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Current Affairs Study PDF – May 2025

Current Affairs for Competitive Exam

Table of Contents
NATIONAL AFFAIRS ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
CABINET APPROVALS .................................................................................................................................................. 6
LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION.................................................................................................................................. 13
FESTIVAL ..................................................................................................................................................................... 39
OTHER NEWS .............................................................................................................................................................. 40
STATE NEWS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….78
GOVT SHCEMES ............................................................................................................................................................... 87
CENTRAL SCHEMES .................................................................................................................................................... 87
STATE GOVT SCHEMES .............................................................................................................................................. 93
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ............................................................................................................................................ 96
VISITS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….108
VISIT TO INDIA ......................................................................................................................................................... 108
FOREIGN VISITS ........................................................................................................................................................ 115
BANKING & FINANCE NEWS ....................................................................................................................................... 116
BANKING NEWS ........................................................................................................................................................ 116
RBI IN NEWS .............................................................................................................................................................. 116
SEBI ............................................................................................................................................................................. 131
LOANS ISSUED BY BANKS ....................................................................................................................................... 135
AGREEMENTS & MoUs SIGNED .............................................................................................................................. 135
OTHER BANK NEWS ................................................................................................................................................. 140
FINANCE NEWS ......................................................................................................................................................... 148
ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS .................................................................................................................................... 150
MoU’s & AGREEMENTS ................................................................................................................................................ 158
COMMITTEES & MEETINGS ........................................................................................................................................ 178
SUMMITS, EVENTS & CONFERENCE .......................................................................................................................... 190
INDEX……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….207
RANKING .................................................................................................................................................................... 207
REPORTS .................................................................................................................................................................... 220
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS .................................................................................................................................. 241
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS ........................................................................................................................................ 266
ACQUISITION & MERGERS .......................................................................................................................................... 294

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................ 304

DEFENCE…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………314
EXERCISE.................................................................................................................................................................... 314
MoU Signed ................................................................................................................................................................ 317
TEST ............................................................................................................................................................................ 317
OTHER DEFENCE NEWS........................................................................................................................................... 319
SPORTS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….326
OBITUARY……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….350
BOOKS & AUTHORS ..................................................................................................................................................... 358
IMPORTANT DAYS........................................................................................................................................................ 361
APPS & WEB PORTAL .................................................................................................................................................. 429
ENVIRONMENT. ............................................................................................................................................................ 434

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS
CABINET APPROVALS
Cabinet Approvals on April 30, 2025
On April 30, 2025, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the
following proposals:
i.The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs(CCPA) approved to include caste enumeration in the
upcoming census.
ii.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of
sugarcane at Rs.355 per quintal (qtl) for sugar season 2025-26 (October – September).
iii.The CCEA approved the proposal for the development of Greenfield High-Speed Corridor from
Mawlyngkhung to Panchgram on Hybrid Annuity model(HAM).
Cabinet approved caste enumeration in the upcoming census:
The CCPA, chaired by PM Narendra Modi has approved to include caste enumeration in the upcoming
census.
• To enumerate caste, some of the states in India conducted surveys, which lacked transparency
and intent, resulted in the step to include caste enumeration in the main census instead of a
separate survey.
Constitutional Basis:
i.As per Article 246, Constitution of India, Census is a union subject listed at 69 in the Union List in the
Seventh Schedule.
ii.The Census Act, 1948 serves as the legal foundation for conducting population censuses in India,
detailing the methodology, responsibilities of census officials, and the penalties for non-compliance or
obstruction during census activities.
Point to Note:
i.Caste was excluded from all census operations conducted
since independence. However, the enumeration of Scheduled
Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) has been consistently
carried out in every census since 1951.
• In 2011, the Government of India(GoI) undertook
the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) to
gather data on the socio-economic status of
households along with their caste details, aiming to
facilitate better policy formulation and targeted welfare measures.
ii.The last comprehensive caste-based enumeration in India was conducted in 1931 during the British
colonial period, which documented 4,147 distinct castes across India.
CCEA approved Sugarcane FRP Rs 355 Per Quintal for 2025-26 sugar season:
The CCEA has approved FRP of sugarcane for sugar season 2025-26 (October- September), at Rs 355/qtl
for a basic recovery rate of 10.25%. The FRP will be applicable for purchase of sugarcane by sugarmills
from farmers starting from 1st October 2025.
• The cabinet also announced a premium of Rs.3.46/qtl for each 0.1% increase in recovery over and
above 10.25%, and reduction in FRP by Rs.3.46/qtl for every 0.1% decrease in recovery.
Key Highlights:
i.The FRP Rs. 355 per qtl at a recovery of 10.25% is higher by 105.2% over the production cost (A2+ FL) of
sugarcane, which is Rs.173/qtl for the sugar season 2025-26.
• The FRP for sugar season 2025-26 is 4.41% higher than the current sugar season 2024-25.

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ii.With a view to protect the interest of sugarcane farmers (GannaKisan), the government has decided
there will be no deduction in the case of sugar mills, where recovery is below 9.5%.
• Such farmers will get Rs. 329.05/qtl for sugarcane in sugar season 2025-26.
About Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP):
The FRP has been determined based on recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices
(CACP) and after consultations with state governments and stakeholders.
• It is the price fixed by the GoI at which the mills are legally bound to pay the farmers for the cane
procured from them.
• The payment for Sugarcane FRP is governed by the Sugarcane Control Order,1966, which
mandates payment within 14 days of the delivery of the cane.
Cabinet approved the development of Greenfield High-Speed Corridor from Mawlyngkhung
to Panchgram:
The CCEA, chaired by PM Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for Development, Maintenance and
Management of Greenfield High-Speed Corridor
along the National Highway – 06 (NH- 06) from Mawlyngkhung (near Shillong) in
Meghalaya to Panchgram (near Silchar) Assam.
• The 166.80 kilometre (km) long four-lane, access-controlled Greenfield expressway, spanning
144.80 km in Meghalaya and 22 km in Assam, will be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Model
(HAM).
• The project has an estimated cost of Rs. 22,864 crore, which includes a Total Civil Cost of Rs.
12,087 crore and Land Acquisition Cost of Rs. 3,503 crore.
i.The proposed Greenfield high-speed corridor will improve the service level for the traffic moving from
Guwahati (Assam) to Silchar(Assam).
ii.It will improve the connectivity to Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and the Barak Valley region of Assam from
mainland Guwahati, which contributes to the enhancement of logistics in the country.
iiiThe corridor will improve connectivity between Assam and Meghalaya, which will increase economic
development, including development of industries in Meghalaya.
It improves inter-city connectivity between Guwahati, Shillong & Silchar traverses through Ri Bhoi, East
Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, EastJaintia Hills in Meghalaya and Cachar district in Assam.
iv.The project alignment integrates with major transport corridors, including NH-27, NH-106, NH-206, NH-
37.

Cabinet approvals on May 7,2025

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following
proposals/schemes:
• Approved the National Scheme for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Upgradation and the Setting
up of five (5) National Centres of Excellence (NCoE) for Skilling.
• Approved the expansion of academic and infrastructure capacity of five Indian Institutes of
Technology (IITs).
• Approved the revised SHAKTI (Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala Transparently in
India) Policy for Coal Allocation to Power Sector.
Cabinet Approves National Scheme for ITI upgradation:
The Union Cabinet has approved the National Scheme for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Upgradation and
the Setting up of five (5) NCoE for Skilling. The aim of the scheme to equip over 2 million youth with
industry-relevant skills over the next five years.

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• The National Scheme for ITI Upgradation is implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development
and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). Within the MSDE, the Directorate General of Training (DGT) is
responsible for overseeing the execution of this scheme.
About National Scheme for ITI upgradation:
i.As per the announcement made in budget 2024-25 and 2025-26, this scheme will be implemented as a
Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with outlay of Rs. 60,000 crore .
ii.This includes central share of Rs. 30,000 crore, state share of Rs. 20,000 crore and industry share of Rs.
10,000 crore with co-financing to the extent of 50% of central share by the Asian Development (ADB) and
World Bank (WB).
iii.The scheme will upgrade 1,000 Government ITIs via hub and spoke arrangement, using an industry-led
Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) model for an outcome-driven implementation strategy.
iv.Under the scheme, infrastructure upgradation for improved Training of Trainers (ToT) facilities will be
undertaken in five National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs), namely Bhubaneswar(Odisha), Chennai(Tamil
Nadu, TN), Hyderabad(Telangana), Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh(UP) and Ludhiana(Punjab)
v.It will create a pipeline of skilled workers aligned with industry demand, thereby addressing skill
shortages in high-growth sectors such as electronics, automotive, and Renewable Energy(RE).
Note: The inaugural National Skill Training Institute (NSTI) was established in 1963. As of 2025, India has
expanded this network to include 33 NSTIs.
Cabinet approves expansion of 5 IITs:
The Union Cabinet has also approved the expansion of academic and infrastructure capacity of five new
IITs in the States/Union Territory (UT) of Andhra Pradesh, AP (IIT Tirupati), Kerala (IIT Palakkad),
Chhattisgarh (IIT Bhilai), Jammu & Kashmir(J&K) (IIT Jammu) and Karnataka (IIT Dharwad).
• The infrastructure expansion is in line with the national effort to double the IIT student capacity
from 65,000 to 1.35 lakh over the past decade, as outlined in the 2025-26 Union Budget.
Key points:
ii.The Cabinet has approved Phase-B of the construction plan for these IITs, with an estimated investment
of Rs.11,828.7 crore over the four-year period from 2025 to 2029.
iii.It has also approved the creation of 130 faculty posts and 5 new state-of-art research parks.
iv.On completion of construction, these five IITs shall be able to cater 13,687 students as against current
student strength of 7,111 i.e. an increase of 6,576 students.
Cabinet Approves revised SHAKTI Scheme:
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the PM Narendra Modi, approved
the Revised SHAKTI (Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala Transparently in India) Policy
to streamline coal allocation to the power sector, enhancing transparency and flexibility to meet both
long-term and short-term coal requirements.
• SHAKTI policy was introduced in 2017 to implement a more transparent way of allocation of coal
linkages through an auction / tariff-based bidding.
Key Features of the Revised SHAKTI Policy:
The revised SHAKTI Policy, besides supporting Brownfield expansion, will promote setting up of Greenfield
Thermal Power Projects primarily at pithead sites i.e. nearer to the coal source.
• Under the revised SHAKTI policy, fresh coal linkages have been sanctioned for thermal power
plants (TPPs) across the central and state sectors, as well as for independent power producers
(IPPs).
• The existing SHAKTI policy has 8 paras for coal allocation, which have now been mapped to the
following two windows:

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Window-I (coal at notified price):

i.Existing mechanism for grant of coal linkage to Central Sector Thermal Power Projects (TPPs) including
Joint Ventures (JVs) and their subsidiary to continue.
ii.Coal linkages to be allocated to States and to an agency authorized by group of States as per existing
mechanism, on the recommendation of Ministry of Power.
iii.Coal linkage earmarked to States may be utilized in their own plants or give it to Independent Power
Producers (IPPs), who are identified through Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) or existing IPPs
having Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) under Section 62 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
Note: Coal linkage is like a long-term contract that ensures steady and assured coal supply to industries or
power plants.
Window-II (premium over notified price):
i.Any domestic coal-based power producer (having PPA or not having PPA) and also Imported coal-based
power plants can secure coal on auction basis for a period upto 12 months or for the period of more than 12
months upto 25 years by paying premium above the notified price and providing the power plants the
flexibility to sell the electricity as per their choice.
iii.Directions would be issued to Coal India Limited (CIL)/ Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) for
implementation of the aforesaid decisions.
Recent Related News:
On April 05,2025, President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The Bill
was passed by Parliament after three days of intense debate in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
• The objective of the Waqf (Amendment) Act,2025, is to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, to redress the
issues and challenges in regulating and managing Waqf properties.

Union Cabinet Approved HCL-Foxconn JV to Set up Rs 3,706 Crore Semiconductor Facility at

Jewar, UP
In May 2025, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved a Joint
Venture (JV) between Noida (Uttar Pradesh, UP) based HCL Group and Taiwanese electronics company Hon
Hai Precision Industry Co., Limited (Foxconn), to set up semiconductor unit near Jewar Airport in the
Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• This marks the 6th semiconductor unit approved by the union cabinet under Rs 76,000 crore
India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).
• Also, this will be the 1st–ever semiconductor chip unit in UP to be established under ISM.
Key Points:
i.The new proposed semiconductor unit will be developed
with an estimated cost of Rs 3,706 crore, of which around Rs
1,500 crore will be provided by the Government of India (GoI)
as part of incentives under the chip manufacturing scheme.
ii.The proposed unit is expected to start production in 2027,
and will be able to meet nearly 40% of India’s local demand for
semiconductor chips.
iii.It will manufacture display driver chips for mobile phones,
laptops, automobiles, Personal Computers (PCs), and various
other devices that have display.
iv.The unit will be designed for 20,000 wafers per month and
will have capacity to produce 36 million chips per month. It is
also expected to generate around 2000 direct job
opportunities.

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India Semiconductor Mission (ISM):

i.ISM, a flagship programme of GoI, was officially launched by the Ministry of Electronics & Information
Technology (MeitY) in 2021 with total budget outlay of Rs 76,000 crore (or, around USD 10 billion).
ii.It aimed to develop a full-stack semiconductor ecosystem locally, from design to manufacturing and
testing.
iii.The mission has set the target to reduce India’s dependence on chip import (at present, India imports
65%-70% of chips components, mostly from China), promote domestic production, and make India hub for
chipmakers globally.
Other 5 Semiconductor Units Approved under ISM:
i.United States of America (USA)-based chip maker company, Micron Technology Inc. will set up
semiconductor testing and manufacturing unit in Sanand, Gujarat for approximately Rs 22,000 crore.
ii.Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, Tata Electronics Private
Limited (TEPL) will establish semiconductor fab facility in Dholera, Gujarat (India) with estimated cost of
Rs 91,526 crore.
• The proposed fab facility will be developed in a technology partnership with Powerchip
Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. (PSMC), Taiwan.
iii.Jagiroad (Assam)-based Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt. Limited (TSAT), India’s 1st
indigenous and greenfield semiconductor assembly test facility will set up Outsourced Semiconductor
Assembly and Testing (OSAT) facility in Morigaon, Assam, with an investment of Rs 27,120 crore in
February 2024.
iv.Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based CG Power and Industrial Solutions Limited’s will establish an OSAT facility
in Sanand, Gujarat with an investment of Rs 7,584 crore.
• The facility will be developed as a Joint Venture (JV) partnership with USA-based Renesas
Electronics America Inc., and Thailand-based STARS Microelectronic.
v.Gurugram (Haryana)-based Kaynes Technology India Limited (KTIL) will set up OSAT facility at
Sanand, Gujarat for Wire Bond Interconnect, Substrate Based Packages with an investment of Rs 3,307
crorewas approved.
About Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY):
Union Minister- Ashwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha member- Odisha)
Minister of State (MoS)- Jitin Prasada (Constituency- Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, UP)

Cabinet Approvals on May 28, 2025

On May 28, 2025, the union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved the following
proposal schemes:
i.Approved continuation of Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) for Financial Year 2025-26(FY26)
with existing 1.5% Interest Subvention (IS).
ii.Approved two multitracking projects across Indian Railways(IR) in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
(MP)
iii.Approved Rs.3,653 crore four-lane Badvel-Nellore National Highway in Andhra Pradesh (AP)
iv.Approved Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Kharif crops for Marketing Season 2025-26
Extension of MISS for FY26 with existing 1.5% IS:
The union cabinet has approved the continuation of the 1.5% Interest Subvention (IS) component under the
Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) for FY26 to double farmers’ income, strengthen the rural credit
system, and boost agricultural growth.
About Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS):
i.MISS is a Central Sector Scheme (CSS) aimed at ensuring the availability of short-term credit to farmers at
an affordable interest rate through Kisan Credit Card (KCC).

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ii.Farmers received short-term loans of up to Rs.3 lakh through KCC at a subsidized interest rate of 7%,
with 1.5% interest subvention provided by eligible lending institutions.
iii.Additionally, farmers repaying loans regularly are eligible for an incentive of up to 3% as Prompt
Repayment Incentive (PRI) effectively reducing their interest rate on KCC loans to 4%
• For loans taken exclusively for animal husbandry or fisheries, the interest benefit is applicable up
to Rs.2 lakh
iv.There are more than 7.75 crores of KCC accounts in India. Institutional credit disbursement through KCC
increased from Rs.4.26 lakh crore in 2014 to Rs.10.05 lakh crore by December 2024.
• Overall agricultural credit flow also rose from Rs.7.3 lakh crore in FY14 to Rs.25.49 lakh crore in
FY24.
Approved two Railway projects in Maharashtra and MP:
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the proposal of two multitracking
projects across Indian Railways(IR), as part of Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti National Master Plan (PMGS-
NMP) in MP and Maharashtra, to ensure seamless and faster transportation of both passengers and goods.
• These infrastructure projects, with an estimated cost of Rs 3,399 crore, are planned to be
completed by the Financial year 2029-30(FY30).
Key Points:
i.The multi tracking projects include Ratlam to Nagda (3rd and 4th line) of 41 Kilometre (Km) in MP
and Wardha to Balharshah (4th line) of 135 km in Maharashtra.
ii.The two projects covering four districts across the states of Maharashtra and MP, will increase the existing
network of IR by about 176 kilometre(km).
iii.The proposed multi-tracking project will enhance connectivity to approximately 784 villages, which have
a population of about 19.74 lakh.
iv.These railway routes serve as vital corridors for transporting key commodities including coal, cement,
clinker, gypsum, fly ash, containers, agricultural produce, and petroleum products.
Note: In the Union Budget for FY26, the Government of India(GoI) allocated Rs 2.52 lakh crore to the
Ministry of Railways(MoR).
Approved Development of 4-lane Highway in AP:
The CCEA has approved the construction of 4- Lane Badvel-Nellore Corridor with a length of 108.134
km at a cost of Rs.3653.10 crore in Andhra Pradesh (AP) on National Highway (NH-67) on Design-Build-
Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) Mode.
Key Points:
i.The approved corridor will provide connectivity to important nodes in the three Industrial Corridors of AP
including, Kopparthy Node on the Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC), Orvakal Node on
Hyderabad-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC).
ii.The Badvel Nellore Corridor starts from Gopavaram village, AP on the existing NH-67 in the YSR Kadapa
District and terminates at the Krishnapatnam Port Junction on NH-16 (Chennai-Kolkata) in SPSR Nellore,
AP.
• The corridor will also provide strategic connectivity to the Krishnapatnam Port, which has been
identified as a priority node under CBIC.
iii.The proposed corridor is set to reduce the travel distance to Krishnapatnam Port by 33.9 km, bringing it
down from 142 km to 108.13 km compared to the existing Badvel–Nellore route.
Approved MSP for Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2025-26:
The CCEA approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif Crops for Marketing
Season 2025-26, to ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their produce.
• Alongside the MSP revisions, the government has extended the facility for low-interest loans to
farmers, further supporting agricultural financing and easing credit access.

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i.The highest absolute increase in MSP over the year 2024-25 has been recommended
for nigerseed (Rs.820 per quintal), followed by Ragi (Rs.596 per quintal), Cotton (Rs.589 per quintal) and
Sesamum (Rs.579 per quintal).
ii.The expected margin for farmers over their cost of production is estimated to be highest in the case of
bajra (63%), followed by maize (59%), tur (59%) and urad (53%), and for the rest of the crops, margin to
farmers over their cost of production is estimated to be at 50%.
MSP for Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2025-26:

MSP Increase in 2025-26

MSP 2025-26
Crops over 2024-25
(per quintal)
(per quintal)

Cereals

Paddy Common Rs.2369 Rs.69

Paddy Grade A Rs.2389 Rs.69

Jowar Hybrid Rs.3699 Rs.328

Jowar Maldandi Rs.3749 Rs.328

Bajra Rs.2775 Rs.150

Ragi Rs.4886 Rs.596

Maize Rs.2400 Rs.175

Pulses

Tur/Arhar Rs.8000 Rs.450

Moong Rs.8768 Rs.86

Crops

Urad Rs.7800 Rs.400

Oilseeds

Groundnut Rs.7263 Rs.480

Sunflower seed Rs.7721 Rs.441

Soybean (Yellow) Rs.5328 Rs.436

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Sesamum Rs.9846 Rs.579

Nigerseed Rs.9537 Rs.820

Commercial

Cotton (Medium Staple) Rs.7710 Rs.589

Cotton (Long Staple) Rs.8110 Rs.589

Recent Related News:
In April 2025, the union cabinet has approved Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) with
total outlay of Rs 22,919 crore to make India Atmanirbhar in electronics supply chain. This scheme aimed to
develop a robust component ecosystem by attracting large international and domestic investments in
electronics component manufacturing ecosystem.

LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION

MP Becomes 1st state in India to Launch AI-Based Real-Time Forest Alert System
On April 29, 2025, Madhya Pradesh (MP) became the first state in India to implement an Artificial
Intelligence (AI)-based Real-Time Forest Alert System to monitor forest encroachments and tree felling.
• The pilot project is launched in 5 districts of MP,
namely Shivpuri, Guna, Vidisha, Burhanpur, and Khandwa, and will expand statewide from
7th June 2025.
i.The system utilizes satellite imagery, machine learning, and field feedback to detect changes within forest
areas as small as 10×10 meters (m).
ii.It integrates satellite data from Google Earth Engine, AI algorithms, and ground feedback into a unified
platform.
iii.It can identify activities such as crop sowing, construction, and land-use changes.
iv.Upon detection, immediate alerts are sent to the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), who then directs beat
guards for on-site verification.
v.The system was conceptualized and coded by Akshay Rathore, DFO of Guna, an alumnus of the Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee (Uttarakhand) and supported by Aseem Shrivastava, the Head of
Forest Force (HoFF), Indian Forest Service (IFS) and S. Annigeri, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of
Forest (APCCF- IT) in MP

MoHFW launches New Digital Platform, CGHS Beneficiaries to receive Faster Services
In April 2025, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) launched a new version of its flagship
programme, Health Management Information System (HMIS), to access faster services under the Central
Government Health Scheme (CGHS).The platform developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced
Computing (C-DAC) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY) went live from
April 28, 2025.
• Besides HMIS, the ministry has re-launched CGHS mobile application(app) for Android and iOS
(formerly iPhone Operating System) with upgraded interface and digital services.
Key changes:
i. The previous CGHS websites, www.cghs.gov.in and www.cghs.nic.in, were officially deactivated. All
services and updates are now accessible exclusively through the new portal:cghs.mohfw.gov.in .

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ii.The revamped HMIS enables faster, more transparent and user-friendly access to CGHS services. The
former CGHS software, which has been in use since 2005, lacked modern Information Technology(IT)
standards, cybersecurity frameworks, and user expectations.
ii.Under the upgraded version, the ministry has introduced Permanent Account Number(PAN)- based
identification of beneficiaries; real-time tracking; automated payment verification, and fully online
application workflows.
• The system will generate Short Message Service(SMS) and electronic mail(e-mail)alerts at each
stage of application processing, which increases transparency and reduces in-person follow-ups.
iii.CGHS is contributions are accepted only through the new portal on the website, manual payment process
has been discontinued from the date of operation.
About the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS):
i.CGHS was introduced in 1954 by the MoHFW to provide comprehensive medical care to the Central
Government employees and pensioners.
• It caters to the needs of eligible beneficiaries covering the four pillars of democratic set up in
India namely Legislature, Judiciary, Executive and Press.
ii.It covers a range of medical services for its beneficiaries, including outpatient and inpatient treatment,
specialist.
iii.CGHS provides healthcare through the following systems of medicine:
Allopathic, Homeopathic, Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Yoga.
iv.CGHS is unique of its kind due to the large volume of beneficiary base, covering approximately 42 lakh
beneficiaries in 80 cities across India, aiming to include more cities to improve the accessibility of the
services.
About Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW):
Union Minister – Jagat Prakash Nadda (Rajya Sabha – Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS) – Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav(Buldhana, Maharashtra); Anupriya Patel – (Mirzapur,
Uttar Pradesh, UP)

India to Launch First Manned Deep Ocean Mission ‘Samudrayaan’ by End of 2026
In May 2025, Balaji Ramakrishnan, Director of the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) under the
Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), announced that India’s first manned deep ocean mission,
‘Samudrayaan’, will be launched by 2026.
• The mission will use the manned submersible vehicle ‘Matsya’ to reach a depth of 6,000 metres (6
km) under the sea with 3 scientists.
• ‘Samudrayaan’ is a part of India’s Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) aimed at exploring deep-sea
resources and conducting scientific research.
• The mission supports India’s aspirations in blue economy development, deep-sea mining, and
underwater biodiversity studies.
Note:The announcement was made at the inaugural event of a five-day national training programme on the
‘Role of Fisheries in the Blue Economy’, jointly organized Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-
Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) by at CMFRI in Kochi,
Kerala.
Key Points:
i.NIOT, an autonomous society under MoES, is the implementing nodal agency of the deep ocean mission.
ii.“Matsya”, a 25-tonne 4th generation vehicle, developed with India’s indigenous technology, is specifically
engineered to withstand pressure and temperature in the deeper ocean, with a hull made of titanium.
iv.The mission is expected to revolutionize India’s deep-sea research, opening avenues for the assessment of
both living and non-living resources in the deep ocean.

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• The mission will be instrumental in collecting critical samples from the deeper oceanic zone, offer
opportunities for scientists to understand the unique characteristics of the organism and the
water in the region.
v.The launch is planned as a step-by-step process, and a crucial phase of the 500m depth trial is expected by
the end of 2025.
About ‘Samudrajivah’:
i.‘Samudrajivah’ is an innovative technology, developed to focus on improved large-scale open sea farming.
• This technology is currently in the demonstration phase.
ii.The electronically monitored submerged fish cages are designed for offshore regions, capitalizing on the
nutritionally rich deep-sea environment to promote the fish growth.
iii.Having different sensors, Samudrajivah is capable of remote monitoring of individual fish biomass,
growth and movement and water quality parameters.
About the National Institute of Ocean Technology:
Director – Balaji Ramakrishnan
Headquarters – Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Founded – November 1993
About ICAR Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI):
Director – Dr. Grinson George
Headquarters – Kochi, Kerala
Founded – 1947

President Draupadi Murmu Launches Key Initiatives for Welfare of Senior Citizens
On 2nd May 2025, the President of India, Draupadi Murmu attended an event, “Ageing with Dignity –
Initiatives for the Welfare of Senior Citizens” at Rashtrapati Bhawan Cultural Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.
The event was organized by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE).
• Several key initiatives dedicated to the well-being of senior citizens were launched during the
event.
Key People:
Union Minister Dr.Virendra Kumar, MoSJE, Union Ministers of State (MoS), Dr. Ramdas Bandu
Athawale and B.L. Verma, MoSJE were also present at the event.
Key Initiatives:
i.The event witnessed the launch of Senior Citizens Welfare Portal, a comprehensive digital platform
aimed at empowering elderly citizens, through seamless access to government schemes, healthcare benefits,
welfare services, and updates on relevant events.
ii.President Droupadi Murmu virtually inaugurated five new Senior Citizens Homes, located
in Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh, AR), Wokha (Nagaland), Vellore (Tamil Nadu), TN, Anakapalli (Andhra
Pradesh, AP), and Nainital (Uttarakand).
• These facilities, supported by the MoJSE’s programme aligned with the Maintenance and Welfare
of Parents and Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act, are designed to provide a safe and dignified
environment for indigent senior citizens of the country.
iii.She also distributed Aids and Assistive devices under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY). This
initiative underscores the government’s commitment to addressing the health and mobility needs of the
elderly population.
• RVY is a Central Sector Scheme for providing Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for senior-
citizens belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) category. The scheme is implemented through the
sole implementing agency, Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO), a Public Sector
Undertaking under the MoSJE.

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iv.During the event, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment(DoSJE), MoSJE
andBrahmakumaris organization, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), reaffirming a collective
commitment to inter-generational bonding, overall well-being and creating an inclusive society for the
senior citizens.
About Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE):
Union Minister – Dr. Virendra Kumar (Constituency – Tigamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Minister of State (MoS) – Ramdas Bandu Athawale (Rajya Sabha – Maharashtra); B.L.Verma – (Constituency
– Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, UP)

STRIDE-EUI Launched to Strengthen EU-India Engagement in Trade, Tech and Security

In May 2025, New Delhi (Delhi )-based The Dialogue and Leuven (Belgium)-based Grayspace Law and
Policy Consulting Firm officially launched Strategic Research, Innovation & Dialogue for European Union
(EU)-India Engagement (STRIDE-EUI) through a high impact discussion. This initiative aimed to strengthen
the strategic partnership between India and EU.
• STRIDE-EUI based in New Delhi (Delhi) and Brussels (Belgium), will build a bridge between the
political capitals, connecting policy and practice, government and business, ambition and action.
Key Speakers: Amb. Gurjit Singh, former Ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the African Union (AU); Malathi Narayanan, Director-General (DG) of Indian
Beauty & Hygiene Association (IBHA); Eric Pol, Chairman of MyData Global; Sagar Singamsetty, founder and
Managing Director (MD), Grayspace Law and Policy Consulting; Bhoomika Agarwal, Senior Research
Associate, The Dialogue, among others.
Key Points:
i.STRIDE-EUI through thematic convenings, expert whitepapers, and collaborative programs, will act as a
catalyst for shaping resilient and future-focused EU-India relations.
ii.The launch event witnessed dozens of participants and brought together eminent personalities from
industry, civil society, the international community, and academia to promote the future of EU-India
cooperation across key areas like: technology, trade, and security.
iii.This newly launched initiative aims to promote deeper engagement between key players from both
regions, especially with developments pertaining to the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC).
iv.With its formal launch completed, STRIDE-EUI will start a robust calendar of dialogues, roundtables, and
policy publications.
• It will also provide a strategic interface for governments, businesses, and civil society to co-create
solutions to shared global challenges from digital governance to supply chain resilience and
ethical tech innovation.
About The Dialogue:
Founding Director- Kazim Rizvi
Headquarters-New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 2017
About Grayspace Law and Policy Consulting Firm:
Founder and Managing Director (MD)- Sagar Singamsetty
Headquarters- Leuven, Belgium

Adani Group Launches India’s First Hydrogen-Powered Truck for Mining in Chhattisgarh
In May 2025, Ahmedabad (Gujarat)-based Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), the flagship company of the
Adani Group, introduced India’s first hydrogen-powered fuel cell truck for mining logistics in
Raipur, Chhattisgarh, to promote cleaner transportation and replace diesel vehicles in its logistics
operations.

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• The truck, flagged off by Vishnu Deo Sai, Chief Minister (CM) of Chhattisgarh, will be used to
transport coal from the Gare Pelma III Block (Raigarh, Chhattisgarh) to a state-run power plant
in Chhattisgarh.
Note: The state-owned Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company Limited (CSPGCL) appointed AEL as
the mine developer and operator for the Gare Pelma III block through a competitive bidding process.
Key Highlights:
i.Each truck is equipped with smart technology and three hydrogen tanks, capable of carrying up
to 40 tonnes(t) of cargo over a 200-kilometre (km) range.
• Its Fuel System is equipped with three hydrogen tanks integrated with a Proton Exchange
Membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack for efficient and clean energy conversion.
ii.AEL developed the hydrogen fuel cell battery-operated trucks in collaboration with Indian and
international energy technology firms and a major auto manufacturer.
iii.The project is executed by Adani Natural Resources (ANR) and Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL),
subsidiaries of AEL.
• ANR sources hydrogen cells from ANIL, which specializes in green hydrogen, solar modules, wind
turbines, and battery manufacturing.
Environmental Impact:
i.Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles emit only water vapour and warm air, significantly lowering emissions and
noise compared to diesel trucks.
ii.The initiative aligns with India’s goal of achieving zero carbon emissions by 2070 and reducing crude oil
imports.
About Chhattisgarh:
Chief Minister (CM) – Vishnu Deo Sai
Governor – Ramen Deka
Capital – Raipur
Festival – Hareli Festival, Madai Festival

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Launched India’s first two Genome-edited
Rice Varieties
In May 2025, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers
Welfare (MoA&FW) announced the development of India’s first two genome-Edited (GE)rice varieties
namely, ‘DRR Dhan 100 Kamla’ and ‘Pusa DST Rice 1′ at Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium,
National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC) in New Delhi (Delhi).
• These new varieties of rice were developed by New Delhi (Delhi)-based Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR) using genome-editing technology based on CRISPR-Cas, which
makes accurate changes in the genetic material of organism without adding foreign
Deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA).
• These newly developed varieties are expected to bring revolutionary changes in terms of higher
production, climate adaptability, and water conservation and will be made available to farmers
for cultivation within 4 to 5 years.
Key Points:
i.While addressing the event, the Union Agriculture Minister highlighted that it is due to the efforts of the
Government of India (GoI) which led to the export of 48,000 crore worth of Basmati Rice annually.
ii.He also introduced the ‘Minus 5 Plus 10’ formula, which means reducing the area of rice cultivation by 5
million hectares (mh) while increasing rice production by 10 Million Tons (MT) in the same area. This will
give additional space for the cultivation of pulses and oilseeds.

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iii.During the event, the Union Minister honored the scientists who contributed to the research of the two
varieties.
• Dr. Satyendra Kumar Mangruthia, Dr. R.M. Sundaram, Dr. R. Abdul Fiyaz, Dr. C.N. Neerja, and Dr.
S.V. Sai Prasad were honored for their contribution to the development of DRR Rice 100 (Kamla).
• Dr. Vishwanathan C, Dr. Gopal Krishnan S, Dr. Santosh Kumar, Dr. Shivani Nagar, Dr. Archana Vats,
Dr. Soham Ray, Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh and Dr. Pranjal Yadav, were honored for their work on
Pusa DST Rice 1.
Background:
i.ICAR started GE research in 2018 in order to enhance two major rice varieties i.e. Samba Mahsuri
(BPT5204) and Maruteru 1010 (MTU 1010), under the National Agricultural Science Fund (NASF).
ii.The final result of this research is the two advanced varieties that offer certain benefits like: 19% increase
in yield, 20% reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, saving of 7,500 million cubic meters(MCM) of
irrigation water and enhanced tolerance to drought, salinity, climate stresses.
iii.The GoI had allocated Rs 500 crore for GE of agricultural crops during the Union Budget for Financial
Year 2023-24 (FY24).
About DRR Dhan 100:
i.DRR Dhan 100 (Kamla) was developed by ICAR affiliated institute, Hyderabad (Telangana)-based Indian
Institute of Rice Research (IIRR).
ii.It has been derived from a popular high yielding green rice Samba Mahsuri.
iii.It can mature 15-20 days ahead of its original (approximately 130 days) and yield 25% more, which is
about 8 tonnes more per hectare(ha).
• Due to the short harvesting period of this crop, it can help in saving water and fertilizers and
reducing methane gas emissions.
iv.It has retained the same grain and cooking quality just like the original variety i.e. Samba Mahsuri.
v.As per ICAR, GE ‘Kamla’ is recommended for use in Andhra Pradesh (AP), Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil
Nadu (TN), Puducherry, Kerala (Zone VII), Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh (MP) (Zone V),
Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh (UP), and West Bengal (WB) (Zone III).
• While, other new variety i.e. ‘Pusa DST Rice 1’ is also recommended for use in most of these
states.
About Pusa DST Rice 1:
i.Pusa DST Rice 1 was developed by ICAR affiliated institute, New Delhi (Delhi)-based Indian Agricultural
Research Institute (IARI).
ii.It has been developed from MTU1010, a salinity tension tolerant crop.
iii.This new variety of rice can increase yields by 9.66% to 30.4% in saline and alkaline soils, with the
potential for maximum 20% increase in production.
iv.This new variety has claimed to have recorded an average paddy yield of 3.508 tonnes/hectare under
inland salinity stress conditions, over 3.199 tonnes of MTU-1010 variety.
About Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR):
Director General (DG)- Dr. Mangi Lal Jat
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 1929
About Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW):
Union Minister- Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Constituency- Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Minister of State (MoS) – Ram Nath Thakur (Rajya Sabha- Bihar); Bhagirath Choudhary (Constituency-
Ajmer, Rajasthan)

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MSDE Launched Pilot Apprenticeship Scheme for Youth in NER

On May 20, 2025, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched a Pilot
Apprenticeship Scheme under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) to boost
apprenticeship opportunities in the North Eastern Region (NER). The scheme aims to provide structured,
paid, and high-quality apprenticeship training to the youth in the Northeastern states.
• The scheme was jointly launched by the Union Minister of State(MoS) (Independent Charge, IC),
Jayant Chaudhary, MSDE and Lalduhoma, Chief Minister (CM) of Mizoram at an event held in
Aizawl, Mizoram.
• Rs. 43.93 crore has been earmarked for the pilot project, which includes Rs. 4 crores for
outreach, capacity building, and project implementation
Key People:
Union MoS, Lalnghinglova hmar, Ministry of Labour,
Employment (MoL&E) and MSDE; Sapdanga, Minister of
Home, Government of Mizoram; Madhumita Das,
Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor, MSDE,
Shreeshail Malge, MSDE were also present.
About Pilot Apprenticeship Scheme:
i.Under the advanced apprenticeship scheme,
approximately 26,000 youths from the northeast region
will receive an additional Rs.1,500 per month for one
year.
• It is over and above the existing stipend of up
to Rs.1,500 per month, provided under NAPS,
which is implemented across India.
ii.The enhanced financial support is designed to address
mobility-related challenges and ensure that youth from
the region can access training opportunities both within and outside the northeast.
iii.The implementation of the scheme will be overseen by Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE),
Guwahati(Assam), and New Delhi(Delhi) based National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), supported
by Regional Directorate of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship(RDSDEs), and local institutions.
iv.Under the pilot initiative, 1,000 youth will be trained by 2026 through a blended training model
comprising 120 hours of classroom instruction and 210 hours of On-The-Job training (OJT) at Welspun’s
state-of-the-art facilities in Anjar and Vapi, Gujarat.
v.Welspun will lead curriculum design, training delivery, and guaranteed captive placement for successful
candidates, while NSDC will support mobilization, pre-screening, digital onboarding via the Skill India
Digital Hub (SIDH), and funding of classroom training.
• Upon completion, candidates will receive joint certification from NSDC and Welspun, significantly
enhancing their employability.
vi.The initiative supports Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi’s vision of “Ashta Lakshmi” and “Viksit Bharat,
Viksit North East”, aiming to bridge the education-industry gap.
Sidelines of the Event:
During the event, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged between the NSDC and
Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Welspun Living Limited, to operate a high-impact initiative for
apprenticeship-linked skilling in the textile sector.
• The objective of the MoU is to build a future-ready workforce for operator roles, with a focus on
inclusive participation, ensuring that at least 50% of the trained candidates are women.

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About Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship(MSDE):

Minister of State (MoS)(Independent Charge, IC) – Jayant Chaudhary (Rajya Sabha – Uttar Pradesh, UP)

DoP Releases Commemorative Postage Stamp for 125 Years of Kodaikanal Solar Observatory
In May 2025, the Department of Posts (DoP) (Formerly known as India Post), under the Ministry of
Communications (MoC), Government of India (GoI) has released a commemorative postage stamp
of denomination Rs.5, celebrating 125 years of Tamil Nadu (TN) based Kodaikanal Solar
Observatory (KSO) at an event held in Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The stamp features an H-alpha image of the sun taken at the KSO on May 6, 2024.
• The commemorative stamp was released by S. Rajendra Kumar, Chief Postmaster General,
Karnataka Circle, in the presence of A. S. Kiran Kumar, Chairperson, Governing Council, IIA, and
Former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
i.KSO is located at an altitude of approximately 2343 meters (m) or 7,687 feet above sea level in the Palani
Hills, TN, and was established on 1st April 1899.
ii.KSO is operated by IIA, and it primarily focuses on Solar Spectroscopy, Sunspot Observations, Magnetic
field studies, Helioseismology, and Long-term solar activity.
iii.It is India’s oldest astronomical observatory and maintains one of the world’s longest continuous solar
data records (over 45,000 digitized solar images).

IEPFA & SEBI Launched ‘Niveshak Shivir’ to Help Investors Reclaim Unclaimed Dividends &
Shares
In May 2025, the New Delhi (Delhi) based Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under
the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), in collaboration with the Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Securities
and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), conducted a strategic preparatory meeting in Mumbai to
launch ‘Niveshak Shivir’, a nationwide initiative aimed at helping investors reclaim unclaimed shares and
dividends.
• The meeting was chaired by Anita Shah Akella, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), IEPFA and Joint
Secretary, MoCA, alongside senior SEBI officials, including Ananth Narayan G., Whole-Time
Member, and Executive Directors (ED) – Shashi Kumar Valsakumar and Jeevan Sonparote, and
other SEBI officials.
Key Features Niveshak Shivir:
i.Investor Helpdesks: Dedicated helpdesks will be set up at Mumbai and Ahmedabad (Gujarat), enabling
direct interaction with Registrars and Transfer Agents (RTAs) such as Link Intime India Private Limited and
KFin Technologies Limited.
ii.Demat Shareholders: Investors with dematerialised shares due for transfer to IEPFA are advised to
contact the respective company for direct assistance.
iii.Physical Shareholders: Investors should verify the status of their shares on the official IEPFA portal. If
the shares are already transferred, they can initiate a claim using Form IEPF-5 or consult their
company’s RTA.
iv.Search Facility: A digital tool provided by IEPFA allows shareholders to track the status of shares,
helping ensure timely claims and avoid unnecessary delays.
v.Integrated Digital Portal (IDP) (to launch by August 2025) for real-time tracking and streamlined claims.
About Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA):
IEPFA was established in 2016 under the provisions of Section 125 of the Companies Act, 2013
Ministry: Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Anita Shah Akella (Joint Secretary, MoCA)

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Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi

About Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI):
SEBI was constituted as a non-statutory body on April 12, 1988 through a resolution of the Government of
India(GoI) and was established as a statutory body in the year 1992.
Chairperson – Tuhin Kanta Pandey
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra

DFCCIL Launches India’s Longest Rail Flyover Girder at Kalamboli, Maharashtra

In May 2025, the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL), headquartered in New
Delhi(Delhi), achieved a significant engineering milestone by launching India’s longest Rail Flyover(RFO)
girder at Kalamboli,Maharashtra, on the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT)–Nilje section of the Western
Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC).
• This feat is part of the WDFC project, aimed at enhancing freight transportation efficiency.
• This marks one of the most complex railway engineering projects in India, showcasing advanced
construction technology and precision planning.
i.Installation of a 110.5-metre(m)-long open web steel girder, weighing approximately 1,500 tonnes(t),
marking the longest rail flyover girder in India.
ii.The girder was launched with a 34-m radial shift over active Indian Railways tracks, without disrupting
regular train services, showcasing advanced engineering and coordination.
Note: DFCCIL is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Railways(MoR), established in
2006, responsible for planning and development of dedicated freight corridors in India.

MHA Launches e-Zero FIR System to Combat Cyber Financial Crimes

In May 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) introduced the electronic-Zero First Information
Report (e-Zero FIR) initiative through its Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), aimed at
accelerating action against cyber financial crimes.
• The pilot project was launched in Delhi and will be expanded to other States and Union
Territories (UTs) in a phased manner.
i.The e-Zero FIR initiative enables automatic registration of FIRs for cyber financial complaints involving a
loss of Rs 10 lakh and above reported through the New Delhi based National Cybercrime Reporting Portal
(NCRP) or the Cybercrime Helpline 1930.
ii.It integrates the I4C’s National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), Delhi Police’s e-FIR platform, and the
National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB) Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) to
streamline cybercrime reporting and investigation.
iii.These FIRs are initially registered with the e-Crime Police Station of Delhi, irrespective of the
complainant’s location, and are then transferred to the respective territorial Cybercrime Police Stations.
• But, Complainants must visit the concerned Cybercrime Police Station within 3 days to convert
the Zero FIR into a regular FIR.
iv.Aligns with Section 173(1) and 1(ii) of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, enabling
electronic FIR registration irrespective of jurisdiction.

DST Launched 1st Cluster of CCU Testbeds in Academia-Industry Collaboration for Cement
Industry
In May 2025, the Department of Science & Technology (DST), which works under the Ministry of Science &
Technology (MoS&T) launched 5 Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) testbeds in the cement industry.
This is a 1st–of-its-kind research and innovation cluster to reduce industrial carbon emissions.

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• The testbeds have been established across 5 states: Haryana, Uttar Pradesh(UP), Maharashtra,
Andhra Pradesh(AP), and Goa, with the pilot facility situated in Ballabgarh, Haryana.
• The initiative marks a major step towards India’s Climate Action Plan to achieve its Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDCs) and transition to a carbon-neutral economy by 2070.
Background:
i.These 5 CCU testbeds were formally announced by the DST on the occasion of 27th National Technology
Day celebrations (observed on May 11, 2025) held at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi
(Delhi).
ii.Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, MoST, who attended the event
as Chief Guest, handed over the grants to the Test bed teams.
• Key Dignitaries: Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary of Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under
MoST; Dr. Ajai Choudhary, Co-founder of HCL; Dr. Rajesh Pathak, Secretary of Technology
Development Board (TDB) under DST; among others were present at the event.
About CCU Testbeds:
i.The Climate Energy and Sustainable Technology (CEST), division of DST launched a unique call to mobilise
academia-industry consortia proposal for deployment CCU in the cement sector.
ii.These newly launched CCU testbeds will function under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. They
are designed to support translational Research & Development (R&D) in collaboration with premier
academic and industrial partners.
• Under this PPP model, premier research laboratories will be engaged as knowledge partners and
top cement companies as the industry partners.
iii.These testbeds are aimed to develop and deploy integrated carbon dioxide capture and utilization units
in operational cement plants.
iv.Each of these 5 test beds will address a different facet of CCU, from cutting-edge catalysis to vacuum-
based gas separation.
v.The outcomes of these pilot projects will provide proof-of-concept for CCU deployment in the cement
industry and will serve as a model for scaling up and commercialization across other sectors.
• Also, these testbeds are expected to boost the development of catalysts, materials, electrolyser
technologies, reactors, and electronics aimed to reduce the cost of green cement.
About 5 CCU Testbeds:
i.Testbed-1: It will be established by National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) at its
headquarters in Ballabhgarh (Haryana) in partnership with Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh, UP)-based JK Cement
Limited.
• This proposed plant aims to capture 2 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) per day, using oxygen-
enhanced calcinations and transform it into lightweight concrete blocks and olefins.
ii.Testbed-2: It will be set up by Kanpur (UP)-based Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-Kanpur), UP in
collaboration with Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based JSW Cement Limited in UP.
• This testbed will demonstrate carbon-negative mineralization, a method that captures CO2 into
solid minerals which literally turn pollution into rock.
iii.Testbed-3: It will be established by Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based IIT-Bombay, Mumbai(Maharashtra) in
partnership with Dalmia (Bharat)Cement Limited in Maharashtra .
• It will develop a catalyst-driven CO2 capture process. This proposed plant is expected to be
installed at an actual cement plant.
iv.Testbed-4: It will be set up in AP by Council of Scientific & Industrial Research –Indian Institute of
Petroleum (CSIR-IIP) based in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, in collaboration with Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh, AP)-
based IIT-Tirupati; Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru (Karnataka); and JSW Cement.

