nd Week Current Affairs
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the newly built Pamban Bridge on April 6, 2025, replacing the 110-year-old historic sea bridge that connected Rameswaram to mainland India.
- The original Pamban Bridge, opened in 1914, was India’s first sea bridge and played a key role in regional connectivity and maritime access.
- The new bridge reflects modern engineering advancements while retaining the symbolic value of the old structure.
- Indian stock markets witnessed a sharp crash following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 26% reciprocal tariff on Indian goods, sparking fears of a global trade war.
- As a result of Trump’s tariff move, the BSE Sensex fell by over 2,200 points and the NSE Nifty by more than 740 points, marking one of the steepest single-day declines.
- The tariff announcement triggered a worldwide selloff, with European and Asian markets, including Japan’s Nikkei 225, facing major losses.
- A parliamentary panel raised concerns over the lack of Ivy League institutions like Harvard or Yale establishing campuses in India.
- Trump’s trade policy is expected to further impact global academic collaborations due to geopolitical tensions.
- The ‘Study in India’ initiative continues to attract international students and promote Indian higher education globally.
- The Delhi High Court granted ANI relief in its defamation suit against Wikipedia for publishing allegedly biased and harmful content.
- The Supreme Court declared the Tamil Nadu Governor’s act of withholding assent on 10 re-passed bills as unconstitutional and legally void.
- It emphasized that Governors must act on the advice of the Council of Ministers and cannot indefinitely delay or reject bills without valid grounds.
- The Court used Article 142 to deem the 10 bills as having received assent when they were re-enacted by the Assembly.
- Clear timelines were prescribed: one month to act on bills, three months if the Governor disagrees with the Cabinet, and one month after re-enactment.
- The Governor’s conduct was criticized as lacking bona fides and not aligned with the constitutional role of a ceremonial head.
- President Droupadi Murmu withheld assent to Tamil Nadu’s bill seeking exemption from NEET, following the Union government’s advice.
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin condemned the move, calling it a violation of cooperative federalism and an attack on social justice.
- Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal criticized China’s unfair trade practices and cited them as a cause of global economic instability.
- He also defended India’s decision to block Chinese automaker BYD, stressing national security and economic self-reliance.
- Tamil Nadu continues to oppose NEET, arguing it disadvantages rural and underprivileged students and weakens equitable medical access
- The United States imposed 104% tariffs on Chinese imports, prompting China to retaliate with 84% tariffs on American goods.
- This trade escalation caused a massive stock market crash, with sharp declines seen in Hong Kong, Japan, and major European markets.
- Global oil prices dropped below $60 per barrel for the first time since 2021, sparking concerns over global economic slowdown.
- U.S. President Donald Trump claimed direct nuclear talks were ongoing with Iran, though Iran clarified only indirect talks through Oman were happening.
- The U.S. deployed B-2 bombers and a naval carrier group near Iran as a warning, with Trump threatening military action if needed.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initiated a potential ceasefire in Gaza, seeking Egypt’s mediation to reduce regional tensions.
- Trump supported a peacekeeping mission in Gaza, aiming to stabilize the situation and address ongoing violence in the region.
- A massive earthquake struck Japan’s Osaka region, disrupting power supplies and public transport and causing widespread fear and temporary evacuations.
- NASA announced a new moon mission by 2028 to build a permanent lunar base, aiming for long-term exploration and scientific research.
- India and Russia agreed to expand defense cooperation, including joint military drills, technology transfer, and increased weapon sales in the next decade.
- RBI cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6% to encourage borrowing and support economic growth amid uncertainties.
- Policy stance changed from neutral to accommodative, signaling potential for more rate cuts to stimulate demand and revive economic momentum.
- GDP forecast for FY 2025–26 lowered to 6.5%, reflecting concerns about slower growth due to global and domestic challenges.
- CPI inflation for FY 2025–26 expected around 4%, suggesting price stability as a priority alongside growth in monetary policy decisions.
- RBI allowed higher UPI transaction limits for person-to-merchant payments, boosting digital payment adoption and financial inclusion across retail platforms.
- India ended the trans-shipment facility for Bangladesh to third countries due to congestion, rising freight costs, and exporter complaints.
- Withdrawal expected to decongest Indian cargo terminals and improve logistics efficiency for domestic exporters in sectors like apparel and footwear.
- Geopolitical tensions and Bangladesh’s strategic ties with China may have influenced India’s decision to revoke the trans-shipment route privilege.
- Scientific tools like camera traps and pellet sampling are being used in the Nilgiri Tahr census for accurate population estimates.
- Conservation efforts like the Tahr census are key for environmental awareness, important for law exams like CLAT and judiciary.
- The Government of India revised the material cost under the PM-POSHAN scheme by 9.5% to offset inflationary impacts.
- This change adds an extra financial burden of ₹954 crore to the government’s budget for the year 2025-26 alone.
- The updated cost per meal now stands at ₹12.13 for primary students and ₹17.62 for upper primary students, including all components.
- The increase in material cost is based on the Consumer Price Index for Rural Labourers (CPI-RL), reflecting inflation-linked budget adjustments.
- The Centre bears 100% of the cost for food grains and transportation, while states manage other components, showcasing federal financial responsibility.
- Approximately 26 lakh metric tonnes of food grains are distributed annually under the scheme, a significant logistic and accounting operation.
- The central government allocates about ₹9,000 crore annually as a food subsidy under this scheme, a key welfare budget component.
- The revised menu includes higher amounts of pulses, oil, and vegetables, increasing nutritional value and associated material costs.
- The total per meal cost includes not only ingredients but also transport and administrative expenses, showing comprehensive cost accounting.
- The scheme’s annual cost revision ensures fiscal sustainability while maintaining nutritional goals for school children.
- For the first time in India, ten Bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly have become law without the assent of the Governor or the President, following the Supreme Court’s judgment on deemed assent.
- The Supreme Court held that Governors must act within a reasonable time—1 to 3 months—on state Bills, strengthening legislative independence.
- Several Tamil Nadu Acts amend university laws to remove the Governor’s role as Chancellor, giving power to the state government to appoint Vice-Chancellors.
- The upgraded Saras Mk2, a 19-seater civil aircraft developed by HAL and the Indian Air Force, is set for its first flight in December 2027.
- The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has introduced the first global carbon tax on shipping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by 2030.
- India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth slowed to 2.9% in February 2025 due to weak performance in manufacturing and mining sectors.
- DRDO successfully tested its Directed Energy Weapon system, which uses a laser to disable drones and missiles.
- India witnessed a UPI outage, with transaction failures affecting major apps like PhonePe and Paytm due to technical issues.
- Ola Electric launched its powerful Roadster X electric bike with advanced features, increasing EV production capacity at its Tamil Nadu facility.
- A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, triggering regional seismic alerts and raising safety concerns across nearby border areas.
Download PDF of April 2nd Week Current Affairs
Study Current Affairs Quiz & MCQ of April 2nd Week
For a detailed understanding of the major events from the 2nd week of April 2025, visit our comprehensive current affairs Quiz & MCQ page. It covers all significant news and developments, providing essential insights to help you stay informed and well-prepared for exams or discussions.
8 April to 14 April (Weekly Current Affairs Quiz)
Current Affairs of Other Weeks in April 2025
| April 4th Week Current Affairs 2025 | April 3rd Week Current Affairs 2025 |
| April 2nd Week Current Affairs 2025 | April 1st Week Current Affairs 2025 |