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Daily Current Affairs 19th and 20th April 2025 Daily GK Update
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National News
SECL to Become First Coal PSU to Use Paste Fill Technology for Mining
- South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) is set to become the first coal PSU in India to adopt paste fill technology for coal mining, marking a major step toward sustainable and environmentally friendly mining practices.
- To implement this innovative underground mining technology, SECL has signed a Rs. 7040 crore agreement with TMC Mineral Resources Private Limited.
- Under this agreement, large-scale coal production will be undertaken using paste fill technology in the Singhali underground coal mine located in SECL’s Korba area. Over a period of 25 years, the project is expected to produce approximately 8.4 million tonnes (84.5 lakh tonnes) of coal.
- CMD of SECL – Harish Duhan
What is Paste Fill Technology?
- Paste filling is a modern underground mining method that eliminates the need to acquire surface land. After coal extraction, the mined-out voids are filled with a specially prepared paste made from fly ash, crushed overburden from opencast mines, cement, water, and binding chemicals. This process prevents land subsidence and ensures the structural stability of the mine.
- Importantly, the paste utilizes industrial waste materials, making the process environmentally sustainable and promoting waste recycling.
Background of Singhali Mine-
- The Singhali underground mine was approved in 1989 for a production capacity of 0.24 million tonnes per year and commenced operations in 1993. Presently, the mine has 8.45 million tonnes of extractable reserves of G-7 grade non-coking coal.
- It was developed using the Bord and Pillar method, employing Load Haul Dumpers (LHDs) and Universal Drilling Machines (UDMs) for underground operations.
- However, the surface area above the mine is densely occupied—with villages, high-tension electricity lines, and a Public Works Department (PWD) road—rendering traditional caving methods unfeasible due to safety Concerns.
Centre notifies rules for Radar equipment for the measurement of the speed of vehicles
- The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has notified new rules under the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011, mandating verification and stamping of radar-based speed measurement devices to enhance road safety and enforcement accuracy.
- These rules will come into effect from July 1, 2025, giving sufficient time for industries and enforcement agencies to align with the new regulatory requirements.
- The regulations apply to microwave Doppler radar equipment, widely used to measure vehicle speeds, and include specifications for technical standards, calibration, tamper protection, and environmental stability.
- The initiative is a move toward data-driven traffic governance, aiming to reduce road accidents, promote disciplined driving, and minimise social and economic losses related to road mishaps and infrastructure damage.
Impact on Stakeholders-
- For citizens: Ensures accurate speed readings and helps avoid unfair penalties.
- For industries: Provides a clear regulatory framework aligned with international standards.
- For law enforcement: Enhances credibility and operational efficiency with verified equipment.
India Showcases Digital Innovation and Skilling Leadership at GITEX Africa 2025
- India participated in Africa’s largest tech and startup show, GITEX Africa 2025, held in Marrakesh, Morocco.
- The event provided a platform for policy leaders, changemakers, and visionaries to collectively discuss and deliberate on opportunities for collaboration and to advance the imperative of inclusive and equitable growth in the global economy.
- Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Jayant Chaudhary, represented the Republic of India at the summit. He participated in high-level bilateral meetings, panel discussions, and interacted with Indian startups showcasing their innovations.
Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register
- The Shrimad Bhagavad Gita (a noted Hindu scripture) and Natyashastra (Indian treatise on performing arts) have been officially included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, recognising their exceptional universal value and global significance.
- The UNESCO Memory of the World Register honours documentary heritage that is deemed to hold exceptional universal value. It includes texts, manuscripts, and documents that have significantly shaped human history and continue to influence generations.
- The Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, part of the Mahabharata, is a profound spiritual text composed of 700 verses that address crucial philosophical questions on life, duty, and devotion.
- The Natyashastra, attributed to Bharat Muni, serves as the foundational text for Indian performing arts, including theatre, dance, and music, influencing classical art forms for centuries. These works have become the basis for not only India’s cultural practices but also its modes of thought, expression, and living.
Govt procures 3,40,000 tonnes of tur under price support scheme
- The government has procured 3,40,000 tonnes of tur (pigeon pea) under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) to support farmers, with Karnataka contributing the largest share at 1,30,000 tonnes.
- The minimum support price (MSP) for tur is set at Rs 7,550 per quintal, and farmers in Karnataka are receiving an additional state bonus of Rs 450 per quintal above the MSP.
- The government aims to maintain a buffer stock of 10 lakh tonnes of tur to regulate market prices and prevent price hikes.
- Other contributing states include Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.
- The government has also procured 17,000 tonnes of chana (gram) primarily from Telangana and Madhya Pradesh.
- In Budget 2025, the government committed to 100 per cent procurement of tur, masur and urad relative to state production through central agencies until 2028-29.
