1 India’s first satellite Aryabhatta completes 50 years
India’s first satellite Aryabhata completed 50 years . Launched on April 19, 1975, the satellite was named after the ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata . Built by the Indian Space Research Organisation, the satellite was launched from Kapustin Yar with assistance from the USSR . The satellite was intended to explore areas including solar physics, aeronomy and X-ray astronomy . Aryabhata was designed as a 26-sided polyhedron , measuring 1.4 metres in diameter and weighing 360 kg . Except for the top and bottom, all the remaining 24 faces of the satellite were covered with solar panels. After spending five days in orbit, Aryabhata experienced a power failure, which halted all experiments. Despite this, valuable data was collected and scientists were provided with important experience in satellite development. The satellite continued to transmit information for a few more days even after the failure. Aryabhata marked India’s entry into space exploration and laid the foundation for the country’s future space missions. With its successful launch, India became the 11th country in the world to send a satellite into orbit.
2 Mountaineer Krishna Dhokle was awarded the prestigious Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports Award by the Maharashtra Government
Giripremi ‘s renowned mountaineer Krishna Dhokle has been awarded the prestigious Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports Award for the year 2022-23 from the Government of Maharashtra . This is the highest state-level recognition award in the field of land-based adventure sports. The award was presented to him by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last evening at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune. Dhokle has been actively involved in the field of mountaineering for over 23 years.
3 Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will fly to the International Space Station in May
India is set to write a defining chapter in its space journey with the inclusion of an Indian astronaut in an international space mission scheduled next month . ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan informed that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force will fly to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axiom Space ‘s AX-4 mission in May 2025. , is a milestone in India’s growing international space cooperation. He is a decorated test pilot of the Indian Air Force who was selected under ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Programme (HSP) and is one of the top contenders for India’s first indigenous manned orbital flight, Gaganyaan mission.
4 Government appointed Mangi Lal Jat as Director General of ICAR
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the appointment of renowned agricultural scientist Mangi Lal Jat as the next Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) . Mangi Lal Jat will replace Himanshu Jain, who recently took over as Director General of International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). Apart from serving as Director General of ICAR, Mangi Lal Jat will also be the new Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE). Mangi Lal Jat was born on May 4, 1971 in Pachkodia, Rajasthan.
5 Successful test of human space launch engine development at Mahendragiri complex
Indian Space Research Organisation – ISRO has developed an alternative material in place of imported columbium material for making nozzle in the fourth stage of PSLV under the self-reliance campaign . The indigenously developed nozzle is made of satellite . This alternative material is made of cobalt metal in which chromium, nickel, tungsten and steel have been mixed. Tests have found that the nozzle made of satellite retains strength even at a high temperature of 1150 degrees Celsius. ISRO has already conducted three tests in this regard and the last test was conducted on April 8, which was completely successful. This high temperature test lasted for 665 seconds. This test was conducted at ISRO campus in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu . Making the nozzle of PSLV from satellite will save 90 percent compared to imported columbium material. ISRO also successfully tested the engine development for carrying humans into space at Mahendragiri campus. This engine will be used in the Gaganyaan mission. The Vikas engine has been manufactured indigenously and is named after Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space program.
In April 2025 , the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be made a partner in the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) , one of INTERPOL’s key advisory bodies. With this, the UAE has become the first country to chair this newly formed permanent committee, and will serve a 2-year term. Lt. Col. Dana Humaid Al Marzouqi, Director-General (DG) of the International Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Interior (UAE), received 67% of the total votes from representatives of INTERPOL Member States during the Committee’s session held in Lyon, France.
7 Justice Dinesh Maheshwari appointed as Chairman of the 23rd Law Commission
In April 2025 , the Ministry of Law and Justice (MoL&J) has appointed former Supreme Court (SC) Judge Justice Dinesh Maheshwari as the Chairperson of the 23rd Law Commission of India (LCI) , who will succeed Justice (Retd.) Ritu Raj Awasthi. Along with him, Advocate Hitesh Jain and Professor D.P. Verma have been appointed as full-time members of the 23rd Law Commission for a term up to 31 August 2027. The 23rd Law Commission was constituted for a three-year term from 1 September 2024 after the term of the 22nd Law Commission ended on 31 August 2024.
