Daily GK One Liners: April 18, 2025

🗞 Daily GK One Liners: April 18, 2025

Your quick summary of the day's important events across National, International, Business, Defence, Sports, and Important Days.

CPCB Introduces ‘Blue Category’ for Environmental Services: The Central Pollution Control Board created a new ‘Blue Category’ for industries like CBG plants and waste-to-energy units, granting them 7-year consent validity for promoting sustainability.
Gujarat Police Launches ‘GP-DRASTI’ Drone Surveillance System: The Gujarat Police unveiled an aerial surveillance program using advanced quadcopter drones across 33 stations for real-time monitoring and crime detection.
India Launches Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU): Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the APMU at NDTL to strengthen India's anti-doping infrastructure.
Bhagavad Gita & Natyashastra Enter UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register: India celebrates global recognition for two iconic manuscripts, boosting its cultural and intellectual heritage.
NITI Aayog Projects $25 Billion Export Potential in Tools Sector: A new report outlines India's strategic opportunity to become a global leader in hand and power tools manufacturing.

Amravati to Host Southeast Asia’s Largest Pilot Training Institute: A new Flying Training Organisation with 34 aircraft and 180 trainees annually launched at Amravati Airport, Maharashtra.
India’s FY25 Trade Report: US Surplus Up, China Deficit Widens: India’s exports to the US rose by 11.59% to $86.5B, while its trade deficit with China increased to $99.2B due to import of EV components and solar panels.

Tanzania Records Hottest Year Since 1970: With an average temperature of 24.3°C in 2024, Tanzania faces climate challenges affecting agriculture and rural livelihoods.
India to Host IBCA Headquarters: India signs agreement to host the International Big Cat Alliance HQ, reinforcing its leadership in wildlife conservation.
Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema Elected Gabon President After Coup: After the 2023 coup, Nguema secures over 90% votes, formally ending Bongo family's long reign in Gabon.

MacGregor Memorial Medal Awarded to 5 Armed Forces Personnel: Recognizing achievements in military exploration and adventure, five officers received the prestigious MacGregor Medal for 2023–24.

Indian Navy Hosts ‘Meghayan-25’ Symposium on Marine Meteorology: Held on World Meteorological Day, the event focused on advancing early warning systems and ocean research.
India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise ‘DUSTLIK-VI’ Begins in Pune: This 6th edition enhances tactical coordination in semi-urban and counter-terror operations.

Justice B.R. Gavai Recommended as Next Chief Justice of India: Justice Gavai set to succeed Justice Sanjiv Khanna, upholding the seniority convention in judiciary appointments.
Gen. Nguema Officially Becomes President of Gabon: Following his interim rule, Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema wins the presidency in a landslide post-coup election.

Sourav Kothari Wins 2025 IBSF World Billiards Championship: Kothari beats Pankaj Advani to clinch his second world title in the timed format held in Ireland.

World Heritage Day 2025 – April 18: Celebrated globally to honor cultural heritage and historic sites under the theme of preservation and awareness.

For a detailed explanation of all the news highlights for April 18, 2025, check out our complete post here.

Gensol Fraud Exposed: Founders allegedly diverted ₹262 crore in EV loans for luxury purchases, triggering a major SEBI crackdown.
BluSmart Shutdown: Gensol’s electric taxi startup collapsed overnight due to financial dependency and loan misuse.
Wider Startup Reckoning: Other high-profile names like Byju’s, Paytm, and Zepto also crumbled under cash burn, misgovernance, and unsustainable models.
Funding Winter Strikes: Venture capital inflows dropped sharply post-2022, exposing startups built on hype over fundamentals.
Common Red Flags: Chronic unprofitability, inflated valuations, debt misuse, and weak governance plagued many companies.
Regulatory Wake-Up Call: SEBI, RBI, and ED have intensified scrutiny to clean up startup practices.
Path Forward: Sustainable growth, ethical leadership, and financial transparency are now essential for survival.

Understand the Full Impact: Learn how the Gensol-BluSmart fraud acted as a tipping point for India’s startup ecosystem.
Spot Startup Warning Signs: Grasp the red flags — from cash burn to unethical practices — that signal deeper problems.
Global and Personal Relevance: The story has far-reaching implications for investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers navigating today’s turbulent economy.