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• It utilizes vacuum swing adsorption technology to separate CO₂ from cement kiln gases and
reintegrate it into construction materials, creating a closed-loop system for emissions.
v.Testbed-5: It will be established in Goa by Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN)-based IIT-Madras and Birla Institute
of Technology and Science (BITS Pilani) in Goa, in collaboration with Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based
Ultratech Cement Limited, a flagship cement company of Aditya Birla Group.
• This proposed plant is focused on innovative carbon-lowering interventions.
About Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T):
Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC)– Dr. Jitendra Singh (Constituency- Udhampur, Jammu &
Kashmir, J&K)

Union Minister Amit Shah Unveils Statue and Renamed a Road to Honour Bodofa Upendra Nath
Brahma
In May 2025, Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of
Cooperation (MoC), unveiled the statue and Renaming of Road and Rotary as a tribute
to Bodofa Upendranath Brahma in New Delhi (Delhi) on his 35th death anniversary. The ceremony was
organized by the Government of Assam.
• Assam Chief Minister (CM), Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and CM of Delhi, Rekha Gupta and other
dignitaries made their presence on the occasion.
• To pay tribute, a life size statue of 9 feet was unveiled and the road named Lala Lajpat Rai in
south Delhi was renamed as Bodofa Upendranath Brahma Marg, stretching 835-metre-50
feet wide near Kailash Colony Metro Station, passing alongside the Bodoland Guest House.
• The statue of Bodofa (father or guardian of the Bodos) is a symbol of self-respect of the tribal
society across the country.
About Bodofa Upendranath Brahma:
i.Brahma, from Assam, was a visionary leader and social reformer who worked tirelessly for the rights,
identity and upliftment of the entire tribal community, especially his Bodo community.
ii.He dedicated his life to building an inclusive society, where people could live with dignity and secure their
rightful place.
iii.He united the entire tribal society and taught them to fight in a peaceful manner.
iv.His formula of ‘Live and Let Live’ has been accepted by the entire Bodoland and tribal society.

Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma Inaugurates World’s First Energy Transmission Garden
in Hyderabad
In April 2025, Jishnu Dev Varma, Governor of Telangana,inaugurated Babuji Vanam, the world’s
first energy transmission garden at Kanha Shanti Vanam in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• This initiative, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture (MoC) and was launched
as part of the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Pujya Babuji Maharaj, the founder of
the Sahaj Marg meditation system.
Key Features of Babuji Vanam:
i.The garden encompasses 40 species of medicinal trees, including Neem, Red Sandalwood, Tulsi, and
Tropical Almond, selected for their spiritual and healing properties.
ii.Designed to radiate Pranahuti (yogic transmission), the garden features acupressure pathways,
percolation pits, and sloped landscapes to facilitate rainwater harvesting and promote ecological
sustainability.
iii.A central water body symbolizes the origin of creation, while a biodiversity patch attracts native fauna
and birds.

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iv.A cow pen is integrated to foster children’s connection with nature, reflecting Babuji’s affinity for cows.
Special Publications:
During the event, two publications were released,
i.“Holy Tirthankars”: Authored by Rev Daaji (Guide of Hyderabad-based Heartfulness Institute), explores
the spiritual legacy of 24 Jain Tirthankars, highlighting the spiritual heritage shared between Jainism and
Heartfulness.
ii.“A Symphony of Love”: Compiles messages from Mother Hélène Peyret (Babuji’s scribe) during
meditation sessions with Rev Daaji between 2012 and 2015, offering insights into human consciousness.
About Pujya Babuji Maharaj:
He was born on April 30, 1899, in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh,UP. He was a renowned Indian spiritual
leader and yogi.
• He is known as the founder of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) and the developer of the
Sahaj Marg system of meditation, also known as Heartfulness Meditation.
125th birth anniversary celebrations of Pujya Babuji Maharaj:
Pujya Babuji Maharaj was born on April 30, 1899, in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh,UP. He was a renowned
Indian spiritual leader and yogi.
He is known as the founder of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) and the developer of the Sahaj Marg
system of meditation, also known as Heartfulness Meditation.
i.The 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Pujya Babuji Maharaj are a year-long commemoration (2024–
2025) spanning 8 states: Tamil Nadu (TN), Uttar Pradesh (UP), Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra
Pradesh (AP), Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh (MP), reaching 12 crore people across 65,000 villages.
ii.These initiatives included Ektam Abhiyan, meditation programs, lifestyle improvement workshops, and
skill-building sessions, disseminating Babuji Maharaj’s message of spiritual transformation and ecological
responsibility.
About Telangana
Chief Minister (CM) – A Revanth Reddy
Governor – Jishnu Dev Varma
Capital – Hyderabad
Bird Sanctuary – Manjira Bird Sanctuary

Union MoS Prataprao Jadhav Inaugurates Yoga Mahotsav in Maharashtra; Launches Yoga
Sangam Portal
In May 2025, the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), Ministry of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga &
Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homeopathy) organized ‘Yoga Mahotsav’, an event marking
the 50-day countdown to the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025 at Panchavati, Nashik, Maharashtra.
• The programme was inaugurated by Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent
Charge), Prataprao Jadhav, Ministry of AYUSH and MoS, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
(MoHFW).
• During the event, Union minister Prataprao Jadhav launched the Yoga Sangam Portal, a digital
platform for online registration towards facilitating the synchronized nationwide celebration of
IDY 2025 on 21st June.
Key People:
Many dignitaries including Murlidhar Bhagare, Member of Parliament (MP), Lok Sabha, Nashik; Devyani
Suhas Pharande, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Nashik West; Rahul Uttamrao Dhikale, MLA Nashik
East; Lieutenant General Dr.Madhuri Kanitkar, Vice Chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences
(MUHS); Dr. Vishwas Mandlik, Head, Yoga Vidya Gurukul, Nashik; and Monalisa Das, Joint Secretary,
Ministry of Ayush were present.

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About Yoga Mahotsav:

i.The event witnessed a grand celebration of Yoga as over 6,000 enthusiasts came together to participate in
the event.
ii.Yoga Sangam, one of the ten Signature Events of the IDY 2025, embodies global solidarity for health.
iii.The Yoga Mahotsav also featured a live demonstration of the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) by MDNIY
instructors, led by its director Kashinath Samagandi.
Note: The government has previously organized a Yoga Mahotsav on March 13, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan,
New Delhi, marking the 100-day countdown to IDY-2025 and on April 7, 2025, marking the 75-day
countdown at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
About Yoga Sangam Portal:
i. Yoga Sangam Portal, a Common Yoga Protocol (CYP). It is designed to help individuals integrate day-to-
day yoga practices such as Pranayama and Dhyana into their lives.
ii.Yoga Sangam Portal can be accessed through the link https://yoga.ayush.gov.in/yoga-sangam
Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homeopathy):
Union Minister of State(MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) – Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao (Constituency –
Buldhana, Maharashtra)

UP Launches India’s First Vistadome Jungle Safari Train

In May 2025, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government, in collaboration with Indian Railways
(IR), launched India’s first Vistadome jungle safari train, enhancing eco-tourism infrastructure in the
state.
• The service connects Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in Bahraich district (UP) with
the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in Pilibhit district (UP), covering a 107-kilometre (km) forest route.
i.The train operates as the Bichia–Mailani Tourist Passenger, traversing nine stations within UP, namely
Bichia, Manjhara Purab, Khairatiya Bandh Road, Tikunia, Belrayan, Dudhwa, Palia Kalan, Bhira Kheri, and
Mailani.
ii.The journey takes approximately 4 hours and 25 minutes, and tickets are priced at Rs. 275 per person,
making the service affordable and accessible to a wide range of tourists.
iii.The Vistadome coaches are specially designed with panoramic windows, transparent glass roofs
and rotating seats for immersive views of wetlands, grasslands, and wildlife.
iv.This Vistadome train service is a part of UP’s broader ‘One Destination, Three Forests‘ initiative, which
aims to integrate UP’s Dudhwa National Park, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kishanpur Wildlife
Sanctuary into a cohesive tourism experience.

India Launched SPICED Scheme to Boost Spice Exports

In May 2025, the Kochi (Kerala) based Spice Board of India, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
(MoC&I), Government of India (GoI) launched the Sustainability in Spice Sector through Progressive,
Innovative and Collaborative Interventions for Export Development (SPICED) scheme.
• The scheme will be implemented during the remaining period of the 15th Finance
Commission(FC) cycle, until the financial year 2025–26 (FY26), with a total approved outlay of
Rs. 422.30 crore of which Rs.130 crore was disbursed to support around 45,000 beneficiaries.
• The scheme aims to strengthen India’s spice sector by enhancing sustainability, fostering
innovation, and boosting export development.
Key Features:
i.Objective:
• Enhance productivity of cardamom, improve post-harvest quality, and boost the export of value-
added, organic, and Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged spices.

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• Installation of modern post-harvest machinery such as dryers, slicers, dehullers, polishers,

turmeric boilers, mint distillation units, and threshing machines.
• Establishment of Spice Incubation Centres to support startups and Micro, Small & Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs).
• Promotion of Mission Clean and Safe Spices to enhance food safety compliance and certification.
• Encouragement of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), organic certification, and GI-tagged spices,
particularly in the North Eastern Region.
ii.Target Beneficiaries: Farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and exporters. Priority for SC/ST
communities, North-Eastern states, and first-time exporters.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Unveils India’s First 3nm Chip Design Centres in Noida &
Bengaluru
In May 2025, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY),
Ministry of Railways (MoR), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) inaugurated India’s first 3
nanometer (nm) chip design facilities of Renesas Electronics India Private Limited, a semiconductor
solution provider, in Noida (Uttar Pradesh) and Bengaluru (Karnataka).
• The two state-of-the-art semiconductor design facilities will work on cutting-edge 3nm chip
design, placing India in the global league of semiconductor innovation.
Note: India has previously engaged in designing chips at 7nm and 5nm nodes.
i.With these facilities, Renesas aims to build end-to-end semiconductor design infrastructure, supporting
academia and startups through initiatives like Chips to Startup (C2S) and the Design Linked Incentive (DLI)
Scheme.
ii.Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also announced the launch of a new semiconductor kit, aimed at
enhancing practical hardware skills among engineering students.
iii.He highlighted India’s semiconductor strategy including design, fabrication, ATMP (Assembly, Testing,
Marking, and Packaging), equipment, chemicals and gas supply chains.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman Inaugurates ‘Corporate Bhavan’ in Kolkata

In May 2025, the Union Minister Nirmala Sitaraman Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Ministry of Corporate
Affairs (MCA) inaugurated the ‘Corporate Bhavan’ in New Town, Kolkata, West Bengal(WB). This seven-
storey facility aims to consolidate various offices of the MCA under one roof, enhancing operational
efficiency and promoting ease of doing business.
• The facility also includes the country’s first Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) Facilitation
Centre, established in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in the seventh
storey of the building.
• This centre aims to connect eligible youth (aged 21-24) with internship opportunities, offering
guidance and assistance in the application process.
i.This new facility will house different offices of the MCA, including Regional Directorate (East), Registrar of
companies, Official Liquidator, Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), National Company Law Tribunal
(NCLT) (Kolkata Bench) and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) under one roof.
ii.The Corporate Bhavan will become a true single-window interface for companies, insolvency
professionals, auditors, startups and investors seeking timely corporate regulatory services.
iii.The seven-storey building has a built-up area of about 13,239 square metres (sq m) and the total project
cost is Rs.150.43 crores.

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Union Minister Rajnath Singh Inaugurates BrahMos Aerospace Testing Facility in Lucknow, UP
In May 2025, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD) virtually inaugurated the BrahMos
Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister(CM) Yogi
Adityanath leading the ceremony at the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC) in Lucknow,
Uttar Pradesh (UP), to strengthen India’s efforts to become a self-reliant in defence production.
• The BrahMos Production Unit, established by the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO), MoD was also inaugurated.
• The inauguration coincided with the anniversary of the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests,
underscoring India’s commitment to strengthening its defense capabilities.
Background:
i.The BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility was announced as part of the Defence Industrial
Corridor initiative, launched by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi during the 2018 Global Investors’
Summit. The foundation stone for this facility was laid in December 2021.
ii.The UP Defence Industrial Corridor has six nodes: Lucknow, Kanpur, Aligarh, Agra, Jhansi, and Chitrakoot.
Key Points:
i.The facility, spanning over 200-acres, is built at Rs.300 crore.
ii.The testing facility centre will have integration of Booster assemblies, Avionics, Propellant, Ramjet
engines.
iii.The facility is designed to produce 80 to 100 BrahMos missiles annually, including the next-generation
BrahMos-NG variant.
About BrahMos missile:
i.The BrahMos missile is a supersonic cruise missile developed jointly by India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO
Mashinostroyeniya, forming the BrahMos Aerospace joint venture.
ii.Named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, it operates on a two-stage propulsion system: a solid-
fuel booster for initial acceleration and a liquid-fueled ramjet for sustained supersonic cruise, reaching
speeds up to Mach 3.
iii.Designed with a “fire-and-forget” capability, the missile can be launched from land, sea, air, and
submarine platforms, offering versatile deployment options.
iv.Its range varies by variant, with the standard version reaching up to 290 kilometre(km), and extended-
range versions exceeding 450 km, enhancing its strategic value.
Others:
i.During the event, Union Minister Rajnath Singh also inaugurated India’s largest Titanium and
Superalloy Materials Plant, operated by Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh(UP) based Aerolloy Technologies
Limited, a subsidiary of PTC Industries Limited. Located within the Lucknow node of the UP Defence
Industrial Corridor.
• The 50-acre plant is recognized as the world’s largest single-site titanium remelting facility,
boasting an annual capacity of 6,000 tonnes. It employs advanced technologies such as Vacuum
Arc Remelting (VAR), Electron Beam (EB), Plasma Arc Melting (PAM), and Vacuum Induction
Melting (VIM) to produce aerospace-grade materials.
ii.In addition to the plant’s inauguration, the foundation stones for seven other advanced facilities were laid
as part of India’s first Strategic Materials Technology Complex. These include an aerospace precision
castings plant, an aerospace forge shop and mill products plant, and an aerospace precision machining shop.
iii.In addition, the foundation stone laid for the Defence Testing Infrastructure System (DTIS), a facility
dedicated to testing and certifying defence products to ensure they meet quality and performance
standards.

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About Ministry of Defence(MoD):

Union Minister – Rajnath Singh (Constituency – Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
Minister of State (MoS) – Sanjay Seth (Constituency – Ranchi, Jharkhand)

Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh Inaugurates ‘Sagar Bhavan’ & ‘Polar Bhavan’ at Goa’s NCPOR
On May 20, 2025, Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of
Science & Technology (MoS&T) inaugurated ‘Sagar Bhavan’ and ‘Polar Bhavan’ at National Centre of Polar
and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in at Vasco da Gama ,Goa.
• The inauguration coincided with NCPOR’s Silver Jubilee (25th Anniversary) celebrations. As
part of the celebrations, Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh launched a documentary highlighting the
institute’s 25-year journey.
• These are the first combined facilities of their kind in India and one of the few in the world
focused on polar and ocean research. These facilities, aim to enhance India’s capabilities in polar
studies, ocean research, and climate science.
Key Features of the New Facilities:
1.Polar Bhavan:
i.Polar Bhavan, the largest building at the NCPOR campus, covers an area of 11,378 square metres (sq. m)
and was constructed at a cost of Rs.55 crore.
ii.It comprises laboratories for polar and ocean research, 55 rooms for scientists, a seminar hall, library,
canteen, and a conference room.
iii.It houses the newly inaugurated Science On Sphere (SOS), a three dimensional (3D) visualization
platform for climate and earth system data.
iv.It will also serve as India’s first Polar and Ocean Museum.
2.Sagar Bhavan:
i.Sagar Bhavan covering 1,772 sq.m, was built at a cost of Rs.13 crore.
ii.It includes two -30 degree Celsius (°C) ice core laboratories and +4°C storage units for biological and
sediment sample preservation.
iii.It also features 29 rooms, including a Class 1000 metal-free clean room for trace metal and isotope
research.
Significance of the Infrastructure:
i.Around 70% of the world’s freshwater is stored in polar ice, and its rapid melting due to climate change
could raise sea levels, endangering India’s 1,000 kilometer (km) coastline. This highlights the need for
regular scientific monitoring and quick action.
ii.The facilities will strengthen India’s role in ocean geopolitics and support the Blue Economy and Deep
Ocean Mission.
iii.NCPOR manages India’s research stations in Antarctic stations (Maitri & Bharati), Arctic station
(Himadri), and Himalayan facility (Himansh). Its scientific missions have now been extended to the
Canadian Arctic, Greenland, and the Central Arctic Ocean.
About National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR):
NCPOR operates under the Ministry of Earth Sciences(MoES), and is the nodal agency for the Indian
Antarctic Programme.
Director – Dr. Thamban Meloth
Headquarters – Vasco da Gama ,Goa
Established – 1998

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NLC India Limited Unveiled New Mascot “Neyon” During its 69th Raising Day Celebrations
In May 2025, Neyveli, Tamil Nadu(TN) based NLC India Limited (NLCIL) (formerly Neyveli Lignite
Corporation India Limited, NLCIL), a ‘Navratna’ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry
of Coal (MoC), celebrated its 69th Raising Day, marking nearly seven decades of service in the energy
sector.
• During the event, NLCIL unveiled its new mascot ‘Neyon‘, a lion symbolising power and progress.
Neyon will serve as the brand ambassador of NLCIL.
• The celebrations were led by Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, Chairman and Managing Director
(CMD), NLCIL, in the presence of former CMDs, senior officials, trade union and association
representatives, and employees.
i.The CMD inaugurated a smart automatic sliding glass door at the corporate office. This technology uses
sensors to identify employees and visitors.
ii.The event included the release of a book titled ‘The Guiding Light – NLCIL Ethics Book’, aimed at
inspiring employees to make decisions grounded in ethics and integrity.
iii.The company also set a target to increase lignite production to over 100 Million Tonnes (MT) by 2030, a
three-fold rise from the current 44 MT.

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh Laid Foundation for Rs 42.4 crore Integrated Aquapark in
Tripura
In May 2025, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh), Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry
and Dairying (MoFAH&D) and Minister of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), laid the foundation stone for
an Integrated Aquapark in Kailashahar, Tripura, to be developed at a cost of Rs 42.4 crore under the
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
• The event also marked the inauguration of a one-day Fish Festival in Agartala(Tripura) to
showcase the state’s aquatic biodiversity and cultural heritage.
i.The park will integrate hatcheries, feed mills, cold storage, processing units, training centers, and
marketing facilities under one roof.
ii.He highlighted that out of 11 national aquaparks, with 4 in Northeast India, to boost Tripura’s annual fish
production target to 2 lakh tonnes.
iii.Tripura has received Rs 319 crore over the last decade under PMMSY and the Blue Revolution for
aquaculture expansion.
iv.Certificates and sanction orders, including Kisan Credit Cards (KCC), were distributed to various
beneficiaries in the fisheries sector.
v.The state with its high fish consumption rate of over 29 kg per capita per year, has made significant
progress in the fisheries sector in the recent years.

Union MoS L Murugan Announces Release of Postage Stamp honouring King Perarasar
Perumpidugu Mutharaiyar
On 23 May 2025, Union Minister of State(MoS) Loganathan Murugan, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
(MPA) announced the release of a commemorative postage stamp in honour of a Tamil
king, Perarasar Perumpidugu Mutharaiyar at the 1,350th birth anniversary celebration of the king at
Government Memorial Complex, in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu (TN).
• The commemorative postage stamp will bear the image of the King
Perarasar Perumpidugu Mutharaiyar. The postage stamp will be released in 2026.
• Union MoS announced the forthcoming construction of a manimandapam (memorial hall) to
honor King Perarasar Perumpidugu Mutharaiyar, commemorating his legacy in Tamil history.

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Key People:
Some of the key dignitaries including C. P. Radhakrishnan, Governor of Maharashtra; TN Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) President, Nainar Nagendran were also present.
About King Perarasar Mutharaiyar:
i.King Perarasar Perumpidugu Mutharaiyar(Suvaran Maran), a prominent tamil king who ruled (Thanjavur,
Tiruchirapalli, Pudukottai of Tamil Nadu,TN) region in the period during the 8th century.
ii.Perumpidugu is his title, Mutharaiyar is the dynasty name, and his name is Suvaran Maran.
iii.He fought 12 wars and remained undefeated.
DoP Released Special Cover for “Born to Fly” campaign :
In May 2025, the Department of Posts (DoP), Ministry of Communications in collaboration with Tamil Nadu
Forest Department (TNFD) released a special cover for the “Born to Fly” campaign as part of the
International Day for Biological Diversity 2025(May 22) celebrations at the Head Post Office in Coimbatore,
TN
• The event emphasized the importance of protecting birds, especially the 12 parakeet species
native to India that are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
• The special cover was conceptualized by Joseph Reginald Louis, featuring an illustration by
cartoonist G. Bala, which states buying, selling and caging of parakeets is “cruel” and “punishable
offence”.
Key Points:
i.A brochure was released as part of the special cover featuring photographs of Alexandrine parakeet and
Rose-ringed parakeet.
ii.Born to Fly campaign is supported by Animal Rescuers, Madurai (TN) based The Anaamalaiss Group,
Coimbatore (Tamilnadu) based ARC parcel service, Rotary Club of Coimbatore Cotton City and Global Medi
Exporters and Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Vidyalaya.
About the Ministry of Communications(MoC):
Union Minister – Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindiya (Constituency – Guna, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Minister of State (MoS) – Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani (Constituency – Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, AP)
About the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs(MPA):
Union Minister – Kiren Rijiju (Constituency – Arunachal West, Arunachal Pradesh, AR)
Minister of State (MoS) – Dr. L. Murugan (Rajya Sabha – Madhya Pradesh, MP); Arjun Ram Meghwal
(Constituency – Bikaner, Rajasthan).

TN Inaugurated India’s First Mahouts’ Village in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

In May 2025, Tamil Nadu (TN) Chief Minister (CM) Muthuvel Karunanidhi (M.K) Stalin inaugurated India’s
first Mahouts’ Village at Theppakadu Elephant Camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve(MTR), Nilgiris district
(TN), featuring 44 eco-friendly houses built by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department(TNFD) at a cost of Rs
5.6 crore to enhance the living conditions of mahouts and cavadis who have served generations in elephant
management.
• The village aims to provide dignified housing for mahouts and cavadies, especially from Irular,
Vettakorumbar, and Kattunayakar tribal communities, who traditionally serve in elephant care.
i.The newly built houses are equipped with drinking water, toilets, solar lighting, children’s playgrounds,
and solar fencing for protection.
ii.Each house is named after elephants that died in service at the Mudumalai camp.
iii.Lanes in the village are named after camp elephants, and amenities like a basketball court have been
added after consultations with mahouts.
Note: Theppakadu Elephant Camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, established in 1917 during British rule, is
Asia’s oldest elephant camp and currently houses 27 elephants, including 20 Kumkis and 5 retired ones. It

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trains elephants to repel wild elephants from villages across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra
Pradesh, while the newly inaugurated Mahouts’ Village ensures better care by supporting their handlers.

DoP Launched ‘Know Your DIGIPIN’ & ‘Know Your PIN Code’ Web Platforms
In May 2025, the Department of Posts (DoP) under the Ministry of Communications (MoC) has launched
two transformative web platforms namely, ‘Know Your DIGIPIN (Digital Postal Index
Number) ’ and ‘Know Your PIN Code’. This marks a major step towards the modernization of India’s
addressing system and geospatial governance.
• Both these newly launched digital initiatives are in alignment with the National Geospatial
Policy 2022, which envisions a robust geospatial infrastructure to support digital governance
and public service delivery.
About Know Your DIGIPIN Web Application:
i.The DIGIPIN is an open-source, interoperable, geo-coded, grid-based digital address system.
• It is a new geo-coded system that partitions India into 4×4 meter(m) grids, each identified by a
unique 10-character alphanumeric code derived from exact latitude and longitude coordinates.
ii.It is developed by the DoP in collaboration with Indian Institute of Hyderabad (IIT-H) and Hyderabad
(Telangana)-based National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), one of the primary centres of Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO) under the Department of Space (DoS).
iii.It is designed to serve as the foundational tool for Address-as-a-Service (AaaS), supporting efficient
interaction between citizens, government agencies, and private enterprises.
iv.It enhances location mapping, enabling better logistics management, improving emergency response
times and more-efficient last-mile delivery, especially in rural and remote regions of the country.
v.The ‘Know Your DIGIPIN’ platform will allow users to: retrieve their DIGIPIN based on accurate geo-
location; input latitude and longitude coordinates to collect corresponding DIGIPINs and vice-versa.
vi.The system, officially reviewed and adopted by the Thematic Working Group on Address under the
National Geospatial Policy 2022, is now open for integration by various ministries, state governments, and
institutions, with its technical documentation and source code publicly available on GitHub for collaborative
development.
About Know Your PIN Code:
i.This new web platform is introduced to modernize the conventional 6-digit postal Postal Index Number
(PIN Code) system, launched in 1972.
ii.Following a nationwide geo-fencing exercise conducted by DoP to accurately define all postal jurisdictions,
has enabled the users of the platform to identify the correct PIN Code based on real-time Global Navigation
Satellite System (GNSS) location data and submit feedback to enhance the accuracy of PIN Code mapping.
iii.The geo-fenced PIN Code boundary dataset has been published on the Open Government Data platform
under the title ‘All India PIN Code Boundary geo-json’.
About Department of Posts (DoP):
India Post, officially known as the Department of Posts (DoP), operates under the Ministry of
Communications(MoC). India is divided into 23 postal circles, with each circle overseen by a Chief
Postmaster General.
Secretary- Vandita Kaul
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Launches ‘VKSA-2025’ at ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar

On May 29, 2025, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
(MoA&FW) inaugurated the ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA-2025)’ at the Indian Council of

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Agricultural Research – Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), located

in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• This 15-day nationwide campaign aims to transform Indian agriculture by promoting the
adoption of advanced agricultural and fisheries technologies among over 1.5 crore farmers.
• The initiative aligns with Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s vision of building a self-reliant
and sustainable India.
Key People:
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister (CM) and
Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment & Energy, Government of
Odisha; Gokulananda Mallik, Minister of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, Government of
Odisha; Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, Director General (DG), ICAR & Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research
and Education (DARE), MoA&FW and among others.
About ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA-2025)’ :
The 15-day campaign, running from May 29 to June 12, 2025. The campaign is a joint effort by the MoA&FW
and ICAR, in partnership with state governments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras(KVKs), and other stakeholders.
Key Objectives:
i.Bridge knowledge gaps by connecting farmers with scientific innovations from 731 KVKs and 113 ICAR
institutes.
ii.Promote climate-resilient farming, natural farming, and efficient use of Soil Health Cards.
iii.Enhance post-harvest management and value addition to reduce crop losses.
Implementation Strategy:
i.2,170 scientific teams comprising 16,000 agricultural scientists will engage farmers across 700+ districts
in India.
ii.Each team covers 2 villages daily through workshops on pre-Kharif preparations, integrated farming, and
resource conservation.
Key Initiatives:
i.During the event, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan introduced “CIFA Argu VAX–I”, a novel vaccine
developed by ICAR-CIFA to combat parasitic infections in fish, reducing aquaculture economic losses.
ii.An exhibition was also held on the sidelines, featuring innovations and products from Self Help Groups
(SHGs), KVK Khordha, and ICAR-CIFA, highlighting community participation and grassroots innovation.
About Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW):
Union Minister – Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Constituency- Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Minister of State (MoS) – Ram Nath Thakur (Rajya Sabha- Bihar);
Bhagirath Choudhary (Constituency- Ajmer, Rajasthan)

Indian Army Launches ‘Meghdoot Millennium’ Postal Software for Defence Personnel
In May 2025, the Indian Army Postal Service Corps (APSC), in collaboration with the Department of Posts
(DoP), Ministry of Communication(MoC) inaugurated ‘Meghdoot Millennium’, a secure, real-time postal
software tailored for defence personnel.
• The inauguration was held at the Centre for Excellence in Postal Technology (CEPT) in Mysuru,
Karnataka, and led by Vandita Kaul, Secretary, DoP and Lieutenant General V.M.B. Krishnan,
Quarter Master General (QMG) of Indian Army(IA).
i.‘Meghdoot Millennium’, developed by CEPT, Mysuru, is designed to enhance the efficiency, security, and
digital integration of postal operations within the armed forces.
ii.This software facilitates real-time tracking and secure communication, addressing the unique postal
requirements of defence personnel, especially those stationed in remote and operationally sensitive areas.

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iii.It aligns with the IA’s ‘Year of Tech Absorption’ observed in 2024 and the broader ‘Decade of
Transformation’ initiative aimed at modernizing defence logistics and communication systems.

Govt Launches ‘Bharat Forecast System’, World’s First Weather Model to offer 6 Km Resolution
On May 26, 2025, Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), unveiled the ‘Bharat
Forecast System (BFS)’, the world’s first high-resolution Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model
offering a 6 kilometre (km) spatial resolution, at an event in Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi.
• BFS was developed by Pune, Maharashtra based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM),
MoES and handed over to New Delhi based India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Key people:
Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES, and Dr. M. Mohapatra, Director General(DG) of Meteorology, IMD,
were also present.
About Bharat Forecast System(BFS):
i.BFS had been under experimental testing since 2022, and the data generated from it helped improve the
accuracy of weather forecasts up to 64%.
ii.Earlier, one forecast would cover an area comprising about four villages within a 12 km radius, currently a
separate forecast can be performed for each village.
iii.The previous system powered by supercomputer ‘Pratyush’ took 12-13 hours to run models, BFS which is
powered by Supercomputer ‘Arka’ with a capacity of 11.77 petaflops and storage capacity of 33
petabytes(PB) will take approximately 3-4 hours.
iv.BFS resolution is 6 km at the tropics and 7-8 km resolution at the poles. The high-resolution capability
allows BFS to provide highly localized weather forecasts, enhance the accuracy of predictions of
thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and cyclones.
v.The data from a network of 40 Doppler Weather Radars(DWRs) from across the country is used to run
the BFS model, which would enable the weather office to issue more localized forecasts and nowcasts.
vi.BFS is designed to operate across the tropical zone between 30° South and 30° North, effectively covering
the entire Indian subcontinent from 8.4°N to 37.6°N latitude.
vii.BFS will benefit various sectors such as agriculture, disaster management, aviation, and public safety, by
providing more accurate and timely information.
About the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES):
Union Minister of State(MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) – Jitendra Singh (Constituency – Udhampur,
Jammu & Kashmir)

PM Narendra Modi Inaugurated Rising North East Investors Summit 2025 in New Delhi
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rising North East Investors Summit 2025, which
was held from May 23 to 25, 2025 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi. The two-day event was
organised by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER).
• The summit aimed at positioning the North East (NE) region as a ‘front-runner of growth’ and a
key pillar in India’s vision for Viksit Bharat by 2047.
• The summit also featured the signing of numerous Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs)
across various sectors, including agriculture, Renewable Energy(RE), healthcare, tourism, and
Information Technology(IT).
Key Dignitaries:
i.Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, MDoNER attended the event along with Ajay Kumar Bhalla,
Governor of Manipur; Union Minister of State (MoS) Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, MDoNER.

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ii.Also, Chief Ministers (CMs) of NE states : Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam); Pema Khandu (Arunachal
Pradesh, AR); Conrad Sangma (Meghalaya); Lalduhoma (Mizoram); Neiphiu Rio (Nagaland); Prem Singh
Tamang (Sikkim) and Manik Saha (Tripura) were present at the event.
About Rising North East Investors Summit 2025:
i.The summit was the culmination of several pre-summit activities like: series of roadshows, and states’
roundtables including Ambassador’s Meet and Bilateral Chambers Meet organised by the Government of
India (GoI) with the support of 8 state governments of North Eastern Region (NER).
ii.The agenda for two-day summit included: ministerial sessions, Business-to-Government (B2G) sessions,
Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings, startups and exhibitions of policy and related initiatives led by state
government and central ministries for investment promotion.
iii.The summit witnessed participation from delegations representing over 80 countries: including Japan,
European nations, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members.
Key Highlights of Rising North East Investors Summit 2025:
Key Progress in Various Sectors of NER:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has referred to the 8 Northeastern states of India as the “Ashta
Lakshmi”, symbolizing eight forms of wealth and prosperity.
i.Positioning NE region as Critical Link to ASEAN: During the event, PM highlighted that India’s trade
volume with ASEAN currently stands at nearly USD 125 billion and is projected to exceed USD 200
billion in the coming years.
• The NE is now being developed as the critical link- Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the
Kaladan Transit Project.
• He further highlighted Multi-modal logistics hubs in Guwahati (Assam), Agartala (Tripura), and
Imphal (Manipur), and new Land Customs Stations in Mizoram and Meghalaya, will further
expand international trade opportunities.
ii.Transport and Highway: PM Modi also highlighted key progress made in transport and highways sectors
of the region in last 10 years like: the construction of 11,000 kilometers (kms) of highways, extensive, new
railway lines, a doubling of airport numbers i.e. from 74 (2014) to 159 (2024), among others.
• He further underscored the establishment of 1,600 km long NE Gas Grid, ensuring reliable energy
supply for industries.
iii.Education: PM Modi mentioned that so far, the GoI has invested more than Rs 21,000 crore in NE’s
education sector alone, with over 800 new schools, 9 new medical colleges, two Indian Institute of
Information Technologies (IIITs), and India’s 1st All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the NE,
which was established in Guwahati, Assam.
• He further mentioned about setting up of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC)
campus in Mizoram and around 200 new skill development institutes across the region.
iv.Sports: During the event, PM mentioned about India’s 1st sport university is being developed in the NE
i.e. in Imphal, Manipur, with significant investments were made under the Khelo India program.
• He also highlighted that 8 Khelo India Centres of Excellence (CoE) and over 250 Khelo India
Centres have been established, promoting sports talent across the region.
v.Controlling Insurgency: While addressing the event, PM Modi reiterated the GoI’s zero-tolerance policy
towards terrorism and insurgency. He further highlighter that over the last 10 years, more than 10,000
youth have surrendered arms.
PM Modi Highlighted Pilot Apprenticeship Training Programme:
On the sidelines of Rising NE Investors Summit, PM Narendra Modi highlighted about a pilot apprenticeship
training programme, which was formally launched in Aizawl, Mizoram in May 2025. This programme is led
by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), aimed to promote apprenticeship
training in the NER.

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• Under this programme, over 26,000 youth from NER will receive an additional monthly stipend
of Rs 1,500 for 1 year, which is over and above the regular stipend through the National
Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS).
• During the event, PM also highlighted that India’s 1st ever ‘Made in India’ semiconductor
chip will soon to be manufactured in the NER, which reflects significant milestone for the
country’s semiconductor industry.
Note: In February 2024, GoI had approved the proposal of Jagiroad (Assam)-based Tata Semiconductor
Assembly and Test Private Limited (TSAT), India’s 1st indigenous and greenfield semiconductor assembly
test facility, to set up Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Testing (OSAT) facility in Morigaon, Assam,
with an investment of Rs 27,120 crore.
Investment Announcements:
AR Signed MoUs worth Rs 6,357 Crore with 16 Firms:
During the summit, the state government of AR signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth Rs
6,357 crore with 16 investor companies across diverse range of sectors like: agriculture, healthcare,
Renewable Energy (RE), tourism, and IT, among others.
• These MoUs were signed between the state government’s secretary of Planning & Investment
department, and representatives of the investing companies.
Key Details:
i.The state government signed a MoU worth Rs 2,324 crore with London, England based Agri-Biofuel Global
Limited to convert agricultural waste into aviation and maritime fuel.
ii.Rs 1,760 crore MoU was signed with New Delhi (Delhi)-based Developer Group India Private Limited for
afforestation and carbon credit monetisation.
• Also, the same group company signed additional MoUs for Beema Bamboo Plantation for Biofuel
for Rs 570 crore and Moso Bamboo trial plantations for Rs 55 crore.
iii.Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN) Inlamobi Private Limited pledged investment of Rs 1,000 crore to establish
European Blue Valley Fragrances & Flavours, Ayush Cluster.
• While, New Delhi based Medhavi Group signed a MoU worth Rs 178 crore to set up skill,
innovation and tribal entrepreneurship university at Ziro, AR, and is expected to generate more
than 430 direct jobs.
iv.Tinsukia (Assam)-based Farm Native India Private Limited has signed MoU worth Rs 150 crore to set up
250-bed super-specialty hospital, which is expected to create 900 to 1,100 direct and 1,000-1,500 and
indirect jobs.
v.In addition to that, MoUs were also signed with New Delhi-based Zedsoftpoint for an investment of Rs 150
crore in Data Centres, IT & Information Technology Enabled Services(ITeS); and New Delhi-based
Vishwakarma & Co. for 100 crore to develop a tourism-focused hotel in Ziro (AR).
• The key focus areas of other MoUs are on: RE, bamboo processing, herbal and turmeric product
development, and promotion of spiritual and heritage tourism.
Tripura Secured Investment worth Rs 15,646 Crore through 33 MoUs:
The state government of Tripura has secured investments worth Rs 15,646 crore through 33 MoUs, which
were signed during the summit.
• These agreements span various sectors, including 5th generation(5G) technology, artificial
intelligence (AI), and digital infrastructure, reflecting the state’s strategic focus on emerging
technologies and sustainable development.
• While addressing a special session ‘IT for Ashtalakshmi: Beyond the Bits and Bytes, Into AI and
5G’, CM of Tripura Manik Saha informed that the state government has been developing dedicated
infrastructure to support AI and the 5G network in the state.

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RIL, Adani Group and Vedanta Group Pledged Rs 1.55 trillion Investments:
During the summit, three of India’s leading conglomerates: Reliance Industries Limited(RIL), Adani Group,
and Vedanta Group, collectively pledged investments totaling Rs.1.55 trillion to accelerate the development
of the NER.
1.Key Investment Plans of RIL:
Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of RIL announced to invest Rs 75,000
crore over the next 5 years in NER. The investments committed by RIL will cover key sectors like: telecom,
retail, RE, biofuel, healthcare, and sports infrastructure across all 8 NE states of the country.
• This investment by RIL is expected to generate over 2.5 million direct and direct job
opportunities in the region.
i.With the objective of transforming NER’s vast ‘wasteland’ into ‘wealth-land’, RIL plans to set up 350
integrated Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plants.
ii.In healthcare sector, RIL in collaboration with Mizoram University is planning to develop a care unit of
breast cancer using genomic data.
iii.In addition to these announcements, Reliance Foundation plans to work with all 8 states in the NER to set
up Olympic Training Centres.
2.Key Investment Plans by Adani Group:
i.Gautam Shantilal Adani, chairman of Adani Group has committed an investment of Rs 50,000 crore over
the next 10 years.
ii.The investment will cover sectors like: green energy including smart meters, hydro, pumped storage,
power transmission, and logistics, among others.
3.Key Investment Plans by Vedanta Group:
i.Anil Agarwal, chairman of Vedanta Group pledged to invest Rs 30,000 crore in 6 NE states namely: AR,
Nagaland, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
• This investment is projected to create 1 lakh job opportunities.
ii.The investments will cover sectors like: oil and gas, critical minerals, refining facilities, power, optical
fibre, system integration, RE, transmission sectors and data centres.
iii.Vedanta and its subsidiaries have also invested in the commissioning of 300 circuit km transmission
system network which enables transfer of 1,000 Mega Watt (MW) power from Assam to Meghalaya.
Over Rs 4 Lakh Crore Investment Proposals Received:
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, MDoNER underscored that the Rising NE Investors Summit 2025 drew
the investment proposals worth Rs 4.3 lakh crore, setting the stage for NER to become India’s next
economic powerhouse.
• These investments were the result of key initiatives led by MDoNER, including 9 domestic
roadshows across major Indian cities and engagements with major corporates houses, Public
Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and foreign governments.
i.These also included Ambassadors’ Meets with representatives from more than 95 countries, 6 state
roundtables, 6 sector-specific industry interactions, and several consultations with industry chambers, and
corporates.
ii.MDoNER has constituted 8 sectoral task forces focusing on agriculture, sports, investment promotion,
tourism, economic corridors, infrastructure, textiles and handicrafts, and animal husbandry. Each NE state
has been directed to develop its own sectoral roadmap.
Other Key Points:
i.While addressing a special session titled ‘IT for Ashtalakshmi-Beyond the Bits and Bytes, into AI and 5G’,
Union Minister Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Shekhar, Ministry of Communications (MoC) and Ministry of
Rural Development (MoRD) showcased NE as India’s strategic and digital frontier.

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• He further highlighted that over the last 10 years, intentional investments exceeding Rs 1.5 lakh
crore have been made in NER’s digital and physical infrastructure, with Rs 50,000 crore dedicated
to BharatNet and the Digital North East Vision.
ii.While addressing ‘Ministerial Session on ‘Green Northeast: Advancing Renewable Energy for Sashakt
Bharat’, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) underscored that the
RE sector will play a crucial role in powering the growth vision for the NER, highlighting vast untapped RE
resources of NER which includes: more than 129 Giga Watt (GW) potential from large hydro projects and
over 18 GW from pumped storage plants.
• He further mentioned that a total of 115 MoUs worth Rs 38,856 crore has been signed between
state governments and private investors in RE sector.
• Also, MNRE has allocated 10% of its annual scheme budget exclusively for the NER.
iii.During the summit’s thematic discussion topic ‘Unlocking Capital for NE Infrastructure’, Union
Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) emphasized that a
‘New Bharat is dawning with a resurgent Northeast at its heart’.
About Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER):
Union Minister- Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (Constituency- Guna, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Minister of State (MoS)- Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (Constituency- Balurghat, West Bengal, WB)

Indian Army Inaugurated First Community Radio Station ‘Panchshul Pulse’ in Uttarakhand
In May 2025, Lieutenant General Anindya Sengupta, General Officer Commanding(GOC) -in-Chief of the
Central Command, Indian Army (IA) inaugurated “Panchshul Pulse”, the IA’s first Community Radio Station
(CRS), operating on 88.4 FM (Frequency Modulation) radio in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, under ‘Operation
Sadbhavana’ to enhance community engagement and promote regional culture.
• ‘Panchshul Pulse’ is named after the Panchshul mountain range and aims to strengthen ties
between the Indian Army, civil administration, and border communities.
i.Coverage: The station broadcasts from the Army Public School of the ‘Panchshul Brigade’ and covers a 12
kilometer(km) radius, reaching remote Himalayan villages.
ii.Tagline – Hill Se Dil Tak (From Hills to Heart)
iii.Programming Content: The station features programs in local dialects focusing on Local history, culture,
agriculture, horticulture, awareness about martyrs, soldiers, sportspersons, social workers, weather alerts,
disaster management, and government welfare schemes.
Note: Operation Sadbhavana launched by the IA in 1998, aimed at fostering goodwill and development in
remote and border areas through various community-centric projects.

Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Inaugurates Curtain Raiser Event for Wings India 2026
In May 2025, Union Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), inaugurated
the curtain raiser event for Wings India 2026, Asia’s largest civil aviation event at Hotel Taj Palace in New
Delhi, Delhi
• Organized in collaboration with the New Delhi based Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the event marked the launch of preparatory activities for the
main event scheduled from 28th to 31st January 2026 at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad,
Telangana.
i.The theme for Wings India 2026 was announced as “Indian Aviation: Paving the Future – from Design to
Deployment, Manufacturing to Maintenance, Inclusivity to Innovation and Safety to Sustainability.”
ii.The event included the launch of the Wings India 2026 Brochure, a promotional video, and the official
unveiling of the Wings India 2026 Mobile Application(app) to enhance global stakeholder engagement.
iii.The event was graced by the presence of Union Minister of State(MoS) Murlidhar Mohol, MoCA; Samir

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Kumar Sinha, Secretary of MoCA; Vipin Kumar, Chairman of Airports Authority of India (AAI); Rajesh
Nirwan, Director General(DG) of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS); Remi Maillard, Chairman of FICCI
Civil Aviation Committee; and Jyoti Vij, DG of FICCI.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Unveiled ‘Innovate to Transform’ as Theme for 9th edition of
IMC
In May 2025, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia, Ministry of Communications(MoC) and
Ministry of Development of North East Region (MDoNER) unveiled ‘Innovate to Transform’ as the theme
for the 9th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC 2025), which is scheduled to be held from October 08
to 11, 2025 at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.
• This theme for IMC 2025 reflects the important role of innovation in shaping the future and
enabling real, transformative change across various sectors like from industry and infrastructure
to society and sustainability.
• While addressing the event, Union Minister highlighted that at present, India has developed DSS
capabilities i.e. Designing in India, Solving in India, and Scaling from India, which reflect India’s
growing self-reliance and international competence in technology and innovation.
About India Mobile Congress (IMC 2025):
i.It will be organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), MoC and New Delhi (Delhi)-based
Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).
ii.The forum is projected to attract more than 1.5 lakh visitors from 150+ countries, feature over 400
exhibitors & partners and over 7,000 international delegates.
iii.Also, ASPIRE which is a flagship startup programme of Government of India (GoI), introduced in 2023,
will showcase over 500 startups and connect them with over 300 investors, incubators, accelerators, and
VCs for mentorship, live pitching sessions and networking.
Key Highlights of the Event:
Launch of Revamped Sanchar Mitra Scheme:
During the event, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia launched the revamped
‘Sanchar Mitra Scheme’, designed to mobilise the power of India’s Yuva Shakti (student volunteers) to
become informed ambassadors of telecom awareness, cybersecurity, and digital empowerment.
• He also referred the scheme as a vision that symbolizes India’s leadership in the 4 Ds (Democracy,
Demography, Digitization and Delivery).
About Sanchar Mitra Scheme:
i.It is a youth oriented scheme led by the DoT, MoC, aimed to harness the energy and potential of young
students to spread awareness about safe digital behavior.
ii.As per this scheme, student volunteers will be enrolled as ‘Sanchar Mitra’ to raise public awareness about
mobile safety, telecom fraud prevention, and about government digital initiatives.
• They will also conduct outreach in communities, schools, and public spaces to educate citizens on
responsible and secure use of telecom services.
iii.Under this scheme, the students from all eligible technical institutions which includes those in tier-1 and
tier-2 cities, will be selected from various technical programs like: telecom, electronics, Information
Technology (IT), or cybersecurity.
iv.The scheme focuses on skill development by offering top performers access based on best efforts, to
Research & Development (R&D) projects, and telecom startups, involvement in policy and standards work,
participation in field surveys and DoT initiatives, among others.
• Also, recognition and incentives under this scheme will be coordinated through DoT units, using
existing resources and partnerships.