8 Rajnath Singh inaugurates 4-day Sansad Khel Maha Kumbh in Lucknow
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 4-day Sansad Khel Mahakumbh at K.D. Singh Babu Stadium in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh , on 19 April 2025. The Khel Mahakumbh will be held in Lucknow from April 19 to 22, 2025. Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak and other dignitaries were also present during the inaugural ceremony. Indigenous sports- Kalaripayattu, Yoga and Mallakhamb were also demonstrated during the inaugural ceremony. Two years ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called upon MPs to organise sporting events in their constituencies to popularise sports at the grassroots level. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh organised the Sansad Khel Mahakumbh in Lucknow. Rajnath Singh represents the Lucknow constituency in the Lok Sabha.
9 India won 11 medals at the 6th Asian Under-18 Athletics Championship 2025
Indian athletes finished their campaign with 11 medals—one gold, five silver and five bronze — at the 6th Asian Under 18 Athletics Championships 2025. The 6th Asian Under 18 Athletics Championships was organized by the Asian Athletics Association at Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz Sports City, Saudi Arabia from April 15 to 18, 2025. Athletes under the age of 18 from 31 Asian countries participated in the event. India won 24 medals at the 5th edition of the Asian Under 18 Athletics Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 2023. Himanshu Jakhar won the only gold for India in the javelin throw event at the 6th Under 18 Asian Championships . His first javelin throw of 67.57m was enough to get him the gold medal. This was the first time India has won a gold medal in the boys’ javelin throw event at the Asian Under 18 Athletics Championships. Nitin Gupta won the first medal for India in the 6th Asian Under 18 Games by winning the silver medal in the boys’ 5000m race walk event . He completed his race in 20 minutes 21.51 seconds, just 0.01 seconds behind gold medalist Zhu Ninghao of China . The first medal in the girls’ category was won by Tannu . She won the silver medal in the 400m race by clocking 57.63 seconds . Imamine Saki of Japan won the gold medal by clocking 57.27 seconds. Nischal among boys and Aarti among girls won two medals each in the continental championship . Nischal won silver in shot put and bronze in discus throw . Aarti won bronze medals in 100m and 200m sprint races . In men’s high jump, Devak Bhushan won the silver medal with a jump of 2.03 meters. . Kuwait’s Mohammed Alduaiz won the gold medal in this event.
10 Indian shooter Arjun Babuta won silver medal in ISSF World Cup shooting
Indian shooter Arjun Babuta has won the silver medal of the ISSF World Cup shooting . In Lima, the capital of Peru, Babuta missed out on winning the gold medal as he lost to China’s Lihao Sheng by a narrow margin in the 10 meter air rifle event . India’s Suruchi Inder Singh won two gold medals in the competition. She won the women’s individual event and the mixed team event with Saurabh Chaudhary. . In the final of the women’s 10 meter air pistol event, Suruchi secured the top position. She defeated her compatriot Manu Bhaker. Manu won silver.
11 McLaren’s Oscar Piastri wins the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix
In April 2025 , Oscar Piastri, Australian Formula One (F1) driver representing United Kingdom (UK) -based McLaren won the Formula 1 (F1) Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix (GP) 2025 held at Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain . It was Piastri’s second win of the 2025 F1 season and fourth win of his F1 career. The Bahrain GP marked the 50th career race start in F1 for Oscar Piastri. With this, he became the first driver to win multiple races in the 2025 F1 season, following his victory at the Chinese GP in March 2025.
12 World Liver Day
World Liver Day is celebrated every year on 19 April to raise awareness about liver diseases across the world and encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle by avoiding fatty foods. According to the World Health Organization, liver diseases are the 10th most common cause of death in India. Diseases such as hepatitis B, C and hepatocellular carcinoma are often caused by poor lifestyles, including excessive alcohol and drug consumption, long-term consumption of unhealthy foods, inactive lifestyle and lack of exercise.