Every year on April 10, the world celebrates World Homeopathy Day, honouring Dr Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homoeopathy. In India, where homoeopathy is deeply rooted, this day holds special significance as it highlights the growing trust in this alternative medical system.

In India, this day holds a particular significance, as more than 100 million people in the country depend on this treatment.

Key points

• The World Homeopathy Day commemorates Dr Samuel Hahnemann, born on April 10, 1755, in Meissen, Germany. 
• In India, the theme for World Homeopathy Day 2025 is ‘Adhyayan, Adhyaapan, Anusandhaan’ (Education, Practice, and Research). 
• India is hosting its largest Homoeopathic symposium on the occasion of World Homoeopathy Day in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• India has 3.45 lakh registered homoeopathy doctors, 277 homoeopathy hospitals, 8,593 homoeopathy dispensaries, and 277 homoeopathy educational institutions.
• The National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) regulates education and practice, replacing the earlier 1973 Act with a modern 2020 Act.
• The Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) runs 35+ research centres and OPDs, advancing evidence-based homoeopathy.
• The Pharmacopoeia Commission (PCIM&H) ensures high-quality medicines through standard pharmacopoeias and testing labs.
• The Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 was replaced by the National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, 2020 to modernize and reform homoeopathic education, practice, and research through a transparent and scientifically-driven regulatory framework.

India has achieved a historic milestone in its export sector, with total goods and services exports reaching $820 billion in the financial year 2024–25. This accomplishment marks a nearly 6% increase from the previous year's figure of $778 billion, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of Indian exporters amid global  challenges.

Key Highlights

Merchandise Exports: Between April and February of the 2024–25 fiscal year, merchandise exports totaled $395.63 billion, slightly surpassing the $395.38 billion achieved in the same period the previous year. 

Services Exports: Services exports saw a significant rise, reaching $354.90 billion during April–February 2024–25, up from $311.05 billion in the prior fiscal period. 

Global Challenges: Despite facing global economic uncertainties—including regional conflicts and weakened demand from developed nations—Indian exporters demonstrated resilience, with February marking the fourth consecutive month of negative growth in exports. 

Government and Industry Collaboration: The growth is attributed to proactive government support and strategic industry collaborations, ensuring exporters navigate global challenges effectively. 

This record-breaking export performance underscores India's strengthening position in the global marketplace, reflecting the combined efforts of the government, industry stakeholders, and exporters.

The 9th Global Technology Summit (GTS) is underway in New Delhi from April 10 to 12, 2025, under the theme "Sambhavna", meaning "possibilities" in Hindi. This annual event brings together industry experts, policymakers, scientists, and stakeholders worldwide to discuss the evolving landscape of technology and its geopolitical implications. 

Key Highlights

Thematic Focus: The summit explores how emerging technologies can drive inclusive growth, strengthen digital governance, and deepen cross-border partnerships. 

Public Sessions: Over 40 public sessions are scheduled, including keynote addresses, ministerial conversations, expert panels, and strategic discussions. 

Global Participation: More than 150 speakers from over 40 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil, UAE, Nigeria, the Philippines, and the European Union, are participating. 

Young Ambassadors Programme: The summit introduces the GTS Young Ambassadors programme, engaging students and young professionals from across India in policy conversations on digital futures, responsible AI, and global tech norms.

Heart Lamp, a short story collection by Kannada writer Banu Mushtaq, has made history by becoming the first Kannada literary work to be shortlisted for the 2025 International Booker Prize.

Translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, this milestone marks a proud moment for regional Indian literature on the global stage.

Key Points:

• Historic First: Heart Lamp is the first Kannada book ever to be shortlisted for the International Booker Prize.
• About the Book: The collection features 12 stories, originally written between 1990 and 2023, exploring the lives of Muslim women in southern India.
• Author: Banu Mushtaq is a prominent Kannada writer, journalist, and lawyer known for her work on women’s rights and social justice.
• Themes: The stories portray everyday experiences, resilience, and identity within marginalized communities, written with subtle humor and emotional depth.
• Translator: Deepa Bhasthi’s translation has been praised for retaining the spirit and sensitivity of the original Kannada text.
• Global Recognition: The judges praised the book’s emotional and moral weight, and its ability to highlight lives often on the societal margins.
• Cultural Pride: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah called it a “proud moment” for Kannada language and literature.
• Prize: The £50,000 prize will be shared equally between the author and translator. The winner will be announced on May 20, 2025

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM) as a sub-scheme of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for the period 2025-2026, with an initial total outlay of Rs.1,600 crore.

Key Points:

Objective: Modernize irrigation water supply networks to deliver water from existing canals or other sources to designated clusters, enhancing water use efficiency at the farm level.

Infrastructure Development: Establish robust backend infrastructure for micro-irrigation, including underground pressurized piped irrigation systems extending up to 1 hectare. 

Technological Integration: Utilize Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for effective water accounting and management.

Expected Outcomes: Increase agricultural production and productivity, thereby boosting farmers' incomes.

Mount Kanlaon, one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines, erupted on April 8, 2025, spewing a massive 4-kilometer ash plume over Negros Island.

Key Points 

• Began at 5:51 a.m., lasting nearly an hour.
• Produced pyroclastic flows and ballistic fragments, igniting summit vegetation.
• Ashfall affected several farming villages; schools in La Carlota and La Castellana were closed.

Alert and Impact:

• Alert Level 3 remains in place, signaling high volcanic unrest.
• Residents advised to avoid the 6-km danger zone.
• No reported injuries or major damage.
• Some flights disrupted; evacuation efforts underway.

Government Action:

• Emergency response activated.
• President Marcos Jr. pledged support for affected communities.
• Mount Kanlaon’s eruption is a stark reminder of the Philippines’ vulnerability as part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.