22 April 2025

• Security: A devastating terror attack struck Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26 civilians, mostly tourists. The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be a Lashkar-e-Taiba affiliate, claimed responsibility.
• Diplomacy: PM Modi was visiting Saudi Arabia when the attack occurred. US Vice President JD Vance was also in India.
• Space: India's first satellite Aryabhata completed 50 years since its launch on 19 April 1975.
• Earth Day: 22 April is World Earth Day, themed "Our Power, Our Planet."

GS area: Internal Security, International Relations

A terror attack at the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir, on 22 April 2025 killed 26 civilians. It is the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

• Location: Baisaran meadow, a popular tourist site accessible only by foot or horseback from Pahalgam.
• Victims: Approximately 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists from various states. A Christian tourist and a local Muslim pony ride operator were also among the dead.
• Claimed by: The Resistance Front (TRF), which the South Asia Terrorism Portal classifies as a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
• Weapons used: M4 carbines and AK-47s.
• Historical comparison: Similar in pattern to the Chittisinghpora massacre (36 Sikh villagers, 2000) and the Kaluchak attack (23 civilians, 2002), both of which occurred during high-profile diplomatic visits.
• Timing: Coincided with PM Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia and US VP JD Vance's presence in India.
• India's immediate response: Cabinet Committee on Security convened. Diplomatic measures against Pakistan were discussed.

Static linkage: Internal security, terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir (GS-3 Internal Security).

GS area: International Relations

India's response to the Pahalgam attack included the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan on 23 April 2025.

• Indus Waters Treaty (1960): Brokered by the World Bank between India and Pakistan. Allocates rivers of the Indus basin between the two countries. India gets the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej). Pakistan gets the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab).
• Suspension significance: Pakistan described the suspension as an "act of war." India characterised it as a response to Pakistan's continued support for cross-border terrorism.
• Pakistan's counter-move: Pakistan suspended the Simla Agreement on 24 April in response.
• Simla Agreement (1972): Signed after the 1971 war. The two countries agreed to resolve disputes bilaterally and peacefully. It also formalised the Line of Control.

Static linkage: India-Pakistan relations, international water treaties, bilateral agreements (GS-2 IR).

GS area: Environment

22 April is World Earth Day, first observed in 1970. The 2025 theme was "Our Power, Our Planet."

• Theme focus: Triple renewable energy capacity globally by 2030. The target aligns with the COP28 Dubai commitment.
• Participation: Over 1 billion people across 192 countries participated in 2025.
• Origin: First observed on 22 April 1970 in the United States, triggered by the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill.

Static linkage: Environment, climate action (GS-3 Environment).

GS area: Science and Technology

India's first satellite, Aryabhata, celebrated its 50th anniversary on 19 April 2025.

• Launch date: 19 April 1975.
• Named after: The 5th-century Indian astronomer and mathematician Aryabhata.
• Launch site: Kapustin Yar, Soviet Union. Launched on a Soviet Kosmos-3M rocket.
• Team: Approximately 25 ISRO engineers, led by Vikram Sarabhai and U.R. Rao.
• Design: Quasi-spherical structure with 26 flat faces. Weight: approximately 360 kg.
• Power: Solar panels generating 46 watts.
• Operations: Lost communication after 5 days due to an electrical fault. Pioneered X-ray astronomy and solar physics experiments.
• Legacy: Featured on India's two-rupee note. The conceptual foundation for subsequent missions including Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan, and Aditya-L1.

Static linkage: Space technology, ISRO history (GS-3 Science and Technology).

GS area: Economy, Governance

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission recorded a historic Rs 1.7 lakh crore turnover for the first time.

• Established: April 1957 under the KVIC Act.
• Ministry: Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
• Growth over 11 years: Sales increased 447 per cent. Production grew 347 per cent.
• Employment: Created 1.94 crore livelihood opportunities, a 49.23 per cent increase.
• Skill training: 7.43 lakh artisans trained, of whom 57.45 per cent are women.
• PMEGP units: 10.18 lakh PMEGP (Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme) establishments operated through KVIC.

Static linkage: Khadi, rural employment, MSME (GS-3 Economy).

• Kokborok language: Language of the Borok (Tripuri) people of Tripura. Belongs to the Tibeto-Burmese family. Made a state language of Tripura on 19 January 1979. Advocates are pushing for its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. A dispute exists over script (Roman versus Bengali script).
• Moonlight solar panels: Stanford University developed thermoelectric-based panels that generate electricity at night using radiative cooling (50 milliwatts per sq metre). Much less than daytime solar output but eliminates battery dependency for low-power applications.