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Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Telecom Excellence Awards 2024:

During the event, the DoT, under the MoC, announced the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom
Excellence Awards 2024, recognizing outstanding contributions in telecom innovation, skilling, services,
manufacturing, and app development over the past three years.
2024 Awardees:
1.Parag Naik, Co-founder of Sankhya Labs;
2.Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Niral Networks Private Limited;
3.Bengaluru-based Lekha Wireless;
4.Prof. Chandra Ramabhadra Murthy in Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc-Bengaluru); and
5.Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), an autonomous telecom R&D centre of DoT.
About Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Telecom Excellence Awards:
i.These awards were introduced by DoT in 2017, to encourage the telecom skill ecosystem.The award is
named after noted Indian politician Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay to commemorate his birth centenary
(100th).
• The nominations for these awards were called for the 1st time in 2018 and winners were later
declared by DoT in 2020.
ii.Every year, DoT gives a maximum 5 awards to individuals, institutions, and organisations for their
outstanding contributions in different areas of the telecommunication sector.
iii.Each recipient receives a shawl, citation/plaque and a cash amount of Rs 2 Lakh.
About Ministry of Communications (MoC):
Union Minister- Jyotiraditaya M. Scindia (Constituency- Guna, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Minister of State (MoS) – Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani (Constituency- Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, AP)

FESTIVAL
Meghalaya Hosts Strawberry Festival 2025 to Promote Agro-Tourism and Rural Livelihoods
The Government of Meghalaya, in collaboration with Shilong (Meghalaya) based Meghalayan Age
Limited (MAL); the Departments of Tourism and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Meghalaya hosted the 2-
day Strawberry Festival 2025 from May 2-3, 2025.
• The festival was celebrated across three key locations in Meghalaya: Sohliya in Ri-Bhoi district,
Syntung in East Khasi Hills, and Darechikgre in West Garo Hills.
• The event was inaugurated by Vibhor Agarwal (Indian Administrative Service, IAS), the Deputy
Commissioner (DC) of West Garo Hills.
i.The festival aimed to promote agro-tourism, support rural livelihoods, and showcase Meghalaya’s growing
strawberry cultivation, which saw a production of 1,220 metric tonnes(MT) in 2024, compared to 1,196 MT
in 2023.
ii.Visitors to the festival can engage in strawberry picking, explore picturesque strawberry fields, and take
part in diverse activities such as workshops on winemaking and local cuisine, trekking, strawberry-based
baking sessions, local strawberry wine tasting, and culinary tasting experiences.

Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla Inaugurated 5th Shirui Lily Festival 2025 in Ukhrul
In May 2025, Governor of Manipur Ajay Kumar Bhalla inaugurated the 5th edition of the Shirui Lily
Festival 2025 at Shirui Village, Ukhrul district, Manipur to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the
discovery of the rare Shirui Lily (Lilium mackliniae) and to promote sustainable tourism, eco-tourism, and
environmental awareness.
• The festival, organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Manipur, in collaboration
with the Ukhrul District Administration from May 20th to 24th.

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i.The festival is organised with the vision of fostering peace, unity, and biodiversity conservation, with this
year’s theme focusing on “Celebrating Peace and Harmony in Diversity”.
ii.Ukhrul, known as the “crown jewel of Manipur’s hill districts,” is celebrated for its rich cultural and
ecological heritage.
Note: Governor Bhalla inaugurated the State Level Flower Show Competition and also launched the Farmer
FIRST Programme input distribution under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi
(Delhi), benefiting farmers from Shangshak Khullen, Ukhrul (Manipur).

OTHER NEWS
MoA&FW Issued Guidelines for Setting up BRCs under NMNF
In April 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) issued
comprehensive guidelines for establishing Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) under the National Mission
on Natural Farming (NMNF).
• The initiative is aimed at promoting chemical-free natural farming by enabling cluster-level
enterprises to support the local production and distribution of natural farming inputs.
Key Features of BRC Guidelines:
i.Entrepreneur Eligibility: Only individuals or groups currently practising natural farming, or willing to
adopt it immediately, are eligible to operate BRCs.
ii.Fallback Provision: If no eligible practitioner is available, the State Natural Farming Cell will nominate a
farmer to begin practising natural farming from the next crop cycle.
iii.Customization of Inputs: Bio-inputs must be tailored to suit local soil conditions, cropping patterns, and
specific farmer requirements.
iv.Affordability: Input costs must remain low enough to be accessible for small and marginal farmers.
v.Raw Material Access: BRCs must have reliable access to livestock manure and plant biomass for input
preparation.
vi.Profit Model: BRCs are expected to run on a for-profit model to ensure long-term sustainability and
benefit the rural economy.
Financial Support & Implementation:
i.A financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh will be provided for each BRC, disbursed in two equal tranches of Rs
50,000.
ii.The cost of bio-inputs produced and sold at the BRCs must be affordable, particularly for small and
marginal farmers.
iii.BRCs may converge with other schemes such as:
• Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
• National Mission on Edible Oilseeds
About Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs):
i.BRCs are envisioned as cluster-level enterprises to ensure the availability, affordability, and accessibility
of natural farming inputs such as bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, and organic formulations.
ii.These centres will also function as knowledge hubs for farmers transitioning to natural/organic farming,
especially those unable to produce inputs individually.
iii.These centres will provide training, demonstrations, and guidance on the preparation, dosage, and
application of bio-inputs suitable for local soil, crop patterns, and land-use systems.
iv.The initiative, announced by Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance (MoF) in the
Union Budget 2024-25, plans to set up 10,000 BRCs.

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About National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF):

i.The NMNF was launched on 25th November 2024 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme(CSS), under Ministry
of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare(MoA&FW) to reduce dependence on chemical inputs, promote low-cost,
sustainable farming, and enhance soil health.
ii.The scheme has a total outlay of Rs 2,481 crore till the 15th Finance Commission(FC) period (2025-26),
comprising a Government of India (GoI) share of Rs 1,584 crore and a State share of Rs 897 crore.
iii.In the next two years, NMNF will be implemented in 15,000 clusters in Gram Panchayats, which are
willing, & reach 1 crore farmers and initiate Natural Farming (NF) in 7.5 lakh Hectare(Ha) area.
About Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW):
Union Minister- Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Constituency- Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Minister of State (MoS) Ram Nath Thakur (Rajya Sabha- Bihar);
Bhagirath Choudhary (Constituency- Ajmer, Rajasthan)

Ghaziabad Raises Rs.150 Crore via India’s First Certified Green Municipal Bond for TSTP
In April 2025, under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U), Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam (GNN)
(Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation) in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh (UP) has raised Rs.150 crore through
India’s first certified Green Municipal Bond(GMB).
• The funds are allocated for constructing a 40 Million Liters per Day(MLD) Tertiary Sewage
Treatment Plant (TSTP) in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad.
• The bonds were issued with an annual coupon rate of 8.1% and are listed on the BSE (formerly
Bombay Stock Exchange) Bond platform.
Note: A Green Municipal Bond (GMB) is a fixed-income financial instrument issued by municipal entities
such as city or local governments to raise capital specifically for financing projects that deliver
environmental benefits.
Financial Details:
i.Green Bond Issuance: The Rs. 150 crore bond is supported by the Government of India (GoI) and the
Government of UP.
ii.Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Model: The TSTP was developed under the Hybrid Annuity Model
(HAM), with 40% funding from the municipality and 60% from private partners, ensuring fiscal discipline.
About TSTP:
i.The project aims to reduce groundwater extraction by providing treated wastewater for industrial use,
thereby conserving water resources.
ii.The foundation stone of the project was laid in January 2022 by Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister (CM) of
UP. The total estimated cost of the project is around Rs. 320 crores, out of which the GNN successfully raised
Rs. 150 crores through the issuance of India’s first Certified Green Municipal Bond.
Features:
i.Advanced Filtration: Uses membrane technologies like microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration,
and Reverse Osmosis (RO) to treat wastewater to reusable standards.
ii.Infrastructure: A 95 kilometers (km) pipeline network delivers treated water to 1,400+ industrial units,
reducing freshwater dependency.
iii.Capacity: Treats 40 MLD of sewage, with contracts to supply 9.5 MLD to 800+ industries.
Note: Ghaziabad was honored with the Best Municipal Treated Water Reuse Award at the 19th Water Digest
World Water Awards 2024-25.
About Uttar Pradesh (UP):
Chief Minister (CM) – Yogi Adityanath
Governor – Anandiben Patel

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Capital – Lucknow
Ramsar Sites – Saman Bird Sanctuary, Bakhira Sanctuary

Maharashtra Approved India’s First Shipbuilding, Repair & Recycling Policy 2025
In April 2025, the Maharashtra State Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis,
approved the ‘Shipbuilding, Ship Repair and Ship Recycling Policy 2025;, making Maharashtra the first
state in India to introduce a dedicated policy in the maritime manufacturing sector.
• This initiative aligns with the Union Government’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal
Vision 2047, aimed at positioning India among the top five countries in global shipbuilding by
2047.
Objectives of the Policy:
The policy focuses on transforming Maharashtra into a maritime hub through:
i.Investment of Rs 6,600 crore by 2030, with a target of generating 40,000 jobs by then.
ii.Investment of Rs 18,000 crore by 2047, with a target of 3.3 lakh jobs in the maritime sector.
iii.Contributing to one-third of India’s shipbuilding targets by 2030.
Key Provisions of the Policy:
The policy will be implemented and monitored by the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB). It includes:
i.Financial Incentives:
• Capital subsidy of 15% of project cost.
• Up to Rs 1 crore per project for skill development.
• Up to Rs 25 crore for research and development (R&D).
ii.Land Allocation: Concessional land allotment on long-term leases of 30 years (renewable).
iii.Infrastructure Development:
• Streamlined approvals and infrastructure support (power, water, road, connectivity).
• Development of marine shipyard clusters, dry docks, and green ship recycling zones.
Global and National Context:
i.India ranks 21st globally in shipbuilding (1% share), 20th in ship repair, but 2nd in ship
recycling (32.6% global share).
• In contrast, China (50%), South Korea (28%), and Japan (15%) dominate global shipbuilding.
ii.Maharashtra holds 11% of India’s shipbuilding capacity and 21% of production.
Note: As per the Union Budget 2025–26, the Government of India(GoI) has allocated Rs 25,000 crore to the
Maritime Development Fund (MDF) to boost India’s maritime infrastructure. Ships above a specified size are
also now included under the Harmonised Master List (HML) for infrastructure status.
About the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW):
Union Minister – Sarbananda Sonowal (Constituency – Dibrugarh, Assam)
Minister of State (MoS) – Shantanu Thakur (Constituency – Bangaon, West Bengal, WB)

India’s Coastline Length Revised to 11,098.81 km Following Updated Methodology

In April 2025, as per the Survey of India (SoI) data, India’s coastline length was officially updated
to 11,098.81 kilometers (km), increasing by 3,537.21 km or nearly 50% from the earlier figure
of 7,516.60 km recorded since the 1970s.
• This revision follows a multi-year scientific review led by the Dehradun (Uttarakhand) based
National Hydrographic Organisation (NHO) in coordination with SoI.
• According to the updated measurements, Gujarat has the longest coastline among states,
while Goa has the shortest. Among union territories (UTs), Andaman &
Nicobar (A&N) Islands has the longest, and Puducherry the shortest.

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Background:
i.For decades, different government departments used varying coastline figures due to outdated
measurement methodologies.
ii.The Coastal Protection and Development Advisory Committee (CPDAC) under the Ministry of Home
Affairs (MHA), New Delhi (Delhi), began addressing this issue in its 11th meeting (2010).
iii.During its 16th meeting (16th July 2019), CPDAC accepted NHO’s revised coastline length of 11,084.50
km, computed using advanced hydrographic data.
iv.On August 10, 2023, the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), New Delhi, finalized updated Terms
of Reference (ToR) for standardizing maritime parameters.
v.This revised length of 11,098.81 km was accepted during a meeting held in January 2024, at the NSCS,
New Delhi (Delhi), with representatives from coastal States/UTs and other stakeholders.
Reasons for Deviation:
i.Differences in scale and calculation methods; the 1970s data were likely computed at a scale of 1:4,500,000
or smaller, whereas the re-verified data used a scale of 1:250,000.
ii.Advancements in technology, with modern Geographic Information System (GIS) software providing more
accurate measurements compared to conventional/manual methods used previously.
iii.Inclusion of the coastline lengths of 1,298 offshore islands/islets (1,059 islands and 239 islets), which
were possibly omitted in earlier calculations due to scale constraints.
About Survey of India (SoI):
SoI, the National Survey and Mapping Organization of India operates under the Department of Science &
Technology(DST), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T).
Surveyor General of India – Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana
Headquarters – Dehradun (Uttarakhand)
Founded – 1767

India Conducts First Human Gene Therapy Trial for Haemophilia

In April 2025, India has achieved a significant milestone in medical science by conducting its first human
gene therapy trial for haemophilia , which was conducted through a collaboration between Bengaluru
(Karnataka)-based Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council’s (BRIC’s) Institute for Cell Science and
Regenerative Medicine (BRIC-inStem) and Christian Medical College(CMC) Vellore, Vellore (Tamil Nadu,
TN).
• It was announced during by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science and Technology
(MoS&T) during his inspection of facilities at BRIC -inStem.
• Haemophilia is a genetic blood disorder in which blood doesn’t clot normally, causing abnormal
bleeding.
i.In this trial, patients with severe haemophilia A received autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) that
were genetically modified using lentiviral vectors to express the Factor VIII gene.
ii.These modified cells were then transplanted back into the patients, enabling their bodies to produce the
necessary clotting factor naturally.
Note: India’s Biotechnology sector experienced remarkable growth, expanding 16-fold to reach USD165.7
billion in 2024, with a vision to touch USD300 billion by 2030.

SRFTI’s Film ‘A Doll Made Up of Clay’ Makes its Entry to Cannes 2025
Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute(SRFTI), the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting(MoI&B) has
announced the entry of its film “A Doll Made Up of Clay” to 78th Festival De Cannes.
• The film has been selected for the prestigious La Cinef section, which showcases works by film
school students across the world.

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i. The movie has been written and directed by KokobGebrehweria Tesfay, an Ethiopian student under the
Indian Council of Cultural Research (ICCR)at SRFTI and produced by Sahil Manoj Ingle.
ii.The movie features a 23-year-old Nigerian Footballer, Ahmed, who originally came to play seven-a-side
games in the city and somehow, he ended up as an actor.
iii.The 23-minute experimental film, was made as a part of an academic project for the Department of
Producing for Film and Television, SRFTI. The movie has a mix of Yoruba and Bengali languages.
Note: SRFTI, established in 1995, is an autonomous premier institution dedicated to film and television
education in India. Named after the renowned filmmaker Satyajit Ray, it is located in Kolkata (West Bengal,
WB)

Union MoS Pankaj Chaudhary Leads 69th ED Foundation Day Celebrations in New Delhi
On 1 May 2025, Union Minister of State (MoS), Ministry of Finance (MoF), Pankaj Chaudhary led the 69th
Foundation Day celebrations of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in New Delhi, Delhi, highlighting the
agency’s growing efforts in tackling financial crimes.
Key Attendees: The event was attended by senior dignitaries including S.V. Raju, Additional Solicitor
General; Rahul Navin, Director, ED; Subhash Aggarwal and Prashant Kumar, Special Directors, ED; and Naval
Kishore Ram, Joint Secretary, Department of Revenue(DoR), Ministry of Finance(MoF).
Highlights of 69th Foundation Day of ED:
ED Annual Report for FY25:
The Union MoS Pankaj Chaudhary, also released the Annual Report of the ED for the Financial Year
2024–25 (FY 25). The report highlights a significant increase in action taken by the ED to tackle financial
crimes in India.
Key Points:
i.Between 2014 and 2024, the ED initiated 5,113 Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002
investigations, averaging over 500 cases per year.
In 30 cases, Rs 15,261 crore was returned to victims with court approval
ii.In FY25, a total of 775 new cases were launched under the PMLA. The agency issued 461 provisional
attachment orders worth Rs 30,036 crore, 44% more in number and 141% higher in value than FY 24, with
total attached assets reaching Rs 1.54 lakh crore by March 2025.
iii.The ED filed 333 prosecution complaints in FY25, leading to 34 convictions, with 1,739 cases under trial
by 31 March 2025 and only 3 acquittals out of 47 concluded cases, resulting in a 93.6% conviction rate.
Awards Presented to ED Officers:
At the event, 23 officers and zonal units were honoured for their outstanding service:
i.Abhishek Goyal, former Special Director, ED received the President’s Medal for Meritorious Service.
ii.Officers from across India were awarded for their work in intelligence, investigation, and field operations.
iii.Zonal offices in Jalandhar (Punjab), Hyderabad (Telangana), and Gurugram (Haryana) were specially
appreciated for their high performance, including securing convictions, filing cases, and attaching valuable
properties.
List of ED Officers Honoured:

Awards Recipient Designation / Office

President’s Medal for Meritorious

Abhishek Goyal Former Special Director, ED
Service

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Joint Director, Chennai

Sujit Sadhak;
Zonal Office-II, ED;
Category I: Dutiful and Exemplary
Service Over Time
Sepoy, Jammu Sub-Zonal
Suram Chandra
Office, ED

Deputy Director (INT-I),

Manoj Mittal,
Headquarters Office

Deputy Director, Gurugram

Sudhir Kumar
Zonal Office

Deputy Director, Gurugram

Chetan Krishna H.G
Zonal Office

Deputy Director, Kolkata

Deovrat Jha
Zonal Office-II

Assistant Legal Advisor,

Gaurav Saini
Headquarters Office

Assistant Director, Kolkata

Ravindra Dahiya
Zonal Office-I

Assistant Director, Co-

Category II: Exceptional
Gaurav Dabas, ordination / Financial
Intelligence/Investigation Skills
Action Task Force (FATF)

Assistant Director, Jaipur

Anshul Roy
Zonal Office

Assistant Director, Patna

Bhupesh
Zonal Office

Assistant Director,
Suman
Chandigarh Zonal Office-I

Enforcement Officer,
Bhola Ram Jaat,
Ahmedabad Zonal Office

Enforcement Officer,
Deepika
Western Regional Office

Enforcement Officer,
Ganpati K.
Southern Regional Office

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Assistant Enforcement
Sagar Chauhan
Officer, Chennai Zone-II

Sr. Sepoy, Allahabad Sub-

Vinod Kumar Pandey
Zonal Office

Sr. Sepoy, STF, Headquarters

Sunil Kumar S.K.
Office

Abhishek Kumar Jha Sepoy, Headquarters Office

Additional Director,
Ravi Tiwari,
Jalandhar Zonal Office

Category III: Extraordinary Valour Joint Director, Hyderabad

Rohit Anand,
and Courage Zonal Office

Joint Director, Gurugram

Navaneet Agrawal,
Zonal Office
About Enforcement Directorate (ED):
The ED, set up on May 1, 1956, works under the Union Finance Ministry and handles cases under PMLA
2002, the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (2018), and The Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA)
1999.
Director– Rahul Navin
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi

Rajasthan to join India’s first cheetah conservation corridor with MP

In May 2025, Rajasthan is set to become a key participant in India’s first inter-state cheetah
conservation corridor, collaborating with Madhya Pradesh(MP) to establish a 17,000 square kilometer(sq
km) wildlife corridor. It will allow cheetahs to roam freely in a protected and connected habitat.
• The aim of the project is to improve genetic diversity,
ensure better movement for wildlife, and mitigate the
challenges of habitat fragmentation.
About Cheetah conservation corridor:
i.Out of the 17,000 Sq Km corridor area, 10,500 Sq Km falls under MP
and remaining 6,500 Sq Km in Rajasthan.
• The corridor will span 27 districts: 13 in Rajasthan and 12
in MP.
• In this plan, seven districts in Rajasthan :Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli,
and Chittorgarh will be integrated into the project.
ii.The corridor will link Palpur Kuno National Park(NP) and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in MP with
the Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.
iii.This corridor will allow cheetahs to move from Kuno NP through the Mukundara Hills Reserve in
Rajasthan to Gandhi Sagar.
iv.The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) released an
action plan, in which Kuno-Gandhi Sagar landscape was designated as a suitable cheetah habitat.

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v.This corridor is expected to play a critical role in supporting the long-term survival of cheetah species in
India, a vital part of the country’s biodiversity.
About Madhya Pradesh(MP):
Chief Minister (CM) – Mohan Yadav
Governor – Mangubhai C. Patel
Capital – Bhopal
Bird Sanctuary – Kharmor Bird Sanctuary
About Rajasthan:
Chief Minister (CM) – Bhajan Lal Sharma
Governor – Haribhau Bagade
Capital – Jaipur
Bird Sanctuary – Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

India’s Mining Sector Achieves Record Production in FY25; Iron Ore Grows by 4.3%
In May 2025, the Ministry of Mines(MoM) released its provisional data, India’s mining sector witnessed
a strong growth in Financial Year 2024-25(FY25), after reaching record production levels in the FY24.
• Key minerals such as iron ore, manganese ore, and bauxite, along with non-ferrous metals like
aluminium and copper, have registered significant Year-on-Year(YoY) growth, reaching record
production levels.
• This growth trend indicates a strong economic activity in user sectors such as energy,
infrastructure, construction, automotive and machinery.
Note: India is the 2nd largest Aluminium producers, among top-10 producer in refined copper and
4th largest iron ore producer in the world.
Production Highlights in FY25:
i.According to the provisional data, iron ore production reached 289 million metric tons (MMT) in FY25,
surpassing the previous record of 277 MMT in FY24, marking a growth of 4.3%.
ii.Manganese ore production also reached a new high in FY25, rising by 11.8% to 3.8 MMT, surpassing the
previous record of 3.4 MMT achieved in FY24.
iii.Production of Bauxite has also risen by 2.9% to 24.7 MMT in FY25 slightly up from 24 MMT in FY 2023-
24.
iv.In the same period, lead concentrate production grew by 3.1%, reaching 393 thousand tonnes (THT), up
from 381 THT recorded in FY 2023-24.
Non-Ferrous Metals:
i.Non-ferrous metals are metals or alloys that do not contain significant amounts of iron.
ii.In the non-ferrous metal sector, primary aluminium production increased from 41.6 lakh ton (LT) in
FY24 to 42 LT during FY25.
iii.Also, refined copper production saw a robust growth of 12.6%, reaching 5.73 LT in FY25 from 5.09 LT in
FY24 .
About Ministry of Mines(MoM):
Union Minister – G. Kishan Reddy (Constituency – Secunderabad, Telangana)
Minister of State(MoS) – Satish Chandra Dubey (Rajya Sabha – Bihar)

INCOIS Launched ‘Submarine Cable Project’ at Andaman & Nicobar Islands

In May 2025, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) under the Ministry of
Earth Sciences (MoES), has launched ‘Submarine Cable Project’ to improve long-term monitoring of the
Indian Ocean.

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• This project is backed by international scientific collaboration and is designed to enhance the
understanding of oceanographic patterns, seismic movements, and tsunami risks in the region.
About Submarine Cable Project :
i.A 150-kilometre(km)-long submarine cable will be installed off the coast of Wandoor in the Andaman and
Nicobar(A&N) Islands.
ii.The infrastructure will comprise two science nodes along the cable, equipped with oceanographic and
geophysical sensors positioned at water depths ranging from 2,000 to 2,500 metres(m).
iii.The landing station will be established at an observatory in Wandoor, with a control centre for real-time
data acquisition and monitoring at the institute headquarters located in Hyderabad.
About Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme (OTDP):
i.INCOIS plays a key role in three of the ten major projects under the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO’s) Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme (ODTP), an initiative led by the
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).
ii.The main objectives of ODTP Projects are:
• Investigate past and potential tsunami sources.
• Evaluate risks to infrastructure and marine resources.
• Enhance tsunami detection, monitoring, and early warning systems.
iii.One of the major efforts under this programme is the People-Centred Tsunami Early Warning
Initiative (PCTWIN).
• Its objective is to strengthen public awareness, improve tsunami forecasting, and develop
efficient communication systems.
• It also focuses on increasing disaster preparedness at the community level to reduce vulnerability
during such natural disasters.
iv.Another programme is Tsunami Ready Odisha (TRO). This project enhances coastal community
resilience by promoting awareness and preparedness to reduce the impact of tsunamis on lives, livelihoods,
and property.
• In collaboration with Odisha State Disaster Management Agency (OSDMA), this effort supports
the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme to enhance tsunami preparedness and
risk reduction in Odisha’s coastal communities.
v.The INCOIS has developed comprehensive tsunami hazard maps and evacuation route plans to bolster
community preparedness and response during emergencies.
• As of December 2024, 24 villages across six coastal districts of Odisha have been officially
recognized as ‘Tsunami Ready’ by the IOC-UNESCO.
About Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS):
Director – Dr. Balakrishnan Nair T.M
Headquarteres – Hyderabad, Telangana
Established – 1999

MoE Approved to Establish IIFT’s New off Campus Centre at GIFT City, Gujarat
In May 2025, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has approved the establishment of an off-campus centre of
New Delhi (Delhi)-based Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City-
International Financial Services Centre (GIFT-IFSC) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• The newly approved centre will be established in accordance with the UGC (Institutions Deemed
to be Universities) Regulations, 2023.
• The approval was granted by MoE under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, signify a major step in
expanding India’s capacity for specialized education in international trade.

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• This new initiative is in alignment with the targets of the National Education Policy (NEP 2020),
which aims to promote multidisciplinary education and widens access to high-quality education.
Key Points:
i.This approval for new campus centre comes after IIFT successfully complied with the conditions outlined
in the Letter of Intent (LoI) issued in January 2025.
ii.The new GIFT City complex will be based on the 16th and 17th floors of GIFT Tower2 located in the
domestic tariff area of the GIFT campus.
iii.It will provide IIFT’s flagship Master Business Administration (MBA) (International Business)
programme and will also offer specialized short-term training courses and research in international
business and related fields.
Monarch Networth Capital IFSC Secures IFSCA FME (Retail) License to Expand Fund Management
Services
In May 2025, Monarch Networth Capital IFSC Private Limited, 100%-owned subsidiary of Ahmedabad
(Gujarat) based Monarch Networth Capital Limited (MNCL) Group, has received the Certificate of
Registration (CoR) to operate as a Registered Fund Management Entity (FME)(Retail) from Gandhinagar
(Gujarat)-based International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).
• Now, MNCL Group is the first non-Asset Management Company (non-AMC) in India’s financial
services sector to receive this license at GIFT IFSC.
Key Benefits:
i.The CoR will now allow MNCL Group to expand its offerings in the fund management business through
introduction of value-added and internationally competitive products.
ii.Monarch IFSC is now authorised to undertake diverse range of fund management activities, including
investing in securities and financial products, managing and launching retail investment schemes, among
others.
iii.It is empowered to undertake activities for FME (Non-Retail) like launching restricted schemes, special
situation funds, and Portfolio Management Services (PMS) including multi-family office structures.
About Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT):
It was established in 1963 under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I), which is dedicated to
capacity building in international trade.
Chancellor- Sunil Barthwal
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
About Ministry of Education (MoE):
Union Minister- Dharmendra Pradhan (Constituency- Sambalpur, Odisha)
Minister of State (MoS)- Jayant Chaudhary (Rajya Sabha- Uttar Pradesh, UP); Dr. Sukanta Majumdar
(Constituency- Balurghat, West Bengal, WB)

Chhattisgarh CM Lays Foundation for India’s First AI-Based Data Centre Park in Nava Raipur
In May 2025, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister(CM) Vishnu Deo Sai laid the foundation stone for India’s
first Artificial Intelligence (AI) based Data Centre Park in Sector-22 of Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
• The project is set to be developed and operated by Indore (Madhya Pradesh) based RackBank
Datacenters Private Limited.
i.The Data Centre Park will span 13.5 acres (approximately 5.5 hectares), with 2.7 hectares designated as a
Special Economic Zone (SEZ) dedicated exclusively to AI-based services.
ii.The first phase will commence with a capacity of 5 MegaWatts (MW), with plans to expand up to 150 MW.
An additional investment of approximately Rs 2,000 crore is anticipated as the project scales.
iii. The facility will house Graphics Processing Unit(GPU) based high-end computing infrastructure, live data

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streaming, Artificial Intelligence (AI) processing, and data analytics services. It aims to provide advanced
services in fields such as AI, HealthTech, Defence, FinTech, and data analytics.

Union Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu Granted In-Principle Approval for Greenfield
Airports in Rajasthan, Odisha
In May 2025, Union Minister KinjarapuRammohan Naidu, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has granted
in-principle approval for the setting up of greenfield airports in Kota (Rajasthan) and Puri (Odisha).
• These approvals are aligned with the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, which aims to
make air travel affordable and accessible to the common man.
• This approval reflects the Government of India (GoI)’s commitment to expand and strengthen air
connectivity across the country.
Note: Greenfield airports are aviation facilities built from scratch on previously undeveloped or empty land.
Key Points:
i.The airport will be developed in 2 phases with a total investment of Rs.1,507 crore.
• The proposed airport in Kota city, which is known as a major educational and industrial hub, will
cater to the increasing population and economic activity in the Hadoti region.
• This development marks a significant milestone in the infrastructure development of Kota and
the Government’s commitment to make air travel accessible to all.
ii.The airport will be developed in 3 phases across 1,164 acres, with a total investment of Rs.5,631 crore.
• Puri, one of the most sacred pilgrimage destinations in India and home to Lord Jagannath, will
provide a major boost to religious tourism, regional development, and overall connectivity in the
region.
About Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA):
Union Minister- Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu (Constituency- Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, AP)
Minister of State (MoS)–Murlidhar Kisan Mohol (Constituency- Pune, Maharashtra)

TN Tops India’s Textile Exports in FY25 with USD 7.99 Billion Contribution
In April 2025, Tamil Nadu (TN) emerged as India’s leading textile exporter in Financial Year 2024-
25 (FY25), contributing USD 7.99 billion, which accounts for 26.81% of India’s total textile exports valued
at USD 36.61 billion.
• This reflects a notable growth from FY24, where TN’s exports stood at USD 7.15 billion with a
20.78% share.
• In FY25, Gujarat ranked as the second largest textile exporter with USD 5.64 billion, followed
by Maharashtra in third place with USD 3.83 billion.
Key Export Categories:
i.Readymade Garments: Largest share at USD 15.99 billion.
ii.Cotton Products: USD 12.06 billion (yarn, fabrics, made-ups, handlooms).
iii.Man-Made Textiles: USD 4.87 billion (yarn, fabrics, made-ups).
iv.Others: Handicrafts, carpets, jute.
Factors behind TN’s success:
i.The Tiruppur knitwear cluster (Tiruppur, TN) significantly contributed to TN’s export performance, with
exports worth USD 4.69 billion (approximately Rs. 40,000 crore) in FY25.
• This cluster, known for its comprehensive supply chain from yarn production to garment
finishing has attracted global buyers due to its efficiency and sustainability practices.
ii.Tirupur’s price competitiveness and sustainability focus attract global brands.
iii.European Union (EU) to end Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) for Bangladesh by 2027,
prompting buyers to shift to India.

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About Tamil Nadu (TN):

Chief Minister (CM)– Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin
Governor– Ravindra Narayan Ravi
Capital – Chennai
Ramsar Sites – Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary, Therthangal Bird Sanctuary

GoI Introduced Chip-based e-passports to Ensure Security of Travellers

In May 2025, the Government of India (GoI) has introduced chip-based e-passports across the country,
with the aim of ensuring security of travellers and enhancing international travel.
• These passports are equipped with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and antenna
embedded as an inlay.
• The key benefit of the e-passport is its enhanced ability to maintain the integrity of passport
holder’s data.
About chip-based e-passports:
i.Thes e-passports were initially rolled out on pilot basis on April 01, 2024, as part of the Passport
Seva Programme-Version 2.0 (PSP-V2.0).
ii.These chips store the passport holder’s data, including biometric information in encrypted form, which
makes it harder to forge the passport.
iii.At present, these e-passports are being issued at select regional passport offices in various Indian cities
like: Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN); Jaipur (Rajasthan); Hyderabad (Telangana); Nagpur (Maharashtra);
Amritsar (Punjab); Goa; Bhubanewar (Odisha); Jammu (Jammu & Kashmir, J&K); and Shimla (Himachal
Pradesh, HP).
About Passport Seva Programme Version 2.0 (PSP-V2.0):
i.In January 2022, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU)
with Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS) for 2nd phase of PSP-V2.0.
ii.The PSP-V2.0 is a continuation and enhancement of previous version of PSP i.e. PSP-V1.0, an e-
governance instrument launched in 2008, which introduced unprecedented transformation in delivery of
passport related services to Indian citizens.
iii.The PSP-V2.0 includes new and upgraded e-passports, and is in alignment with the Prime Minister (PM)’s
vision of enhancing the ‘Ease of Living’ for citizens.
• Such initiatives will bring in a new paradigm of “EASE”: E- Enhanced passport services to citizens,
using a digital eco-system A: Artificial Intelligence (AI)- powered service delivery S: Smoother
overseas travel using chip-enabled e-passports E: Enhanced data security.
New Passport Rules:
The GoI has introduced significant updates to passport regulations in 2025, focusing on enhancing security,
privacy, and inclusivity. The new rules are
i.As per the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2025, individuals born on or after October 1, 2023, are required
to submit a birth certificate as the sole proof of their date of birth when applying for a passport.
• For applicants born before this date, alternative documents remain acceptable,
including:Permanent Account Number(PAN) card, driving licence, school certificate, or service
records.
ii.The residential address will no longer be printed on the last page of the passport. Instead, this
information will be stored digitally within a barcode, accessible only to authorized immigration or
government officials.
iii.The names of parents will no longer be printed on the last page of the passport. This update is
particularly beneficial for individuals from single-parent families or those who prefer not to disclose
parental information.

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About Ministry of External Affairs (MEA):

Union Minister- Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (Rajya Sabha member- Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS)- Pabitra Margherita (Rajya Sabha member- Assam)

India Lists First Mortgage-Backed Pass Through Certificates on NSE

In May 2025, M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance(MoF)
listed India’s first Mortgage backed Pass Through Certificates (PTC) structured by Mumbai, Maharashtra
based RMBS Development Company Limited on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in Mumbai.
• This initiative aims to enhance liquidity in the housing finance market and attract long-term
investors.
Key Details:
i.The PTCs are backed by a pool of housing loans originated by Mumbai based LIC Housing Finance
Limited(LIC HFL). The issuance comprised 1,00,000 certificates, each with a face value of Rs 1,00,000,
totaling Rs 1,000 crore. The issue was fully subscribed, indicating strong investor interest.
ii.This marks the first instance in India where the coupon rate for a PTC was discovered through the NSE’s
Electronic Book Provider (EBP) platform.
iii.The PTCs carry a 7.26% annual coupon with a maturity period of approximately 20 years.
iv.They are rated AAA(SO) by Mumbai based CRISIL Limited and CARE Ratings, ensuring high credit quality.
The AAA(Structured Obligation, SO)’indicating the highest degree of safety regarding timely servicing of
financial obligations.
v.Issued in dematerialized form, these PTCs are transferable and can be traded in the secondary market,
providing liquidity to investors.

GoI notifies the expansion of CGSS to increase capital mobilization for startups
In May 2025, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce
and Industry (MoC&I) has notified the expansion of Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) to
increase the capital mobilization for startups in India.
• The notified expansions aim to address the financing needs of innovation-driven startups. This
notification replaces the earlier one issued on October 6, 2022, and will be effective from May 8,
2025.
Key Points:
i.The expansion increases the ceiling on guarantee cover per borrower under the scheme from Rs.10
crore to Rs.20 crore.
ii.The extent of guaranteed cover provided also has been increased to 85% of the amount in default for loan
up to Rs.10 crore and 75% of the amount in default for loan amount exceeding Rs.10 crore.
iii.The Annual Guarantee Fee (AGF) for startups in 27 Champion Sectors has been reduced to 1% per
annum (p.a) from 2% p.a.
• The Champion Sectors have been identified by the GoI under ‘Make in India’.
• The reduction in AGF for Champion Sectors will make funding more attractive and boost
innovation in domestic manufacturing and self-reliance.
iv.The expanded scheme will further reduce the risks associated with lending to startups in established
financial institutions, enable greater financial flow and runway for startups to undertake Research and
Development (R&D), experimentation, and create cutting-edge innovation and technologies.
About Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS):
The Government of India (GoI) established the CGSS scheme on 6th October 2022, with a fixed corpus for
providing credit guarantees to loans extended to DPIIT recognized startups by Scheduled Commercial

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Banks(SCBs), Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) and Venture Debt Funds (VDFs) under Alternative
Investment Funds (AIFs), registered under Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
• This scheme is managed by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company
Limited (NCGTC) under the Department of Financial Services (DFS), the Ministry of
Finance(MoF).
About Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I):
Union Minister – Piyush Goyal (Constituency – Mumbai North, Maharashtra)
Minister of State (MoS) – Jitin Prasada (Constituency – Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, UP)

AGEL becomes World’s First Renewable Energy IPP to turn Water Positive
On May 8, 2025, Ahmedabad (Gujarat)-based Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL), a joint venture(JV)
between Adani Group and Courbevoie (France)-based Total Energies, became the world’s first Renewable
Energy (RE) Independent Power Producer (IPP) with its massive 14 Gigawatt (GW) operational portfolio to
turn water positive.
• AGEL achieved water positivity a year ahead of its target year Financial Year 2025-26(FY26) .
• It is the first and only among the top 10 operational RE portfolio companies to reach water
positivity.
Key Points of Achievement:
i.The Adani group has been certified water positive by London(England)based Intertek, a global assurance
firm, after conducting comprehensive audits and assessments of AGEL’s water accounting data across 103
operational sites, and 85 water conservation sites.
• It is also the only RE company in India of this scale to be certified water positive.
ii.Through this initiative, 85 revitalized ponds benefited over 1,23,000 people including water-scarce
communities.
iii.Over 54% of AGEL’s operational capacity employs robotic cleaning technology for solar modules, saving
approximately 546 million litres(l) of water annually.
iv.AGEL’s advanced efforts to achieve sustainable solutions include waterless robotic cleaning of solar
panels, deepening of traditional water bodies, rainwater harvesting and various pilot projects such as the
clean drinking water condensed from humid air.
v.AGEL set out to extend the water positivity goal to the entire operational portfolio by FY26, which was
achieved a year ahead in FY25.
About Water positivity:
Water positive refers to a state where an entity restores more freshwater to the environment than the
amount it uses in its operations.
• A water-positive framework involves preserving water, optimizing its consumption and
contributing to its restoration.
Note: AGEL’s operating portfolio is certified as water positive, single-use plastic free and zero waste-to-
landfill.
About Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL):
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Ashish Khanna
Headquarters – Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Incorporated – 2016

Australia, UK Universities setting up Campuses in Navi Mumbai

In May 2025, Maharashtra Government’s City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has signed
agreements with two leading Universities from Australia and United Kingdom (UK), to set up their
campuses in Navi Mumbai.

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• The campuses will be set up at Educity, the mega education hub launched by CIDCO in Navi
Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The investment of the project is expected to be Rs.1500 crores for each campus.
• The agreements were signed with the University of York (the UK) and the University of
Western Australia (Australia).
i.The University of York campus is expected to commence operations in 2026, with pending approval from
University Grants Commission (UGC). It will offer Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) programmes
in computer science with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybersecurity, business, economics and creative
industries.
ii.Educity is expected to have 10-12 universities which feature in the top 100 global ranking.

ITER Achieves Major Milestone in World’s Largest Fusion Project with India’s help
In April 2025, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), the world’s largest nuclear
fusion project located in southern France, has achieved a major milestone in the development of its main
magnet system, with India playing a key role in building critical infrastructure to confine super-hot plasma
particles that combine and fuse to release energy.
• The ITER project, backed by the United States of America(USA), China, Japan, Russia, and the
European Union (EU) involves more than 30 countries to assemble the world’s most powerful
magnet, Central Solenoid.
• The central solenoid had been completed and tested by the USA and will be assembled in
Southern France. The start-up phase of the project will begin in 2033.
Key Points:
i.The final part of the magnet system was the sixth module of the Central Solenoid, the main magnet that will
drive the plasma, the superhot gas in which fusion reactions take place, in the reactor.
ii.ITER is expected to produce 500 Megawatts (MW) of energy from just 50 MW of input.
iii.India has designed and manufactured the cryostat, an enormous 30-metre (m) tall and 30 m wide
chamber that houses the entire ITER Tokmak, the world’s largest and most powerful fusion device.
iv.India has also built the cryolines that carry liquid helium to cool the magnets to minus 269 degrees
Celsius(°C), the temperature needed for superconductivity.
v.India has also delivered the reactor’s in-wall shielding, cooling water systems and key parts of the heating
systems that will raise the temperature of the plasma to over 150 °C, 10 times hotter than the Sun’s core.
About Tokamak Reactor:
i.A Tokamak Reactor is an advanced experimental device designed to achieve controlled nuclear fusion, the
process that powers the sun and stars.
• It uses powerful magnetic fields to confine a superheated plasma in a toroidal (doughnut-shaped)
chamber, enabling atomic nuclei to fuse and release energy.
ii.It works on a pulsed superconducting electromagnet system.
iii.Originally developed by Soviet researchers in the late 1960s, the tokamak design was soon embraced
globally as the most promising configuration for magnetic confinement fusion devices.

Ladakh Records World’s Highest Snow Leopard Density with 477 Individuals
In May 2025, the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh hosts the highest recorded density of snow
leopards (Panthera uncia) in the world, according to a study by Department of Wildlife Protection (DWP),
Ladakh in collaboration with Dehradun (Uttarakhand)-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and New
Delhi-based National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

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• The study was carried out as part of the Snow Leopard

Population Assesment in India (SPAI) program and was
published by the United States of America (USA) based
Public Library of Science (PLOS) in the journal PLOS
ONE.
• The study estimated that Ladakh is home to477 snow
leopards, accounting for nearly 68% of India’s total
snow leopard population of 709.
Key Findings:
Snow Leopard Population and Density:
i.Snow leopards in Ladakh occupy an extensive area of 47,572 square kilometres (sq. km).
ii.Hemis National Park in Ladakh recorded the world’s highest snow leopard density with approximately
2.07 individuals per 100 sq. km, surpassing previous global records from Tibet.
iii.Globally, the average snow leopard density ranges between 0.92 and 1.8 individuals per 100 sq. km.
iv.The study highlighted that over 60% of Ladakh’s snow leopards co-exist in landscapes shared with
humans.
Research Methodology:
The study, described as the most intensive snow leopard survey ever conducted in Ladakh, covered a
vast 59,150 sq. km landscape. It used:
i.Double-sampling methodology
ii.Camera trap-based spatially explicit mark-recapture (SEMR) techniques
iii.Occupancy surveys and habitat distribution modelling
iv.Over 900 camera traps were deployed, supplemented with scent lures to photograph snow leopards and
identify individuals based on unique fur patterns.
About Snow Leopard:
i.In 2017, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) downlisted snow leopards from
Endangered to Vulnerable, a decision questioned due to concerns over data accuracy.
ii.Snow leopards are native to the mountainous regions of South and Central Asia, spanning 12 countries,
including India, China, Nepal, and Pakistan.
• Within India, snow leopards are found in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh
(HP), Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh (AR).
iii.In India, snow leopards are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, granting it
the highest level of legal protection.
About Ladakh:
Lieutenant Governor – Brigadier (Dr.) Ball Dutt (B.D.) Mishra (retired)
Capital: Leh
Wildlife Sanctuary – Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary

IWAI Established its New Office in Srinagar to Develop River Navigation Infrastructure in J&K
In May 2025, Noida (Uttar Pradesh, UP)-based Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), has established its new office, located at Transport
Bhawan in Srinagar, Union Territory (UT) Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). This move is expected to bolster the
Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector in J&K.
• The J&K government has provided the space for newly established IWAI’s office that became
operational on May 13, 2025.
• This new office will serve as the central hub for its activities in J&K, monitoring the development
of river navigation infrastructure across the region.

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Key Points:
i.In March 2025, IWAI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of J&K to
develop river navigation infrastructure across 3 National Waterways (NWs): NW-26 (river Chenab); NW-
49 (river Jhelum) and NW-84(river Ravi).
ii.IWAI will now undertake the development works in UT J&K as outlined in the MoU. Some of these
development works include:
• To set up floating jetties at 10 locations in J&K;
• To develop navigational fairway by dredging of river beds wherever required;
• To provide night navigation aids; and
• To conduct regular hydrographic surveys to ensure safe passage of vessels.
iii.Apart from this, the IWAI is actively working on enhancing navigation infrastructure in two of Kashmir’s
most iconic water bodies: Dal Lake and Wular Lake in Kashmir, J&K.
Significance of MoU:
i.The MoU is part of a wider national strategy to explore the potential of inland waterways as a sustainable
mode of transport and economic river.
ii.Also, the partnership between IWAI and the government of J&K will open up new avenues for eco-tourism
and economic development in the region by enhancing connectivity and reducing logistical costs.
Point to Note: In April 2025, IWAI reported a record-breaking cargo movement of 145.5 Million Metric
Tonne (MMT) in the Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25), up from 18.1 MMT in FY14, registering a Compounded
Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20.86%.
About Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI):
It was established in 1986 under IWAI Act, 1985. It is mandated with the development and regulation of
waterways which are declared NWs in India.
Chairman- Vijay Kumar
Headquarters- Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP)

Indore Becomes the India’s First Beggar-Free City

In May 2025, the District Magistrate of Indore, Madhya Pradesh(MP) announced that Indore has become
the first Indian city to be beggar-free, which is result of an ‘anti-begging campaign’ initiated in February
2024 to eliminate begging.
• The campaign launched by the city administration has been recognized by the Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) and a World Bank(WB) team as a model project.
Note: Indore is one of the 10 cities where the MSJE has started a pilot project to eliminate begging.
Key Points:
i.Earlier, the city had 5000 beggars, including 500 children, who were rehabilitated by helping to find
employment, children involved in begging were enrolled in schools.
ii.Under the campaign, individuals found begging at intersections and roads in Indore were caught and sent
to relocation centres, where they were provided with accommodation and food.
• First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered against the beggars coming from the other
states.
iii.Indore district administration also launched a dedicated number where the citizens could report the
presence of beggars via whatsapp or other means, leading to the immediate dispatch of a rescue team to
relocate them to rehabilitation centres.
• A reward of Rs.1000 was provided to those who provided information about the beggars.