Banking and Financial
RBI and FIU-IND Join Forces to Tackle Money Laundering
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration for implementing the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and its rules more effectively.
- The MoU facilitates cooperation through sharing of relevant intelligence from their databases and enhancing Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating Financing of Terrorism (CFT) skills among regulated entities.
- RBI and FIU-IND will jointly conduct outreach and training for regulated institutions and assess money laundering and terror financing risks across various financial sub-sectors.
- Director of FIU-IND – Vivek Aggarwal
ADB sanctions $85.4 million loan for Tripura Industrial Infra Development
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $85.4 million loan to finance critical industrial infrastructure in the nine industrial estates of Tripura.
- The nine Industrial estates of the Tripura government to be funded are Bodhjungnagar Industrial Estate, Kumarghat Industrial Estate, R.K. Nagar Industrial Estate, Dharmanagar Industrial Estate, Dhajanagar Industrial Estate, Dukli Industrial Estate, Deewanpasma Industrial Estate, Nagicherra Industrial Estate and Sarasima Industrial Estate.
About Asian Development Bank (ADB)
- Founded – 19 December 1966
- Headquarters – Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines
- President – Masato Kanda (replace Masatsugu Asakawa)
- Vice President – Ashok Lavasa
- Director of ADB for India – Mio Oka (replace Takeo Konishi)
- Member Countries – 69 (Israel)
RBI imposes penalty on Kotak Mahindra Bank, IDFC First Bank, PNB
- RBI has imposed monetary penalties on Kotak Mahindra Bank, IDFC First Bank, and Punjab National Bank for deficiencies in regulatory compliance.
- Kotak Mahindra Bank was fined ₹4 lakh for non-compliance with RBI guidelines related to loan system delivery and statutory restrictions on loans and advances.
- IDFC First Bank received a penalty of ₹6 lakh for violating RBI’s Know Your Customer (KYC) norms.
- Punjab National Bank was penalized ₹6 lakh for lapses in following RBI directions on customer service in banks.
Appointment
Arvind Shrivastava Appointed as New Revenue Secretary in Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle
- The central government has appointed senior IAS officer Arvind Shrivastava (1994 batch, Karnataka cadre) as the new Revenue Secretary, shifting him from the Prime Minister’s Office to the Ministry of Finance. The reshuffle also includes key appointments:
- Anuradha Thakur as Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs
- Vumlunmang Vualnam as Secretary, Department of Expenditure
- Vivek Aggarwal as Secretary, Ministry of Culture
- Santosh Kumar Sarangi as Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
- Rajesh Agarwal as Special Secretary, Department of Commerce
- Samir Kumar Sinha as Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation
- Vandana Gurnana as Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment
- Rakesh Kumar Verma as Director General, India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management
Government Appoints Four Senior IRS Officers as Members of the CBDT
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of four 1989-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers as Members of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).
- The new CBDT members are Pankaj Kumar Mishra, Sanjay Bahadur, L. Rajasekhar Reddy, and G. Aparna Rao, each previously holding senior income tax roles across different regions.
- These appointments fill key vacancies in the CBDT, which oversees the implementation of direct tax laws and policy formulation in India.
- The move comes as the government aims to boost tax compliance and widen the tax base, with experienced officers leading these strategic efforts.
Sports
India finished 6th Asian U-18 Athletics Championship 2025 with 11 medals
- The Indian athletes concluded their campaign at the 6th Asian U18 Athletics Championship 2025 with 11 medals: one gold, five silver, and five bronze.
- The 6th Asian U18 Athletics Championship was organised by the Asian Athletics Association at the Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz Sports City, Saudi Arabia.
- In the 5th edition of the Asian U18 Athletics Championships held at Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 2023, India won 24 medals.
- Athletes below the age of 18 years from 31 Asian countries participated in the event.
- Hinmanshu won the solitary gold for India in the 6th U18 Asian Championship in the javelin throw event. His opening throw of 67.57 meters was good enough to fetch him gold ahead of China’s Lu Hao.
- It was the first time India won a gold medal in the boys’ javelin throw event in the Asian U18 Athletics Championship.
Book and Author
Compilation of PM Modi’s Speeches on Culture ‘Sanskriti Ka Paanchva Adhyay’ Launched
- A book titled Sanskriti Ka Paanchva Adhyay, which is a compilation of speeches delivered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on various occasions, was launched in New Delhi.
- The head of the Juna Akhara, Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Avdheshanand Giri, launched the book.
- Presiding over the event, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh, lauded Prime Minister Modi’s efforts in preserving the country’s culture, traditions, spiritual values, and cultural heritage.
Important day
19 April – World Liver Day
- World Liver Day is observed every year on 19 April to spread awareness about liver health and prevent liver-related diseases.
- Theme 2025 – Food is Medicine
- The liver performs over 500 vital functions, including detoxifying the blood, producing bile, and regulating metabolism.
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