Current Affairs 28 April 2025

India Lifts 171 Million People Out of Extreme Poverty: World Bank.

• According to the World Bank, India reduced extreme poverty from 16.2% in 2011-12 to 2.3% in 2022-23, lifting 171 million people above the $2.15 daily threshold.
• India transitioned into the lower-middle-income category, with poverty under the $3.65 line falling from 61.8% to 28.1%, benefiting 378 million people.
• Rural extreme poverty dropped sharply, narrowing the rural-urban poverty gap.

Odisha Hosts Workshop to Boost Agri Exports with APEDA.

• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority and the Odisha government organized a Capacity Building Programme on 25 April 2025 in Bhubaneswar, showcasing GI products like Koraput Coffee, Kandhamal Haldi, and Nayagad Brinjal.
• The event included 3 technical sessions focusing on organic exports, enhancing rice exports & promoting value addition & GI-tagged products.

Indian Air Force Conducts Major Exercise "Aakraman".

• IAF is conducting Exercise Aakraman with Rafales and Su-30s across the central sector, focusing on ground attack and electronic warfare drills.
• Assets from multiple bases have been mobilized to strengthen operations over diverse terrains.
• The exercise, amid heightened Indo-Pak tensions post-Pahalgam attack, showcases India's aerial edge with Meteor, Rampage, and Rocks missiles.

AI Kiran Initiative Launched to Empower Women in AI.

• AI Kiran, launched by the PSA Office, Verix, and INK Women, aims to nurture women leaders in Artificial Intelligence, addressing gender disparity in the growing $17 billion Indian AI market.
• Despite women outnumbering men in STEM courses, they represent only 19% of senior GenAI roles, highlighting the urgent need for inclusive AI leadership.

Anant Ambani Appointed Executive Director of Reliance Industries.

• As part of succession planning, Anant Ambani has been appointed Executive Director of Reliance Industries for five years starting May 1, 2025, pending shareholder approval.
• He has been active in energy and sustainability, and has served on the boards of Jio Platforms, Reliance Retail Ventures, and Reliance New Energy entities.