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Illinois Tech becomes first USA university to set up campus in India

In May 2025, Chicago (the United States of America, USA)-based Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois
Tech) has become the first American university to receive approval from India’s University Grants
Commission (UGC) to set up an independent, degree-granting campus in Mumbai (Maharashtra).
• The campus is scheduled to open in 2026, marking a significant milestone in India-USA
educational collaboration.
i.The Mumbai campus will offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in high-demand fields such as
Computer Science, Engineering, and Business.
ii.The Mumbai campus will offer the same experiential, industry-aligned curriculum as Illinois Tech’s
Chicago campus, including the university’s signature Elevate program, which guarantees all students access
to hands-on research, internships, and career-accelerating experiences.
iii.Courses will be delivered by an internationally recruited faculty, including visiting professors from
Illinois Tech’s Chicago campus and faculty with global academic credentials.

Cargo Handling at Major Indian Ports Increases 4.3% to 855 MT in FY25

According to official data released by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) in May
2025, 12 major ports of India registered a 4.3% increase in cargo handling, from 819 Million Tonnes (MT)
in Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24) to approximately 855 MT in FY25. This growth signifies the resilience
and capacity of major Indian ports in accommodating increasing trade volumes.
• Also, this increase in traffic was mainly attributed by higher container throughput (10%),
fertilizer cargo handling (13%), Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants (POL) cargo handling (3%), and
handling of miscellaneous commodities (31%) compared to FY24.
About Major Ports in India:
i.At present, there are 12 major ports in India, which are 100% owned by the Government of India (GoI)
and administered by the provisions of the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021.
ii.Name of these 12 major Indian Ports are: Deendayal Port Authority (Kandla, Gujarat), Mumbai Port
Authority (Mumbai, Maharashtra), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (Mumbai), Mormugao Port Authority
(Mormugao, Goa), New Mangalore Port Authority (Mangalore, Karnataka), Cochin Port Authority (Kochi,
Kerala), V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, TN), Chennai Port Authority
(Chennai, TN), Kamarajar Port Limited (Chennai, Tamil Nadu), Visakhapatnam Port Authority
(Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, AP), Paradip Port Authority (Paradip, Odisha), and Syama Prasad
Mookerjee Port Authority (Kolkata, West Bengal, WB).
Key Milestones:
i.Two major Indian Ports i.e. Odisha-based Paradip Port Authority (PPA) and Kandla (Gujarat)-based
Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) have achieved a historic milestone of breaching the 150 MT cargo handling
mark in FY25, reaffirming their status as key hubs of maritime trade and operational excellence.
ii.As per MoPSW data, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) achieved a
record by handled 7.3 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in FY25, marking a 13.5% Year-on-Year
(Y-o-Y) growth.
Key Findings:
i.In FY25, Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants (POL), comprising crude oil, petroleum products, and LPG
(Liquefied Petroleum Gas)/LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) , emerged as the top cargo category at India’s major
ports, accounting for 254.5 MT or 29.8% of the total cargo handled.
• This was followed by container traffic at 193.5 MT (22.6%), coal at 186.6 MT (21.8%), and other
categories including iron ore, pellets, fertilizers, and miscellaneous goods.
ii.Indian ports collectively allocated 962 acres of land for port-led industrialization, expected to generate an
income of Rs 7,565 crore in FY25.

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• Additionally, lessees are projected to make future investments worth Rs 68,780 crore on the
allotted land, which reaffirms investors’ confidence in port-led development.
• Private-sector participation has been instrumental in this port-led development, as their
investment in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects at major ports has increased by 3-times
from Rs 1,329 crore (in FY23) to Rs 3,986 crore (in FY25).
iv.Also, operational performance of major ports of India continued to improve in FY25, with Pre-Berthing
Detention (PBD) Time (on port account) increased by around 36% compared to FY24.
v.Cargo volumes have exponentially increased from 581 MT to around 855 MT between FY15 and FY25,
reflecting Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of nearly 4%.
• Containerized cargo witnessed an increase of 70% over the last 10 years, from 7.9 million TEUs
(in FY15) to 13.5 million TEUs (in FY25).
Key Progress made by Major Ports in Last 10 Years:
i.The total income of major ports in India, more than doubled in last 10 years i.e. from Rs 11,760 crore (in
FY15) to Rs 24,203 crore (in FY25) at 7.5% CAGR.
ii.Operating surplus approximately 3-times to Rs 12,314 crore at a 13% CAGR over the last decade.
iii.Also, the operational efficiency of major ports has improved significantly, with the operating ratio
decreasing from 64.7% (in FY15) to 42.3% (inFY25), which reinforces the ports’ financial stability.
Key Progress in Productivity Indicators:
i.As per the data, Output per Ship Berth Day (OSBD) has increased 12,458 tonnes(t) to 18,304 t in the last
10 years.
ii.Average Turnaround Time (TRT) has improved by 48%, reducing from 96 hours (in FY15) to 49.5 hours
(in FY25).
iii.Also, PBD Time (on port account) improved by nearly 24%, reducing from 5.02 hours (in FY15) to 3.8
hours (in FY25).
iv.Idle time (%) declined by 29%, from 23.1% (in FY15) to 16.3% (in FY25).
About Indian Ports Association (IPA):
It is a statutory body constituted in 1966 under Societies Registrations Act. It aims to foster growth and
development of all major ports which are under the supervisory control of MoPSW.
Chairman- Sunil Paliwal
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
About Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW):
Union Minister- Sarbananda Sonowal (Constituency- Dibrugarh, Assam)
Minister of State (MoS)- Shantanu Thakur (Constituency- Bangaon, West Bengal, WB)

Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh dedicated India’s first publicly funded DST-ICGEB ‘Bio-foundry’ in
New Delhi
In May 2025, Union Minister of State(Mos) (Independent Charge, IC), Dr. Jitendra Singh,Ministry of Science
& Technology(MoS&T), dedicated India’s first of its kind public funded Department of Science and
Technology (DST)-ICGEB ‘Bio-foundry’ during the 31st Board Meeting of Governors of the International
Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) held in New Delhi, Delhi. He described India as
the emerging global biotech destination.
• He also highlighted that India’s bio economy has seen an exponential rise from USD 10 billion in
2014 to USD 165.7 billion in 2024, with a target to achieve USD 300 billion by 2030.
Key People:
Dr. Jelena Begovic, President of the ICGEB Board of Governors, Dr. Lawrence Banks, Director General of
ICGEB (Italy), Marianna Maculan, Secretary of the ICGEB Board of Governors, Dr Ramesh Sonti, Director,

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ICGEB(New Delhi), Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), MoS&T, Dr.
Alka Sharma, Senior Adviser, DBT were present at the meeting.
About ICGEB ‘Bio-foundry’ :
i.This state-of-the-art facility is designed to accelerate advancements in synthetic biology, biomanufacturing,
and precision biotechnology.
ii.The Bio-foundry is a key component of India’s BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and
Employment) policy, which was approved by the Government of India(GoI) in August 2024 to transform
the nation’s bioeconomy by promoting sustainable and regenerative manufacturing practices.
iii.The Bio-foundry serves as a centralized platform for rapid design, prototyping, and scaling of bio-based
products across various sectors, including bio-based chemicals, smart proteins, precision biotherapeutics,
climate-resilient agriculture, and carbon capture.
iv.It integrates advanced synthetic biology tools, automation, and artificial intelligence to accelerate
innovation and reduce time-to-market for sustainable solutions.
Key Highlights:
i.Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed pride in ICGEB New Delhi’s pioneering role in implementing the
BioE3 Policy, especially through the newly dedicated Bio-foundry.
• The facility will serve as a platform for scaling up bio-based innovations in collaboration with
startups and researchers.
iii.He mentioned the importance of maintaining a strong focus on following five key sectors to drive the next
phase of India’s biotechnology growth:
• Bioenergy, Bio-industrial, Bio-plantation, Biomedical and Biomanufacturing.
India’s progress in biotechnology sector:
i.India now ranks 12th globally in biotechnology and holds the 3rd position in the Asia-Pacific region.
ii.The country has emerged as the largest vaccine producer in the world and is home to the 3rd largest
startup ecosystem globally.
iii.There has been an exponential rise in biotech startups from just 50 in 2014 to over 10,000 in 2024.
About ICGEB:
i.ICGEB founded in 1983 was a premier intergovernmental organization dedicated to advancing research in
the life sciences.
ii.ICGEB has 69 member countries and India is one of the founding members of ICGEB.
iii.The organization operates through three main centres:
• New Delhi (India), which focuses on research and biotechnology applications;
• Trieste (Italy), which serves as the headquarters and coordinates global operations;
• Cape Town (South Africa), which functions as a key hub for research, development, and
international collaboration.

MoC&I Prohibits use of Antimicrobials in the Aquaculture Sector

In May 2025, the Department of Commerce(DoC), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), in
consultation with the Export Inspection Council(EIC), prohibited the use of several medically
important antimicrobials in the Aquaculture sector.
• The prohibition order was issued by the MoC&I under the Export (Quality Control and
Inspection) Act, 1963, a legislative framework established to ensure the quality of India’s export
commodities through systematic quality control and inspection measures.
• The MoC&I issued an amendment to its principal order, notified on August 21, 1995, in view of
the development of export trade in India.

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Key Points:
i.Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in food-animal production for the purpose of promoting growth or
preventing or controlling diseases, attributes as one of the drivers of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
ii.MoC&I added a list of antibiotics, antivirals and antiprotozoals that are prohibited from being used in
culture of Shrimps, prawns or any other variety of fish and fishery products.
• The antimicrobials are prohibited to use in hatcheries, feed manufacturering units and pre-
processing or processing units.
iii.MoC&I has banned the use of 12 antibiotic classes and 6 antibiotics, which fall under the
antimicrobials authorized only for use in humans, permitted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its
List of Medically Important Antimicrobials for Human Medicine.
• The Antibiotic Classes are Carboxypenicillins, Ureidopenicillins, Combinations of Cephalosporins
with beta-lactamase inhibitors, Siderophore Cephalosporins, Carbapenems, Penems,
Monobactams, Glycopeptides, Lipopeptides, Oxazolidinones, Glycylcyclines and Phosphonic Acid
Derivatives
• Antibiotics are Ceftobiprole, Ceftaroline, Fidaxomicin, Plazomicin, Eravacycline and Omadacycline
• TheWHO list excludes Phosphonic Acid Derivatives, which are authorized for use in both
humans and animals and is a High Priority Critically Important Antimicrobial.
iv.The amendment added several new Antibiotics and Antibiotic classes, in addition to the list of 20
pharmacologically active substances that were prohibited by the MoC&I in 2002.
• Glycopeptides, a class of antibiotics, is present in both previous and current list.
v.The existing guidelines and policies in aquaculture were more focused on export-centric fisheries, to avoid
rejections in consignment and facilitate smoother exports.
vi.However, there are other Antibiotics which are banned in Aquaculture in view of domestic consumption
and public health.
Points to Note:
i.Globally, the use of antimicrobials in aquaculture is substantial, with estimates indicating that 10,259
tonnes of antimicrobials were used worldwide in 2017, and this figure is projected to increase to 13,600
tonnes(t) annually by 2030. The Asia-Pacific region accounts for the largest share of this usage.
ii.India has emerged as a global leader in the fisheries sector, ranking as the second-largest fish
producer, contributing approximately 8% to global fish production, and holding the position of the second-
largest aquaculture producer after China.
• India is also recognized as the largest producer of shrimp, playing a pivotal role in global seafood
markets.
iii.In the Financial Year 2023–24(FY24), India achieved a record-breaking seafood export, shipping 1.78
million tonnes valued at USD 7.38 billion (approximately Rs 60,523.89 crore), marking the highest-ever
volume and value in the country’s seafood export history.
About the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I):
Union Minister – Piyush Goyal (Constituency – Mumbai North, Maharashtra)
Minister of State (MoS) – Jitin Prasada (Constituency – Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, UP)

UP Government Added 12 New Products to ODOP List; Raising Count to 74

In May 2025, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has added 12 new district-specific products into One
District One Product (ODOP) list. With this, the total number of products in ODOP list has now increased
from 62 to 74.
• Some of the newly added products into the list are: agricultural implements and accessories from
Baghpat district, hosiery products from Saharanpur, metal products from Ghaziabad, metal and
wooden handicrafts from Amroha, among others.

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About UP’s ODOP:

i.In January 2018, the government of UP launched its flagship programme named “One District One Product
(ODOP)”.
ii.It aimed to identify one unique product from each of the 75 districts of UP and create a product-specific
traditional industrial hub. It also aimed to make state a USD 1 trillion economy.
iii.Under the ODOP programme, the state government of UP offers various credit facilities and subsidies
through its 4 different categories of schemes:
• Common Facility Centre (CFC) scheme;
• Marketing Development Assistance Scheme;
• Financial Assistance Scheme;
• Skill Development and Toolkit Distribution Scheme.
List of 12 New Products into ODOP:

Type of Product(s) Name of the District

Agricultural Implements & Accessories Baghpat

Hosiery Products Saharanpur

Food Processing Firozabad

Metal Products and Textile/Apparel items, Ghaziabad

Metal and Wooden Handicrafts Amroha

Petha Industry and all types of footwear Agra

Metal Products Hamirpur

Wooden Products Bareilly

Chicory Products Etah

Food Processing Pratapgarh

Rushes and related products Bijnor

Sattu Product Ballia

About Uttar Pradesh (UP):
Chief Minister (CM)- Yogi Adityanath
Governor- Anandiben Patel
Capital- Lucknow
Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS)– Katarniaghat WLS, Kachhua WLS

Centre approves additional 2.8 million tonnes of FCI rice for ethanol production
In May 2025, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution(MoCAF&PD) sanctioned an
additional 2.8 million tonnes(MT) of rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for ethanol production
under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme.

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• The decision to allocate additional FCI rice for ethanol production aligns with the government’s
objective to enhance energy security, reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports, and promote
cleaner fuel alternatives.
i.This augmentation raises the total allocation for the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2024-25, spanning
December 2024 to October 2025, to 5.2 million tonnes, up from the previously approved 2.4 million
tonnes.
ii.The reserve price for FCI rice allocated to ethanol distilleries has been reduced by Rs 550, setting it at Rs
2,250 per quintal, down from the earlier Rs 2,800 per quintal.
iii.Procurement Limits:
• Ethanol Distilleries: Permitted to procure up to 24 lakh tonnes of rice at the revised rate.
• State Governments and Corporations: Allowed to purchase up to 12 lakh tonnes without
participating in e-auctions.
iv.With a conversion rate of 470 litres per tonne, the total allocation could yield approximately 2.45 billion
litres of ethanol.
Note: The EBP Programme was launched in 2003, has witnessed significant acceleration since 2014. India
has successfully achieved its target of 20% ethanol blending (E20) in petrol ahead of the 2025 deadline and
now aims to attain 30% ethanol blending in petrol by the year 2030.

Rajasthan’s traditional ‘Sangri’ Bean Received GI Tag Distinction

In May 2025, Chennai (TN)-based Geographical Indication Registry (GIR) under the Department for
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), granted
Geographical Indication (GI) tag in the agricultural products category to Rajasthan’s traditional ‘Sangri’,
the slender bean that adds unique flavor in food and is staple in every Rajasthani kitchen.
About Sangri:
i.Sangri grows on the Khejri tree (scientific name: Prosopis
cineraria), which is popularly known as the “Wonder of the Thar
Desert” as it thrives in the harsh desert climate.
• Khejri tree (Prosopis cineraria) is state tree of Rajasthan.
ii.Traditionally, Sangri is savored in a signature Rajasthani dish
called ‘Kher Sangri’, a tangy and aromatic dish made from the dried
beans of Sangri which are slow-cooked with regional spices and
curd.
iii.It is commonly found in western arid regions of Rajasthan, particularly in Jaisalmer and Barmer.
iv.In January 2025, Bikaner (Rajasthan)-based Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural
University(SKRAU) had filed an application with the GIR office and requested a GI Tag for Khejri Sangri.
Points to Note:
• Darjeeling Tea holds the distinction of being the first Indian product to receive a GI tag.
• As of May 2025, Uttar Pradesh(UP) holds the distinction of having the highest number of GI tags
among Indian states, with a total of 77 GI-certified products.
About Geographical Indication (GI) Tag:
i.GI tag indicates that a product have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation
inherent to that location.
ii.GI tags in India, are administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection)
Act, 1999, which came into force on September 15, 2003.
iii.It provides legal protection to GI-tagged products in India and prevents their unauthorized use by others.
iv.The registration of GI is valid for a period of 10 years from date of registration and can be renewed from
time to time for a further period of 10 years each.

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About Geographical Indication Registry (GIR):

Headquarters- Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN)
Established– 2003
About Rajasthan:
Chief Minister (CM) – Bhajan Lal Sharma
Governor- Haribhau Kishanrao Bagade
Capital – Jaipur
National Parks (NPs)- Ranthambore NP, Keoladeo NP

MoA&FW Releases 3 New Crop Varieties Developed by BHU for UP Farmers

In May 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) released three new
crop varieties developed by Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh, UP) based Banaras Hindu University (BHU), for the
benefit of farmers in UP.
• These include two rice varieties
(Malaviya Manila Sinchit Dhan-
1 and Malviya Dhan 105 Sub-1) and one mustard
variety (Malviya Nidhi).
• The seeds of Malaviya Manila Sinchit Dhan-1 are already
available in markets, while the other two will be
accessible from 2026.
Key Features of the New Varieties:
1. Malaviya Manila Sinchit Dhan-1 (Rice)
i.Development: Developed jointly by BHU and Los Baños (Philippines)-based International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI) under Prof. Shravan Kumar Singh.
ii.Yield: 55–60 quintals/hectare (compared to traditional varieties averaging 35–40 quintals).
iii.Maturity: 115–120 days (short duration).
iv.Grain Characteristics: Long, slender grains with a slightly sweet taste after cooking.
2. Malviya Dhan 105 Sub-1 (Rice)
i.Development: An improved version of the earlier Malviya Dhan 105, developed by Prof. P.K. Singh and his
team at BHU.
ii.Yield: 42–46 quintals/hectare.
iii.Grain Characteristics: Mild aroma.
iv.Target Regions: Flood-prone areas of UP and Bihar
3. Malviya Nidhi (Mustard)
i.Development: Developed under the leadership of Prof. K. Srivastava at BHU.
ii.Yield: Approximately 20 quintals/hectare.
iii.Maturity: 125–130 days.
iv.Seed Characteristics: Bold and black seeds with an average oil content of 39.4 % (higher than traditional
varieties).
About International Rice Research Institute (IRRI):
Director General (DG) – Dr. Yvonne Pinto
Headquarters – Los Baños (Philippines)
Formed – 1960

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GoI Declares September 23 as Ayurveda Day

In May 2025, Government of India (GoI) has designated September 23 as the date for
celebrating Ayurveda Day every year, with an aim to enhance global visibility and consistency in
observance of the day.
• September 23, coincides with the autumnal equinox, a day when night and day are equal.The
Astronomical event symbolizes balance in nature, aligning with the Ayurvedic philosophy that
emphasizes equilibrium between the mind, body, and spirit.
i.Earlier, the day was observed on Dhanteras, a festival observed in the Karthik (usually October or
November) month of the Hindu Lunar Calendar.
ii.Due to the fluctuation on the date of Dhanteras each year, the observance of Ayurveda Day lacks a fixed
annual date.
iii.The variation of dates between 15th October and 12th November in the upcoming decade poses logistical
challenges for organizing national and international events for the celebration.
iv.Ministry of AYUSH(Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) constituted a
committee to designate an alternative date.

Northeast Region’s First Geothermal Production Well Drilled in Dirang, AR

In May 2025, the Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh, AR)-based Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan
Studies (CESHS), an autonomous body under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of
AR, successfully drilled the Northeast Region’s first Geothermal production well in Dirang village of West
Kamal district in AR, marking a major step towards clean and sustainable energy in the Himalayan region.
• The Geothermal Energy project has been supported by the AR government and the Ministry of
Earth Sciences (MoES)
• The project is a result of an international collaboration with Oslo(Norway) based Norway
Geotechnical Institute (NGI), Iceland based Geotrophye hf, and the drilling team from Guwahati
Boring Service(Assam).
Key Points:
i.It uses a closed-loop binary Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system which uses geothermal heat to vaporize
an organic fluid in a secondary loop, which drives a turbine to generate electricity.
ii.Following the success of the first drill, CEHS plans to expand operations with deeper drilling in future
phases, which will make Dirang as India’s first powered town.
iii.The achievement of the drilling project follows two years of detailed chemical and structural surveys of
hot water sources in West AR
iv.The project site at Dirang, is a medium to high temperature geothermal site, with reservoir temperatures
estimated at around 115 °C (Degree Celsius), which makes it highly suitable for direct-use geothermal
technologies.
v.The Geothermal System is expected to offer several eco-friendly solutions such as drying of agricultural
products (fruits, nuts and meat), space heating, and controlled environment-storage.
Note: India’s first geothermal power project was successfully established in the Manuguru region of
Telangana, with a 20-Kilowatt (KW) pilot plant developed by Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).
About Arunachal Pradesh(AR):
Chief Minister (CM)– Pema Khandu
Governor- Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik
Capital- Itanagar
Wildlife Sanctuary-Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary

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HP Govt Declares ‘Tsarap Chu CR’ as India’s Largest Conservation Reserve

In May 2025, the Himachal Pradesh (HP) Government has formally designated the Tsarap
Chu Conservation Reserve(CR) located in Spiti Valley(HP) as India’s largest conservation reserve under
Section 36A (1) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
• Tsarapu is the 5th CR of HP after Shilli CR, Naina Devi CR, Darlaghat CR and Potter Hills CR.
Key Points:
i.The Tsarapu CR is spreads over 1,585 square kilometres(sq km) and bounded by the Union Territory(UT)
of Ladakh to the north, the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary(Hp) extending up to Malang Nala and Lungar Lungpa
to the east, Kabjima Nala to the south and Chandratal Wildlife Sanctuary(HP) to the west.
• It is also the location for the confluence of the Unam River and Charap Nala.
ii.Tsarapu CR is one of the areas in HP with a high density of snow leopards. It is often called as the “ghost
of the mountains”.
iii.The reserve will be managed through a Conservation Reserve Management Committee (CRMC), which
will also include representatives from local panchayats.
The committee will manage the area while balancing the needs of local communities and wildlife
conservation priorities.

DEA Amends Rule 8 of SCRR, 1957 to Enhance Ease of Doing Business for Brokers
On May 19, 2025, the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) under the Ministry of
Finance (MoF), Government of India (GoI) amended Rule 8 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules
(SCRR), 1957, through official Gazette Notification G.S.R. 318 (E). This amendment provides regulatory
clarity to enhance the ease of doing business for brokers.
• The GoI, exercising its powers under Section 30 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956
(SCRA, 1956) (42 of 1956), has notified the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Amendment
Rules, 2025.
• The new rules will come into effect on May 19, 2025.
Key Revisions to Rule 8 of SCRR, 1957:
i.A new proviso states that any investments made by a member (broker) will not be considered as business
activity until such investments involve client funds or securities or result in a financial liability for the
broker.
ii.Previously, Rule 8 of SCRR, 1957, restricts brokers from working as a principal or employee, in any
business other than securities or commodity derivatives.
• However, as per the rule, they may act as brokers or agents in other businesses, subject to the
condition that such roles do not entail any financial liability.
iii.The amendment will enable the brokers to easily utilize their funds for a variety of purposes, to buy
assets, among others, which was previously a time-consuming process.
Background:
The amendment aligns with the DEA’s September 2024 consultation paper, which sought stakeholder
feedback to modernize SCRR, 1957.
• It addresses evolving market dynamics and strengthens India’s ease of doing business framework
for financial intermediaries.
Significance:
i.Through the amendment, GoI aims to reduce compliance burdens and provide seamless functioning of
market intermediaries, while ensuring transparency and protecting the interests of investors.
ii.Also, the amendment is considered part of India’s ongoing efforts to modernize its capital market
ecosystem and attract greater participation of investors.

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About the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA):

Secretary- Ajay Seth
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
About Ministry of Finance (MoF):
Union Minister- Nirmala Sitharaman (Rajya Sabha- Karnataka)
Minister of State (MoS) – Pankaj Chaudhary (Constituency- Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, UP)

Govt tightens Precious Metals Import Rules to Prevent Misuse of India-UAE CEPA
On May 19, 2025, the Government of India (GOI) has tightened the import rules for Gold and Silver,
restricting their entry into India to only nominated agencies, qualified jewellers, and valid Tariff Rate
Quota (TRQ) holders under the India – United Arab Emirates (UAE) Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Agreement (CEPA) with immediate effect.
• The new rules were notified through the notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign
Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI)
• It has allowed the import of unwrought, semi-manufactured and powdered gold under conditions
Note: Under CEPA, India permits import of up to 200 Metric Tonnes(MT) of gold annually from the UAE at a
1% concessional duty under the TRQ mechanism.
Key Points:
i.Under the new rules, certain unwrought and semi-manufactured forms have been deleted or reclassified.
The imports of gold with 99.5% or higher purity are now restricted and can be brought only through
nominated agencies, qualified jewellers through India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX), India-UAE TRQ
holders.
• Additionally, gold can be imported by refineries under a license with an Actual user condition
ii.Platinum of 99% or higher purity, with Harmonized System (HS) Code will only qualify for tax benefits
under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
• As per International Rules, under the World Customs Organization (WCO), any metal containing
even 1% platinum could be declared as platinum alloy.
• Some importers misused the rule and labelled products of 99% gold as platinum alloy to benefit
from lower taxes
• The government introduced HS code for platinum, gold dore, silver dore, in the Union Budget
2025 to prevent.
iii.However, bars of silver with 99.5% or higher purity with HS code are still free for import, subject to RBI
regulations.
About Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT):
Director General – Santosh Kumar Sarangi
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Founded – 1991

GeM Celebrates 8th Incorporation Day with GeMAI Chatbot Launch

On 19 May 2025, Government e Marketplace (GeM), India’s national public procurement portal, Ministry of
Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), marked its 8th anniversary with a reaffirmation of its transformative
impact on inclusive economic growth and digital governance.
• GeM’s user base has seen a threefold increase in recent years, with over 1.64 lakh primary
buyers and 4.2 lakh active sellers.
GeMAI Chatbot:
During the event, GeM has launched GeMAI, India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot in
the public sector.

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• It will enhance user experience by providing real-time assistance to the buyers and sellers.
• It also supports both voice and text interactions in 10 Indian Languages.
Key Milestones of GeM:
i.GeM has over 10 lakh Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), 1.3 lakh artisans and weavers, 1.84 lakh women
entrepreneurs, and 31,000 startups as part of its ecosystem.
• It offers more than 10,000 product categories and over 330 services.
ii.Nearly 97% of all transactions on GeM are free from transaction charges.
• Additionally, fees have been reduced by 33% to 96% and capped at Rs. 3 lakhs for orders
exceeding Rs. 10 crores, significantly down from the earlier Rs. 72.5 lakhs.
• For sellers with annual turnover below Rs. 1 crore, the caution money deposit has been cut by
60%, with full exemptions granted to selected groups.
iii.The platform is also enabling complex services such as drone-as-a-service for All India Institute of
Medical Science (AIIMS), Geographic Information System (GIS).
• GeM has played a vital role in high-value procurement including Rs. 5,800 crores in equipment of
the Akash Missile System (AMS), Rs. 5,085 crores in vaccine procurement.
iv.GeM has been adopted across all 36 States and Union Territories (UTs), with Uttar Pradesh (UP) leading
the others.
• Eight states including Maharashtra, Manipur, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh (HP), Assam,
Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh have mandated GeM usage in their states.
v.GeM has deployed advanced analytics for real-time fraud detection, risk mitigation, and continuous
monitoring.
vi.According to an independent assessment by the World Bank(WB), buyers on the GeM portal save about
9.75% on the median price.
About Government e Marketplace (GeM):
The GeM replaced the Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D), MoC&I. The platform is
managed by GeM SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle), a 100% government-owned, non-profit company under the
MoC&I.
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Ajay Bhadoo
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Founded – 2016

DPIIT Approves 187 Startups for Tax Relief Under Revised Section 80-IAC Framework
In May 2025, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), Government of India (GoI), approved 187 startups for 100% income
tax exemption under the revamped Section 80-IAC of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
• The decision was finalized during the 79th and 80th meetings of the Inter-Ministerial Board
(IMB) held on 30th April 2025, where 75 startups and 112 startups were cleared, respectively.
i.Tax Exemption Benefits: Eligible startups can avail a 100% income tax deduction on profits for any three
consecutive years within ten years from their date of incorporation.
ii.Extended Eligibility: The Union Budget 2025–26 extended the incorporation deadline to 1st April
2030 (from 31st March 2023), allowing newer ventures more time to avail benefits
iii.Simplified Application Process: DPIIT has streamlined the application process, ensuring that complete
applications are reviewed within 120 days.
iv.Eligibility Criteria: To get income tax exemption under Section 80-IAC, startups must:
• Be recognized by DPIIT.
• Operate as a private limited company or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP).
• Have an annual turnover of Rs.100 crore or less in any previous financial year.

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Note: In May 2025, DPIIT doubled the guarantee cover under the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups
(CGSS) by increasing the maximum limit per borrower from Rs. 10 crore to Rs. 20 crore.

World’s First Commercial-scale E-methanol Plant Opened in Denmark

In May 2025, the world’s first commercial-scale e-methanol (electrolyzed methanol) plant began
operations in Kasso, Southern Denmark, marking a major step in making shipping greener and fighting
climate change.
• The plant is jointly developed by Denmark-based European Energy A/S and Japan-based Mitsui
& Co., Ltd.
• It costs about 150 million euros (USD 167 million), will produce 42,000 Metric Tons (MT) (53
million litres) of e-methanol annually
i.The plant utilizes Renewable energy (RE) from the adjacent 304 Megawatt (MW) Kassø Solar Park,
Northern Europe’s largest solar facility.
ii.It combines green hydrogen, produced via electrolysis powered by solar energy, with biogenic carbon
dioxide (CO₂) captured from biogas plants and waste incineration.
iii.This process results in e-methanol with up to a 97% reduced carbon footprint compared to fossil-based
methanol.
iv.This pioneering project aligns with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) target to eliminate
carbon emissions from shipping by 2050.

Mizoram Declared India’s First Fully Literate State Under ULLAS Initiative
On May 20, 2025, Chief Minister (CM) of Mizoram, Lalduhoma declared Mizoram as the first fully literate
state in India, in the presence of Union Minister of State (MoS), Jayant Chaudhary, Ministry of
Education (MoE) at an event held at Mizoram University in Aizawl, Mizoram.
• Mizoram has currently achieved 98.2% literacy rate as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey
(PLFS) 2023–24, which was ranked as the third most literate state with 91.33%, as per the 2011
census.
Key Points:
i.The Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS) initiative, under the New India Literacy
Programme (NLIP) has also helped Mizoram achieve the “Full literacy” status, surpassing 95% literacy
benchmark of MoE.
ii.The NILP, which identified 3,026 illiterate people, of whom, 1,692 people showed interest to learn.
• A dedicated team of 292 volunteer teachers, including students, educators, resource persons
played a crucial role in achieving the milestone.
iii.He emphasized, Mizoram aims to expand literacy beyond basic reading and writing, incorporating digital,
financial, and entrepreneurial skills.
About ULLAS initiative:
i.The ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram or New India Literacy Programme (NILP) initiative was
launched by Government of India (GOI) to provide education to adults for a period of 5 years (2022-27).
ii.It is a Centrally Sponsored Initiative, which aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
iii.It aims to empower adults aged above 15 from all backgrounds who missed formal schooling, helping
them integrate into society and contribute to the nation’s growth.
About Mizoram:
Chief Minister (CM) – Lalduhoma
Governor – Vijay Kumar Singh
Capital – Aizawl

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DoT Introduces “Financial Fraud Risk Indicator” to strengthen Cyber Fraud Prevention
On May 21, 2025, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications (MoC) has
announced sharing of “Financial Fraud Risk Indicators (FRI)” with stakeholders, marking a major step
towards combating cyber fraud and financial crimes.
• FRI, a multi-dimensional analytical tool is developed as part of the Digital Intelligence
Platform (DIP), DoT, to empower financial institutions with advance actionable intelligence for
cyber fraud prevention.
About Financial Fraud Risk Indicators (FRI):
i.FRI, a risk-based metric that classifies a mobile number to have been associated with Medium, High, or
Very High risk of financial fraud.
ii.This classification is the result of the inputs obtained from various stakeholders including reporting on
Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C’s), National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), DoT’s
Chakshu platform, and Intelligence shared by banks and financial institutions.
iii.It empowers stakeholders, especially banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and Unified
Payment Interface (UPI) service providers, to prioritize enforcement and take additional measures when a
mobile number has high risk.
Key Points:
i.The Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU), DoT, regularly shares the list of mobile numbers that were
disconnected (Mobile Number Revocation List, MNRL) with stakeholders along with the reasons for
disconnections such as cyber-crime, failed re-verification, exceeding prescribed limits.
• As soon as a suspected mobile number is flagged by a stakeholder, it undergoes multi-
dimensional analysis and is classified according to the risk.
ii.For instance, Unified Payments Interface(UPI) platforms such as PhonePe, Google Pay, and Paytm may
restrict or delay transactions linked to flagged mobile numbers to protect users from potential financial
fraud.
iii.As one of the initial adopters of FRI, Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based PhonePe, an Indian digital payments
and financial services company has used it to decline transactions, linked to Very High FRI mobile numbers
and display an on-screen alert as part of PhonePe Protect feature.
About Ministry of Communications (MoC):
Union Minister – Jyotiraditya M. Scindia(Constituency – Guna, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Union Minister of State(MoS) – Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani (Constituency -Guntur, AP)

MoHUA Announced 4% Housing Reservation for Persons with Disabilities

In May 2025, the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) announced to provide 4% reservation for
Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in the allotment of government housing under the General Pool
Residential Accommodation (GPRA) category which will cover houses up to Type 5, benefitting officials
from Assistant Section Officer (ASO) level to Director rank.
• This decision reaffirms Government of India (GoI)’s commitment to provide equal opportunities
for every individual under the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan).
• This announcement was made through an official memorandum issued by the Directorate of
Estates (DoE) under MoHUA, in alignment with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Act (RPWD), 2016.
Key Points:
i.MoHUA will give priority for allotment of GPRA every month only to those government officials who have
benchmark disabilities, as prescribed in the RPWD Act.
ii.In order to be considered for accommodation, all government officials/servants are allowed to participate
in the online bidding process conducted every month by the Directorate of Estates, under MoHUA.

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iii.As per official memorandum, preference will be given to eligible PwD applicants over the unified waiting
list for both initial allotment/change of GPRA.
iv.The Unique Disability Identification(UDID) card issued by the GoI will be considered a valid document for
proof of disability.
Note: Currently, the Directorate of Estates manages 1.02 lakh GPRA units across 355 locations in 61 cities of
the country.
About Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan:
Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan is a nationwide initiative launched by the Government of India(GoI) in 2015,
with the aim of making public spaces, transportation systems, and information and communication
technologies accessible to PwDs.
• The campaign is implemented by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
(DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment(MSJE).
About Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA):
Union Minister- Manohar Lal Khattar (Constituency- Karnal, Haryana)
Minister of State (MoS)- Tokhan Sahu (Constituency- Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh)

Maharashtra Govt Approves Merger of Konkan Railway with Indian Railway

On May 22, 2025, the Government of Maharashtra (GOM) has approved the merger of Navi Mumbai
(Maharashtra) headquartered Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), a Public Sector Undertaking
(PSU), Ministry of Railways (MoR) with the Indian Railways (IR), with an aim to resolve Konkan Railway’s
financial constraints, enhance operational efficiency, and enable infrastructure growth.
• Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala have already approved the merger, and with Maharashtra’s decision,
the path is now clear for fully integrating one of India’s most scenic and strategically important
railway lines into the national railway network.
Merger Conditions by the GOM:
The merger has been approved by the GOM with two conditions such as
• To reimburse Rs.396.54 crores, the equity contribution by the GOM during the formation of
KRCL.
• To retain the name ‘Konkan Railway’ after the merger, acknowledging its regional and
operational significance.
About KRCL:
i.Kongan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) is a 741 kilometre(km) coastal railway line connecting
Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala formed in 1990.
ii.KRCL is a Joint Venture (JV) owned by the MoR (51% stake) and four states such as Maharashtra (22%),
Karnataka (15%), Goa (6%) and Kerala (6%).
iii. It operates through a difficult terrain of Western Ghats, connecting Roha in Maharashtra
to Mangalore in Karnataka.
iv.The first passenger train on Konkan Railway ran on March 20, 1993, between Udupi and Mangalore in
Karnataka.
About Maharashtra:
Chief Minister (CM) – Devendra Fadnavis
Governor – C. P. Radhakrishnan
Capital – Mumbai
National Parks (NPs) – Chandoli NP, Tadoba NP
About the Ministry of Railways (MoR):
Union Minister – Ashiwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha – Odisha)

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Minister of State (MoS) – V. Somanna (Constituency – Tumkur, Karnataka), Ravneet Singh Bittu (Rajya
Sabha – Rajasthan)

EPFO Retains 8.25% Interest Rate on EPF for FY25

In May 2025, the Ministry of Finance (MoF), approved an 8.25% interest rate on Employees’ Provident
Fund (EPF) deposits for the Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25).
• This decision, was initially proposed during the 237th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees
(CBT) of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in February 2025, chaired by Union
Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoL&E), GoI.
• This is the second consecutive year the rate has been retained, offering one of the highest returns
among fixed-income instruments in India.The rate was marginally raised to 8.25% in
FY24 from 8.15% in FY23.
Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO):
i.The EPFO is a statutory body under the MoL&E, Government of India (GoI).
ii.It was established under the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.
iii.The Central Board of Trustees (CBT), established on March 4, 1952, serves as the apex decision-making
body of the EPFO, overseeing its operations and policy decision
iv.The following 3 schemes administered by EPFO
• Employees’ Provident Funds(EPF) Scheme, 1952
• Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995
• Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance(EDLI) Scheme, 1976
Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme (EPF):
i.The EPF is a mandatory retirement savings scheme for employees in the organised sector.
ii.Both employer and employee contribute 12% each of the basic salary + Dearness Allowance (DA).Interest
rate is fixed annually by the CBT.
iii.Contributions are eligible for tax deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
iv.Interest earned is tax-free up to Rs. 5 lakh per annum (as per current income tax provisions).
v.Partial withdrawals permitted for emergencies like medical needs or home loans.
vii.Employees can check their EPF balance through Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance
(UMANG) App or through official EPFO website.
About Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO):
Central Provident Fund Commissioner (CPFC) – Ramesh Krishnamurthi
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1952

NIBE Limited Secured USD 17.52 Million Export Order from Israel for Rocket Launchers
In May 2025, Pune (Maharashtra)-based NIBE Limited (formerly known as Kavita Fabrics Private Limited),
a pioneering defence technology company, has secured a significant export purchase order valued at USD
17.52 million (or approximately Rs 1.5 billion) from a globally renowned leading technology-based firm in
Israel.
• As per the regulatory filings submitted by the company, the timeline for contract execution
extends until November 2027.
Key Points:
i.The order includes the manufacturing and supply of Universal Rocket Launchers with maximum range
capability of 300 kilometer (km), a highly advanced technology system being produced in India for
the 1st time for the international market.
ii.The deal marks a significant milestone for NIBE Limited as well as for India’s defence manufacturing

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sector. It further reaffirms the Government of India (GoI)’s commitment to the Prime Minister (PM)’s vision
of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’, showcasing indigenous capability in high-tech weaponry.
About Universal Rocket Launcher:
i.The Universal Rocket Launcher is among the most advanced in its class and is designed to outperform
existing global alternatives through its long range, accuracy, and operational flexibility.
ii.The Universal Rocket Launcher system is equipped with cutting-edge technology comparable to advanced
systems like: the Precise & Universal Launching System (PULS) developed by Israel-based Elbit Systems
Limited.
iii.The launcher showcases versatility through its capability to deploy a diverse variety of rockets and
munitions. It also supports integration with advanced loitering munitions such as SkyStriker drones that
have a strike range of more than 100 kms and are specifically designed for precision engagement in complex
operational environments.
iv.The strike range of these launchers (300 km) position them as medium-range precision strike weapon
systems suitable for both defensive and offensive military operations across various operational theatres.
Note:
As per GoI’s official data, India’s defence exports reached Rs 23,622 crore in Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25),
marking a growth of 12.04% compared to last year.Also, GoI has set the target of achieving Rs 1.75
lakh crore in total defence production by 2025.
About NIBE Limited:
Managing Director (MD)- Ganesh Nibe
Headquarters- Pune, Maharashtra
Established- 2005

UGC Approves Setting Up of 5 Foreign Universities’ Campuses in India

In May 2025, New Delhi (Delhi) based University Grants Commission (UGC), a statutory body under the Ministry
of Education(MoE), has approved the establishment of campuses of 5 internationally recognized universities
in India, with an aim to make India a Global Educational Hub.
• The move aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, to elevate India’s academic system.
• Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, MoE, handed over the Letter of Intents (LoI) to set up a campus
in India under the UGC (Setting Up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions
in India) Regulations, 2023.
The Five Foreign Universities:
i.Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), located in Chicago, United States of America (USA) is the first American
university to set up a campus in India.
• Ranked 601-610 in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2025, IIT is known for its
excellence in engineering, science and technology.
• The campus is expected to open between 2026 and 2027 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
ii.University of Liverpool (UoL), located in Liverpool, United Kingdom (UK) is expected to start its operations in
India by 2026 or 2027.
• Ranked 165th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2025, it will set up its campus in Bengaluru,
Karnataka.
• It is renowned in fields such as law, business and health sciences.
iii.Victoria University (VU), located in Melbourne, Australia, aims to launch its Indian campus by 2026-2027.
• Ranked 741-750 in QS 2025 Rankings, the university is recognized for flexible learning models and
focuses on practical, hands-on education in business, Information Technology (IT) and hospitality.
iv.Western Sydney University (WSU), based in Penrith, Australia will begin its operations in Greater Noida, Uttar
Pradesh (UP).
• Ranked 384th globally, WSU is known for its strong programs in technology and research.

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v.Istituto Europeo di Design (IED), located in Milan, Italy, is known for its expertise in Fashion, Visual Arts (VA),
and communication.
Note: The University of Southampton from the UK became the first foreign institution to receive approval from
the UGC to establish a campus in India.
About University Grants Commission (UGC):
Chairman – Vineet Joshi
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Founded – 1953

Union Minister Rajnath Singh Approves Execution Model for the AMCA programme
On May 27, 2025, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the execution
model for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, as efforts towards enhancing
indigenous defence capabilities and fostering a robust domestic aerospace industrial ecosystem.
• The programme will be implemented by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Defence
Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in collaboration with industry partners.
Key Points:
i.The Execution Model Approach provides equal opportunities to both public and private sectors on a
competitive basis. They can bid either independently or as a Joint Venture (JV) or as consortia.
ii.The entity/bidder should be an Indian company compliant with the laws and regulations of the country.
iii.The approval of the model is an important step towards harnessing the indigenous expertise, capability
and capacity to develop the AMCA prototype, which will be a major milestone toawards Atmanirbharta in
the aerospace sector.
About Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA):
The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is India’s indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft.
The aircraft will incorporate stealth, supercruise, advanced avionics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted
systems.
About Ministry of Defence (MoD):
Union Minister – Rajnath Singh (Constituency – Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State (MoS) – Sanjay Seth (Constituency – Ranchi, Jharkhand)

MoR Approves New Train Service Between Agartala and Guwahati

In May 2025, the Ministry of Railways (MoR) approved the launch of a new express train service
between Agartala (Tripura) and Guwahati (Assam) via Narangi (NNGE) station to address the increasing
passenger demand between the two cities.
• The approval follows a representation made by Biplab Kumar Deb, Member of Parliament (MP)
from West Tripura and former Chief Minister (CM) of Tripura, to Union Minister Ashwini
Vaishnaw, MoR, during a meeting held in April 2025 in New Delhi(Delhi).
i.The train will originate from Agartala and halt at Narangi (NNGE), located on the outskirts of Guwahati.
ii.This new train service aims to reduce passenger traffic between the Northeast cities of Agartala and
Guwahati, which serves as a major commercial, healthcare, and educational hub in the region.
iii.Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) successfully conducted a trial run of an electric locomotive between
southern Assam and Tripura as part of the Rs 46 crore electrification project aimed at integrating Tripura
into the national electric railway grid.

MoAFW Approves 3 New Crop Varieties from PDKV

On May 27, 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India (GoI)
has approved 3 new high-yielding crop varieties and expanded the cultivation areas for three existing

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ones developed by Akola (Maharashtra) based Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), with an
aim to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability across India.
• This decision was made during the 93rd meeting of the Central Crop Variety Notification and
Release Committee (CCVR-C) under MoA&FW.
• The new varieties include AKAW 5100 Wheat, CSV 65 Yellow Sorghum (Kharif), and Super
Jaki Chickpea (AKG 1402).
Newly Approved Varieties:
i.AKAW 5100 (Wheat): High-yielding, rust-resistant, drought-tolerant, and suitable for bread and chapati.
Recommended for timely sowing in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, AP, and Tamil Nadu (TN).
ii.CSV 65 Yellow (Sorghum): A bio-fortified kharif variety containing 23.2 parts per million (ppm) zinc and
30.8 ppm iron. It yields 25–28 quintals per hectare (quintals/ha) of grain + 110–115 quintals/ha fodder.
Matures in 110–112 days.
iii.Super Jaki Chickpea (AKG 1402): High-yield (2,073 kilograms per hectare (kg/ha)), early-maturing (98
days), machine-harvestable. Released for rainfed Maharashtra.
Area Expansion for Existing Varieties:
i.PDKV Amba Soybean (AMS 100-39): Now approved for Gujarat. Early-maturing (94–96 days), resistant
to root/stem rot.
ii.PDKV Purva Soybean (AMS 2014-1): Expanded to Assam, Meghalaya, and southeastern Madhya Pradesh
(MP). Yields 22–26 quintals/ha, matures in 105–107 days.
iii.TAG 73 Groundnut: Approved for Gujarat. Pod yield: 25–28 quintals/ha; oil content: 48–49%
About the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW):
Union Minister – Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Constituency- Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Minister of State (MoS) – Ram Nath Thakur (Rajya Sabha Bihar); Bhagirath Choudhary (Constituency-
Ajmer, Rajasthan)

India’s First AI SEZ to come up in Chhattisgarh, RackBank to Invest 1000 Crore

On May 28, 2025, India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-centric Special Economic Zone (SEZ), to be
developed by Indore (Madhya Pradesh) based carbon-neutral data center Rackbank Data Centers Private
Limited with an investment of Rs1,000 crores in Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
• The SEZ is designed to house state-of-the-art infrastructure for AI research, development, and
deployment.
Key Points:
i.The Rackbank Data Center SEZ, spread across six acres, will include a 1.5 lakh square foot (sq.f) facility
equipped with advanced servers and systems capable of powering AI technologies and large-scale digital
operaions.
ii.The facility will be constructed in four phases, beginning with an 80 Megawatt (MW) capacity and
scalable up to 160 MW. It is designed to accommodate up to 100,000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs)and
will employ advanced cooling technologies such as direct-to-chip and immersion cooling systems.
iii.The zone is envisioned as a digital nerve centre for India, with plans to develop four high-density
data centres with a combined capacity of 80 MW, sufficient to support digital infrastructure across multiple
states.
iii.The SEZ will benefit from tax exemptions and regulatory relaxations under the SEZ framework, providing
an enabling environment for global and domestic firms to carry out cutting-edge AI development and data-
driven innovation.
iv.The AI SEZ is expected to host operations for leading global technology companies such as California,
United States of America (USA) based Google, San Francisco (USA) based Open AI, Washington (USA) based
Microsoft, and California (USA) based Meta.

