• Observed on April 27, initiated by the International Council of Design (ico-D) to celebrate the value of design. ​
• The 2025 theme is “Outlandish Optimism”, encouraging designers to envision bold and positive futures.​
• International Council of Design
• Engagement: Promotes the role of design in addressing global challenges and improving quality of life.​
• Significance: Recognizes design as a powerful tool for innovation, sustainability, and social impact.

Current context: Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini inspected the first ‘Complete Streets’ initiative in Udyog Vihar, Gurugram.

Key Points:

• The initiative is designed to provide safe mobility for all, including children, elderly, women, and persons with disabilities (divyangjan).
• The project covers a 2.4 km stretch along Sanath Road and Gali No. 7, with a total width of 30 meters.
• The total project cost is ₹23 crore, funded by GMDA (Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority), MCG (Municipal Corporation of Gurugram), DHBVN (Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam), and the Raahgiri Foundation.
• Private sector partners, such as Nagarro, Maruti Suzuki, and SafeExpress, contributed to the funding.

Key features of the project include:

• Wide and shaded footpaths for pedestrians.
• Cycling tracks for a safer experience.
• Bioswales for rainwater harvesting.
• Preservation of 700 mature trees.

Current Context: Yeshasvini Health Scheme in Karnataka is set for revisions to improve healthcare access for rural beneficiaries.The report was submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of the scheme.

Key Points:

Proposed Changes:

• 15% to 25% increase in rates for general procedures.
• An expert committee has recommended a 12% to 50% increase for complex procedures like paediatric heart surgeries and oncology.
• Six outdated procedures removed and 69 new procedures added.

Enrollment & Funding:

• Scheme is projected to serve 75,000 beneficiaries this financial year, with an estimated cost of ₹127.5 crore.
• ₹40 crore additional funding has been recommended to accommodate the new rates and procedures.

Hospital Participation:

• Currently, 45.6 lakh members are enrolled, with 782 hospitals empanelled.
• The hope is that rate revisions will encourage more hospitals to participate in the scheme.

Current context: In a stellar start to his 2025 season, Neeraj Chopra, the two-time Olympic medallist, clinched the gold medal at the North-West University (NWU) Potchefstroom Invitational, held in South Africa

Key Points:

• Neeraj Chopra, the two-time Olympic medalist, won gold with a throw of 84.52 meters.
• He defeated Douw Smit (South Africa) who secured silver with 82.44 meters, and Duncan Robertson who took bronze with 71.22 meters.

Current Context: On April 2025, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the International Council for Circular Economy (ICCE), launched the ‘I Am Circular’ Coffee Table Book.

Key Highlights:

• Circular Economy Focus: The book emphasizes principles of reusing, recycling, and reducing waste as key components of sustainable development.
• Recognition of Innovation: The event recognized 30 groundbreaking Indian innovations that are driving the shift towards a circular economy.
• Tech-Integrated Development: The book promotes tech-integrated solutions that support scalable and sustainable practices.
• Commitment to Sustainability: Highlights India’s growing leadership in creating smart, scalable solutions for a sustainable future.

Current context: On April 24, 2025, the SVAMITVA Scheme (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) marked its 5th anniversary.

About SVAMITVA Scheme:

• Launched on: April 24, 2020 (National Panchayati Raj Day).
• Ministry: Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• Objective: To provide legal ownership of land and property in villages using drone and mapping technology.
• Key Benefits: Helps in accessing loans, resolving disputes, and supporting better planning in rural areas.
• Implementing Agencies: Survey of India, with National Informatics Centre Services Inc. (NICSI) as the tech partner.
• Budget: ₹566.23 crores (FY 2020-21 to 2024-25), extended to FY 2025-26.

Progress:

• Property Cards: Over 2.42 crore property cards issued for 1.61 lakh villages.
• Drone Surveys: Completed in 3.20 lakh villages, covering 68,122 sq. km.

Current Context: India has imposed a 12% provisional safeguard duty for 200 days on five categories of steel products to protect domestic industries from a surge in low-cost imports.

Key Points:

• Definition: A safeguard duty is a temporary measure imposed to protect a domestic industry from serious injury caused by a sudden surge in imports.
• WTO Compliance: It is permitted under the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) as a trade remedy measure.
• Application: Unlike anti-dumping duties, safeguard duties are imposed at a uniform rate on imports from all countries, regardless of pricing practices.
• Purpose: Acts as an emergency response to give domestic industries time to recover and adjust without facing unfair competition from imports.
• Duration: Safeguard duties are time-bound and subject to review and investigation before imposition.

Current Context: Poshan Tracker Application Won the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2024 under the Innovation category.

Key Points:

• Developed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD).
• A digital tool for real-time monitoring of nutrition and childcare services.
• Used by Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) across all Anganwadi Centres (AWCs).
• Tracks key indicators under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) – maternal health, child nutrition, growth, and immunization.
• Enables data-driven policymaking, targeted interventions, and transparency in service delivery.
• Supports goals of POSHAN Abhiyaan (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) and aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on health and nutrition.
• Serves as an example of technology-enabled governance reform and grassroots digital empowerment

• Observed on April 26, established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000.​
• The 2025 theme is “IP and Music: Feel the Beat of IP”, highlighting the role of intellectual property in supporting the music industry.
• Engagement: Encourages understanding of how IP rights foster creativity and innovation, particularly in music.​
• Significance: Emphasizes the importance of protecting creators’ rights to promote cultural and economic development

General Studies Paper-3

Context: According to the April 2025 edition of the IMF’s World Economic Outlook, India will remain the fastest growing major economy over the next two years.

World Economic Outlook Report

• The World Economic Outlook (WEO) is the International Monetary Fund’s key report on global economic trends and policy challenges.
• Published twice a year it provides projections for the near and medium term, covering advanced, emerging, and developing economies.

Key highlights

• India’s Growth outlook: India is projected to remain the fastest-growing large economy and is expected to grow by 6.2 percent in 2025 and 6.3 percent in 2026.
• Global Growth outlook: The global economic growth will be much lower, at 2.8 percent in 2025 and 3.0 percent in 2026.
• Emerging Asia: The region is also expected to grow strongly, led by India, but faces downward revisions due to global trade disruptions.

Reasons for slowdown in world economy

• Tariff War 2.0: Since early 2025, new tariffs by the US on imports, coupled with retaliatory measures, have triggered a fresh wave of trade tensions.
• Slowing Consumer Confidence: As new tariffs increase costs and lower disposable incomes, consumer spending has weakened, especially in the US and Europe.
• Inflation: While headline inflation has cooled from its peak, core inflation remains sticky, particularly in services.
• Diminished Policy Space: High public debt and rising interest rates have limited the ability of governments to respond with countercyclical policies.
• Aging populations in countries like Japan, Germany, and China are reducing the available workforce, constraining long-term growth.

Reasons for India’s Resilience

• Domestic Demand: India’s growth remains largely driven by robust domestic consumption and investment, particularly in infrastructure and services.
• This has weakened global investor sentiment, triggered financial market volatility, and elevated policy uncertainty to unprecedented levels
• Structural Strengths:
  • A young population and expanding digital economy.
  • A growing middle class with increasing consumption power.
  • Government-led capex push and PLI schemes that bolster industrial activity.

Way Ahead

• Structural reforms: Durable structural reforms across several areas, including labor markets, education, regulation and competition, and financial sector policies, can jointly lift productivity and potential growth and support job creation.
• Technological Integration: Technological progress, related to digitalization and AI, can enhance productivity and potential growth.
• Fiscal Prudence: Maintaining fiscal sustainability amid high global debt and rising interest rates is critical.