- Around 162 people were killed by lightning strikes across 12 Indian states between March 2025 and mid-April 2025.
- Lightning is an electrical discharge between charged particles in a cloud and the ground.
- Although air normally acts as an electrical insulator, when the voltage reaches about 3 million volts per meter (V/m), the air's insulating properties break down, allowing a powerful electric current to pass through. Read More
Home / Daily Current Affairs / 26-04-2025
Daily Current Affairs – 26 April, 2025
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- According to the World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Briefs (PEBs), India's extreme poverty dropped significantly from 16% in 2011–12 to 2.3% in 2022–23, marking major progress in poverty reduction.
- They are biannual reports by the World Bank and provide a quick overview of poverty, inequality, and shared prosperity trends in over 100 developing countries.
- It is released during the Spring and Annual Meetings of the World Bank and IMF, they aim to keep poverty reduction central on the global agenda. Read More
World Bank: India’s Extreme Poverty Drops to 2.3%
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About the Poverty and Equity Briefs (PEBs)
- Overseas remittances by Indian residents under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) fell by 29% to $1,964.21 million in February 2025 from $2,768.89 million in January.
- LRS is part of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) 1999 which lays down the guidelines for outward remittance from India.
- Under the Scheme, resident individuals, including minors, can freely remit up to $2,50,000 per financial year for permissible current or capital account transactions. Read More
Overseas Remittances by Indians under LRS were Down 29%
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The Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS)
- Minister of State for Ayush said that India has now emerged as one of the most sought-after destinations for treatment and medical tourism.
- Medical tourism refers to the practice of traveling to another country or region for medical treatment, procedures, or health-related services.
- The medical tourism industry in India is valued at approximately $9 billion, the country attracts patients from across the globe for advanced treatments in cardiology, orthopedics, oncology, and organ transplants. Read More
Medical Tourism in India
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About
- A new study has revealed that soil pollution from toxic heavy metals and metalloids is significantly reducing crop yields and contaminating food supplies across the globe.
- The research found that between 14 percent and 17 percent of the world’s agricultural soils (About 242 million hectares) exceed safe thresholds for at least one hazardous metal.
- This contamination affects an estimated 900 million to 1.4 billion people living in high-risk regions. Read More
Agricultural Land Contaminated by Toxic Heavy Metal Pollution
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Key highlights
- DRDL, a laboratory under DRDO, successfully conducted ground testing of an Active-Cooled Scramjet Subscale Combustor for over 1000 seconds.
- It is a cutting-edge field focused on enabling vehicles to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound).
- It is primarily used in hypersonic cruise missiles and advanced aerospace systems. Read More
DRDO’s Breakthrough: India Advances Hypersonic Propulsion
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About Hypersonic Propulsion Technology
- Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, launched the National Zero Measles-Rubella Elimination campaign 2025-26.
- Measles is a highly contagious viral disease, which affects mostly children.
- It is transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons. Read More