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v.The data centre will offer a range of roles, from Information Technology (IT) engineers and data specialists
to cybersecurity officers and network managers.
Note: As per the data from Ministry of Commerce (MoC), currently, India has formally approved 423 SEZs, of
which 270 are operational.
About Special Economic Zones (SEZs):
i.A Special Economic Zone is a specifically designated area within a country that is governed by different
economic regulations than the other region.
ii.The SEZ policy in India, as outlined in the SEZ Act 2005, aims to promote economic growth like promote
exports, attract foreign investments, create employment opportunities, and boost overall economic activity
by offering tax incentives, simplified procedures, and infrastructure support.
iii.The SEZs are spread across Tamil Nadu (TN), Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra and Gujarat, cater to a
wide range of sectors such as IT, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, textiles, engineering, and multi-product
manufacturing.
About Rackbank Data Centres Private Limited:
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Narendra Sen
Headquarters – Indore, Madhya Pradesh, MP
Established – 2013

India to Operationalize 47 New National Waterways by 2027; Cargo Traffic to Reach 156 MTPA
by FY26
On May 26, 2025, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways
(MoPSW), chaired the Consultative Committee meeting on Inland Waterways Transport(IWT) in
Mumbai (Maharashtra).
• The meeting outlined plans for operationalizing key projects and future initiatives presented by
the Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP) based Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal
agency under the MoPSW.
• 76 National Waterways (NWs) targeted to be operational by 2027, including 47 new NWs.
• Cargo volume on NWs is projected to reach 156 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) by Financial
Year 2025-26 (FY26), aligning with the Maritime India Vision 2030 target of 200 MTPA.
Key Attendees:
The meeting was attended by Union Minister of State (MoS) Shantanu Thakur, MoPSW along with
Members of Parliament (MPs) from West Bengal (WB), Odisha, Kerala, and UP, who supported increased
budgetary allocations for sectoral growth.
Expansion of Inland Water Transport Network
i.IWT network to expand from 11 States (FY24) to 23 States & 4 Union Territories (UTs) by FY27.
ii.Projects worth Rs. 1,400 crore were launched during the Inland Waterways Development Council
(IWDC) meeting on 10th January 2025.
iii.IWAI is conducting 10,000 kilometre (km) of monthly longitudinal surveys to assess Least Available
Depth (LAD) for better navigability.
Key Infrastructure Developments:
i.National Waterway 1 (NW-1: Ganga River)
• A 1,390 km dedicated corridor is being developed for seamless vessel movement.
• Capacity augmentation to support 1,500–2,000 DWT (Deadweight Tonnage) vessels.
• New cargo terminals at Varanasi (Multi-Modal Terminal/MMT), Kalughat (Inter-Modal
Terminal/IMT), Sahibganj (MMT), and Haldia (MMT).

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ii.National Waterway 2 (NW-2: Brahmaputra River)

• Four permanent terminals at Dhubri, Jogighopa, Pandu, and Bogibeel in Assam, along with 13
floating terminals.
• A Rs.208 crore ship repair facility at Pandu (to be completed by 2026).
• A Rs.180 crore alternative road project (to be completed by 2025).
iii.Northeast Development Plan
• A Rs. 5,000 crore roadmap for inland waterways development in Northeast over the next 5
years.
• NW-16 (Barak River) has active terminals at Karimganj (Assam) & Badarpur (Delhi).
• NW-31 (Dhansiri River) is being developed to support Golaghat (Assam) based Numaligarh
Refinery Limited (NRL)’s expansion.
Regional Waterways Grid & Economic Corridor:
A 4,067 km economic corridor will connect Varanasi (UP) to Dibrugarh (Assam), Karimganj (Assam), and
Badarpur (Assam) via the India-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route.
• Traffic study and Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Jangipur (WB) navigation lock renovation
underway, with a cargo potential of 32.2 MTPA by 2033.
Green & Sustainable Initiatives:
i.Under Harit Nauka Guidelines, IWAI is procuring electric catamarans and hydrogen fuel cell-powered
vessels.
ii.Water metro projects and eco-friendly cruise tourism are being promoted.
Growth in River Cruise Tourism:
i.15 river cruise circuits are operational across 13 NWs in 9 states.
ii.Luxury cruise vessels increased from 3 (2013-14) to 25 (2024-25).
iii.51 new cruise circuits identified on 47 NWs for development by 2027.
iv.3 World-class cruise terminals under construction at Kolkata (West Bengal), with feasibility studies for
Varanasi (UP) and Guwahati (Assam) are being conducted by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.
• Additionally, 4 more cruise terminals are scheduled to be developed by 2027 in Assam at Silghat,
Bishwanath Ghat, Neamati, and Guijan.
About Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI):
Chairman – Vijay Kumar
Headquarters – Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP)
Established – 1986

India’s 1st Privately-Led Helicopter Manufacturing Unit to be Set Up by Tata-Airbus in Karnataka

In May 2025, Hyderabad(Telangana) based Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), the aerospace arm of
the Tata Group, in collaboration with European aerospace giant Airbus, is set to establish India’s first
privately-led helicopter Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Kolar district, Karnataka.
• The facility will assemble the Airbus H125 helicopter, a global bestseller in the intermediate
single-engine category. The plant is expected to begin operations by 2026.
i.This FAL will be the fourth such installation globally, after similar setups in France, the United States, and
Brazil. In its initial phase, the Kolar facility aims to produce 10 H125 helicopters annually, with scope for
capacity expansion to meet rising demand.
ii.Airbus projects a requirement of over 500 H125-class helicopters in the Asia-Pacific region over the next
20 years.
iii.The Airbus H125, part of the Écureuil family, commands nearly 80% of the global market share in its
category, with over 4,300 units in service and a cumulative 38 million flight hours logged.

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iv.In addition to setting up a helicopter assembly unit in Karnataka, Tata and Airbus are jointly developing a
C295 aircraft assembly facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.

Vishwanath Karthikey Becomes Youngest Indian to Complete Seven Summits Challenge

In May 2025, Vishwanath Karthikey Padakanti, a 16-year-old mountaineer from Hyderabad(Telangana),
became the youngest Indian and the second youngest globally to successfully complete the Seven Summits
Challenge, which involves climbing the highest peak on each of the seven continents.
• His final ascent was Mount Everest (8,848 meters, m) completed on May 27, 2025, marking the
culmination of a journey that began in 2022.
• He surpassed the previous national record held by Kaamya Karthikeyan, who completed the
Seven Summits at the age of 17 in 2024.
Note: The global record remains with Jordan Romero from the United States of America (USA), who
achieved the feat at the age of 15 years in 2011.
Key Points:
i.Vishwanath Karthikey’s mountaineering journey began at age 11 with a trek to Mount Rudugaira in
Uttarakhand.
ii.He successfully summited peaks such as Mount Everest (Asia), Aconcagua (South America), Denali (North
America), Mount Elbrus (Europe), Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mount Kosciuszko (Australia), and Mount
Vinson (Antarctica) .
iii.His mentors, Bharath Thammineni and Lt. Romil Barthwal, played a crucial role in his preparation,
providing guidance and support throughout his expeditions.
About the Seven Peaks of the Seven Continents:
1.Mount Everest – Asia
Location: Along the Nepal–Tibet (China) border in the Greater Himalayas.
Height: 8,849 metres (m) (29,032 feet) – the highest peak in the world.
Fact: Named Mount Everest in 1865 in honour of Sir George Everest, then Surveyor General of the Survey of
India.
2. Mount Denali – North America
Location: Alaska, United States of America (USA).
Height: 6,190 m (20,310 feet).
Fact: Composed of a massive granite block, it is the tallest peak in North America.
3.Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa
Location: Tanzania, Africa.
Height: 5,895 m (19,340 feet) – highest peak in Africa.
Fact: Largest free-standing mountain in the world with three extinct volcanoes: Mawenzi, Kibo (highest),
and Shira.
UNESCO Status: Declared a World Heritage Site in 1987.
4.Mount Aconcagua – South America
Location: Argentina, in the Southern Andes Mountains.
Height: 6,961 m (22,838 feet).
Fact: It is the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere.
5. Mount Vinson Massif – Antarctica
Location: Ellsworth Mountains, Sentinel Range, western Antarctica.
Height: 4,892 m (16,050 feet).
Fact: Lies around 1,200 kilometer (km) from the South Pole, making it one of the coldest and remotest
summits.

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6. Mount Kosciuszko – Australia

Location: Snowy Mountains, New South Wales, Australia.
Height: 2,228 m (7,310 feet).
Fact: Named after Tadeusz Kościuszko, a Polish statesman, by explorer Paul Strzelecki in 1840.
7. Mount Elbrus – Europe
Location: Caucasus Mountain Range, Russia.
Height: 5,642 m (18,510 feet).
Fact: An extinct volcanic mountain with twin volcanic cones, the taller being the summit.

Union Minister Rajnath Singh Approved Miniratna Category-I Status to MIL, AVNL and IOL
In May 2025, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD) approved the grant of ‘Miniratna’
Category-I status to 3 Indian Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) namely, Pune (Maharashtra)-
based Munitions India Limited (MIL), Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN)-based Armoured Vehicles Nigam
Limited (AVNL) and Dehradun (Uttarakhand)-based India Optel Limited (IOL).
• This decision of MoD of granting Miniratna Category-I status to these 3 DPSUs will empower
these companies to achieve accelerated growth trajectory and new heights in India’s defence
production and exports.
Background of MIL, AVNL, IOL:
i.These three DPSUs originated from the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), which was restructured into seven
entities on October 1, 2021, to boost autonomy and innovation in defence production.
ii.While MIL and AVNL are Schedule ‘A’ new DPSU, while, IOL is a Schedule ‘B’ DPSU, all under the control of
Department of Defence Production (DDP), MoD.
Criteria for Miniratna status:
i.Miniratna Category-I status: The Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) which have made profit
consecutively for 3 years, pre-tax profit is Rs 30 crore or more in at least 1 of 3 years and have positive net
worth are eligible.
ii.Miniratna Category-II status: The CPSEs which have made profit consecutively for 3 years and have
positive net worth are eligible.
iii.These CPSEs should have not defaulted in the repayment of loans or interest payment or any loans due to
the government.
iv.CPSEs should not depend upon budgetary support or government guarantees.
About Ministry of Defence (MoD):
Union Minister- Rajnath Singh (Constituency- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
Minister of State (MoS)- Sanjay Seth (Constituency- Ranchi, Jharkhand)

STATE NEWS
Haryana Cabinet Approves Rs 474 Crore AI Development Project
In May 2025, the Haryana Cabinet, led by Haryana Chief Minister (CM) Nayab Singh Saini, has approved the
three year Haryana Artificial Intelligence (AI) Development Project (HAIDP), backed by the World
Bank(WB) for 2025-28.
• The total outlay of the project HAIDP is Rs. 474.39 crore.
• The cabinet has also approved the formation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under Section 8
of the Companies Act, 2013 to manage and externally aided initiatives like HAIDP.

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About Haryana AI Development Project (HAIDP):

i. HAIDP is envisioned as a strategic intervention, with an aim to position Haryana as a national hub for AI-
enabled development.
ii.The project has a funding pattern of 70:30 between the WB and the Haryana government.
iii.The key components of the project include the establishment of critical infrastructure such as the Global
Artificial Intelligence Centre (GAIC) in Gurugram, Haryana and the Haryana Advanced Computing
Facility (HACF) in Panchkula, Haryana.
iv.The project also focuses on skill development and workforce transition for over 50,000 professionals in
AI, Machine Learning, and Data Science.
v.In Addition, the project will enable AI integration into Public Administration, service provision, and
promote AI-based startups through incubation and shared infrastructure.
vi.The project will adopt the Program-for-Results (PforR) financing instrument, wherein fund
disbursement will be linked to the achievement of Disbursement-Linked Indicators (DLIs), independently
verified by an appointed agency.
Approval of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV):
i.To ensure effective implementation and cross-sectoral coordination of externally aided projects, SPV was
established under section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. It will operate as a not-for-profit company.
iii.The Haryana State Electronic Development Corporation Limited (HARTRON) of Haryana will act as the
Nodal Agency, responsible for managing all modalities and procedures related to the incorporation of the
SPV.
About Haryana:
Chief Minister (CM) – Nayab Singh Saini
Governor – Bandaru Dattatraya
Capital – Chandigarh
National Parks(NP) – Sultanpur NP, Kalesar NP

Maharashtra Govt Launches ‘Adishakti Abhiyan’ for Women Empowerment, Allocates Rs.10.50
crore
On May 7, 2025, the Maharashtra state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis has
approved the launch of the ‘Adishakti Abhiyan’, a state-wide women-centric campaign to boost women
empowerment at the grassroots level with a budget of Rs.10.50 crores.
• The initiative was launched at a special cabinet meeting held in Choundi (Maharashtra), the
birthplace of Ahilyabai Holkar, the famous 18th century queen of the Holkar dynasty, to
commemorate her 300th birth anniversary. It is the first cabinet meeting held outside Mumbai.
• The campaign aims to streamline the implementation and awareness of existing government
schemes for women and children.
About Adishakti Abhiyan:
i.Focus:The campaign will primarily focus on the key issues such as malnutrition, maternal and infant
mortality, domestic violence, sexual harassment and child marriage.
ii.Multi-level committee: To ensure effective execution, committees will be formed at five levels such as
village, taluka, district, divisional and state.
• These committees will spread awareness, identify local problems, offer timely solutions, work
with Anganwadi workers and Taluka Protection Officers to counsel families, prevent child
marriages and support domestic violence victims.
• All Panchayat Samitis are mandated to participate in the campaign, ensuring widespread
engagement across the state.

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iii.Adishakti Awards: To encourage effective participation, the Maharashtra state government will launch
‘Adishakti Awards’.
• Gram Panchayats will be evaluated annually from January 1st to December 31st, with award
selections at taluka, district and state levels. The award ceremony will be held in the first week of
March.
iv.Supervision: A state-level committee chaired by the Minister for Women and Child Development;
Government of Maharashtra (GoM) will supervise the execution of the campaign. The required
modifications during the implementation will be approved by the committee.
Other Announcement:
During the event Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis released a commemorative postage stamp and
a special logo bearing the name of Ahilya Devi to commemorate the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai
Holkar. He also announced several initiatives to honour her legacy and provide benefits to the Dhangar
community, of which Ahilyabai is the descendant.
i.As part of the targeted welfare approach, CM also announced infrastructure projects for youth from
the Dhangar Community.
• Hostels for boys and girls of the Dhangar community will be constructed in Pune and Nasik.
ii.He announced the establishment of separate Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Ahilya Nagar, especially
for girls, to provide them with vocational training and skills.
iii.The Maharashtra state government has decided to change the name of the ‘Ahmednagar’ district after
Ahilya Devi Holkar.
iv.He also highlighted that Rs.681 crore has been sanctioned for the preservation of Ahilyabai’s memorial in
Choundi and a medical college will be named as Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Medical College.
About Ahilyabai Holkar:
i.Ahilyabai Holkar was the queen and ruler of the Malwa territory in central India during the 18th century.
ii.She was born on May 31, 1725, in Choundi village of Ahemdnagar district.
iii.She became the queen of Maheshwar after the demise of her husband Khande Rao Holkar.
iv.She is known for the construction and development of temples, Ghats and Dharamshalas.
About Maharashtra:
Chief Minister (CM) – Devendra Fadnavis
Governor – C P Radhakrishnan
Capital – Mumbai
National Parks (NP) – Tadoba NP, Chandoli NP

Tamil Nadu CM Officially Declares May 5 as Traders’ Day

In May 2025, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister (CM), M K Stalin announced official recognition of May 5 as Traders’
Day at the 42nd annual meeting of the Traders’ Association, organized by Tamilnadu Vanigar Sangangalin
Peramaippu, in suburban Madhuranthakam, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu (TN).
Key Announcements:
i.The welfare assistance for qualified members of the Traders’ Welfare Board will increase from Rs.3 lakh
to Rs.5 lakh.
ii.Businesses under 500 square feet (sq ft) that are not involved in the sale/service of food, will obtain
licenses through self-certification.
iii.Advisory committees, which were established for resolving disputes involving shops and commercials
established in Municipal Corporations in 2024 will be established for Greater Chennai Corporation, town
panchayats and those in rural local bodies.
iv.The deadline for registering as Members on the Board without any fee is extended for six months.

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UP CM Yogi Adityanath Unveils ‘UP-AGREES’ and ‘AI Pragya’ with World Bank Support
In May 2025, Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister (CM), Yogi Adityanath with Ajay Banga, President of
World Bank(WB), jointly launched two initiatives ‘UP AGREES (Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Growth and Rural
Enterprise Ecosystem Strengthening)’ and ‘AI Pragya (Artificial Intelligence Programme for
Resourcefulness, Awareness, Growth, and Youth Advancement)’ to promote agricultural innovation and
digital transformation at a launch event in Lucknow, UP.
• The UP-government initiatives with the WB’s assistance aims to move closer to its vision of
becoming a USD 1 trillion economy.
Key People:
The launch event was also attended by other senior officials including Auguste Tano Kouame, Country
Director for India, World Bank; Manoj Kumar Singh, Chief Secretary of UP; Suresh Khanna, Minister of
Finance (MoF) of UP; Surya Pratap Shahi, Ministry of Agriculture Education and Research of UP; Swatantra
Dev Singh, Jal Shakti Minister of UP and Baldev Singh Aulakh., Ministry of Agriculture Education and
Research.
About UP AGREES:
i.UP AGREES initiative is launched with an aim to revolutionize agriculture in 21 districts of Bundlekhand
and Purvanchal regions, which will enhance productivity and promote advanced, technology-based farming.
• The UP AGREES project which costs Rs.4000 crore will receive Rs.2737 crore as loan from WB
for a period of six years, while the UP government will contribute Rs.1166 crore.
• The loan has a repayment period of 35 years at an interest rate of 1.23%.
ii.The programme will directly benefit farmers, fishers, farmer organizations, and agri-related Micro Small
Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with 30% of the benefits are reserved for women.
iii.The initiative will benefit nearly 10 lakh farmers in the UP. About 10,000 women producer groups will be
involved, and 500 farmers will be sent abroad to learn best practices in agriculture.
About AI Pragya:
i.AI Pragya aims to build a robust Artificial Intelligence (AI) talent base by training 10 lakh youths across
UP, equipping them with the digital skills necessary to thrive in emerging technological sectors.
ii.The programme will provide certification in key domains like AI, Machine Learning(ML), Data
Analytics(DA) and cybersecurity, which increase employment opportunities.
iii.As part of the programme, global tech giants including Microsoft, Intel, HCL, Wadhwani Foundation,
Amazon, Google, and 1M1B will collaborate with the state government to launch upskilling initiatives in the
UP.
iv.The programme will be implemented in collaboration with departments like education, health,
agriculture, rural development, revenue and secretariat administration.
About Uttar Pradesh(UP):
Chief Minister (CM) – Yogi Adityanath
Governor – Anandiben Patel
Capital – Lucknow
National Park (NP) –Dudhwa NP.
About World Bank(WB):
President – Ajay Banga
Headquarters – Washington, the United States of America (USA)
The World Bank was established in 1944 and commenced its operations in 1946.

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Delhi Police Launched ‘Nayi Disha’ initiative to Reintegrate School Dropouts

In May 2025, Delhi’s East district Police has launched a community outreach initiative named ‘Nayi Disha- A
Path Back to Learning’, aimed to bring school dropouts back into the education system.
• This initiative reflects the commitment of Delhi Police(DP) to ensuring that every child is given a
second chance at education.
i.Under this new initiative, DP personnel are visiting the homes of school dropouts, engaging directly with
children and their families to identify the reasons behind their drop out and convince them to resume their
education.
ii.DP is also coordinating with various local schools, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and social
workers to provide various support services like from providing admissions to offering emotional
counseling and academic assistance.

Haryana Launches AI-Powered Water Resource Atlas 2025 to Tackle Groundwater Depletion
In May 2025, the Haryana Water Resources (Conservation, Regulation and Management) Authority (HWRA)
launched the Haryana Water Resource Atlas 2025, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered geospatial
platform developed in collaboration with Hisar (Haryana)-based Haryana Space Applications
Centre (HARSAC) in Haryana.
• This initiative aims to monitor, manage, and conserve Haryana’s rapidly depleting water reserves
through real-time, layered insights.
i.It is a publicly accessible platform that integrates satellite data, Global Positioning System (GPS) based
ground surveys, India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences
(MoES) and datasets from Faridabad (Haryana) based Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), under the
Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• It provides real-time data on: Groundwater levels, Surface water bodies, Aquifers and recharge
zones, Canal systems and Water-intensive cropping patterns.
ii.It uses AI and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to forecast stress points and assist in planning
sustainable water management strategies such as rainwater harvesting, alternative cropping, and
infrastructure upgrades.
iii.As per internal assessments by HWRA, over 76% of Haryana’s administrative blocks are classified
as “critical” or “over-exploited” in terms of groundwater usage, necessitating urgent data-driven
interventions at both administrative and grassroots levels.

Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Launches 2 Programmes: WAP and GYIP

In May 2025, Chief Minister (CM) of Telangana, Revanth Reddy has launched two initiatives, Women
Acceleration Program (WAP) and Grassroot Youth Innovation Program (GYIP), with an aim to empower
one crore women to become millionaires and to foster innovation among youth at JRC Convention Centre in
Hyderabad, Telangana.
• The two initiatives WAP and GYIP are launched under the guidance of WE Hub, the first state-led
incubator in India.
• The event also witnessed the exchange of 17 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) including
premier institutions such as National Stock Exchange (NSE), National Institute of Fashion
Technology (NIFT), Hyderabad, HP India, and various academic and corporate partners.
About Women Acceleration Program (WAP):
i.WAP, supported by the Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and the World
Bank(WB), is a flagship initiative under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme.
ii.It aims to strengthening the capabilities of women entrepreneurs to scale sustainably and enhance their
competitiveness.

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iii.The program is a two-year initiative, designed to accelerate the growth of some 140 existing women-led
MSME across Telangana
iii.WAP enables women to achieve financial independence, leadership in business, and long-term
entrepreneurial success, which would be achieved through targeted capacity building, tailored mentorship,
financial enablement, expanded market methods and other methods.
About Grassroot Youth Innovation Program (GYIP):
i.The GYIP is designed to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship among rural youth in Telangana.
ii.GYIP focuses on equipping young individuals with job readiness skills, mentorship, and hands-on
experience, enabling them to become changemakers in their communities.
iii.The program will outreach over 6,000 students, 4,000 students to be sensitized, 1,500 students to be
onboard onto iLEAP, and 500 students to be onboard onto Campuspreneur program.
iv.The Integrated Learning and Examination Advancement Program(iLEAP) programs support students in
the age of 17-23 years to explore new technological trends and experience advancement in their careers by
mastering critical thinking, innovation and leveraging advanced tools
About the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme:
i.The RAMP scheme, launched in 2022, is a flagship initiative of the Government of India (GoI), which is
aimed to enhance the access MSMEs to market, finance and technology upgradation.
ii.It was launched by the Ministry of MSME(MoMSME) with the support of the WB for a period of 5 years
from 2022 to 2027.
Telangana CM Launches “Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam Scheme”:
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy also launched the “Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam” Scheme at Macharam
Village of Nagarkurnool district, Telangana.
• Under the scheme, the tribal farmers will receive solar pumps of 5-7.5 horsepower(hp) for
irrigating horticultural crops.
• During the launch, the 12-point Nallamala Declaration was unveiled, outlining the state’s
commitment to tribal development.
i.The scheme will commence in 2025-26 and will be implemented till 2029-30 with 100% subsidy.
ii.The scheme with an outlay of Rs. 12,600 crores, aims to empower 2.1 lakh tribal farmers by providing
solar powered irrigation facilities.
About Telangana:
Chief Minister (CM) – Revanth Reddy
Governor – Jishnu Dev Varma
National Parks (NPs) – Kasu Brahmananda Reddy NP, Mrugavani NP
World Bank(WB):
President – Ajay Banga
Headquarters – Washington DC, the United States of America (USA)
Founded – 1944

Assam CM Introduced AI-powered News Anchor ‘Ankita’ to share Cabinet Meeting decisions
In May 2025, Chief Minister (CM) of Assam, Hemanta Biswa introduced Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered
virtual news anchor named Assam’s New-age Knowledge-based Information Technology
Anchor(ANKITA) to deliver cabinet meeting updates in Assamese.
• This initiative marks Assam as the first Indian state to deploy an AI anchor for official
government communications, reflecting a significant stride in digital governance.
i.Crafted with strikingly lifelike features, including a realistic appearance and a fluent Assamese-speaking
voice, Ankita delivered the cabinet meeting’s key decisions and discussions with impressive clarity and
accuracy.

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ii.The AI anchor informed about key decisions which was taken during the cabinet meeting such as:
renaming of Dibrugarh Airport after Bharat Ratna awardee Bhupen Hazarika, granting one-time financial
assistance to tea garden workers, among others.
Note: The state government of Assam introduced ‘Iris’, the 1st AI-powered teacher dressed in traditional
Mekhela-Chador, at Royal Global School in Guwahati, Assam in 2024.

Maharashtra Approves Policy to Promote Artificial Sand in Construction

In May 2025, the Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister(CM) Devendra Fadnavis, approved
a policy to promote the use of artificial sand, also known as manufactured sand (M-Sand), as a sustainable
alternative to natural river sand in construction activities.
• This initiative aims to address environmental concerns associated with river sand mining and to
ensure a consistent supply of sand for the construction sector.
• This policy is also expected to generate employment opportunities through the establishment of
new M-Sand units across the state.
Note: Artificial sand is produced by crushing hard rocks, often granite, into small, sand-sized particles.
Key Highlights of the Policy:
i.Mandatory Use in Government Projects: The policy mandates the use of M-Sand in all construction
projects undertaken by government and semi-government agencies.
ii.Incentives for M-Sand Production: To encourage the establishment of M-Sand units, the government
plans to set up 50 crusher units per district, totaling 1,500 units across the state.
• Each unit will receive a subsidy of Rs 200 per brass to promote sand production. Additionally,
the government will lease land for these units .
iii.Reduced Royalty Rates: The royalty for natural sand is currently Rs 600 per brass. To make M-Sand
more economically viable, a concessional royalty rate of Rs 200 per brass has been approved for M-Sand
producers.
iv.Environmental Compliance: M-Sand units are required to obtain permissions from the district
administration and the forest department and must comply with environmental regulations.
v.Quality Standards: Only M-Sand that meets the Bureau of Indian Standards, BIS (IS 383:2016) norms
will be permitted for use in construction projects.
About Maharashtra:
Chief Minister(CM) – Devendra Fadnavis
Governor – C. P. Radhakrishnan
Capital – Mumbai
Zoological Park – Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park (Peshwa Park), Jijamata Udyan Zoo

Asiatic Lion Census 2025: Gujarat’s Asiatic Lion Population Rises to 891 from 674
On May 21, 2025, Bhupendra Patel, the Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat, announced the results of the 16th
Asiatic Lion Census, revealing a significant increase in the lion population. The census, conducted from May
10 to 13, 2025, recorded 891 Asiatic lions in Gujarat, marking a 32.2% rise from the 674 lions counted in
the 2020 census.
• According to the Gujarat Forest Department, the population breakdown is 196 adult males, 330
adult females, 140 sub-adults, and 225 cubs.
Census Methodology:
i.The census spanned approximately 35,000 square kilometers (sq. km) across 58 talukas in 11 districts of
Gujarat.
ii.Around 3,000 participants, including officers, enumerators, and volunteers, were involved in the
operation.

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iii.Advanced methodologies such as direct beat verification were employed, supported by tools like high-
resolution cameras, camera traps, and Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled radio collars.
iv.Participants meticulously recorded observations, including time, movement direction, physical
characteristics, age, sex, and precise location of the lions.
Key Findings of the 2025 Census
1.Population Breakdown:
i.The current lion population comprises 196 males, 330 females, 140 sub-adults, and 225 cubs.
ii.The increase in adult females from 260 to 330 (a 26.92% rise) highlights the population’s robust
reproductive capacity.
2.Geographic Spread:
i.Lions now inhabit 11 districts in Saurashtra, covering 35,000 sq. km (up from 30,000 sq. km in 2020).
ii.384 lions reside in Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary (core area), Gujarat, while 507 are in satellite
habitats like Barda Wildlife Sanctuary (Gujarat) (17 lions) and coastal zones.
• The number of Asiatic lions residing outside forested areas has increased significantly from 340
in 2020 to 507 in 2025.
3.District-wise Distribution:
i.Amreli district recorded the highest number of Asiatic lions in the landscape with 339 lions, followed by
Gir-Somnath with 222 lions, Junagadh with 191 lions, and Bhavnagar with 116 lions.
ii.In addition, Porbandar, Rajkot, and Devbhumi Dwarka districts recorded 16, 6, and 1 lion(s) respectively.
iii.No lion populations were recorded in Ahmedabad, Botad, Jamnagar, and Surendranagar districts during
the estimation.
About Gujarat:
Chief Minister (CM) – Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel
Governor – Acharya Devvrat
Capital – Gandhinagar
Zoological Park – Sakkarbaug Zoological Park, Kamla Nehru Zoological Park

Bihar Government Renames Gaya Town as “Gaya Jee”

In May 2025, the Bihar cabinet headed by Chief Minister (CM) Nitish Kumar has approved a proposal to
rename the city ‘Gaya’ as “Gaya Jee”, due to its historic and religious importance.
• The renaming of the Gaya town aims to promote tourism in Gaya, by attracting more pilgrims and
visitors, strengthening the local economy and creating opportunities.
i.Gaya town, located on the bank of Falgu River, was part of the Magadha Empire.
ii.Bodh Gaya, located in Gaya district, is the sacred site where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment
beneath the Bodhi Tree.
iii.Gaya is a revered Hindu pilgrimage site, famed for the Pitrapaksha festival. Each year, millions visit to
perform Pind Daan, paying homage to their ancestors.
iv.The city is surrounded by hills: Mangala-Gauri, Shringa-Sthan, Ram-Shila, and Brahmayoni, each holding
deep religious significance.

Justice K Somashekar Appointed as Chief Justice of Manipur HC

In May 2025, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, appointed Justice Kempaiah Somashekar, Judge of
the Karnataka High Court(HC), as the Chief Justice (CJ) of the Manipur HC under Article 217(1) of the
Constitution of India.
• He succeeds Justice D. Krishnakumar, who demitted office on 21st May 2025 upon attaining the
retirement age of 62 years.

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• This appointment follows the recommendation made by the Supreme Court Collegium headed by
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai.
About Justice K Somashekar:
i.Justice K Somashekar began his judicial career as a District and Sessions Judge on 17th June 1998.
ii.He was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Karnataka HC in 2016 and became a Permanent Judge in
2018.
iii.He also held administrative roles such as Registrar (Judicial) and Registrar (Vigilance) at the Karnataka
HC.

Uttarakhand Launches State’s First Dedicated Cycad Garden in Haldwani

In May 2025, the Uttarakhand Forest Department inaugurated the state’s first dedicated Cycad
Garden in Haldwani, Nainital district, Uttarakhand, to conserve one of the world’s most ancient and
endangered groups of plant cycads.
• The initiative is funded by the Tokyo(Japan) based Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) and aims to promote conservation, research, and public awareness regarding these
rare species.
i.The garden is spread over 0.75 hectares (over two acres) and features 31 species of cycads, out of which 17
species are listed as threatened.
• Out of the 31 species, 9 are native to India, including Cycas andamanica, Cycas beddomei, Cycas
zeylanica, Cycas pectinata, and Cycas circinalis.
ii.The garden also houses rare species such as Cycas annaikalensis (Kerala), Cycas orixensis (Odisha), and
Cycas beddomei (Andhra Pradesh).
iii.Cycads, often referred to as ‘living fossils’, have existed since the Mesozoic era and have significant
ecological, cultural, and ornamental value.
iv.These plants are known for their slow growth, limited reproductive ability, and nitrogen-fixing symbiosis
with cyanobacteria, which contributes to ecosystem stability.

Kerala Becomes 1st State in India to Mandate Robotics Education for Class 10 Students
In May 2025, Kerala became the first state in India to make robotics education mandatory for all Class
10 students, from the upcoming academic year in June 2025, benefiting over 4.3 lakh students under the
newly revised Information and Communication Technology (ICT) curriculum.
• The initiative is implemented by Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) based Kerala Infrastructure and
Technology for Education (KITE), the technical arm of the General Education Department,
Government of Kerala.
Key Features of the Robotics Curriculum:
i.Curriculum Design:
• A dedicated chapter titled “The World of Robots” in the Class 10 ICT textbook covers circuit
design, sensor usage, and programming.
• Students will build automated hand sanitizer dispensers and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered
smart doors using components like Arduino breadboards, infrared (IR) sensors, servo motors and
Jumper wires.
ii.Resource Distribution:
• 29,000 robotic kits have been distributed to schools.
• Pictoblocks software will enable students to code face-recognition systems using webcams and
Arduino kits.
• Teacher Training: 9,924 teachers received training on the new ICT curriculum.

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iii.Multilingual Access: Textbooks are available in Malayalam, English, Tamil, and Kannada to ensure
inclusivity.
iv.Expansion: In 2025, AI has been integrated into the ICT curriculum for Classes 8, 9, and 10, strengthening
Kerala’s position as a leader in technology-based education.

AP Government Renames YSR District as YSR Kadapa District

On May 26, 2025, the Government of Andhra Pradesh (AP) issued Government Order (GO) Ms No. 170
through the Revenue (Lands IV) Department, officially renaming YSR District as YSR Kadapa District under
the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Districts (Formation) Act, 1974.
• In 2022, Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) renamed it YSR District, removing
“Kadapa,” which drew criticism for ignoring the district’s 200-year-old heritage and weakening its
historical and cultural identity.
i.Originally known as Kadapa district, it was renamed in 2010 as YSR District in memory of former Chief
Minister (CM) Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy after his demise in 2009.
ii.Kadapa, reflects its historical role as a gateway for pilgrims traveling to Lord Venkateshwara Temple in
Tirupathi, AP.
iii.The spelling of ‘Cuddapah’ was officially changed to Kadapa in 2005. ‘Cuddapah’ was derived from the
Telugu word “Gadapa” which means threshold.

Karnataka Cabinet Renamed Ramanagara District as ‘Bengaluru South’

In May 2025, the Karnataka Cabinet led by Chief Minister (CM) Siddaramaiah approved the renaming
of Ramanagara district as Bengaluru South district, while retaning, Ramanagara will continue to
function as the headquarters of the renamed district.
• The renamed Bengaluru South district will
include Ramanagara, Magadi, Kanakapura, Channapatna, and Harohalli taluks.
i.State Subject: Renaming districts falls under the State List (Entry 18: Land; Entry 45: Land Revenue).
ii.Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964: Empowers the state to alter district boundaries and names.
iii.No additional financial implications are expected from this renaming decision.
iv.Background: In 2024, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) did not issue a No Objection Certificate
(NOC) for the renaming of Ramanagara.

GOVT SHCEMES
CENTRAL SCHEMES
MoRTH rolls out cashless treatment scheme 2025 for road accident victims
In May 2025, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has notified ‘Cashless Treatment of
Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025’, nationwide, under which they will be entitled to cashless treatment
up to Rs. 1.5 lakh per accident per person.
• The Scheme has come into force with effect from May 5, 2025 for “Any person being a victim of a
road accident arising out of the use of a motor vehicle, occurring on any road”.
• To support the nationwide rollout of the scheme, the government has allocated Rs.272 crore for
the Financial Year 2025–26(FY26).
About Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025:
i.The National Health Authority(NHA) will be the implementing agency for the programme, in coordination
with police, hospitals and State Health Agencies etc.

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• Each state’s Road Safety Council will act as the nodal agency, coordinating with the NHA for
hospital onboarding, treatment facilitation, and payment processing.
ii.The scheme aim is to deliver life-saving treatment within the golden hour, when prompt medical
intervention can avert severe injury or death.
iii.The scheme covers treatment for a maximum of 7 days from the date of the accident. Treatment is
available at designated hospitals across India, including both government and private facilities.
iv.Also, as per the scheme, the treatment (Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025) at a
hospital other than a designated hospital shall be only for stabilisation purposes.
v.The scheme is open to everyone, regardless of their category or income, and aims to save lives by ensuring
timely medical care in emergencies.
About Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH):
Union Minister- Nitin Jairam Gadkari (Constituency – Nagpur, Maharashtra)
Minister of State (MoS) –Ajay Tamta (Constituency –Almora, Uttarakhand); Harsh Malhotra(Constituency –
East Delhi, Delhi)

MoA&FW Data: 97% of Claims Settled under PMFBY; 3 Indian States achieved 100% claim
settlement
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) data presented to the Lok Sabha
(the Lower House of the Parliament) in April 2025, 97% i.e. Rs 1,34,353 crore of all reported claims (Rs
1,38,401crore) under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Restructured Weather Based
Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) have been settled across India.
• Top 3 Indian States achieved 100% claim settlement under the schemes: Goa, Chhattisgarh,
Telangana, and Tamil Nadu (TN).
Key Findings:
i.Among Indian states with the highest shortfall in crop insurance payouts, Andhra Pradesh (AP) topped
with claims pending worth Rs 1,842 crore, followed by Maharashtra (Rs 631 crore) and Rajasthan (Rs 478
crore).
ii.Top 5 States/Union Territories (UTs) with low claims settlement ratio: Assam (94%), Tripura
(91%) , UT Andaman and Nicobar Islands (75%), AP, and Sikkim (51%).
iii.Top 3 states filed the highest claims under the schemes in last 6 years (from Financial Year 2018-
19 to FY24): Maharashtra filed claims worth Rs 33,259 crore (approximately 24% of the total claims
reported across India), followed by Rajasthan with claims worth Rs 25,284 crore and Madhya Pradesh (MP)
at Rs 22,749 crore.
iv.Top 3 states paid highest claims during last 6 years (As of March 31, 2025): Maharashtra (Rs 32,628
crore), MP (Rs 22,274 crore) and Rajasthan (Rs 24,806 crore).
v.Top 3 states/UTs paid lowest claims during last 6 years: Goa and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (0.1
crore each), Sikkim (0.6 crore) and Manipur (6.2 crore).
About Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY):
i.PMFBY launched in 2016 by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, is a flagship crop insurance scheme in
India under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. On February 18, 2025, PMFBY completed 9
years of its successful implementation.
ii.It is designed to protect farmers from financial losses due to natural calamities by offering comprehensive
risk coverage from pre-sowing to post-harvest stages at a minimum premium cost.
iii.Under this scheme, farmers pay only 2% (Kharif crops), 1.5% (Rabi crops). or 5%
(horticultural/commercial crops).

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• While, the remaining part of actuarial premium is shared by GoI and state governments in the
ratio of 50:50, except for North eastern states (from Kharif 2020) and Himalayan states (from
Kharif 2023) in the ratio of 90:10.
iv.The scheme is implemented through a multi-agency framework by selected insurance companies under
the overall guidance of the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW),
MoA&FW and the concerned state in co-ordination with various agencies like: commercial banks, co-
operative banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), among others.
v.In March 2025, the GoI approved the continuation of PMFBY and RWBCIS till FY26, with total budget
outlay of Rs 69,515.71 crore for the period of FY22 to FY26.
Recent Related News:
In April 2025, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, MoA&FW and Ministry of Rural Development
(MoRD) led the Indian delegation at the 3rd Bay of Bengal Initiative for Mutli-Sectoral Technical and
Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Agriculture Ministerial Meeting (BAMM) held in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Atal Pension Yojana: Securing Retirement for India’s Unorganised Sector

Atal Pension Yojana (APY), a flagship social security scheme of Government of India (GoI) under Ministry of
Finance (MoF) was launched on May 09, 2015 and came into operationalisation on June 01, 2015, designed
to provide social security to unorganised sector workers and to ensure financial stability for the poor and
underprivileged section of the society.
• The scheme is administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development
Authority (PFRDA). It is managed under the National Pension System (NPS) architecture.
About Atal Pension Yojana (APY):
i.It is a voluntary savings scheme for retirement which offers defined pension benefits, linked to the age of
joining and amount of contributions.
ii.Initially, APY is open for all citizens of India aged between 18 and 40. Later, individuals paying income tax
are not eligible to join the scheme with effect from October 01, 2022.
iii.Eligible subscribers to the scheme avail fixed monthly pension between Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,000 at the age
of 60 years, depending upon their monthly contribution to APY.
• Pension slabs available: Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, Rs 3,000, Rs 4,000, and Rs 5,000 per month.
Key Features:
i.Monthly Contribution: The monthly pension is based on subscriber monthly contribution for instance: if
subscriber joins the scheme at the age of 18 then, he/she is required to contribute Rs 42 to Rs 210 per
month.
• Similarly, if he/she joins at the age of 40, then monthly contribution ranges from Rs 291 to Rs
1,454.
• The premium of the scheme is paid on monthly, quarterly or half-yearly basis.
ii.Minimum Contribution Period and Calculation: The minimum contribution period for APY is 20
years, which depends on age of joining. Also, monthly contribution differs on the basis of: age at the time of
enrolment and desired pension amount.
iii.Government Co-contribution (for early joiners): The government co-contributed 50% of the total
contribution or Rs 1,000 annually (whichever is lower) for 5 years, only for subscribers who joined APY
between June 01, 2015 and March 31, 2016 (the scheme is continued but without government co-
contribution).
• This provision exempted the subscribers who are covered under any statutory social security
scheme and income taxpayers at the time.

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Key Benefits:
i.Guaranteed Monthly Pension: The scheme provides lifelong monthly pension only after the age of 60,
until death of the subscriber.
ii.Family Pension Provision: the spouse receives the pension in case of death of subscriber, nominee gets
corpus.
iii.Auto-debit Convenience: The monthly contributions are auto-debited from the bank account of the
subscriber.
iv.Tax Benefits: Contributions deducted under APY qualify under Section 80CCD of the Income Tax (IT) Act
(if eligible).
Exit and Withdrawal Options:
i.The subscriber exits from the scheme with full pension after the age of 60.
ii.The scheme has the provision of premature exit i.e. before the age of 60, only in cases of death or terminal
illness of the subscriber.
iii.The scheme allows for the voluntary exit from the scheme, but in such case, the subscriber receives only
the contribution made (with interest) and government co-contribution (if any) is forfeited.
Key Progress:
i.As per GoI’s data, the APY has witnessed exponential increase in enrolments from 1.54 crore (in March
2019) to 7.65crore (as of April 2025), mobilized a total corpus of Rs 45,974.67 crore.
• At present, women subscribers account for about 48% of all subscribers to APY.
ii.Also, over 89.95 lakh subscribers were enrolled alone in the Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25), of which over
55% were women subscribers.
Key Initiatives led by GoI and PFRDA:
Over the last few years, PFRDA has undertaken various initiatives for awareness creation of the scheme like:
i.Organising APY Outreach Programmes at state and district levels; conducting awareness and training
programmes.
ii.Activating online channels like: e-APY, net-banking, mobile application (app), among others for easy
online boarding.
iii.APY Help Desk and Chatbot at Protean-CRA are operational which assist subscribers of the scheme.
About Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA):
It was initially established as a regulatory body to promote, develop and regulate the pension sector in India.
Later, it was granted a statutory body status through PFRDA Act, 2013 passed in September 2013 and the
same was officially notified on February 1, 2014.
• It comes under the jurisdiction of Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance
(MoF).
Chairman- Deepak Mohanty
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established in- 2013

PMSBY, PMJJBY and APY complete 10 years of providing social security cover
On May 9 2025, the Government of India(GoI) commemorated the 10th anniversary of the three schemes :
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and
Atal Pension Yojana (APY). All three schemes were envisioned to provide affordable financial protection to
all, particularly the underserved and vulnerable sections of society.
• The ‘Jan Suraksha’ schemes, comprising PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY ,were launched by Prime
Minister(PM) Narendra Modi on 9th May 2015 in Kolkata, West Bengal(WB).
• These flagship schemes aim to broaden the insurance and pension landscape by protecting
citizens against life’s uncertainties and providing long-term financial resilience.

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• Over 23.63 crore, 51 crore and 7.6 crore enrolments have been done under PMJJBY, PMSBY &
APY respectively till April 2025.
About Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY):
i.Purpose: The scheme is designed to provide Life Insurance cover for death due to any reason.
ii.Managed by: The scheme is managed by Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Life Insurance
Company (LIC), though participating banks or post offices may partner with any life insurance company for
its implementation.
iii.Age Limit: Individuals aged 18–50 with accounts in participating banks or post offices can join the
scheme by consenting to auto-debit. The cover shall be for one-year period stretching from 1st June to 31st
May.
iv.NRI (Non-Resident Indian): NRI having an eligible bank account with a bank branch located in India is
eligible for purchase of PMSBY cover through this account subject to fulfilment of the terms and conditions
relating to the scheme.
v.The following is the premium to be paid for the scheme:

S.No. Enrolment in Premium

1 June, July and August Rs. 436

2 September, October and November Rs. 342

3 December, January and February Rs. 228

4 March, April and May Rs. 114

vi.Benefit: On the event of subscriber’s death due to any cause, Rs. 2 lakh is payable to his/her nominee.
vi.As on 23.04.2025, the scheme has recorded 10.66 crore female enrollments and 7.08 crore enrollments
from Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) account holders.
• As of April 23, 2025, the PMJJBY has achieved over 23.63 crore cumulative enrollments, with
Rs.18,397.92 crore disbursed for 9,19,896 claims.
About Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY):
i.Purpose: This yojana provides coverage of up to Rs.2 lakh for accidental death or disability, at an
affordable premium of less than Rs.2 per month.
ii.Age limit: All Individual bank/ Post office account holders of the participating banks/ Post office in the
age group of 18 to 70 years can enrol into this scheme.
iii. Managed by: PMSBY is managed by the Ministry of Finance(MoF), Government of India, and is
implemented through participating public and private sector general insurance companies in collaboration
with banks and post offices for enrollment and premium collection.
iv.NRI: NRI having an eligible bank account with a bank branch located in India is eligible for purchase of
PMSBY cover through this account subject to fulfilment of the terms and conditions relating to the scheme.
v.Premium: Premium to be payable is Rs.20/– per annum per member.
v.The following are the benefits:

S.No. Table of Benefits Sum Insured

1. Death Rs. 2 lakhs

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Total and irrecoverable loss of both eyes or loss of use of both

2. hands or feet or loss of sight of one eye and loss of use of hand Rs. 2 lakhs
or foot

Total and irrecoverable loss of sight of one eye or

3. Rs. 1 lakh
loss of use of one hand or foot
vi.As on 23.04.2025, the scheme has recorded 23.87 crore female enrollments and 17.12 crore enrollments
from PMJDY account holders.
• As of April 23, 2025, the PMSBY has recorded over 51.06 crore cumulative enrollments,
with Rs.3,121.02 crore disbursed against 1,57,155 claims.
About Atal Pension Yojana (APY):
i.Purpose: This yojana was launched to create a universal social security system for all Indians, especially
the poor, the under-privileged and the workers in the unorganised sector.
ii.Managed by: It is administered by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) under
the overall administrative and institutional architecture of the National Pension System (NPS).
iii.Age Limit: All bank account holders in the age group of 18 to 40 years and who are not income tax
payers are eligible to enrol in this scheme.
iv.Benefits: Guaranteed minimum pension of Rs. 1,000/- or 2,000/- or 3,000/- or 4,000 or 5,000/- per
month will be given at the age of 60 years depending on the contributions by the subscribers.
v.NRI: A NRI, who is not an income tax payer under the income-tax Act,1961 is eligible to open APY account.
vi.Payment frequency: Subscribers can make contributions to APY on monthly/ quarterly / half-yearly
basis.
vii.Withdrawal Procedure:
• On attaining age of 60: Upon completion of 60 years, the subscribers will submit the request to
the associated bank for drawing the guaranteed minimum monthly pension or higher monthly
pension, if investment returns are higher than the guaranteed returns embedded in APY.
• In case of death of the subscriber due to any cause after the age of 60: Pension would be
available to the spouse and on the death of both of them (subscriber and spouse), the pension
wealth accumulated till age 60 of the subscriber would be returned to the nominee.
• Premature death (before the age of 60): Spouse of the subscriber can continue contribution to
APY account of the subscriber, for the remaining vesting period, till the original subscriber would
have attained the age of 60 years.
viii.Females constitute around 47% of total subscribers enrolled under Scheme.
• As of April 29, 2025, more than 7.66 crore individuals have subscribed to the scheme.
About Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA):
Chairperson – Deepak Mohanty
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 2003

MoHUA Extended PMAY-U Deadline to December 2025

In May 2025, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) extended the deadline for completing
houses sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) to 31 December 2025.
• The original deadline to complete houses sanctioned by March 31, 2022, has now been extended
to December 31, 2025, giving beneficiaries more time to complete their homes and avail housing
benefits.

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About Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U):

i.PMAY-U was launched by the (MoHUA), GoI in June 2015, as part of the national mission “Housing for
All”.
ii.The MoHUA serves as the nodal ministry overseeing PMAY-U. It is responsible for policy formulation,
providing central assistance, and monitoring the scheme’s progress.
ii.The PMAY-U 2.0, launched in 2024, is a continuation of the flagship scheme, which aims to provide
financial support for affordable pucca houses to urban families from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS),
Low-Income Groups (LIG), and Middle-Income Groups (MIG) who do not own a house anywhere in India.
iii.It will support the completion of houses that have already been approved under the verticals of
Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC), Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP), Credit Linked Subsidy
Scheme (CLSS) and In-situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR).
Note: Since inception, more than 92.61 lakh houses have been constructed under PMAY, significantly
improving housing conditions for economically disadvantaged groups across India.
Eligibility Criteria for PMAY-U:
To qualify under PMAY-U, applicants must belong to:
• Economically Weaker Section (EWS) – annual income up to Rs 3 lakh
• Low-Income Group (LIG) – Rs 3 lakh to Rs 6 lakh
• Middle-Income Group-I (MIG-I) – Rs 6 lakh to Rs 9 lakh
• Slum dwellers – Residents of informal urban settlements
Exclusions for PMAY-Gramin (PMAY-G):
i.Families owning pucca houses, vehicles, mechanized farming equipment, or assets like refrigerators or
landholdings greater than or equal to 2.5 acres.
ii.Households with government employees or tax-paying members.
iii.Under PMAY-Gramin, priority is given to rural families identified in the Socio-Economic and Caste
Census (SECC) who do not own a house or live in kutcha houses (non-permanent with limited rooms).

STATE GOVT SCHEMES

Haryana Govt Announces ‘Pandit Lakhmi Chand Kalakar Samajik Samman Yojana’ for Senior
Artistes, Art scholars
In May 2025, Haryana Chief Minister (CM) Nayab Singh Saini led state cabinet, has decided to implement a
new scheme titled “Pandit Lakhmi Chand Kalakar Samajik Samman Yojana”, for the welfare of the
senior artists and scholars of the state.
• Under the new scheme, the eligible artistes will receive a monthly honorarium of Rs.10,000 as
financial support from the government.
• The scheme aims to improve the financial and socio-economic conditions of senior artistes and
art scholars, who made significant contributions to the field of art.
About Pandit Lakhmi Chand Kalakar Samajik Samman Yojana:
i.Any Resident of Haryana, who has worked or contributed to the field of art for at least 20 years as an artist
in areas such as singing, acting, drama, painting or other forms of visual arts are eligible under the scheme
ii.The Applicant should not be less than 60 years of age, as verified by the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP), a
family Identification card in Haryana.
• If the PPP reflects an annual income of up to Rs.1.80 lakh from all sources of income, the applicant
will receive Rs.10,000 per month.
• If the annual income is between Rs1.80 lakh and Rs.3 lakh, the applicant will receive Rs.7,000 per
month.

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iii.The Application process will be in online mode. A dedicated committee will evaluate the applications
which have undergone preliminary verification by the department. The final merit list of eligible
beneficiaries will be prepared by the committee.
About Haryana:
Chief Minister (CM) – Nayab Singh Saini
Governor – Bandaru Dattatraya
Capital – Chandigarh
Ramsar Sites – Sultanpur National Park, Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary

Assam Govt Approves “Eti Koli Duti Paat” scheme, Renaming of Dibrugarh Airport
In May 2025, the Assam Cabinet headed by Chief Minister (CM) of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma has
approved the “Eti Koli Duti Paat”, a financial assistance scheme for the welfare of tea garden workers.
• Under this scheme, the Government of Assam will provide one-time assistance of Rs.5000 to each
permanent and temporary worker of the tea gardens in Assam.
• The announcement was made on the occasion of the 200th celebration of Assam Tea.
Key Points:
i.Renowned for its richly coloured and aromatic tea, Assam tea industry provides livelihoods to millions of
people, with many others directly or indirectly dependent on the plantations.
• Assam is famous for both Orthodox and CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) varieties of tea.
ii.Assam produces nearly 700 million Kilogram (kg) of tea annually and accounts for around half of India’s
overall tea production.
Other Approvals:
i.He also approved the decision to rename Dibrugarh airport in Dibrugarh, Assam, after Bhupen
Hazarika, the legendary singer and cultural icon of Assam, to mark his 100th birth anniversary.
• Bhupen Hazarika was conferred with Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award in 2019.
ii.The cabinet has also approved the Assam Electronics Components Manufacturing Top-Up scheme,
2025.
• It will provide a 60% top-up on the incentive sanctioned by the Government of India (GoI) under
its Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS)
iii.The cabinet has approved the proposal for reduction in the registration fees of Cooperative Societies from
1% to 0.5% of the proposed authorized capital of the cooperative societies.
iv.The cabinet also approved the implementation of CM’s ‘Jibon Prerna Scheme’ for graduates and
scholars. It will be rolled out from October 2025.
• The eligible graduates who are permanent residents of the state and graduates will be
given Rs.2500 per month for a year.
v.The research scholars who are conducting research in public universities of Assam will be provided
with one-time financial assistance of Rs.20,000 and differently abled research scholars will be provided
Rs.40,000.
vi.The council of ministers also approved, the proposal to provide 50% of admissible house rent allowance
to 13,822 muster roll, casual and fixed pay workers.
vii.The cabinet approved the proposal to extend the ‘Apun Ghar(Home Loan)’ and ‘Apun Bahan’
scheme (Vehicle Loan) to both regular and contractual employees of both state Public Sector Undertakings
(PSUs) and the state government.
viii.The cabinet has approved the Assam Pumped Storage Power Generation Promotion Policy, 2025, which
aims to position Assam as a hub for pumped hydro storage
About Assam:
Chief Minister (CM) – Himanta Biswa Sarma

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Governor – Lakshman Prasad Acharya

Capital – Dispur
National Park (NP) – Kaziranga NP, Manas NP

UP Govt Launched ‘Mukhyamantri Suposhan Abhiyan‘ to Combat Child Malnutrition

In May 2025, the Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Suposhan Abhiyan’, a
targeted nutrition campaign across 8 aspirational districts of UP to combat child malnutrition among
children aged 3 to 6 years.
• The scheme covers the following 8 districts of UP such as Chitrakoot, Fatehpur, Bahraich,
Shravasti, Balrampur, Siddharthnagar, Chandauli, and Sonebhadra.
• The initiative follows the success of the ‘Sambhav Abhiyan’, reinforcing the government’s
commitment to child welfare and nutritional security.
i.The campaign aims to benefit 11,13,783 children by offering a nutritious morning snack delivering 400
calories and 15–20 grams of protein per child per day through items like flavored milk, seasonal fruits,
and a millet-chikki nutribar.
ii.The meals will be provided under the Take-Home Ration (THR) model, ensuring accessibility and
consistency through Bal Vikas Sewa Evam Pushtahar Vibhag centres (Child Development Services and
Nutrition Department).
iii.A budget of Rs 254.83 crore has been allocated for the scheme, which equates to Rs 44 per child per
day.
iv.Monitoring will involve regular health assessments to track progress in reducing anaemia, stunting, and
underweight cases among children.

MP Cabinet Approves ‘Rah-veer’ Scheme, Rs. 2100 crore Adi Shankaracharya Project
In May 2025, the Cabinet meeting headed by, Madhya Pradesh (MP) Chief Minister (CM), Mohan Yadav has
approved the proposal of “Rah-veer” Scheme, Rs.2100 crore project for promoting religious traditions
around Adishankaracharya statue at an event held at Rajwada Palace in Indore, Madhya Pradesh (MP).
• The cabinet meeting was held to mark the 300th birth anniversary year of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar.
Key Points:
i.Under the Rah-veer scheme, the individuals who help road accident victims by taking them to a hospital or
a Primary Health Centre (PHC) will be rewarded with Rs. 25,000 an increase from the previous Rs. 5,000 by
the MP government.
• The objective of the scheme is to motivate the public to help road accident victims in emergency
situations and save innocent lives.
ii.The cabinet also approved the Rs.2,100 crore project, which includes hostels for research scholars, library
and other facilities around the statue of a spiritual master, Adishankaracharya in Omkareshwar, MP.
iii.The government also approved the plan to build working women’s hostels in industrial areas, which will
be built under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and funded through the Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) contributions of industrialists.
iv.The cabinet also approved development projects and schemes worth Rs. 3,687 crores, including in-
principle approval to the Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Training Scheme, aimed at providing employment-
oriented skill development to the youths in MP.
• Under the Scheme, eligible individuals will receive an annual interest subsidy of Rs.1,000, with a
lifetime cap of Rs.10,000 per person on loan interest.
• The annual expenditure on the scheme will be approximately Rs.100 crore.
iv.Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital, Indore: Rs 773.07 crore, Shyam Shah Medical College, Rewa: Rs 321.94
crore.

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v.Provide safe and affordable accommodation for working women in industrial zones with Rs 249.66 crore.
About Ahilyabai Holkar:
Ahilyabai Holkar was the Holkar Queen of the Maratha Malwa Kingdom, India. She is regarded as one of the
most visionary female rulers in India.
• In the 18th century, as the queen of Malwa, she was instrumental in propagating industrialization.
About Madhya Pradesh (MP):
Chief Minister (CM) – Mohan Yadav
Governor – Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel
Capital – Bhopal
National Park (NP) – Pench NP, Madhav NP

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
UNESCO adds 16 new Global Geoparks, North Korea & Saudi Arabia features first time
In April 2025, UNESCO Global Geoparks Council (UGGp), United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added 16 new sites across 11 countries to its Global Geoparks
Network (GGN).
• The UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, announced the
list during its 10th anniversary.
• North Korea recorded its historic first with the inclusion
of its site, Mt Paektu, Saudi Arabia has made its debut
with North Riyadh and Salma.
• India does not have featured site in the list.
i.With the new entries, the Geopark network consists of 229 sites
across 50 countries. The Network now comprises 229 sites across
50 countries, collectively spanning nearly 855,000 square kilometers
ii.UNESCO Geoparks are the model for the conservation of Heritage. They also support educational projects,
promote sustainable tourism.
iii.To maintain the quality of UNESCO Global Geoparks, each site undergoes a thorough revalidation
process every four years. As a result, a green card indicates the renewal status for four years while a yellow
card denotes the renewal to a period of two years.
• Of the 39 revalidations, the council granted 33 green cards and 6 yellow cards.
Sixteen newly added Geoparks:

Serial no Countries Site Names

1 China Kanbula

2 China Yunyang

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

3 Mt Paektu
(North Korea)

4 Ecuador Napo Sumaco

5 Ecuador Tungurahua Volcano

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6 Indonesia Kebumen

7 Indonesia Meratus

8 Italy Mur Geopark

9 Norway The Fjord Coast

10 Republic of Korea (South Korea) Danyang

11 Republic of Korea (South Korea) Gyeongbuk Donghaean

12 Saudi Arabia North Riyadh

13 Saudi Arabia Salma

14 Spain Costa Quebrada

United Kingdom of England and Northern

15 Arran
Ireland

16 Vietnam Lang Son

About UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp):
UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas that are recognized for their geological,
natural and cultural heritage, integrating protection, education and sustainable development.
• It is established through a bottom-up process involving all local and regional stakeholders and
authorities in the area.
About UNESCO Global Geoparks Council:
The council consists of 12 ordinary members who have voting rights. They are appointed by the Director-
General of UNESCO based on recommendations from the GGN and member states. Additionally, the council
includes 4 ex-officio members who do not vote.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director-General – Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters – Paris, France
Establishment – 16 November 1945

FAO Launches ‘AIM4NatuRe Initiative’ to Boost Global Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring

In April 2025, Rome, Italy-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched the ‘Accelerating
Innovative Monitoring for Nature Restoration (AIM4NatuRe) initiative’ to enhance global monitoring of
ecosystem restoration across forests, wetlands, grasslands, marine ecosystems, and degraded farmlands.
• This four year(2025-28) initiative was launched with 7 million Great British Pounds (GBP) or
approximately USD 9.38 million support from the United Kingdom (UK).
• Initial pilot projects will begin in Brazil and Peru in collaboration with FAO’s Indigenous Peoples
Unit to integrate traditional knowledge and biocentric practices.
i.Builds upon FAO’s AIM4Forests by utilizing advanced tools such as the Framework for Ecosystem
Restoration Monitoring (FERM) to enhance restoration monitoring and reporting efforts.
ii.This initiative directly supports Target 2 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to

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restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030.

iii.Addresses data gaps highlighted by a Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) survey, where 80% of
countries lack the technical skills to track restoration.

USA Approved USD 131 Million Foreign Military Sale to India for Indo-Pacific Maritime Security
In May 2025, the United States of America (USA) approved a potential Foreign Military
Sale (FMS) worth USD 131 million (approximately Rs. 1,090 crore) to the Government of India (GoI) to
enhance India’s maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.
• The FMS agreement falls under the broader framework of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain
Awareness (IPMDA) programme, a joint initiative under the Quad (Australia, India, Japan and
the USA) partnership.
• It aims to strengthen India–USA strategic ties and enhance maritime surveillance to ensure
regional peace and stability.
Key Components of the Military Sale:
The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), operating under the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD),
notified the U.S. Congress about the proposed sale, which includes:
• SeaVision software (including requested software enhancements)
• Access to SeaVision documentation
• Remote software and analytic support
• Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT) training
• Other logistical and program support services
Note: The primary contractor for this proposed sale is Herndon(Virginia) based – Hawkeye 360, a USA
defence company.
Strategic Objectives:
i.The sale will enhance India’s maritime domain awareness, analytical capabilities, and overall strategic
posture.
ii.It supports the foreign policy and national security objectives of the USA by improving defence
cooperation with India, designated as a Major Defence Partner.
About the United States of America (USA):
President – Donald John Trump
Capital – Washington, D.C.
Currency – United States dollar (USD)

US Trade Agency Placed India and 7 Other Countries on Priority Watch List over IPR
Enforcement, Violations
In May 2025, Washington DC (the United States of America, USA)-based Office of the United States Trade
Representative (USTR) released its ‘2025 Special 301 Report’. The report has once again placed India on
its ‘Priority Watch List’ for not providing adequate protection to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).
• Besides India, 7 other countries have been placed in this year’s ‘Priority Watch List’: Argentina,
Chile, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, and Venezuela.
• The report cited India remains one of the world’s most challenging major economies with respect
to protection and enforcement of IP.
About USTR Special 301 Report:
i.It is an annual review of Intellectual Property (IP) protection, enforcement, and related market access
issues among USA trading partners.

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ii.This report has been mandated by Section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974. Also, Under Section 301 of the
Trade Act 1974, the USA has power to take stringent actions against countries that engage in unfair or
discriminatory trade practices that burden or restrict USA trade and commerce.
iii.This latest edition of the report has evaluated more than 100 trading partners and has identified
countries that don’t meet the standards set by the USA for protecting IPR.
iv.The countries which are found in violation of IPR have been categorised to two main lists i.e. the ‘Priority
Watch List’ and ‘Watch List’ based on the severity of the issues.
Key Concerns Related to India:
i.The report highlighted that Patent issues continue to be of particular concern in India. The report has
further cautioned about the potential threat of patent revocations and the procedural and discretionary
invocation of patentability criteria under the Indian Patents Act, 1970, impact across various sectors.
ii.The report underscored that India maintains high custom duties directed to IP-intensive products like:
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) products, solar energy equipment, medical devices,
among others.
iii.As per the report, India along with China and Turkey has been classified as a source country for
counterfeit goods, including semiconductors and other electronics, chemicals, medicines, automotive and
aircraft parts, among others.
Other Key Findings:
i.The report has placed a total of 18 countries including Algeria, Barbados, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Guatemala, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago,
Turkey and Vietnam on ‘Watch List’. These countries face major IP concerns requiring ongoing bilateral
engagement.
ii.The report has removed Turkmenistan from the Watch List due to efforts which are in alignment with
the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
Agreement.
• However, Mexico placed on the Priority Watch List due to USA long-standing concerns over
Mexico implementation of IP commitments under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement
(USMCA).
iii.Countries which were found to be origin for counterfeit pharmaceuticals seized at the USA border in
2024: India, China, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore.
About Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR):
USTR- Jamieson Lee Greer
Headquarters- Washington DC, the United States of America(USA)
Established- 1963

Nicaragua Withdraws from UNESCO over a Press Freedom Award 2025

In May 2025, the Nicaraguan government withdrew from Paris (France)-based United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the United Agency (UN) agency, that promotes
education, science and culture and also works for the preservation of exceptional cultural and natural
heritage worldwide.
• This withdrawal is a reaction to the United Nations (UN) agency announcement of Nicaragua’s
exiled La Prensa newspaper as winner of the 2025 UNESCO/ Guillermo Cano World Press
Freedom Prize on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day(May 3).
• Also, this departure of Nicaragua is a major blow for the organisation that is in the crosschairs of
the United States of America (USA) President Donald Trump.

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Points to Note:
i.Nicaragua joined the UNESCO in 1952 and was one of its 194 member states.
ii.As per UNESCO’s constitution, Nicaragua will officially terminate its 74-year old membership on
December 31, 2026.
About La Prensa:
i.La Prensa or officially known as La Prensa- El Diario de los Nicaraguenses (The Nicaraguan People’s
Journal) was founded in 1926, based in the country’s capital Managua.
ii.Since 2021, following the imprisonment and expulsion of its leaders from the country as well as
confiscation of its assets, La Prensa has continued to work online, with most of its team in exile and
operating from Costa Rica, Spain, Mexico, Germany and the USA.
About UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize:
The award was instituted in 1997, recognizes individuals or organizations that have demonstrated
exceptional commitment to defending and promoting press freedom, particularly under dangerous or
challenging circumstances.
• The prize is named in honour of Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist who was
assassinated in 1986 due to his fearless journalism and outspoken criticism of drug cartels.
About Nicaragua:
President- José Daniel Ortega Saavedra
Capital- Managua
Currency- Nicaraguan Córdoba (NIO)

India gifts 15 electric vehicles to Nepal for mountain dialogue

In May 2025, the Government of India(GoI) gifted 15 Electric Vehicles (EVs) to Nepal to support the
logistical arrangements of the inaugural Sagarmatha Sambaad, a global dialogue on climate change, which
is scheduled from 16 to 18 May 2025 in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• The vehicles were handed over by Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, to Nepal’s
Foreign Minister, Arzu Rana Deuba, during a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in
Kathmandu.
• The vehicles will be used for transporting delegates, officials, and guests attending the summit.
i.Sagarmatha Sambaad is a biennial, multi-stakeholder global dialogue initiated by the Government of Nepal.
The first edition is themed “Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity”
ii.The dialogue aims to address the pressing impacts of climate change on mountainous regions and to foster
regional and international cooperation for sustainable solutions.

India & EU Launch Rs. 391 Crore Research Initiatives on MPL and W2GH
On May 15, 2025, India and the European Union (EU) launched two major research initiatives under
the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), to enhance bilateral cooperation in trade, technology,
and sustainability.
• The initiatives, backed by a joint investment of Rs.391 crores (41 million euro), focus on
tackling Marine Plastic Litter (MPL) and advancing Waste-to-Green Hydrogen (W2GH)
technologies.
• The newly launched initiatives will receive joint funding from Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship
research and innovation programme, and the Government of India(GoI).
About Launched Initiatives:
1.Marine Plastic Litter (MPL):
i.Objective: Develop solutions to monitor and mitigate pollutants like microplastics, heavy metals, and

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organic waste in oceans.

ii.Funding:
• EU Contribution: 12 million euro (Approximately Rs.115 crore) under Horizon Europe (EU’s
research framework).
• India’s Contribution: Rs.90 crores (Approximately 9.3 million euro) by the Ministry of Earth
Sciences (MoES), Government of India (GoI).
iii.Alignment: Supports the United Nation (UN) Decade of Ocean Science, the EU’s Zero Pollution Action
Plan, and India’s National Marine Litter Policy.
iv.Call Opened on: 6th May 2025
2.Waste to Green Hydrogen (W2GH):
i.Objective: Innovate cost-effective methods to convert biogenic waste into green hydrogen.
ii.Funding:
• EU Contribution: 10 million euro (Approximately Rs.96 crore).
• India’s Contribution: Rs.90 crores (Approximately 9.3 million euro) by the Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MNRE), GoI.
iii.Alignment: Complements the EU’s Hydrogen Strategy and India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission
(NGHM).
iv.Call Opened on: 15th May 2025
About India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC):
i.The India-EU TTC established in 2022 by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and European Commission
President Ursula von der Leyen to strengthen the bilateral partnership on trade and technology.
ii.The council was officially launched in February 2023, marking the EU’s second such initiative after the
European Union-United States TTC (EU-US TTC) and India’s first with any country.
iii.The India-EU TTC holds annual ministerial meetings to review progress and set future agendas.
iv.The first ministerial meeting took place in Brussels on 16 May 2023, and the second was held on 28
February 2025 in New Delhi (Delhi).

Nepal’s Yala Glacier Declared ‘Dead’ Amid Global Warming Concerns

In May 2025, the Yala Glacier in Langtang Valley, Nepal, was declared “dead” during Asia’s first glacier
funeral, after losing 66% of its ice and retreating 784 meters(m) since the 1970s, highlighting the severe
impact of climate change in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region.
• The event, coordinated by the Kathmandu (Nepal)-based International Centre for Integrated
Mountain Development (ICIMOD), witnessed the participation of over 50 glaciologists, Buddhist
monks, and local community members from Nepal, India, China, and Bhutan.
Note: The HKH region extends across twelve countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India,
Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Key Details of the Event:
i.Memorial Plaques: Installed at the glacier’s base, featuring messages in English, Nepali, and Tibetan by
authors Manjushree Thapa and Andri Snaer Magnason.
• The plaques emphasize the loss of 54,000 HKH glaciers, most projected to vanish by 2100 due to
426 ppm (part per million) Carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in May 2025.
ii.Global Precedents: Yala is the third glacier worldwide and the first in Asia, to receive such a memorial,
following Iceland’s Okjökull (Ok glacier) (2019) and Mexico’s Ayoloco (2021).
iii.Scientific Significance: Yala was among 7 glaciers in the HKH monitored annually for over a decade. It
provided critical data on ice loss impacting 2 billion people dependent on HKH rivers.
• It is one of 38 glaciers monitored through in-situ measurements, offering vital data on the rate
and scale of glacial retreat.

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• Since 1975, Earth’s mountain glaciers have lost an estimated 9 trillion tonnes of ice, equivalent to
a 2.72-metre (m) thick ice block covering the size of India.
iv.Snow persistence in the Ganga basin has dropped to 24.1% below normal, the lowest in 23 years, posing
threats to water security and biodiversity.
Global and National Conservation Efforts:
i.The United Nations (UN) has designated 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’
Preservation. March 21 is to be annually observed as the World Day for Glaciers.
ii.Global Initiatives include:
• UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Himalayan Adaptation Network.
• World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)’s Living Himalayas Initiative.
iii.India’s initiatives include:
• National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE)
• Network Programme on the Himalayan Cryosphere
• Monitoring by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS).
• Research through Himansh Station and polar expeditions like India’s Arctic Observatory
(IndARC) (2014).
About Nepal:
Prime Minister(PM) – Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli
President – Ram Chandra Poudel
Capital – Kathmandu
Currency – Nepalese Rupee (NPR)

USA Became India’s 4th Largest Crude Oil Supplier

In May 2025, data from London (United Kingdom, UK)-based energy cargo tracking firm Vortexa revealed
that the United States of America (USA) surpassed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in April 2025 to become
India’s fourth-largest crude oil supplier.
• India’s crude imports from the USA doubled to 0.33 million barrels per day (mbd) in April 2025,
up from 0.17 mbd in April 2024 and 0.24 mbd in March 2025.
i.India represented 8% of total USA crude exports in April 2025, highlighting India’s growing significance as
an energy buyer for the USA.
ii.The USA share in India’s total crude oil imports rose to 7.3%, overtaking UAE’s 6.4%.
iii.The USA now trails Russia (37.8%), Iraq (19.1%), and Saudi Arabia (10.4%), which continue to be India’s
top three crude suppliers.
iv.Following discussions between Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and USA President Donald Trump in
February 2025, India plans to raise its energy imports from USA from USD 15 billion to USD 25 billion.

IIFT to Establish First Offshore Campus in Dubai, UAE to Expand Indian Education Globally
In May 2025, the Government of India(GoI) approved the establishment of the first offshore campus of the
New Delhi(Delhi) based Indian Institute of Foreign Trade(IIFT), an autonomous institution under the
Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoC&I), in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• The approval was granted by the Ministry of Education (MoE) with No-Objection Certificates
(NOCs) from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and
University Grants Commission (UGC)
i.IIFT’s Dubai campus is expected to offer a range of programs, including full-time and executive education
courses, tailored to the region’s market dynamics and global business environment.
ii.It will contribute towards the global expansion of Indian higher education, aligning with the vision of the

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National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes the internationalisation of Indian education.
iii.IIFT’s Dubai initiative follows the 2023 launch of Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) in
Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Note: Established in 1963, IIFToffers programmes such as the 2-year MBA in International Business and a
Doctor of Philosophy(Ph.D.) in Management at its campuses in New Delhi, Kolkata,West Bengal(WB), and
Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh(AP).

UAE Elected to Executive Board of IAACA

In May 2025, the Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates, UAE) based UAE Accountability Authority (UAEAA) was
elected to the Executive Board of the International Association of Anti-Corruption
Authorities (IAACA) during the organization’s first council meeting of 2025 held in Abu Dhabi.
• The move reflects the UAE’s prominent standing in advancing good governance and integrity.
Significance of the Membership:
i.The new membership will provide the UAE with an effective platform for shaping international policies
and exchanging best practices, which results in enhancing transparency across government institutions.
ii.The achievement marks a milestone in the UAEAA’s strategy to build a robust regulatory framework, in
line with the highest international standards in transparency, anti-corruption, and institutional excellence.
About International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA):
i.IAACA is an independent and non-political anti-corruption organization.
ii.It was founded in 2006 during its inaugural conference in Beijing, China.
iii.It supports the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and
facilitates cooperation among anti-corruption authorities worldwide.
President – Danny Y.M. Woo
About United Arab Emirates Accountability Authority (UAEAA):
The United Arab Emirates Accountability Authority (UAEAA) is the supreme institution for financial audit
and accounting in the UAE, reporting to the President of the UAE.
• Its primary objective is to foster integrity, transparency, and accountability within the UAE.
President – Humaid Obaid Abushibs
Headquarters – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Established – 2023

Polio Outbreak Declared in Papua New Guinea After Detection of cVDPV2

In May 2025, Geneva(Switzerland) based World Health Organization (WHO) declared a polio
outbreak in Papua New Guinea (PNG) after detecting circulating Vaccine Derived Poliovirus type
2 (cVDPV2) in stool samples of two asymptomatic children in Lae city, Morobe Province. This marks the
first polio outbreak in the country since 2018.
• PNG was declared polio-free in 2000 but faced a cVDPV1 outbreak in 2018, when 26 cases were
confirmed in the same region.
• The cVDPV2 strain detected in 2025 has 18–19 genetic mutations from the original vaccine strain,
indicating prolonged community transmission.
Note: Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects children under 5 years.
Key Points:
i.The polio immunisation coverage in PNG is below 50%, far lower than the required threshold to prevent
outbreaks.
ii.Only around 44% of children have received the third dose of the vaccine needed for full protection.
iii.A national response campaign has been launched targeting children aged 10 years and below, aiming to
vaccinate approximately 3.5 million children.

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iv.The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), WHO, and the Government of Australia are supporting the
vaccination drive to increase coverage to 90%.
About Papua New Guinea (PNG):
Prime Minister(PM) – James Marape
Capital – Port Moresby
Currency – Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK)

Global Forest Watch data: India Lost 18,200 hectares of Primary Forest in 2024
As per the latest data released in May 2025 by the Global Forest Watch (GFW), an international
collaboration of more than 100 organisations, India lost 18,200 hectares (ha) of primary forest in 2024
compared to 17,700 ha lost in 2023.
• The data further revealed that India lost 3,48,000 ha or 348 kilo hectare (kha) of humid primary
forest between 2002 and 2024, accounts about 5.4% of the country’s total humid primary forest.
This figure also represents 15% of India’s total tree cover loss during the same period.
• Globally, 2024 witnessed unprecedented forest loss, largely driven by massive fires. The tropics
alone lost a record 6.7 million ha of primary rainforest.
Monitoring Methodology:
i.This data is provided by GFW,an initiative of the United States of America(USA) based World Resources
Institute(WRI) in collaboration with the USA based University of Maryland.
ii.GFW identifies primary forests using satellite imagery from the Landsat program, combined with region-
specific algorithms tailored to detect and monitor forest cover changes.
iii.GFW has defined primary forests as mature natural humid tropical forests that have not been completely
cleared and regrown in recent history.
iv.These forests are identified using Landsat satellite images and special algorithms for each region.
Key Findings:
i.As per the data, India has lost 2.31 million ha (Mha) of tree cover since 2001, equivalent to a 7.1%
decrease in tree cover during this period and 1.29 Gigatonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalent emissions
(GtCO2e).
ii.GFW’s data showed that India lost 103 kha (1.6%) of humid primary forest between 2019 and 2024;
accounts 14% of its total tree cover loss in those years.
• India lost its primary forest cover between 2019 and 2022: 14,500 ha (in 2019), 17,000 ha (in
2020), 18,300 ha (in 2021), and 16,900 ha (in 2022).
iii.Despite witnessing decline in tree cover, India recorded an increase of 1.78 Mha of tree cover between
2000 and 2020, marking about 1.4% of the global total increase.
iv.India lost total 36.2 kha of tree cover from fires from 2001 to 2024. Year 2008 recorded the most tree
cove loss due to fires, with 2.77 kha (3.5%) lost to fires.
• The data showed that top 4 regions in India accounted for 52% of all tree cover loss between
2001 and 2024. Assam recorded the highest tree cover loss at 340 kha between 2001 and 2024,
compared to the national average of 67,900 ha during the same period.
• It was followed by Mizoram (334 kha), Nagaland (269 kha), Manipur (255 kha) and Meghalaya
(243 kha).
v.The report highlighted main reasons/factors which contributed in the loss of tree cover between 2001 and
2024: shifting cultivation (1.39 Mha), permanent agriculture (620 kha), logging (182 kha), natural
disturbances (35,100 ha) and settlements & infrastructure development (30,600 ha).
Other Key Points:
i.As of 2010, top 7 regions in India account 51% of all tree cover in the country. Assam had the most tree
cover at 2.75 Mha, which is higher than the national average of 817kha.

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• It was followed by Chhattisgarh (2.28 Mha), Kerala (2.28 Mha) and Odisha (1.92 Mha) and
Karnataka (1.88 Mha).
ii.India witnessed a net change of 874 kha (1.3%) in tree cover from 2000 to 2020.
iii.The data revealed that as of 2000, around 10% (32.6 Mha)of India land cover was tree cover with less
than 30% canopy density.
Note: As per Rome (Italy)-based United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), India had
the 2nd highest rate of deforestation in the world between 2015 and 2020, losing nearly 6.68 lakh ha of
forest annually. Brazil topped the list, with an average annual forest loss of about 1.7 million hectares.
About Global Forest Watch (GFW):
It is an initiative of World Resources Institute (WRI) launched in 2014 in partnership with Google, United
States Agency for International Development (USAID), among others.

Algeria Officially Joins BRICS-Backed NDB as New Member

On May 22, 2025, the Shanghai (China)-based New Development Bank (NDB), established by BRICS nations
(Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), officially admitted Algeria as its new member.This was
announced by NDB President Dilma Rousseff.
• This follows Algeria’s deposit of the instrument of accession, under the provisions of the NDB’s
Articles of Agreement.
• In addition to its founding members(Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), the NDB
includes Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, and Indonesia as member countries,
with Uruguay currently holding the status of a prospective member.
About New Development Bank (NDB):
i.NDB, formerly known as the BRICS Development Bank, was established in 2015 by the BRICS nations
(Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) to advance the development priorities of emerging market
economies.
ii.The primary objective of the NDB is to finance infrastructure and sustainable development projects in
Emerging Market Economies and Developing Countries (EMDCs).
iii.The bank was founded with an initial authorized capital of USD 100 billion, divided into one million
shares, each with a face value of USD 100,000.
iv.The first President of the NDB was K.V. Kamath from India, who served from 2015 to 2020.
v.In 2022, NDB announced the launch of its Indian Regional Office (IRO) located in the Gujarat International
Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
President – Dilma Rousseff
Headquarters – Shanghai, China
About Algeria:
President – Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Capital – Algiers
Currency – Algerian Dinar (DZD)

ILO-NASK Report 2025: One in Four Jobs at Risk of being Transformed by GenAI
In May 2025, Geneva (Switzerland)-based International Labour Organisation (ILO) in collaboration with
Warsaw (Poland)-based National Research Institute (NASK) released their inaugural report
titled ‘Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure’. As per the report, one
in four jobs (25%) across the world is potentially at the risk of being transformed by Generative Artificial
Intelligence (GenAI).
• The report emphasizes that GenAI’s effect is more likely to transform jobs than replace or
eliminate them.

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• The report further showed that 34% of jobs in occupations exposed GenAI are in High-Income
Countries (HICs) compared to 11% in Low-Income Countries (LICs).
Note: This report is an updated version of the ILO’s 2023 Global Index of Occupational Exposure to GenAI,
reflecting recent technological advancements and growing user familiarity with GenAI tools.
About the Report:
i.This new study marks the 1st in a joint series of ILO-NASK publications focused primarily on GenAI and the
future work.
ii.The report provides a comprehensive overview of how AI could transform occupations and employment
worldwide by combining approximately 30,000 occupational tasks with expert validation, AI-assisted
scoring, and ILO harmonized micro data.
Key Findings:
i.The report reveals that 3.3% of jobs worldwide fall under the highest risk category due to GenAI, with a
greater impact on women as 4.7% of women’s jobs worldwide fall into the highest-risk category, compared
with 2.4% of such jobs among men.
• While, in HICs where, jobs at the highest risk of automation account 9.6% female employment
compared to 3.5% of such jobs among men.
ii.As per the report, clerical and administrative jobs is among the most exposed occupational groups due to
GenAI’s theoretical ability to automate many of their tasks.
• However, the report highlighted about the expanding abilities of GenAI which would result in an
increased exposure of some highly digitized cognitive jobs in media-software- and finance-related
occupations.
iii.The report urged governments, employers’, and workers’ organisations worldwide to engage in social
dialogue and shape proactive, inclusive strategies that can enhance productivity and job quality, especially
in exposed sectors.
iv.The report showed that Middle-Income regions like: Latin America and parts of Asia are among the
highest risk of exposure to GenAI.
• Also, region like Europe and Central Asia show the highest gender disparities due to high female
employment in clerical sector and widespread digital adoption.
v.The report revealed that regions like: sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and the Arab states currently shows
lower overall exposure but clarified these are regions where digital access is limited or labour protections
are weak, then even small-scale automation could destabilizes vulnerable sectors.
About International Labour Organisation (ILO):
Director-General (DG) – Gilbert F. Houngbo (Togo)
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Member nations – 187
Established – 1919

10 Indian AI Startups Selected for AI Accelerator Programme in Paris, France

On 29 May 2025, 10 cutting-edge Indian Artificial Intelligence (AI) Startups have been selected by the India
AI Mission, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), for the India AI Startups
Global Initiative, as a major step towards advancing AI capabilities of India globally in Paris, France.
• India AI Global Startup Initiative is a prestigious international acceleration program in
partnership with Station F, Paris and HEC Paris.
Key Points:
i.The selected startups will undergo a four-month acceleration programme at Station F, the world’s largest
startup campus in Paris, France.
ii.The programme includes a one-month virtual module followed by a three-months immersive residency in

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France, where the startup will access mentorship, investor networks, and European business ecosystem
curated by HEC Paris, one of leading Business (B) schools in Europe.
iii. The initiative, launched under the IndiaAI mission, is aimed at scaling India’s deep-tech expertise in AI
through international collaborations.
10 Indian AI Startups:

Sl
Name of the Startup Corporate Office Business Activity
No

Building Responsible AI solutions

Bengaluru,
1 PrivaSapien Technologies with privacy engineering and
Karnataka
privacy-enhancing technologies

Conversational Gen AI platform

Bengaluru, delivering contextual, human-like
2 CoRover.ai
Karnataka responses powered by domain-
specific data

AI-powered audio-video analytics

Staqu Technologies
3 Gurugram, Haryana are transforming surveillance,
(Jarvis)
security, and governance.

A full-stack Earth Observation

Bengaluru, company combining satellite
4 SatSure Analytics
Karnataka imagery with AI to drive decision
intelligence.

An AI coproducer that transforms

National Capital product URLs and brand context
5 Storyvord
Region, Delhi into creative, automated video
content.

Using Advanced AI and aerial

platforms to monitor, analyze,
6 VolarAlta Pune, Maharashtra
and optimize emissions from
hard-abate industries.

An AI-powered edtech platform

Chennai, Tamil creating immersive, adaptive
7 Smartail
Nadu (TN) learning experiences and real-
time assessments.

A cybersecurity startup offering

Noida, Uttar proactive security posture
8 Secure Blink
Pradesh (UP) management through an AI-
powered DevSecOps platform.

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Deep Tech startup enabling ultra-

Bengaluru,
9 NeuroPixel.AI fast, AI-driven image editing for
Karnataka
fashion and e-commerce brands.

Enterprise-grade Agentic AI
National Capital
10 Voicing AI platform that powers intelligent
Region, Delhi
voice agents across industries
About IndiaAI Mission:
i.The IndiaAI Mission is an initiative, launched by the Government of India (GOI) under the MeitY, to
position India as a leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in 2024.
ii.The mission focuses on building AI infrastructure, enhancing data quality, and promoting AI applications.
iii.The total outlay of the IndiaAI mission is 10,300 crores.
About Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY):
Union Minister – Ashwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha – Odisha)
Minister of State (MoS) – Jitin Prasada (Constituency – Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh)

VISITS
VISIT TO INDIA
Overview of PM Narendra Modi ‘s visit to Maharashtra, Kerala, AP from May 1-2, 2025
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Maharashtra, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh(AP) from May 1-2,
2025, to inaugurate various developmental projects.
• He inaugurated World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 in Maharashtra
and dedicated Vizhinjam port to the nation in Kerala. He also inaugurated and laid the
foundation for multiple development projects worth over Rs.58,000 crore in AP.
Highlights of the Visit to Maharashtra:
i.During his visit to Maharashtra, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first-of-its-kind WAVES 2025, a
four-day summit with tagline “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries” at the Jio World Centre,
Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• It is organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting(MoI&B), in association with the
Ministry of External Affairs(MEA).
ii.He greeted the people of Maharashtra on Maharashtra Day, which is celebrated on 1st May every year.
• Maharashtra Day commemorates the formation of the state of Maharashtra in 1960. This day
marks the enactment of the Bombay Reorganisation Act, which divided the erstwhile Bombay
State into two separate states: Maharashtra for Marathi-speaking people and Gujarat for Gujarati-
speaking people.
Highlights of the visit to Kerala:
On May 2, 2025, PM Narendra Modi dedicated Vizhinjam International Deepwater
Multipurpose Seaport worth Rs.8,867 crore to the country in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• Chief Minister of Kerala (CM) Pinarayi Vijayan, Shashi Tharoor, Member of Lok Sabha
(Thiruvananthapuram) were also present among other dignitaries.
• The full-fledged operation is planned to begin by the year 2028-29.
About Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport :
i.It is India’s first dedicated container transshipment port, that represents the transformative
advancements being made in India’s marine sector as part of the unified vision of Viksit Bharat.

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ii.The port has been constructed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) under
Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with a capacity of up to 5 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent
Unit (TEUs).
• After a successful trial phase in July 2024, the port has made remarkable achievements in
transshipment container handling, with over 285 ships docking at the port,
including MSC Türkiye, one of the largest containers in the world.
iii.Its natural deep draft of 20 metres(m) and location near one of the world’s busiest sea trade routes
further strengthens India’s position in global trade.
iv.Vizhinjam Port, having strategic importance, has been identified as the key priority project which will
contribute to strengthening India’s position in global trade, enhance logistics efficiency and reduce reliance
on foreign ports.
• PM Modi highlighted that 75% of India’s transshipment operations were previously conducted at
foreign ports.
Highlights of the visit to AP:
On May 2, 2025, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for multiple development projects
worth over Rs.58,000 crore in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
• CM of AP, Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM, Pawan Kalyan, Syed Abdul Nazeer, Government
of AP were also present among other dignitaries.
Key Highlights:
i.PM Narendra Modi inaugurated 7 National Highway (NH) projects, which include widening of various
sections of NH, construction of Road over bridge and subway among others.
• These projects will further enhance connectivity to places like Tirupathi, Srikalahasthi,
Malakonda and Udayagiri Fort among others
ii.He also dedicated railway projects, aimed at enhancing connectivity and boosting capacity.
• These projects are boosting the rail line between Bugganapalle Cement Nagar and Panyam
stations, enhancing connectivity between Rayalaseema and Amaravati, and construction of a
third rail line between New West Block Hut Cabin and Vijayawada stations.
iii.He also laid the foundation stone of 6 NH projects and 1 Railway project. This includes widening of
various sections of NH, construction of elevated corridors, half clover leaf and Road over bridge.
• Construction of Rail over Rail between Guntakal West and Mallappa gate stations, aims to bypass
freight trains and reduce congestion at the Guntakal junction.
iv.PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for 74 projects worth Rs.49,000 crore. It includes the
Legislative Assembly, High court(HC), Secretariat, other administrative buildings and housing buildings for
over 5,200 families, worth Rs.11,240 crore.
• It will also include trunk infrastructure and flood mitigation projects featuring a 320 km world-
class transport network with underground utilities and advanced flood management systems,
worth Rs.17,400 crore.
• The Land Pooling Scheme infrastructure projects will cover 1,281 km of roads equipped with
central medians, cycle tracks and integrated utilities across the capital city of Amaravati, worth
Rs.20,400 crore
v.He laid the foundation stone of Missile Test Range at Nagayalanka, AP, worth Rs.1,460 crore.
• It will comprise a launch centre, Indigenous Radars, Telemetry and Electric-Optical systems.
vi.He also laid the foundation stone of PM Ekta Mall, where artisans and craftsmen from across India will
have their products showcased under one roof, at Madhurawada, Visakhapatnam, AP.
About Maharashtra:
Chief Minister(CM) – Devendra Fadnavis
Governor – C.P Radhakrishnan

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Capital – Mumbai
Tiger Reserve – Melghat Tiger Reserve, Sahyadri Tiger Reserve
About Kerala:
Chief Minister(CM) – Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor – Rajendra Arlekar
Capital – Thiruvananthapuram
Stadium – Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Jimmy George Indoor Stadium

Overview of Angola President Joao Lourenco’s Visit to India from May 1-4, 2025
President of the Republic of Angola, Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco was on his four-day official visit to
India from May 1 to 4, 2025, at the invitation of President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu, to strengthen the
bilateral relations between the two countries. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including
several Ministers, senior officials, business houses, media etc.
• This visit marks the first bilateral visit of President Lourenco, who assumed office in 2017, and
the first visit of a President of Angola to India after 38 years.
• The year 2025, marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between
India and Angola.
Note: Angola is holding the chairship of the African Union(AU).
Highlights of the Visit:
i.During his visit to India, Angola President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of Angola was ceremonially
welcomed by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi.
ii.He also met Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and held a high-level delegation talks at Hyderabad
House in New Delhi.
• During the meeting PM Narendra Modi announced USD 200 million as Line of Credit (LOC) for
the modernisation of Angola’s armed forces. He has invited Angola to join India’s initiatives,
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) and
Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA).
• Angola will source defence equipment, transport vehicles, ammunition and other assets from
Indian public and private sector defence companies.
MoUs Signed:
During the state visit of Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço to India, India and Angola
signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to strengthen bilateral cooperation across various
sectors:
i.MoU for cooperation in the field of Ayurveda and other traditional medicine:
• The possibility of traditional medicine, Ayurveda will be introduced to Angola.
• By signing the MoU, India will support Angola in its healthcare sector, a greater number of
doctors and paramedical forces by expanding India’s healthcare sector with the creation of new
hospitals in Angola.
• PM Modi, highlighted the setting up of Janaushadhi units along with the possibility of supplying
medicines and pharms products in Africa
ii.MoU for cooperation in the field of agriculture:
• Under this MoU, India’s entrepreneurial support to grow food crops in Angola and agricultural
equipment, tractors, seeds and various technology will be provided.
iii.MoU for cooperation in the domain of culture :
• A Cooperation Programme between Government of India(GoI) and Republic of Angola in the
domain of culture for the period 2025-29.

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• Under this partnership, a Youth Exchange Programme will be started to strengthen people-people
relations.
Angola signed ISA Framework Agreement:
Republic of Angola joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement and became
the 123rd member of the ISA, with a commitment to expand its Renewable Energy(RE) initiatives.
• It signifies Angola’s dedication to clean energy and India will share its expertise in solar
technology and digital infrastructure to support Angola’s energy transition.
About International Solar Alliance (ISA):
The ISA is a collaborative initiative between India and France aimed at combined efforts to combat climate
change by implementing solar energy solutions. It was founded on the side lines of COP21 in Paris
in 2015. Its mission is to reach USD 1 trillion in solar investments by 2030 while reducing technology and
financing costs.
Director General(DG)– Ashish Khanna
Headquarters – Gurugram, Haryana
About the Republic of Angola:
President – Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco
Capital – Luanda
Currency – Angolan Kwanza (Kz)

Overview of PM Narendra Modi Visit to Rajasthan on May 22, 2025

On May 22, 2025, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Rajasthan to inaugurate, lay foundation and
dedicate various developmental projects worth Rs.26,000 crore in Bikaner, Rajasthan.
The various projects include,
i.Inaugurated 103 Amrit Bharat stations across 18 states and Union Territories(UT) of India.
ii.Laid the foundation stone for several Road and transport infrastructure.
iii.Laid the foundation stone for several RE and power transmission projects in Rajasthan.
Key Highlights of the Visit:
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated, laid foundation and developmental projects worth Rs.26,000 crore in
Bikaner and addressed a public event in Palana, Rajasthan.
1.Rail Infrastructure:
i.PM Narendra Modi flagged off a new weekly express train service connecting Bikaner in Rajasthan to
Bandra Terminus in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
ii.He inaugurated 103 Amrit Bharat Railway Stations in 86 districts across 18 states and UT through a video
conference at Bikaner.The total cost of the project is Rs.1,100 crore.
• Over 1,300 stations are being developed with modern facilities, designed to reflect regional
architecture and enhance passenger amenities under the ABSS.
• Notable redeveloped stations are: Rajasthan’s Deshnok station reflects the temple-style
architecture of the nearby Karni Mata Temple. Telangana’s Begumpet station showcases intricate
designs inspired by the Kakatiya dynasty. Bihar’s Thawe station celebrates local art with murals
of Maa Thawewali and Madhubani paintings. Gujarat’s Dakor station echoes the grandeur of the
Ranchhodraiji Temple with its domes and turrets.
• State-wise Distribution of Inaugurated Stations: Uttar Pradesh(UP): 19 stations; Gujarat: 18
stations;Maharashtra: 15 stations; Tamil Nadu(TN): 9 stations; Rajasthan: 8 stations; Madhya
Pradesh(MP): 6 stations; Chhattisgarh: 5 stations; Karnataka: 5 stations; Jharkhand: 3 stations;
Telangana: 3 stations; West Bengal(WB): 3 stations; Bihar: 2 stations; Kerala: 2 stations; Andhra
Pradesh(AP): 1 station; Assam: 1 station; Haryana: 1 station; Himachal Pradesh(HP): 1
station and Puducherry: 1 station.

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iii.He laid the foundation stone for the 58 kilometre(km) Churu–Sadulpur rail line and dedicate to the
nation the electrification of several key railway sections: Suratgarh–Phalodi (336 km), Phulera–Degana (109
km), Udaipur–Himmatnagar (210 km), Phalodi–Jaisalmer (157 km), and Samdari–Barmer (129 km).
• Spanning nearly 1,000 km, these electrification projects align with Indian Railways’ mission to
achieve 100% electrification, aiming to improve operational efficiency and minimize carbon
emissions.
Road and Water Infrastructure:
i.PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for construction of 3 Vehicle Underpasses, widening and
strengthening of National highways(NH).
ii.He dedicated 7 roadway projects, cost over Rs.4,850 crore, will facilitate smoother movement of goods
and people.
• The highway extends up to the Indo-Pak border, enhancing accessibility for security forces and
strengthening India’s defence infrastructure.
Renewable Energy(RE) Projects:
PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for several RE and power transmission projects in Rajasthan.
i.100 Megawatt (MW) Nawa Solar Power Project in Didwana, Kuchaman district.
ii.300 MW Ground-Mounted Solar Project in Bikaner.
iii.Foundation stones were also laid for solar projects in Deedwana and Kuchaman, expanding the state’s
solar infrastructure.
iv.Initiated the development of transmission systems under PowerGrid’s Sirohi (Part B) and Mewar (Part E)
divisions, enhancing grid connectivity and supporting the evacuation of power from these solar projects.
Others:
i.He also inaugurated, laid foundation and dedicated 25 important state government projects across
Rajasthan to enhance infrastructure, connectivity, power supply, health services and water availability in
the state.
• It includes laying of foundation stone and dedicating the projects for upgrading and maintaining
12 State Highways covering a total length of over 750 Kilometer (Km) worth over Rs.3,240 crore.
ii.In Jhunjhunu district(Rajasthan), he launched the Rural Water Supply and Fluorosis Mitigation Project,
aiming to provide fluoride-free drinking water to rural communities affected by high fluoride levels in
groundwater.
iii.Additionally, under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 scheme,
the Prime Minister inaugurated the restructuring of urban water supply systems in seven towns of Pali
district, Rajasthan.
About Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS):
i.Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) was launched in February 2023.
ii.The scheme aims to enhance and modernize railway stations throughout the Railways network
iii.The scheme currently intends to upgrade and modernize a total of 1,300 stations across the Indian
Railway System (IRS).
About Rajasthan:
Chief Minister(CM) – Bhajan Lal Sharma
Governor – Haribhau Bhagade
Capital – Jaipur
National Park (NPs) – Ranthambore NP, Sariska NP

Overview of VP of India Jagdeep Dhankhar’s Visit to Goa from May 20 to 22, 2025
Vice President (VP) of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar was on a three-day visit to Goa from May 20-22, 2025,
focusing on infrastructure development, scientific research, and cultural heritage.

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• During his visit, he inaugurated and dedicated various projects of the Goa based Mormugao Port
Authority (MPA), statues of Acharya Charaka, and Sage Susruta at Raj Bhawan in Goa.
Highlights of the visit:
Visit of Mormugao Port:
During the visit, Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated and dedicated three projects with total financial outlay
of Rs.300 crores at the Mormugao Port.
i.He inaugurated a 3 Megawatt (MW) Solar Power Plant, with a financial outlay of Rs.18 crores at the port
in Goa, marking a major milestone towards sustainable maritime infrastructure.
• The plant, spanning over 28,000 Square metres (Sq.m) will generate over 4.5 million units of
electricity annually.
• The project commenced in March 2024 and commissioned in May 2025.
• The plant is expected to save Rs.3.8 crore for the port, which is the current total expenditure on
power.
• Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) will oversee the implementation.
ii.He also inaugurated the commercial operation of two advanced Liebherr mobile harbour cranes at
berths 10 and 11 in the Mormugao Port.
• The two cranes are of a 120-tonne capacity each, is part of Rs.140 crore infrastructure
upgradation under a 30-year lease, a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model between the MPA
and Delta Ports Mormugao terminal Private Limited (DPMTPL).
iii.He also inaugurated the Covered Dome for Coal Handling at the Mormugao Port.
• The Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Jindal South West (JSW) company has constructed a covered
dome structure in the port to curb coal pollution.
• The total investment of the project is Rs.160 crore
• It is a world-class facility with advanced dust control systems and has a storage capacity of 2 lakh
metric tonnes (MT).
Unveiled Statues:
On May 22, 2025, VP Jagdeep Dhankher unveiled the bronze statues of Acharya Charaka and Sage
Susruta at the Raj Bhawan in Goa to honor their contributions to Ayurveda and ancient surgical practices,
documented in the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita.
i.Acharya Charaka, lived in 100-200 Before Common Era (BCE), was one of the fundamental contributors of
the ancient art and science of Ayurveda.
• He is referred to as the “Father of Ayurveda”
ii.Sage Susruta is an ancient Indian surgeon and the author of the ‘Sushrutha Samhitha’ book.
• He is considered the ‘Father of Plastic Surgery’, who lived between 800 and 1000 BCE.
About Goa:
Chief Minister (CM) – Pramod Sawant
Governor – P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
Capital – Panaji
Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) – Bhagwan Mahavir WLS

Overview of PM Narendra Modi Visit to Gujarat from May 26-27, 2025

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi was on a two-day visit to Gujarat from 26th to 27th May 2025 to
inaugurate and lay the foundation for various development projects span across sectors such as Railways,
Power, Urban Development and Housing.

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Highlights of the Visit:

1.In Dahod:
On May 26, 2025, PM Narendra Modi Inaugurated Multiple Development Projects in Dahod, Gujarat:
i.PM Modi inaugurated and dedicated the new Locomotive Manufacturing Plant (LMP), established by the
Indian Railways(IR) and flagged off the first 9,000-Horsepower (HP) Electric Locomotives for domestic
purposes and export in the LMP facility in Dahod.
• The plant is in collaboration with Munich (Germany) based Siemens, with an outlay of Rs.24,000
crore.
• The state-of-the-art facility is expected to produce 1,200 high-powered electric locomotives
within the next decade.
• The facility can produce 120 locomotives annually, with the capability to increase output to 150
units per annum based on market requirements.
• The locomotive engines produced at this facility will be capable of transporting 4,600 tonnes of
freight.
ii.PM Modi virtually flagged off the Sabarmati (Ahmedabad)-Veraval Vande Bharat Express. The train
will travel 438 miles in around 7 hours.
• The semi-high-speed train is currently the fastest rail link between Ahmedabad(Gujarat) and the
iconic Somnath Temple in Veraval(Gujarat), providing a faster and comfortable travel experience
for the pilgrims and tourists.
iii.He also flagged off a new express train service between Valsad and Dahod, further enhancing rail
connectivity in Gujarat.
iv.Subsequently, he will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate a series of development initiatives in
Dahod, amounting to around Rs.24,000 crore. These encompass several railway projects along with key
schemes launched by the Government of Gujarat.
2.In Bhuj:
PM Narendra Modi laid foundation, inaugurated and dedicated multiple projects worth Rs.53,400 crores in
Bhuj in the district of Kutch, Gujarat.
i.PM Modi announced, Khavda Renewable Energy Park (KREP) in Kutch district will have one of the world’s
largest solar power plants, emphasizing the region’s pivotal role in India’s Renewable Energy (RE)
ambitions.
ii.He laid the foundation stone of Green Energy Corridor Phase III (GEC-III), with an investment
of Rs.29,000 crores. The project aims to transmit 16,500 MW of clean power across Gujarat.
iii.He also laid the foundation for the Ultra Super Critical Thermal Power Plant in Tapi with an aim to
increase the power generation capacity in Gujarat.
iv.Multiple initiatives were launched to enhance the infrastructure and operational efficiency of Kandla
Port (also known as Deendayal Port), one of the major ports in India.
v.PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for various road development projects, urban development
projects, to improve transportation and quality of life for residents.
• He flagged off the Sabarmati–Veraval Vande Bharat Express, cutting travel time between
Ahmedabad and Somnath to seven hours, thereby boosting regional connectivity and promoting
religious tourism.
In Gandhinagar:
On 27 May 2025, PM Narendra Modi participated in events and Inaugurated, laid foundation of various
projects in Gandhinagar, Gujarat:
i.PM Modi attended the 20-year celebration of Gujarat’s Urban Growth Story in Gandhinagar.
• PM addressed the event, emphasized the infrastructural development in Gujarat, including the
Sabarmati Riverfront, Gujarat; India’s first International Financial Services Centre(IFSC), in

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Gandhinagar, Gujarat; and the Statue of Unity, Kevadia (Gujarat), positioning the state as a hub for
tourism and trade.
ii.He launched Urban Development Year 2025, marking 20 years since the inception of Urban
Development Year 2005, a milestone celebrating Gujarat’s two-decade journey of urban transformation.
• Urban Development Year 2025 outlines the road map for Gujarat for the next phase of urban
expansion including Affordable Housing, Sustainable Mobility, Water Management, Clean Air
initiatives, Digital Governance.
iii.He also inaugurated 22,000 housing units under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and allocated
Rs.3,300 crore to urban local bodies through the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana
(SJMMSVY), Government of Gujarat.
iv.He also inaugurated and laid the foundation for multiple projects worth Rs.5,536 crore, related to urban
development, health, and water supply.
About Gujarat:
Chief Minister(CM) – Bhupendra Patel
Governor – Acharya Devvrat
Capital – Gandhinagar
National Park (NPs) – Gir NP, Blackbuck NP

FOREIGN VISITS
Highlights of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav’s Visit to Nepal from May 15 to 17, 2025
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) was on an
official visit to Nepal from 15th to 17th May 2025. He participated in the first edition of “Sagarmatha
Sambaad”, hosted by the Government of Nepal in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• The “Sagarmatha Sambaad” is a global dialogue forum, established by the Government of Nepal,
to emphasize the issues of global, regional and national significance.
• The theme of Sagarmatha Sambaad was “Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of
Humanity”.
Highlights of the visit:
Participation in Sagarmatha Sambaad:
i.Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, represented India at the inaugural ceremony of the dialogue, reaffirming
India’s commitment to regional efforts towards climate action and environmental conservation.
• Several foreign dignitaries, including Vice Chairman of China’s National People’s Congress Xiao Jie
and COP29 President and Azerbaijan’s Ecology Minister Mukhtar Babayev were present at the
event.
ii.During the meeting, he emphasized that the rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers serves as a critical
indicator of climate change, calling for enhanced international cooperation to address its adverse impacts.
iii.He pointed out that although South Asia contributes only 4% to historical global carbon dioxide (CO₂)
emissions, it is home to nearly 25% of the world’s population, highlighting the disproportionate burden of
climate change on developing countries.
5-point call for global action:
During the event, Union minister Bhupender Yadav, presented a comprehensive five-point call for global
action aimed at safeguarding fragile mountain ecosystems.
• This initiative underscores India’s commitment to collaborative environmental stewardship and
addresses the unique challenges faced by mountainous regions.
i.Enhanced Scientific Cooperation: To strengthen research collaboration, and monitor cryospheric
changes, hydrological cycles, and biodiversity.

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ii.Building Climate Resilience: To invest in climate adaptation measures, early warning systems for
disasters like Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), and climate-resilient infrastructure in mountain areas.
iii.Empowering Mountain Communities: To ensure that the welfare, needs and aspirations of local
communities are at the heart of policymaking and their benefit from green livelihoods and sustainable
tourism.
iv.Providing Green Finance: To make available adequate and predictable climate finance as per the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement for mountain nations
to implement adaptation and mitigation strategies effectively.
v.Recognizing Mountain Perspectives: To ensure that the unique vulnerabilities and contributions of
mountain ecosystems are suitably featured in global climate negotiations and sustainable development
agendas.
Bilateral Engagements:
i.During the visit, he met Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakur, Minister of Forests and Environment, Nepal and
reviewed the progress made in various bilateral and regional initiatives in the field of environment.
ii.He also met Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nepal to discuss strengthening India-Nepal
cooperation in the field of environment.
iii.He also visited Adalat Bhawan and Shree Jestha Varna Mahavihar, a United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in Lalitpur, Nepal
About Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC):
Union Minister – Bhupender Yadav (Constituency – Alwar, Rajasthan)
Minister of State (MoS) – Kirti Vardhan Singh (Constituency – Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
About Nepal:
Prime Minister (PM)- Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli
President – Ram Chandra Poudel
Capital- Kathmandu
Currency– Nepalese Rupee (NPR)

BANKING & FINANCE NEWS

BANKING NEWS
RBI IN NEWS
RBI Launches IESH, UCCS & RCCS Surveys to Aid Monetary Policy Decisions
On April 29, 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) initiated three significant surveys aimed at gathering
valuable insights to guide its monetary policy decisions.
• These surveys are designed to assess inflation expectations and consumer confidence across
urban and rural populations in India.
Details of the Surveys:
1.Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH):
Objective: To capture households’ subjective assessments of price movements and inflation based on their
individual consumption patterns.
Coverage: Conducted across 19 cities in India.
Purpose: The findings will help the RBI understand public expectations of inflation, which is crucial for
setting interest rates and other monetary policies.

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2.Urban Consumer Confidence Survey (UCCS):

Objective: To collect qualitative responses from urban households regarding their sentiments on the
general economic situation, employment scenario, price levels, and their own income and spending.
Coverage: Conducted across 19 cities in India.
Purpose: This survey provides insights into the confidence levels of urban consumers, which can influence
consumption patterns and economic growth.
3.Rural Consumer Confidence Survey (RCCS):
Objective: To gather current perceptions and one-year-ahead expectations of rural and semi-urban
households on the general economic situation, employment scenario, overall price situation, and their
income and spending.
Coverage: Spanning 31 states and Union Territories (UTs).
Purpose: Understanding rural consumer confidence is vital, given the significant contribution of the rural
economy to India’s overall economic health.
Note: In April 2025, during the RBI’s 1st Bi-monthly monetary policy for Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26),
the repo rate was reduced by 25 basis points to 6.00%.
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
Governor – Sanjay Malhotra
Deputy Governors – M. Rajeshwar Rao, Swaminathan Janakiraman, T. Rabi Sankar, and Poonam Gupta
Headquarters – Mumbai (Maharashtra)
Established – 1935

RBI Report: India’s Total Exports Grow by 6.01% to reach USD 824.9 billion in FY25
In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the
latest ‘Data on services trade for March 2025’. As per the data, India’s exports of goods and services
reached all-time high of USD 824.9 billion in Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25), from its previous estimate of
USD 820.93 billion (announced on April 15, 2025).
• This marks an increase of 6.01% compared to India’s total exports of USD 778.1 billion recorded
in FY24.
• This exponential growth in the exports sector in FY25 was mainly driven by a record surge in the
shipments of services that reached USD 386.5 billion in the FY24 despite global trade
headwinds.
Key Findings:
i.The data further revealed that services exports surged to a record high of USD 387.5 billion in FY25,
registering a growth of 13.6% over USD 341.1 billion in FY24.
ii.As per RBI’s data, services shipments has increased by 18.6% to USD 35.6 billion in March 2025 over USD
30 billion in March 2024.
iii.The data highlighted key sectors like telecommunication, computer and information services, transport,
travel and financial services, which contributed significantly in the growth of India’s export sector.
iv.The data also showed that merchandise exports excluding petroleum products has increased to record
high of USD 374.1 billion in FY25, reflecting growth of 6% from USD 352.9 billion in FY24, the highest ever
annual non-petroleum merchandise exports.
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
Governor- Sanjay Malhotra
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established- 1935

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RBI Imposes Rs 2.52 Crore Penalty on Five Major Banks for Regulatory Violations
In May 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed monetary penalties totalling Rs 2.52 crore on five
major Indian banks — Mumbai (Maharashtra) based ICICI Bank Limited, Mumbai (Maharashtra)
based Axis Bank Limited, Vadodara (Gujarat) based Bank of Baroda (BoB), Pune (Maharashtra) based Bank
of Maharashtra (BoM) and Mumbai (Maharashtra) IDBI Bank Limited — for non-compliance with various
regulatory guidelines.
• The penalties were issued after the RBI’s Statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE
2023) revealed multiple lapses in key areas such as cybersecurity, Know Your Customer (KYC)
norms, customer service, internal account operations, and agricultural lending practices.
i.ICICI Bank Limited faced the highest fine of Rs 97.80 lakh due to multiple violations:
• Failure to report a cybersecurity incident within the RBI’s stipulated time.
• Absence of an effective alert system for specific account categories.
Charging late payment fees on credit card holders without issuing credit card statements,
breaching RBI norms on credit card issuance and conduct.
ii.BoB was fined Rs 61.40 lakh for:
• Allowing insurance companies to offer non-cash incentives to employees involved in selling
insurance policies, in violation of RBI norms on banking and financial services.
• Failing to credit interest to certain inoperative or dormant savings accounts at the required
intervals, violating RBI’s customer service guidelines.
iii.BoM was penalised Rs 31.80 lakh for non-compliance with KYC regulations, particularly for opening
multiple deposit accounts using Aadhaar One-Time Password (OTP)-based e-KYC in a non-face-to-face
mode, without following RBI’s prescribed procedures.
iv.IDBI Bank Limited was fined Rs 31.80 lakh for violations under the Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS)
for short-term agricultural loans through Kisan Credit Card (KCC). The bank had charged higher-than-
permissible interest rates on certain KCC accounts.
v.Axis Bank Limited was fined Rs 29.60 lakh for routing unauthorised and unrelated
transactions through internal/office accounts, which is against RBI’s operational norms.

RBI Relaxed FPI Norms on Corporate Bonds to Boost Foreign Inflows

In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has relaxed norms for Foreign
Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to buy local corporate bonds by removing “short-term debt investment
limits” and the ‘concentration limits’, aimed at providing greater ease of investment to FPIs.
• As per RBI directions, all these new rules came into force with immediate effect.
Key Changes:
i.Under the previous framework, investments by FPIs in corporate bonds with maximum residual maturity
period of 1 year was capped at 30% of the total investment of FPIs in corporate bonds. These limits were
applicable on the end-of-day basis.
ii.Also, investment in corporate debt securities by an FPI (including its related FPIs) was limited at 15% of
prevailing investment limit for long-term FPIs and 10% for others.
iii.Now, with the removal of these restrictions, FPIs will be able to hold a larger share of individual bond
issues and invest freely across the maturity curve i.e. with less than one year to maturity.
Note: Despite these relaxations, the overall investment ceiling for FPIs in corporate bonds remains at Rs 8.2
lakh crore for the April–September period and Rs 8.8 lakh crore for the October–March period of the
Financial Year(FY).
Important Terms:
i.The short-term investment limit means putting restriction on the portion of FPI investments in debt
instruments that mature within 1 year.

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ii.The ‘concentration limit’ restricts the extent to which an FPI could invest in the debt instruments of a
single corporate issuer to mitigate the risk of overexposure.
RBI Mandated Reporting of Digital Lending Apps via CMS Portal
According to RBI’s (Digital Lending) Directions 2025, all Banks and other Regulated Entities (REs) are
now required to report details of their Digital Lending Applications (DLAs) through Centralised Information
Management System (CIMS) portal of RBI. These new directions aimed at regulating digital lending
practices by REs.
• Also, these directions will help in consolidating and streamlining various existing regulatory
instructions under a single regulatory framework to enhance transparency and control in a
rapidly increasing digital lending industry.
• As per RBI’s circular, the portal will be operational for reporting from May 13, 2025 and also,
REs are required to upload their initial data till June 15, 2025.
Key Points:
i.RBI has further clarified that the list of DLAs is being made available on the web portal for the limited
purpose, which will help customers in verifying the claim of DLA’s association with an RE.
ii.The List of DLAs will be based on data submitted by RE through CIMS portal without any further
validation check by the RBI and the list will be updated automatically.
iii.Some of the key measures that an RE is required to conduct before entering into an agreement with a
Lending Service Provider (LSP) for digital lending like: assessing technical capabilities of LSP, robustness of
data privacy policies and storage systems, among others.
• Also, if the LSP has agreements with various REs for digital lending, then it is mandatory for LSP
to provide a digital view of all loan offers matching the borrower’s request on the DLAs.
Recent Related News:
In March 2025, RBI released India’s latest International Investment Position (IIP) data. As per IIP data, net
claims of non-residents in India has increased by USD 11 billion, to USD 364.5 billion during the 3rd
Quarter (Q3: October to December) of Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25).
• The data showed a decrease in foreign assets of Indian residents by USD 40.1 billion and also, the
claims of non-residents’ in India decreased by USD 29.1 billion. This results in an increase in
India’s total foreign liabilities.

RBI Recognizes FIMMDA as SRO for Financial Markets

In May 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recognized the Fixed Income Money Market and
Derivatives Association (FIMMDA) as a Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) in financial markets regulated
by the RBI.
• The recognition grants FIMMDA enhanced authority to regulate member conduct and enforce fair
practices in the financial markets under its purview.
About the SRO recognition:
In August 2024, RBI issued a Framework for Recognition of SRO in financial markets and invited
applications for recognition as SRO.
• To be recognized, an SRO must be a not-for-profit company with a minimum net worth of Rs.10
crore and diversified shareholding (no single entity holding more than 10% of the paid-up share
capital).
About FIMMDA:
i.FIMMDA is an association of commercial banks, public financial institutions, primary dealers, and
insurance companies. It was incorporated as a company in 1998.
ii.It is a voluntary market body for the fixed income, money and derivatives markets.
iii.It has members representing all major institutional segments of the market.

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RBI Imposes Rs.2.72 Crore Penalty on SBI and Jana Small Finance Bank for Regulatory Non-
Compliance
In May 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a total monetary penalty of Rs.2.72 crore on
Mumbai(Maharashtra) based State Bank of India (SBI) and Bengaluru(Karnataka) based Jana Small
Finance Bank (SFB) Limited for non-compliance with regulatory guidelines.
• The penalties were levied under the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, following
findings from the RBI’s supervisory evaluations.
i.SBI, India’s largest Public Sector Bank (PSB) was fined Rs.1.728 Crore for non-compliance with directions
issued by the RBI related to:
• Loans and Advances – Statutory and Other Restrictions
• Customer Protection – Limiting Liability of Customers in Unauthorised Electronic Banking
Transactions
• Opening of Current Accounts by Banks – Need for Discipline
ii.Jana SFB, was imposed a penalty of Rs.1 crore for contravention of certain provisions of the Banking
Regulation Act, 1949.

PayU Receives RBI Final Approval to operate as Online PA

In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based PayU Payments Private Limited, backed by Amsterdam
(Netherlands) based global technology investment firm, Prosus, has received Certificate of
Authorization (CoA), a final approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the Payments and
Settlement Systems (PSS) Act 2007 to operate as online Payment Aggregator (PA)
• PayU Payments received in-principle approval from the RBI in April 2024.
Key Points:
i.PayU is the 8th entity to receive final PA approval, joining competitors like Razorpay, Cashfree, and CC
Avenue.
ii.It is the second-largest PA in India by transaction volume, after BillDesk.
iii.PayU, a fintech firm, provides payment gateway solutions to online businesses through its cutting-edge
and award-winning technology and has empowered businesses.
iv.It enables businesses to collect digital payments across payment methods such as Credit cards, Debit
cards, Net Banking, Easy Monthly Installments (EMIs), Quick Response (QR), Unified Payment Interface
(UPI), Wallets, etc.

RBI Grants In-Principle Approvals to ZikZuk & Emirates NBD

In May 2025, ZikZuk, a fast-growing fintech startup headquartered in Hyderabad(Telangana), has received
in-principle authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to issue Prepaid Payment Instruments
(PPI).
• Also, the RBI granted an in-principle approval to Emirates NBD Bank PJSC, United Arab
Emirates(UAE), to establish a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (WOS) in India.
• RBI also cancels the licence of HCBL Co-operative Bank due to capital and earnings shortfall.
ZikZuk Receives RBI Nod for PPIs:
i.With this approval from the RBI, ZikZuk can now issue prepaid wallets and cards and enable Unified
Payments Interface(UPI) payments through third-party applications like Google Pay, Amazon Pay, and
CRED.
ii.With this development, ZikZuk is poised to operate as a full-fledged domestic player in India’s dynamic
fintech market, aligning with RBI’s recent guidelines that permit full-Know Your Customer(KYC) PPI holders
to make or receive UPI payments via third-party applications(apps).

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About Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI):

PPIs are instruments that facilitate the purchase of goods and services, conduct financial services, and
enable remittance facilities, against the value of money stored within themselves.
• They are designed to facilitate cashless transactions. Users can load money and use them for
various payments, including online purchases, bill payments & in-store transactions.
Emirates NBD gets RBI in-principle nod to set up wholly owned subsidiary:
i.In May 2025, the RBI has decided to grant “in-principle” approval to Emirates NBD Bank PJSC for setting
up a WoS in India, under the “Scheme for Setting up of WoS by foreign banks in India”.
• RBI will be granting a licence for commencement of banking business in WOS mode
under Section 22 (1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
ii.Emirates NBD Bank PJSC is currently carrying on banking business in India in branch mode through its
branches located in Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN), Gurugram (Haryana), and Mumbai (Maharashtra).
• The in-principle approval allows for the establishment of the WoS by consolidating its existing
branches into a unified subsidiary entity.
iii.Foreign banks operating under the WoS framework are treated on par with domestic banks for branch
expansion, exempt from requiring regulatory approvals, subject to specific conditions.
Note: Other lenders operating in India through this WoS model include DBS Bank India(Mumbai,
Maharashtra) and SBM India(Mumbai).
RBI cancels licence of HCBL Co-op Bank due to capital, earnings shortfall
i.In May 2025, the RBI has cancelled the licence of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP) -based HCBL Co-
operative Bank as the lender does not have adequate capital and earning prospects.
• The bank ceases to carry on banking business, with effect from the close of business on May 19,
2025
ii.On liquidation, every depositor would be entitled to receive a deposit insurance claim amount of his/her
deposits up to Rs 5 lakh from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).
• As per the latest data, 98.69 % of the depositors are entitled to receive the full amount of their
deposits from DICGC.
About Emirates NBD Bank PJSC:
Chief Executive Officer(CEO): Shayne Nelson
Headquarters – Dubai, United Arab Emirates(UAE)
Established – 2007

RBI Imposed Monetary Penalties on Deutsche Bank India & Yes Bank for Regulatory Non-
Compliance
In May 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed monetary penalties on Mumbai (Maharashtra)
based Deutsche Bank India, a subsidiary of Frankfurt (Germany)-based Deutsche Bank AG and Mumbai
(Maharashtra) based Yes Bank Limited, a private sector bank in India, for non-compliance with specific
regulatory guidelines under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
i.Deutsche Bank India received a monetary penalty of Rs 50 lakh for failing to report credit information of
certain borrowers to the Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC).
• The penalty was imposed under Section 47A(1)(c) read with Section 46(4)(i) of the Banking
Regulation Act, 1949.
• The RBI found this non-compliance during the Statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation
(SE) with reference to the bank’s financial position as of 31st March 2024.
ii.Yes Bank received a penalty of Rs 29.60 lakh for incorrect disclosures regarding customer complaints in
its Annual Financial Statements (AFS) for the Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24).

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• The bank failed to comply with the RBI directions on ‘Financial Statements – Presentation and
Disclosures’.
Note: CRILC is maintained by RBI and mandates scheduled commercial banks, cooperative banks, Non-
Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and All India Financial Institutions (AIFIs) to report loan exposures
of Rs 5 crore or above.

RBI Greenlights QuickPay’s PA License, Getepay’s Final Authorization, and CIHL Stake Sale
In May 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted significant approvals impacting India’s digital
payments and financial services landscape.
QuickPay, the fintech platform of New Delhi(Delhi) based Quicktouch Technologies Limited, has received
in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a Payment Aggregator (PA) license under
the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
• Getepay, Jaipur(Rajasthan)-based digital payments and commerce solutions company, has
received final authorisation from the RBI to operate as a PA online under the RBI’s payment
regulatory framework.
• Also, New Delhi based Capital India Finance Limited(CIFL) receives RBI approval for sale and
change in control of its material subsidiary, Capital India Home Loans Limited (CIHL).
QuickPay Receives RBI Approval for PA:
i.Though the QuickPay platform has received preliminary approval from the RBI, the platform still needs to
fulfil compliance requirements before it can initiate full operations.
ii.Also, the company aims to finalize the necessary technical and operational validations as per RBI
guidelines.
iii.QuickPay has also achieved Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard(PCI
DSS) certification, reinforcing its commitment to secure and compliant digital payment processing.
Getepay Receives RBI Approval for PA:
i.In May 2025, Getepay has received final authorization from the RBI to operate as an online PA. This
achievement makes Getepay the first company from Rajasthan to secure such a license.
ii.This approval enables the company to legally provide payment services and full digital solutions
throughout India.
• With this PA license, Getepay aims to scale its operations pan-India and onboard millions of small
businesses, especially from Tier 2, Tier 3, and rural India, under one platform.
iii.Getepay since its inception has served over 1.5 million merchants across diverse categories, ranging from
kirana stores, micro-retailers, Electronic Commerce Store(Ecom Stores), education Institutes, service
providers to small-scale manufacturers.
CIFL receives RBI approval for sale:
i.In May 2025, CIFL a Middle Layer Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) has received prior approval
from the RBI to sell its entire shareholding in its material subsidiary, Capital India Home Loans Limited
(CIHL) to Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Weaver Services Private Limited.
• This decision comes after CIFL’s board meeting held in October 2024, where it was resolved to
sell its entire 100% stake in CIHL to Weaver Service.
ii.The transaction is priced at Rs. 267 crores and expected to conclude within 6–8 months, pending
compliance with specified conditions .
iii.This transaction will enable them to reallocate resources towards areas with greater potential for growth
and long-term value creation for all stakeholders.

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About Quicktouch Technologies Limited:

Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Sahhil Kumar
Headquarters –New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 2013
About Capital India Finance Limited(CIFL):
CIFL, formerly known as Bhilwara Tex-Fin Limited, was established on November 16, 1994.
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Pinank Jayant Shah
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra

North East Small Finance Bank Rebrands as Slice SFB After RBI Approval
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the renaming of Guwahati (Assam) based North East Small
Finance Bank Limited (NESFB) to Slice Small Finance Bank (Slice SFB) on 14th May 2025, as notified in
the Gazette of India on 16th May 2025.
• The bank is now listed as a scheduled bank under the RBI Act, 1934, retaining its statutory rights
and obligations.
Key Highlights:
i.The rebranding follows the October 27, 2024 merger of Bengaluru (Karnataka) based fintech
startup Slice with NESFB, resulting in a new-age banking entity that integrates Slice’s digital innovation
with NESFB’s regional banking expertise.
ii.The newly established bank aims to provide a comprehensive suite of financial services, including savings
accounts, fixed deposits, co-branded credit cards, personal loans, gold loans, and a variety of digital banking
solutions.
iii.NESFB informed its existing customers of the following key updates:
• Customers were assured that banking services would continue without disruption under the new
name.
• Account numbers and Indian Financial System Code (IFSC) codes would remain unchanged for
now, and any updates would be communicated in advance.
• It was also conveyed that existing passbooks, cheque books, and debit cards would remain valid.
About North East Small Finance Bank Limited (NESFB):
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Mr. Satish Kumar Kalra
Headquarters – Guwahati, Assam
Founded – 2011

RBI Data: Outward Remittances under LRS decline 6.85% to USD 29.56 billion in FY25
According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) latest data released in May 2025, outward remittances under
its Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) declined by 6.85% Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) to USD 29.56 billion in
Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25), compared to USD 31.74 billion recorded in FY24.
• RBI cited certain factors which mainly contributed to the decline of outward remittances in FY25:
global uncertainty, stagnant domestic income growth, and a high base effect.
• However, the same RBI data revealed that outward remittances have increased by 10.65% Year-
over-Year(Y-o-Y) to USD 2.55 billion in March 2025, driven by growth in international travel.
• The data noted that the most major components of LRS registered growth except: remittances for
studies abroad and medical treatment, which have decreased by 18.77% and 56.30% Y-o-Y,
respectively.

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Key Findings of FY25:

i.As per RBI’s data, the overall decline in outward remittances is mainly due to a 16% decrease in funds
remitted by students for studies abroad, which dropped from USD 3.48 billion (in FY24) to USD 2.92
billion (in FY25).
ii.The data showed that international travel remittances, which accounts for nearly 60% of outward
remittances, have also decreased marginally by 0.25%, from USD 17 billion (in FY24) to USD 16.96 billion
(in FY25).
• The data further noted that despite this marginal decrease, travel remittances have increased
significantly over the last 4 years, registering a growth of 144% from USD 6.95 billion registered
in FY21.
iii.The RBI data revealed that investment in equity and debt overseas by resident Indians increased by
12.51% to USD 1.699 billion (in FY25), compared to USD USD 1.51 billion in FY24. The purchase of
immovable property abroad increased by 33.11% YoY to USD 0.32 billion.
iv.As per RBI’s data, Funds sent for the maintenance of close relatives dropped by 19.28% to USD3.72
billion, while remittances for overseas education fell by 16.09% to USD2.92 billion in FY25.
Key Findings of Remittances in March 2025:
i.As per RBI’ data, the outward remittances surged by 30% Month-on-Month (M-o-M), to nearly 2.6 billion
in March 2025 compared to USD 1.96 billion in February 2025.
• This growth was mainly driven by increase in deposits and family maintenance.
ii.The data highlighted travel expenses accounted for 44% of remittances in March 2025, followed by family
maintenance (17%), gift (12%) and investment in debt and equity (12%).
iii.Also, the investment in debt and equity witnessed an exponential increase of 235%, to USD 306 million in
March 2025 as against USD 174 million in February 2025.
About Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS):
i.The scheme was introduced by the RBI in February, 2004, to simplify and streamline the process of
remitting funds overseas.
ii.The scheme allowed all resident individuals (including minors) to freely remit up to USD 2, 50,000 per
financial year (April-March) for any permissible current or capital account transaction or a combination of
both.
Note: In February 2025, the Union Budget for FY26 increased the threshold for collecting Tax Collected at
Source (TCS) on LRS transactions from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
Governor- Sanjay Malhotra (26th)
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established- April 01, 1935

NRI Deposits Inflows Surge to 11-Year High of USD 16.2 Billion in FY25 : RBI
In May 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its latest monthly bulletin, revealing that Non-
Resident Indian (NRI) deposits in Indian banks soared to an 11-year high in the financial year 2024-25
(FY25). The total inflows reached USD 16.16 billion (Rs.1,38,911 crore), marking a 9.9% Year-on-Year
(YoY) increase in FY25 from USD 14.7 billion (Rs. 26,361 crore) in FY24.
• The total outstanding NRI deposits stood at USD 164.7 billion (Rs.14,15,761 crore) as of March
2025, marking an increase from USD 151.9 billion (Rs.13,05,732 crore) recorded in March 2024.
Key Highlights of NRI Deposit Inflows in FY25:
1.Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) [FCNR(B)] Deposits:
i.Inflows rose 11% YoY to USD 7.1 billion (Rs.61,032 crore) in FY25, up from USD 6.3 billion (Rs. 54,155
crore) in FY24.

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• The surge in FCNR(B) deposits is attributed to competitive interest rates offered by Indian banks
and the depreciation of the Indian rupee, which enhanced returns for NRIs.
ii.The outstanding FCNR(B) deposits reached USD 32.8 billion (Rs.2,81,949 crore) as of March 2025.
2.Non-Resident External (NRE) Rupee Accounts [NRE(RA)]:
i.Inflows grew to USD 4.7 billion (Rs. 40,401 crore) in FY25, up from USD 4.2 billion (Rs. 36,103 crore) in
FY24.
ii.The outstanding NRE deposits stood at USD 100.7 billion (Rs. 8,65,617 crore) as of March 2025.
3.Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) Accounts:
i.Inflows rose to USD 4.4 billion (Rs. 37,822 crore) in FY25 up from USD 4.2 billion (Rs. 36,103 crore) in
FY24.
ii.The outstanding NRO deposits was at USD 31.1 billion (Rs. 2,67,336 crore) as of March 2025.
About Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Deposits Scheme:
i.A Non-Resident Indian (NRI) is an Indian citizen residing outside India for the purpose of employment,
business, or vocation.
ii.NRIs deposit funds in Indian banks mainly due to the higher interest rate differential between India and
their country of residence.
iii.The NRI deposit schemes are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and include three main types:
• Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) [FCNR(B)] Deposits
• Non-Resident External (NRE) Rupee Accounts [NRE(RA)]
• Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) Accounts
1.Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) [FCNR(B)] Deposits
i.NRIs or Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) can open this account in designated foreign currencies permitted
by RBI.
ii.These are term deposit accounts, not savings accounts.
iii.FCNR deposits are fully repatriable, i.e., both principal and interest can be transferred abroad.
iv.There is no currency risk for the depositor; the bank bears the foreign exchange risk.
v.The principal and interest earned are tax-free in India.
2.Non-Resident External (NRE) Rupee Accounts
i.These are Indian Rupee (INR) denominated accounts offering options such as savings, current, recurring,
or fixed deposits.
ii.Funds in the account must originate from foreign income.
iii.These accounts are fully repatriable.
iv.Interest and principal are exempt from income tax in India.
3.Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) Accounts
i.Designed to manage income earned in India such as rent, pension, interest, dividends, or sale of assets.
ii.Can be funded through INR or permitted foreign currencies, but withdrawals are only allowed in INR.
iii.These are not freely repatriable; repatriation is subject to certain conditions and limits (currently up
to USD 1 million per financial year)
iv.Interest income is taxable in India as per applicable income tax laws.
Note: The interest income earned from NRO accounts is taxed at a rate of 30% under the Indian Income Tax
Act.

RBI Establishes Six-Member PRB headed by RBI Governor to Oversee Payment Systems in India
On May 21, 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) officially notified the formation of a six-
member Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) under the Payments Regulatory Board Regulations, 2025 to
regulate and supervise payment systems in India.

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• This new board replaces the existing Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and
Settlement Systems (BPSS).
Composition of PRB:
i.Chairperson: RBI Governor (Currently Sanjay Malhotra)
ii.Members:
• Deputy Governor (in charge of Payment and Settlement Systems), (Currently T. Rabi Sankar)
• RBI-nominated officer (from Central Board).
• Three central government nominees. (Introduced for the 1st time)
iii.Permanent Invitees:
• Principal Legal Adviser of RBI, (Currently Unnikrishnan A)
• Domain experts in payment systems, Information Technology (IT), or law (as needed).
iv.The Governor, Deputy Governor, and the nominated RBI official will serve as ex officio members.
v.Meetings: At least twice annually, with provisions for special sessions.
Note: The previous BPSS was a five-member board headed by the RBI Governor, comprising a Deputy
Governor and three directors from the Central Board of the RBI, without any government nominees.
Voting Mechanism:
i.Each member of the PRB holds one vote.
ii.Decisions are made by a majority of votes among members present and voting.
iii.In case of a tie, the Chairperson (RBI Governor), or in their absence, the Deputy Governor who is a
member of the board, has a second or casting vote to resolve the deadlock.
Background:
i.In 2018, an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC), led by the Economic Affairs Secretary, proposed an
independent Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) outside RBI’s purview.
ii.However, RBI issued a ‘Dissent Note’, arguing that the PRB must remain under RBI with the Governor as
Chair to ensure operational efficiency. It opposed government-majority nominations, citing conflicts with
the Finance Bill’s announcements.
iii.After years of deliberation, the PRB Regulations, 2025 was established under RBI with balanced
government representation.
RBI Imposes Penalties on UBI & Transactree Technologies for Regulatory Non-Compliance
On May 23, 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a penalty on Mumbai (Maharashtra) based
Union Bank of India (UBI) and New Delhi (Delhi) based Transactree Technologies Private
Limited (operating as Lendbox), a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) for violations of Banking
Regulation Act and NBFC-Peer to Peer (P2P) lending norms.
i.A penalty of Rs.63.6 lakh was imposed on UBI for
• Failing to transfer eligible funds to the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEAF) within
the stipulated timeframe.
• Collecting collateral for agricultural loans under Rs.1.6 lakh, violating RBI’s directions on ‘Credit
Flow to Agriculture – Collateral-free Agricultural Loans’.
ii.Transactree Technologies was fined Rs.40 lakh for non-compliance with NBFC-P2P Lending Platform
(RBI) Directions, 2017′.
Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEAF):
i.DEA Fund was established in 2014 by RBI to enhance financial literacy and promote awareness among
depositors regarding their unclaimed deposits.
ii.The fund serves as a mechanism for banks, including Commercial Banks and Co-operative Banks, to
transfer credit balances from deposit accounts that have remained inactive or unclaimed for 10 years or
more.

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iii.Depositors or their legal heirs (in case of a deceased depositor) are entitled to claim refunds of the
unclaimed amounts transferred to the DEAF through their respective banks.
• There is no specific time limit prescribed for claiming such refunds.
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
Governor – Sanjay Malhotra
Headquarters – Mumbai (Maharashtra)
Established – April 1, 1935

RBI’s Central Board Approved Record Surplus Transfer of Rs 2.69 trillion to GoI for FY25
In May 2025, the 615th meeting of the Central Board of Directors of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) meeting
under the chairmanship of RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra was held in Mumbai (Maharashtra). The Central
Board has approved the transfer of Rs 2,68,590.07 crore (Rs 2.69 trillion) as surplus to the Government of
India (GoI) for the Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25). This is 27% higher than surplus transferred in FY24 (Rs
2.11 trillion).
• The significant surplus is largely driven by strong earnings from foreign exchange operations,
with gross dollar sales surging to USD 399 billion in FY25, more than double the USD153 billion
recorded in FY24.
• Also, this payout for FY25 is marginally higher than the GoI’s budgeted estimate of Rs 2.56 trillion.
However, it is lower than some of the market estimates of Rs 2.7-4 trillion for FY25.
• The Central Board has decided to increase the Contingency Risk Buffer (CRB) to 7.50%, the
highest end of the new band, based on revised ECF.
Note: RBI transfers the surplus, in accordance with Section 47 (Allocation of Surplus Profits) of the RBI Act,
1934.
Key Points:
i.The surplus transfer for FY25 was calculated as per the revised Economic Capital Framework (ECF), that
was approved by the Central Board in its meeting on May 15, 2025.
ii.This dividend is expected to reduce the Fiscal Deficit(FD) of the government by nearly 20 basis points
(bps) from the budgeted level of 4.4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
ii.As per revised ECF, RBI has expanded the buffer range of CRB range from the earlier 5.5–6.5% of the
balance sheet, maintained over the past five years (2019–2024), to a broader 4.5–7.5% range, effectively
setting it at 6% with a flexibility of ±1.5%.
• For FY25, the buffer has been set at 7.5%, marking the upper limit of the newly revised range.
iii.The Central Board with respect to the Surplus Distribution Policy has observed if the Available Realised
Equity (ARE), which is a total of capital, reserve fund, contingency fund and asset development fund, is more
than 7.5% of balance sheet size, then it may be written back from the Contingency Fund to income.
• If ARE is lower than 4.5%, no surplus will be transferred to the GoI until the minimum level of
Required Realised Equity is achieved.
• As per RBI, the ARE was Rs 4.58 trillion(6.5% of the balance sheet) in FY24.
About Economic Capital Framework (ECF):
i.The surplus transfer for any accounting year by RBI, is determined by the Economic Capital Framework
(ECF) adopted by RBI (in 2019), based on the recommendations from the Expert Committee chaired by Dr.
Bimal Jalan, former RBI’s Governor.
ii.The existing ECF was reviewed after 5 years as mandated by the Jalan Committee.
iii.During the accounting years from 2018-19 to 2021-22, due to the macroeconomic conditions and the
onslaught of COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Board had decided to maintain the CRB at 5.50% of its balance
sheet to support growth and overall economic activity.
• The CRB was further increased to 6.0% for FY23 and to 6.50% for FY24.

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Important Term:
i.Contingency Risk Buffer (CRB): It is a percentage of RBI’s profits that acts as a buffer against Non-
Performing Assets (NPAs) or bad loans, declining asset values, staff costs, or unexpected economic shocks.
ii.Contingency Fund :The Contingency Fund refers to a reserve maintained by governments or central
banks to meet unexpected or emergency expenditures that are not budgeted for in advance.
Recent Related News:
In April 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based RBI has issued revised directions regarding the opening and
operation in the deposit accounts of minors. As per RBI directions, minors above the age 10 are now
allowed to open and operate their own savings as well as term deposit accounts independently, subject to
limits and terms defined by individual banks. These directions came into force from April 21, 2025.

Gold loan rules: 9 crucial proposals made by RBI in the draft guidelines
On May 2025, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued draft guidelines outlining the procedures for
banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) to issue gold loans to individuals.
• The draft guidelines seek to establish uniform rules and regulations for getting gold loans from
banks and NBFCs.
• The key changes proposed by the RBI include restrictions on eligible collateral, caps on loan
amounts, and mandatory procedures for valuation and documentation.
Key Proposals:
i.Loan-to-Value (LTV) Ratio Capped at 75%:
• This means that if the pledged gold was worth Rs.100, the maximum loan amount would be
around Rs.75.
• This marks a shift from the earlier relaxation during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the LTV was
temporarily raised to 80% for certain segments
ii.Proof of Gold Ownership Required:
• The RBI draft proposes that borrowers must furnish proof of ownership for the gold that will be
used as collateral.
• In case the original receipts of purchase of gold collateral are not available, a suitable document
or declaration obtained from the borrower shall be prepared explaining how the ownership of the
collateral has been determined.
iii.Borrowers to get a Gold Purity Certificate:
• Lenders must give a certificate of the gold’s purity and value when borrower takes a loan against
gold.
• This certificate will contain details like carat purity, weight of the gold, any deductions (like
stones or other materials), and the assessed value of your collateral
iv.Only Specific Gold Items Eligible as Collateral:
• According to the draft, only gold jewellery, ornaments, and specified gold coins are eligible as
collateral for gold loan.
• The specified gold coins refer to specially minted gold with a purity of 22 carats or higher, sold by
banks.
v.Loans Against Silver Now Allowed:
• Specially minted silver coins sold by banks with a minimum purity of 925 will now be acceptable
as collateral under these draft guidelines.
vi.Loan Limit:
• As per the draft, the aggregate weight of gold ornaments pledged by a borrower should not
exceed 1 Kilogram (kg), and the total weight of gold coins should not exceed 50 grams (gm) per
borrower.

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vii.Calculation of gold value for loan amount:

• The gold will be valued at the price of 22-carat purity, regardless of the actual purity of your gold.
• If the gold collateral is less than 22-carat purity, then the lender shall translate the collateral into
equivalent 22-carat purity. Similarly, silver accepted as collateral shall be valued at 999 purity
silver prices.
viii.Detailed Loan Agreements Mandatory:
• The loan document must include complete details of the pledged gold (description, weight, value,
etc.), the process that will be followed if you default (for example, auction procedures and
how/when you’ll be notified before any auction), the timeframe for returning your gold once the
loan is repaid, and all fees or charges you might need to pay.
ix.Timely Release of Gold Collateral:
As per the proposal, the gold must be returned within 7 working days to the borrower after the full
payment. In case of delay, the lender will pay Rs 5,000 for each day of delay.

RBI Proposes Draft Amendments to KYC Master Directions to Simplify Compliance

In May 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a draft circular titled “Updation/Periodic Updation
of KYC – Revised Instructions”, proposing amendments to the existing Know Your Customer (KYC) Master
Directions(MD).
• These proposed changes aim to streamline the KYC process, reduce compliance burdens, and
enhance customer convenience, particularly for low-risk individuals and beneficiaries of
government welfare schemes.
• The RBI has proposed an amendment to its earlier circular issued in January 2024.
Note: KYC is a process where financial institutions verify customer identities to prevent illegal
activities like money laundering and terrorism financing.
Key Proposals:
1.KYC Updation at Any Branch:
Banks shall permit customers to update their KYC details at any branch, including non-home branches, for
the purpose of reactivating dormant or inoperative accounts.
2.Use of Video KYC (V-CIP):
Upon customer request, banks may facilitate remote KYC updation through Video-based Customer
Identification Process (V-CIP), subject to the availability of this facility within the respective bank.
3.Assistance by Business Correspondents (BCs):
Banks may engage authorised BCs to collect KYC documents and assist customers in the reactivation of
inoperative accounts. This move is expected to enhance service outreach, particularly in rural and remote
areas.
• These changes align with the broader KYC MD of 2016.
RBI’s Previous Amendments to KYC Norms:
RBI announced six key amendments to the MD on KYC to align with recent regulatory changes effective
from 6 November 2024 to strengthen India’s financial system.The amendments aim to align the KYC
framework with:
• Prevention of Money Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, 2005 (amended via
Gazette Notification dated 19th July 2024).
• Government’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act(UAPA), 1967 guidelines (revised via
corrigendum dated 22nd April 2024).

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Key Amendments:
1.Customer Due Diligence (CDD):Financial institutions (called Reporting Entities, REs) must apply the
CDD process at the Unique Customer Identification Code (UCIC) level. Existing KYC-compliant customers
opening new accounts with the same RE are exempt from repeating the CDD process.
2.High-Risk Monitoring: Enhanced monitoring for high-risk accounts is applicable to all relevant sub-
paragraphs.
3.KYC Updation: The term “periodic updation” replaces “updation” to clarify timelines:
• High-risk customers: Every 2 years
• Medium-risk: Every 8 years
• Low-risk: Every 10 years
4.Central KYC Records Registry (CKYCR) Integration: REs must upload/update KYC records to the
CKYCR within 7 days of receiving new customer information.
• For new services, REs must use the KYC Identifier from CKYCR instead of requesting duplicate
documents, unless data is outdated, incomplete, or enhanced due diligence is needed.
5.UAPA Nodal Officer Designation Change:
The Central Nodal Officer under the UAPA is now designated as the Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism and
Counter Radicalization, CTCR), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), replacing the Additional Secretary, per the
Government of India(GoI)’s corrigendum (22nd April 2024).
6.Terminology Standardization: References to “section” have been replaced with “paragraph”
throughout the Master Direction to ensure consistency and enhance clarity.
Recent Related News:
In April 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued revised directions
regarding the opening and operation in the deposit accounts of minors.
• As per RBI directions, minors above the age 10 are now allowed to open and operate their own
savings as well as term deposit accounts independently, subject to limits and terms defined by
individual banks. These directions came into force from April 21, 2025.

RBI Approves Worldline, Paypal to Facilitate Cross-Border Online Transactions for Import and
Export
In May 27, 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Worldline ePayments India, a digital payments company,
and Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN) based Paypal India Private Limited, the Indian subsidiary of California,
United States of America (USA) based Paypal Holdings, have received in-principle approval from Mumbai
based Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as Payment Aggregator (PA) for Cross-Border Export and
Import activities (PA-CB E&I).
• The approval was made under the Payments and Settlements Systems (PSS) Act, 2007.
• This authorization enables both companies to facilitate online international transactions for the
import and export of goods and services .
RBI Grants Worldline Licence to Operate as PA-CB E&I:
i.With the PA-CB E & I license, Worldline can now help Indian exporters and importers by making
international payments easier and faster.
• As a digital middleman for global transactions, it will also make sure all payments follow RBI’s
rules for cross-border trade.
ii.In addition to the PA-CB license, Worldline ePayments India is also authorized to operate as a PA, Bharat
Bill Payment Operating Unit (BBPOU), enabling digital payments for domestic merchants across India.
iii. Wordline serves merchants in diverse segments such as electronic commerce(eCommerce), Banking,
Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI), Retail, Utilities, Education, Travel, and Hospitality.
iv.The approval will position Worldline ePayments to play a significant role in India’s digital payment

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ecosystem, supporting international trade through enhanced payment solutions.

Paypal Receives RBI Approval to operate as PA-CB E&I:
With this approval, PayPal can now offer regulated digital payment solutions to Indian merchants engaging
in global trade.
• The approval enables new avenues for localized product innovations and improved customer
experiences for customers, along with enhanced access to Paypal’s global network for large
enterprises, small businesses, freelancers in India.
Note: In October 2024, RBI has mandated aggregators, offering cross-border payments to secure separate
approval. Earlier, Payment companies had been operating with an Online Payment Gateway Service
Provider (OPGSP) license.
About Wordline ePayments India Private Limited:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Ramesh Narasimhan
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established – 2005
About Paypal India Private Limited:
Managing Director (MD) & Country Manager – Anupam Pahuja
Headquarters – Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN)
Established– 2006

SEBI
SEBI Sets Rs 1 Crore Minimum Investment, Mandatory Demat for Securitised Debt Instruments
In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has mandated
minimum investment threshold or ticket size of Rs 1 crore for the issuance of Securitised Debt Instruments
(SDIs) for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)-regulated originators and unregulated entities engaged in
securitization activities.
• It is now mandatory to have at least 3-year operating experience for originators. .
• SEBI issued these new rules for SDIs by amending the ‘issue and listing of securities debt
instruments and security receipts’ rules.
• These new norms aim at ensuring originators maintain interest in underlying assets, promoting
market stability and investor confidence.
Key Changes:
i.SEBI has clarified that for originators which are not regulated by RBI, the minimum investment threshold
for subsequent transfers will be Rs 1 crore.
ii.As per SEBI’s rules, public offers for SDIs will remain open for at least 3 days and maximum 10 days,
subject to the condition that advertisement requirements aligned with SEBI’s regulations for non-
convertible securities.
iii.All SDIs are now required to be issued and transferred only in demat form. This rule is applicable across
the board, irrespective of the nature of the originator.
iv.As per the new rules, originators are now required to hold minimum 10% of the securitized pool, or 5%
in the case of receivables with a maturity period of up to 24 months (2 years).
• SEBI has further clarified that loans with maximum tenor of 2 years must be held for at least 3
months before secutritisation.
• While, for loans with tenor of more than 2 years must be held for minimum 6 months before
secutritisation.
v.SEBI has also introduced an optional clean-up call for originators, which will allow them to repurchase
maximum 10% of the original value of the assets.

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About Securitised Debt Instruments (SDIs):

i.These are financial products developed by pooling together different types of debt like: loans, mortgages,
or receivables and then selling them as securities to investors.
ii.This whole process of selling debt to investors is known as ‘securitisation’ which enables the originator
i.e. bank to convert liquid assets into liquid ones, offering another source of funding.
iii.Investors who invest in these SDIs receive returns based on the performance of the underlying debt pool.
SEBI Introduced Investor Charter for KRAs to Enhance KYC Transparency, Grievance Redressal
In May 2025, SEBI introduced ‘Investor Charter’ for Know Your Customer (KYC) Registration
Agencies (KRAs) providing the comprehensive details of the services offered to investors along with their
rights and grievance redressal mechanism.
• This charter was introduced by SEBI through a circular issued in exercise of powers conferred
under Section 11(1) of Chapter IV of the SEBI Act, 1992 to protect the interests in securities and
to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities markets.
• All the directions issued in the circular will come into effect from the date of this circular.
Key Points:
i.The primary objective of developing this new charter is to facilitate investor awareness about various
activities where an investor/client has to deal with KRAs for availing service requests.
Recent Related News:
In April 2025, SEBI has decided to extend its automated trading window closure mechanism to include
immediate relatives of designated persons (DPs) in listed companies, ahead of the declaration of financial
results.
ii.The implementation of Permanent Account Number (PAN)-based trading freeze mechanism will be
carried out in two phases. Phase-I will commence on July 01, 2025, and will be applicable to the top 500
listed companies based on market capitalization.
• While remaining listed companies will be covered in phase-II, starting from October 01, 2025.

SEBI Mandated EBP for all Private Debt Issues above Rs 20 Crore
In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) mandated the
use of Electronic Book Platform (EBP) for all private placement debt issues of 20 crore or above. This
move is aimed to enhance transparency and streamline the fundraising process in the private debt market.
• These new changes related to EBP were introduced by amending Chapter VI and VII of the Master
Circular dated on May 22, 2024, after the recommendations of the working group and public
feedback.
• SEBI issued these new directions through circular, under the SEBI Act, 1992 and related
regulations, aimed to ensure transparency, investor protection, and streamlined market
processes.
• These revised changes to EBP will come into effect immediately, except for certain clauses related
to anchor investors, disclosures and reporting, that will come into effect 3 to 6 months from the
circulars’ date.
Note: Previously, electronic book mechanism was compulsory for all private placements of debt securities
with an issue size of Rs 50 crore or above.
Key Changes:
i.As per SEBI’s new framework, the requirement to use EBP platform now covers private placements of debt
securities, non-convertible redeemable preference shares (NCRPS), and municipal bonds, including single,
shelf, and follow-on issues within a financial year.
ii.SEBI has also extended the applicability of the EBP to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and
Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), which were previously not covered by the platform.

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iii.It is voluntary for an issuer to access the EBP platform for private placement of securitized debt
instruments or security receipts or commercial papers (CPs), Certificates of Deposits (CDs).
• Similarly, issuers constituted as REITs, InvITs have an option to access the EBP platform for
private placement of units of REITs, InvITs.
iv.As per the new framework, issuers can now reserve a maximum 30% of the issue for instruments rated
AAA to AA-; 40% for those rated A+/A- ; and 50% for low-rated instruments.
• Also, it is now mandatory for anchor investors to confirm their participation electronically one
prior to the issue, with any unconfirmed portion being reallocated to the general issue.
About Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI):
SEBI was first established in 1988 as a non-statutory body for regulating the securities market. Later it
acquired regulating authority status for the Indian securities market in 1992.
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Chairman – Tuhin Kanta Pandey

SEBI Extended Deadline for ODIs Compliance to November 17, 2025

In May 2025, the Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) extended the
compliance deadline for its revised framework on Offshore Derivative Instruments (ODIs) issued by Foreign
Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to 17th November 2025, from the earlier deadline of 17th May 2025.
• The updated norms aim to enhance transparency and investor accountability through stricter
disclosure requirements and compliance measures.
• The decision follows representations from market participants requesting more time for a
smooth transition to the updated regulations.
Note: In December 2024, SEBI introduced a new ODI framework to align regulatory practices between ODIs
and FPIs and prevent regulatory arbitrage.
Revised ODI Framework:
i.Disclosure Requirements:
ODI subscribers must disclose detailed ownership details up to the level of natural persons if:
• Their equity ODI positions exceed 50% exposure to a single Indian corporate group
• Their overall equity ODI exposure in Indian markets exceeds Rs 25,000 crore.
• These requirements apply to Holdings through multiple FPIs, Entities with common ownership or
control, and Registered FPIs with equity holdings.
ii.Derivatives Restrictions:
• FPIs cannot issue ODIs with derivatives as the underlying assets.
Derivatives cannot be used to hedge ODI positions.
• ODIs must refer only to non-derivative securities and be fully hedged on a one-to-one basis with
those securities.
iii.Registration Norms:
• FPIs issuing ODIs must obtain a separate registration marked with the suffix “ODI” under the
same Permanent Account Number (PAN)
• No new registration is required if ODIs are backed solely by government securities.
iv.Exemption: Government-related investors, Public Retail Funds (PRFs), and Exchange-Traded Funds
(ETFs) with less than 50% exposure to Indian equity markets are exempt from granular disclosures.
Note: ODIs are financial instruments issued by registered FPIs to overseas investors who wish to invest in
Indian securities without directly registering with SEBI, where FPIs are entities registered with SEBI that
invest in Indian financial markets, such as stocks, bonds, and other securities, on behalf of foreign
individuals or institutions.

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Sebi bars former IndusInd Bank CEO, four others from market for insider trading
On May 28 2025, The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) barred former IndusInd Bank Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) Sumant Kathpalia and four other senior officials of IndusInd Bank from trading in
the securities market, following allegations of insider trading.
• The other executives named in the order are Arun Khurana (former executive director and
deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO)), Sushant Sourav (head of Treasury operations), Rohan
Jathanna (head of GMG operations), and Anil Marco Rao (chief administrative officer for
consumer banking operations).
Key issue:
i.The action follows an investigation into alleged trades in IndusInd Bank shares made while the executives
were in possession of Unpublished Price-Sensitive Information (UPSI).
• The UPSI pertained to a Master Direction issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which had a
significant impact on the bank’s operations.
• The regulator found the bank internally estimated rising derivative losses from Rs. 1,572 crore to
Rs.2,361 crore and shared them with the RBI between December 2023 and May 2024.
• But this information was made public only much later, via a stock exchange disclosure on
March,2025.
ii.SEBI’s preliminary findings suggest the senior officials were aware of the financial implications of the RBI
directive before it was made public.
• Despite this, they executed trades in the company’s shares, raising concerns over misuse of
confidential information.
• The markets regulator also directed them to disgorge a total of ₹19.78 crore.
JioBlackRock Asset Management receives SEBI nod for mutual funds business in India, appoints MD
& CEO:
Jio BlackRock Asset Management (AMC) has received the final approval from the Securities and Exchange
Board of India (SEBI) to start a Mutual Fund (MF) business.
• JioBlackRock AMC also announced the appointment of Sid Swaminathan as it’s Managing Director
and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Key Highlights:
i.Jio BlackRock Asset Management, a 50:50 joint venture between Jio Financial Services (JFSL) and
BlackRock.
• On October 4, 2024, SEBI had granted in-principle approval to Jio Financial Services and
BlackRock Financial Management Inc to act as co-sponsors and set up the proposed mutual fund.
About Sid Swaminathan:
i.Swaminathan has over 20 years of asset management experience.
• He was previously Head of International Index Equity at BlackRock, where he was responsible for
an Asset Under Management (AUM) of USD 1.25 trillion.
• Prior to that, he served as the Head of Fixed Income Portfolio Management for Europe at
BlackRock, responsible for Systematic and Indexed strategies.
About IndusInd Bank Limited:
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established – 1994
Tagline – We make you feel richer

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LOANS ISSUED BY BANKS

MMRDA secures Rs. 1,500 cr loan from BoM for slum redevelopment project
In May 2025, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has secured
a Rs.1500 crores bank loan from Pune(Maharashtra) based Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) for redeveloping
the slum areas along the Eastern Express Highway in Ghatkopar(Mumbai), Maharashtra.
• This will be the first phase of the Rs. 8,498 crores Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project.
• The government agency will redevelop Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Kamraj Nagar in
Ghatkopar.
About the Project:
i.The MMRDA’s first initiative in slum development aims to rehabilitate about 17,000 slum dwellers with
free 1 Bedroom, Hall, and Kitchen(BHK) houses of 300 square feet (Sq ft).
• It will also include various amenities like gardens, healthcare centres and educational institutions
besides an additional 5,000 apartments to accommodate people affected by other ongoing
infrastructure projects.
ii.MMRDA is set to begin project work following the transfer of 75-acre land parcel from the SRA.
• The project is funded through a 15-year loan from BoM and is expected to be completed within
three years.
iii.The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs.8,498 crore. The MMRDA has outlined a multi-source
funding plan for the project:
• Institutional Financing: 46% of the total project cost (approximately Rs. 3,916 crore) will be
raised through loans from financial institutions.
• Internal Revenue Generation: 39% will be funded through MMRDA’s own revenue
mechanisms.
• Alternative Sources: The remaining 15% is expected to come from other sources, including
potential financial support from the government.
iv.As per MMRDA, there will be a “free-sale” component, in which a segment of apartments can be sold in the
open market.
v.The project is expected to be completed within 48 months and aims to serve as a model for future SRA
initiatives across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
About Bank of Maharashtra(BoM):
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) – Nidhu Saxena
Headquarters – Pune, Maharashtra
Establishment – 1935
Tagline – Ek Parivaar, Ek Bank (One Family One Bank)

AGREEMENTS & MoUs SIGNED

DoP partners with SBI Mutual Fund to simplify Onboarding of MF Investors
On 29 April 2025, the Department of Posts (DoP) also known as India Post, Ministry of
Communications (MoC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SBI Funds Management
Limited (SBIFM), a joint venture between State Bank of India (SBI) and French-based AMUNDI Asset
Management company (AAMC), to simplify the customer on-boarding process for Mutual Fund(MF)
investors.
• The MoU was officially signed between Manisha Bansal Badal, Business Development
Directorate (BDD), DoP and Munish Sabharwal, Senior Vice President, SBIFM at a ceremony held
at Dak Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.

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• The initiative aims to streamline the Know Your Customer (KYC) process, ensure convenience,
security and regulatory compliance for investors across India.
Key points:
i.As part of the MoU, India Post, with its 1.64 lakh offices across the country, will facilitate the completion of
KYC formalities for SBI Mutual Fund investors.
• The KYC documents will be collected by the India Post’s trained Personnel, ensuring a high level
of security, accuracy and privacy.
ii.By leveraging India Post’s nationwide network, investors, regardless of their location, can easily complete
the KYC process. This particularly benefits the investors in rural, underserved, and far-flung areas, who
often face challenges in accessing traditional financial services.
iii.This collaboration directly supports Government of India (GOI)’s Jan Nivesh initiative, which aims to
increase financial inclusion and encourage more people to participate in the capital money market.
India Post Launches ‘Gyan Post’ to enable affordable delivery of Books, Study Materials
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, MoC and Ministry of development of Northeastern
Region(MDoNER) has launched ‘Gyan Post’, a new service to make the delivery of educational, social,
cultural and religious books more affordable across India.
• ‘Gyan Post’ will be operational at all department post offices across India from 1st May 2025.
About Gyan Post:
i.Books and printed educational materials sent under Gyan Post will be trackable and transported through
surface mode to ensure cost-effective delivery.
ii.The packages can be sent at highly affordable rates, starting from Rs.20 for packets up to 300 grams
(gm)and maximum of Rs.100 for packets up to 5 Kilograms (kg), taxes as applicable.
About Ministry of Communications (MoC):
Union Minister – Jyotiraditya Scindia (Constituency -Guna, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Minister of State (MoS) – Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani (Constituency -Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, AP)

SBI Signed MoU with LPAI to Enhance Banking Services for Border Trade
In April 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based State Bank of India (SBI) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with New Delhi (Delhi) based Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), an autonomous
body under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), to enhance the banking services infrastructure at 26
land ports situated along India’s borders with Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar.
• The MoU was signed by S N Panigrahi, Deputy General Manager (DGM), SBI, and Vidyadhar Jha,
Director (Operations), LPAI.
Key Features of the MoU:
i.Banking Services Expansion:
• SBI will provide Foreign Exchange (Forex) transactions, Letter of Credit (LC) / Bank Guarantee
(BG) services, bulk cargo insurance, and digital banking solutions (e.g., You Only Need
One (YONO) 2.0, e-Trade) at land ports within six months.
• Targets increasing annual border trade volumes from Rs 80,000 crore (2025) to Rs 2 trillion by
2030.
ii.Employee Benefits:
• 1,900 LPAI employees will receive corporate salary packages with personal accident insurance,
loans, and discounted locker rentals.
• Services extended to 5,000+ employees of border agencies like the Border Security Force (BSF)
and the Customs Department.
iii.Infrastructure Development: LPAI operates 15 land ports across 8 border states and plans to develop
11 more in Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar, Mizoram, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal (WB).

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iv.Forex Management: Facilitates Rs 71,000 crore in forex trade annually through streamlined cross-
border transactions
About Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI):
Chairperson – Aditya Mishra
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 2012

Sa-Dhan Signed MoU with BoI to Enhance Financial Access for Small, Micro & Women-Led
Enterprises
In April 2025, New Delhi(Delhi)-based Sa-Dhan, a Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) appointed by the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for microfinance and impact finance institutions, signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Bank of India (BoI) to enhance financial
access for small, micro, and women-led enterprises, especially in rural and semi-urban regions of India.
• The MoU was signed by Jiji Mammen,Executive Director(ED) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
Sa-Dhan and P. R. Rajagopal, ED of BoI, aims to foster financial inclusion and support national
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Key Areas of the MoU:
i.Enterprise Financing:Provide loans to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and non-SHG entrepreneurs.
Promote co-lending partnerships with Microfinance Institutions (MFIs).
ii.Climate and Green Financing: Support adoption of climate-resilient technologies and green projects.
iii.Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): Fund initiatives to improve rural sanitation and clean water
access.
iv.Financial Literacy: Conduct workshops to educate rural entrepreneurs about government schemes and
digital banking tools.

IFSCA and NISM Signed MoU to Accelerate Capacity Building in GIFT IFSC
In May 2025, Gandhinagar (Gujarat) based International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) and
Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) have signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) to boost capacity building and training initiatives in the securities markets in the
Gujarat International Finance Tec-city- International Financial Services Centre (GIFT-IFSC) in Gandhinagar,
Gujarat.
• The MoU was signed both the entities in the presence of Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Chairperson of
Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and K. Rajaraman,
Chairperson of IFSCA.
Note: NISM is a public trust established in 2006 by the SEBI
Key Details of MoU:
i.As part of the MoU, NISM will act as a training partner for IFSCA and its registered intermediaries and
will support a range of capacity building initiatives within IFSC like: conducting relevant certification
examinations as per IFSCA regulations.
ii.The MoU will also cover the development of customized content, question banks, and e-learning modules
which are in alignment with the requirements of IFSCA, aimed at improving the professional expertise of
financial institutions (FIs) within the IFSC.
iii.This MoU is expected to mutually beneficial to both entities as IFSCA will be able to use capacity building
and certification expertise of NISM.
• While, NISM will benefit from the learnings coming out of servicing an international financial
platform.

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TCS Partners with Mongolia’s Khan Bank for Digital Banking Modernisation
In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS) announced a strategic
partnership with Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) based Khan Bank, a leading commercial bank in Mongolia, to
modernise its core digital banking platform.
• The collaboration will leverage TCS’ flagship TCS BaNCS (Banking and Core Systems) Global
Banking Platform (GBP) to support Khan Bank’s comprehensive digital transformation by
streamlining operations, boosting digital capabilities, and integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI)-
powered innovations.
i.The transformation will cover key banking functions such as Customer Information File (CIF), Trade
finance, Treasury, International payments and Loans and deposits.
ii.TCS BaNCS offers an International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 20022-ready payment
solution supporting SWIFT GPI (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication – Global
Payments Innovation) and SWIFT Go standards, enabling Khan Bank to offer both high and low-value
international payments.
iii.The collaboration between TCS (India) and Khan Bank (Mongolia) marks the continuation of their 25-
year-long partnership since 2001.
Note: TCS BaNCS, developed by TCS, is a comprehensive suite of banking and financial services software
solutions designed for use by retail banks and financial institutions.

SBI Card partners with Apollo HealthCo for premium credit card ‘Apollo SBI Card SELECT’
In May 2025, Gurugram (Haryana)-based SBI Cards & Payment Services Limited (SBI Card) collaborated
with Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN)-based Apollo HealthCo Limited(AHL), the operator of Apollo Pharmacy and
Apollo 24|7, to introduce the ‘Apollo SBI Card SELECT’. This co-branded credit card is designed to cater to
health-conscious consumers by integrating healthcare benefits with financial rewards.
• This collaboration aligns with the growing demand for health-focused financial products in
India.
Key Features:
i.The Apollo SBI Card SELECT comes with a joining and annual renewal fee of Rs.499. However, this renewal
fee is waived if you spend Rs.1,00,000 or more in the preceding year.
ii.Cardholders can avail up to 25% value back on purchases made via the Apollo 24*7 app and select
Apollo Pharmacy retail stores, including medicines, health check-ups, and diagnostic tests.
iii.A welcome benefit of Rs 1,500 e-gift voucher is offered, redeemable on Apollo’s digital and offline
platforms.
iv.The card enhances affordability for pharmacy products, diagnostic packages, and wellness services.

IOB signs MoU with IIBF for customized E Learning and Certification Program on MSME
In May 2025, Chennai (Tamil Nadu,TN) based Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (IIBF) for
customized Electronic (e) – Learning and certification program on Micro Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs).
• The MoU was signed by Dilip Kumar Barik, General Manager of Human Resource(HR),IOB and
Dr.Gangadharan, Director, Academics, IIBF in the presence of Ajay Kumar Srivastava, Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD), IOB.
i.The objective of the MoU is to enhance the knowledge of employees about MSMEs and respond to credit
needs of MSMEs adequately and in a timely manner.
ii.As a part of MoU, IIBF developed a customized courseware for IOB employees in the form of an e-book and
conduct certification exam through remote proctored mode.

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• The certificates jointly signed by IOB and IIBF officials will be provided to staff members on
successful passing of examination.

IPPB Partners with Aditya Birla Capital to Expand Financial Inclusion

In May 2025, the New Delhi(Delhi) based India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), a Government of India(GoI)
undertaking under the Department of Posts(DoP), Ministry of Communications(MoC), partnered with
Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Aditya Birla Capital Limited (ABCL), a prominent non-deposit taking Non-
Banking Financial Company (NBFC) in India, to expand credit accessibility across India through a strategic
referral arrangement.
• This collaboration aims to integrate ABCL comprehensive suite of lending products with IPPB
vast postal network and digital infrastructure.
i.The objective is to facilitate seamless credit access to IPPB’s customers, especially in rural and semi-urban
areas.
ii.Under this partnership, IPPB will offer referral services for Aditya Birla Capital’s diverse loan offerings,
such as personal loans, business loans, and loans against property to its existing customers.
iii.IPPB customers can access Aditya Birla Capital’s digital platforms for quick, hassle-free loans with
minimal documentation. Powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics, the system offers
personalized financial solutions across India.
Note: IPPB was established in 2018. It delivers banking services in 13 languages, reaching over 11 crore
customers across 5.57 lakh villages and towns in India.

SBM Bank India Partners with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance to Expand Retail Financial
Services
In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based SBM Bank India, a subsidiary of the State Bank of
Mauritius(SBM), entered into a strategic bancassurance alliance with Mumbai based ICICI Prudential Life
Insurance Company Limited, a Joint Venture(JV) between ICICI Bank Limited and Prudential Corporation
Holdings Limited, to diversify its retail offerings.
• This collaboration aims to provide customers with comprehensive financial solutions, including
term insurance, long-term savings, and retirement planning products, aligning with SBM Bank’s
vision to become a “financial supermarket”.
i.The partnership will allow ICICI Prudential Life Insurance to offer its future-ready insurance products to
SBM Bank India’s diverse customer base, including Retail, Wealth, Private, Digital, Asset-focused, and Non-
Resident Indian (NRI) customers.
ii.The partnership leverages technology for a “seamless and hassle-free” customer experience, supported by
ICICI Prudential’s 99.3% claim settlement ratio in Financial Year 2024–25(FY25) with an average
turnaround time of 1.2 days.
Note:India’s insurance penetration stood at 3.7% in FY24, below the global average of 7%, highlighting
significant growth potential.

IndusInd Bank Signed MoU with AIC STPINEXT to Support Startups & MSMEs
In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based IndusInd Bank Limited signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) Software Technology Parks of India Next
(STPINEXT), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of the Bengaluru (Karnataka)-Based Software Technology
Parks of India (STPI), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), to provide
essential financial solutions and structural support to early-stage startups and Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs) across India.

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• The partnership aims to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship by offering customized

banking services, financial literacy, and operational tools to startups and MSMEs incubated by AIC
STPINEXT.
Key Features of the Collaboration:
i.Specialized Current Account: IndusInd Bank will offer a Current Account product with no quarterly
average balance requirement, simplifying financial operations for startups.
ii.Mentorship & Capacity Building: The bank will organize workshops and provide expert guidance on
Banking fundamentals, Equity infusion, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and Segment-based
funding models.
iii.Operational Support: Startups will receive free payroll and attendance management services from the
bank, promoting efficiency in day-to-day business activities.

ABSLI Partners with Equitas SFB to Expand Life Insurance Access

In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance Company Limited (ABSLI), a
Joint Venture (JV) between Aditya Birla Group and Sun Life Financial Inc., has entered into strategic
partnership with Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN)-based Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited (ESFBL), aimed to
expand life insurance accessibility in India through bank’s branch network.
• The partnership aims to enhance financial protection and inclusion, particularly in semi-urban
and rural areas of the country.
i.As per this bancassurance agreement, customers of ESFBL will be able to access a wide range of ABSLI’s
insurance products including, protection plans, savings plans, retirement solutions, endowments, and Unit
Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPS).
ii.The bank customers will also be able to access new product offerings of ABLSI such as: Salaried Term
Plan, Nischit Aayush Plan, and Assured Savings Plan.
iii.Also, this partnership is in alignment with the national vision of ‘Insurance for All by 2047’ which aims
to serve underserved communities with quality financial protection.

OTHER BANK NEWS

Razorpay Launches India’s First AI-Integrated MCP Server For Payments
In April 2025, Bengaluru (Karnataka) – based Razorpay Software Private Limited, the payment service
provider, has launched India’s first Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for a payment gateway, which
enables businesses to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven systems directly with its payment
infrastructure.
• For the first time, AI agents and tools like Claude, Zapier, VS Code can natively talk to Razorpay
with simple instructions.
• The new MCP server aims to streamline administrative work and workflow automation.
i.MCP server, allows AI Assistants to carry out tasks, such as creating payment links, initiating refunds, and
managing transactions, without the need for traditional dashboards or Application Programming
Interface (API).
ii.With this development, businesses using Razorpay, can connect their AI tools, ranging from chat-based
assistants to automated systems, directly linked to the backend of Razorpay.
• It enables payments to be initiated and processed with simple commands, making the process
faster and less dependent on manual inputs.
iii.Earlier, payments were initiated and authorized by businesses by using the Razopay dashboard.
Note: The MCP was developed by Anthropic, is an open standard designed to enable Large Language Models
(LLMs) to interact seamlessly with external tools, systems, and data sources.

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Mobikwik’s Subsidiary Zaakpay Gets RBI Approval to Operate as PA

In May 2025, Gurugram (Haryana)-based Zaak ePayment Services Private Limited (Zaakpay), a wholly
owned subsidiary of One MobiKwik Systems Limited (MobiKwik), has received the final regulatory
approval, Certificate of Authorisation (CoA) from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as an online
Payment Aggregator (PA).
• The CoA, granted under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, enables Zaakpay to
facilitate merchant payments through online platforms.
i.The approval allows Zaakpay, a fintech firm to provide businesses with comprehensive digital payment
solutions across multiple modes.
• It will expand its business across credit and debit cards, net banking, Unified Payments Interface
(UPI), wallets, pay later options and Equated Monthly Installments (EMIs).
ii.Zaakpay, currently caters to enterprise clients in sectors including transit, e-commerce, digital lending,
healthcare, and utility bill payments.
iii.Zaakpay was granted in-principle approval to operate as a PA by RBI in 2023.

Goldsikka Unveils India’s first AI-powered Gold Melting ATM

In May 2025, Hyderabad (Telangana) based Goldsikka Limited announced the launch of its revolutionary
innovation, India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered gold melting Automated Teller Machine (ATM).
• The state-of-the-art ATM machine offers the ability to buy, sell, exchange, lease, digitize, and
monetize gold and gold jewellery.
About the AI-powered Gold Melting ATM:
i.The machine offers an integrated Augmented Reality (AR) experience, which allows users to virtually try
on Jewellery before making a purchase.
ii.Through the ATM, with zero human interference, a customer can purchase gold through credit or debit
card and sell gold.
iii.In the process of selling gold, when the customer deposits gold in the machine, it will be melted. The
purity and the value of pure gold will be displayed on the machine. Once the customer accepts the value
displayed, the amount will be transferred to the customer’s bank account.
iv.The process of depositing and selling gold can take about 30 minutes, when the machine takes the
photograph of the depositor verifies Aadhar card and ID proof.
v.If any crime record is found involved in the transaction, the ATM machine will hold back the gold and
automatically report to the police.
Note: In 2022, Goldsikka launched India’s first real time Gold ATM.

SBI Projects Retail Inflation Below 3% in Q1 FY26

In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based State Bank of India (SBI) released a report forecasting
that India’s retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), is expected to remain below
3% during the first quarter of the financial year 2025–26 (Q1 FY26), spanning April 2025 to June 2025.
• This projection follows a significant decline in CPI inflation to 3.34% in March 2025, marking a
67-month low, primarily attributed to a substantial correction in food prices.
i.Core inflation rose from 3.28% in August 2024 to 3.77% in October 2024, stabilized between 3.6% and
3.7% from November 2024 to January 2025, and increased to 4.1% in February 2025 and March 2025, the
highest in 15 months.
• Excluding gold, core inflation stood at 3.2%, below both the core and overall CPI inflation figures.
ii.SBI projects nominal Gross Domestic Product(GDP) growth for FY26 to be between 9% and 9.5%,
slightly below the Union Budget 2025-26 estimate of 10%.
iii.SBI suggests that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) may consider aggressive rate cuts in FY26. The bank

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anticipates a cumulative reduction of 125 basis points, with 75 basis points in the first half and an additional
50 basis points in the second half of the fiscal year.

Kotak Mahindra Bank Launched Solitaire Credit Card for HNIs

In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL) launched a premium,
invite-only metal credit card ‘Kotak Solitaire Credit Card’, targeting High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs)
under its Solitaire Program.
• The card offers travel benefits such as air miles, free unlimited lounge access, and no extra
charges on foreign transactions, making it a good choice for frequent travellers in India.
Key Features of Kotak Solitaire Credit Card:
i.Eligibility: Available exclusively to Solitaire Program customers with a Total Relationship Value (TRV) of
Rs. 75 lakh (savings accounts) or Rs. 1 crore (current accounts).
ii.Rewards:
• 10 air miles per Rs. 100 spent on flight/hotel bookings via Kotak Unbox platform.
• 3 air miles per Rs. 100 on other eligible expenses (excluding fuel, rent, insurance, etc.).
• Air miles valid for 3 years; redeemable for flights, hotels, or vouchers.
iii.Travel Benefits:
• Unlimited lounge access (domestic/international) for primary and add-on cardholders.
• 4 complimentary guest lounge visits annually (2 domestic + 2 international).
• Zero forex markup on international transactions.
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between Rs 400 to Rs 7,500 (max waiver: Rs 10,000
per card anniversary year)
iv.Annual fee: Rs. 25,000 + taxes (waived for Solitaire Program customers) and no joining fee.
About Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL):
Founder – Uday Kotak
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Ashok Vaswani
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established – 1985
Tagline – Lets Make Money Simple

Bhutan Launches World’s First National Cryptocurrency Tourism Payment System

In May 2025, Bhutan has introduced the world’s first national cryptocurrency tourism payment
system through a collaboration with Binance Pay, a subsidiary of Binance Holdings Limited, and DK
Bank of Bhutan, Bhutan’s first fully digital bank
• This initiative enables travelers to use cryptocurrencies for service payments, promoting ease of
transactions and advancing financial inclusion throughout their visit to Bhutan.
Key Features:
i.Cashless Travel Experience: Tourists with Binance accounts can use over 100 cryptocurrencies,
including Bitcoin (BTC), Binance Coin (BNB), and United States Dollar Coin (USDC), to pay for airline
tickets, visa fees, hotel bookings, monument entries, tour guides, and local purchases.
ii.QR Code-Based Payments: The system uses static and dynamic Quick Response (QR) codes for real-time
transactions, eliminating the need for card terminals.
iii.Automatic Currency Conversion: Cryptocurrency payments are instantly converted to Bhutanese
Ngultrum (BTN), Bhutan’s official currency handled by DK Bank, ensuring vendors receive stable payouts.
iv.Financial Inclusion: Over 100 Bhutanese businesses, including those in remote regions, have adopted
the system, enabling participation in the global USD 3 trillion cryptocurrency market.

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Benefits for Travelers and Merchants:

i.Lower Transaction Costs: Reduces foreign exchange friction and transaction fees for international
travelers.
ii.Global Market Access: Bhutanese merchants can now engage with global digital finance ecosystems.
About Binance Pay:
Binance Pay is a cryptocurrency payment platform developed by Binance Holdings Ltd, the world’s largest
cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, allowing users to send, receive, and pay with various
cryptocurrencies.
About Bhutan:
Prime Minister (PM) – Dasho Tshering Tobgay
Capital – Thimphu
Currency – Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN)

Public Sector banks post record Rs.1.78 trillion profit in FY25, growth up 26%
Public sector banks'(PSBs) cumulative profit rose to a record level of Rs. 1.78 lakh crore in the Financial
Year 2024-25(FY25), registering a growth of 26% over the previous year. All 12 PSBs had earned a total
profit of Rs 1.41 lakh crore in FY24.
• The year-on-year(YoY) increase in profit in absolute terms rose by about Rs. 37,100 crore in
FY25.
Key Highlights:
i.Of the total Rs.1,78,364 crore profit earned in FY25, market leader Mumbai(Maharashtra) based State
Bank of India (SBI) alone accounted for over 40% with a net profit of Rs 70,901 crore, marking a 16%
increase from Rs 61,077 crore recorded in FY24.
ii.New Delhi(Delhi) based Punjab National Bank (PNB) registered the highest percentage growth among all
PSBs, with a 102% rise in net profit to Rs 16,630 crore.
iii. It was followed by New Delhi based Punjab & Sind Bank (P&SB), which recorded a 71% increase to Rs.
1,016 crore.
iv.The following are the PSBs which recorded over 40% annual jump in their net profit:
• Mumbai based Central Bank of India(CBI) with a 48.4% growth to Rs. 3,785 crore
• Kolkata, West Bengal(WB) based UCO Bank posted a 47.8% rise to Rs. 2,445 crore
• Mumbai based Bank of India(BoI) registered a 45.9% rise to Rs. 9,219 crore
v.The profits posted by other PSBs are:
• Pune(Maharashtra)-based Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) posted a 36.1% improvement in its net
profit to Rs. 5,520 crore.
• Chennai(Tamil Nadu, Tn)-based Indian Bank with a 35.4 % rise to Rs. 10,918 crore in FY25.
Loss to Profit making:
i.From posting record losses of Rs. 85,390 crore in FY18 to achieving record profits in FY25, PSBs have made
a strong recovery.
ii.The government has implemented a comprehensive 4R strategy:
• Recognising Non-Performing Assets(NPAs) transparently,
• Resolution and recovery,
• Recapitalising PSBs, and
• Reforms in the financial ecosystem.
iii.As part of the above strategy, the government infused Rs. 3,10,997 crore to recapitalise PSBs during the
last five financial years, that is from FY17 to FY21.
iv.The recapitalisation programme provided the much needed support to the PSBs and prevented the
possibility of any default on their part.

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v.The reforms undertaken by the government over the last eleven years addressed credit discipline, ensured
responsible lending and improved governance.
Recent Related News:
In April 2025, the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance (MoF) announced ‘One
StateOne RRB’ through official notification for amalgamation of 26 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) across 11
States which include 10 states and 1 Union Territory (UT), effective from May 01, 2025.
• Among states that will see consolidation of RRBs include Andhra Pradesh(AP), which has the
maximum number of RRBs (4), Uttar Pradesh(UP) and West Bengal(WB) (3 each), and Bihar,
Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir(J&K), Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh(MP), Maharashtra, Odisha and
Rajasthan (2 each).

QNB becomes 1st MEA Bank to Open Branch in India’s GIFT City
In May 2025, Doha (Qatar)-based Qatar National Bank Group (QNB), the largest financial institution in the
Middle East and Africa (MEA), has become 1st Bank from MEA region to open its branch in Gujarat
International Finance Tec-City- International Financial Services Centre (GIFT-IFSC), Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
GIFT-IFSC is India’s 1stinternational financial hub and special economic zone (SEZ).
• The new branch of QNB in GIFT City aims to support Indian corporates who are seeking
international banking partners to drive their expansion.
i.QNB’s new branch in GIFT City is expected to bolster its extensive regional and international network in 28
markets across 3 continents.
ii.In year 2017, QNB established its 1st branch in India and since then has gradually expanded in the country
to cater the financial requirements of Indian corporates.
iii.QNB (India) Private Limited based in Mumbai (Maharashtra) functions a Scheduled Commercial
Bank (SCB) providing full-fledged banking services across India, with a focus on structured credit solutions.

Canara Bank Launched ‘CANARA TruEdge’ Savings and Current Account

In May 2025, Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Canara Bank, one of India’s leading Public Sector Bank (PSB),
launched ‘CANARA TruEdge’, a specialized and unique feature-rich suite of Current and Savings Accounts.
• This new offering is designed to address the unique banking requirements of institutional clients
across India, including various sectors like: healthcare, education and religious organisations, as
well as other non-individual entities.
Key Features:
i.The newly launched product with the tagline “Grow with trust, lead with edge” is aimed to deliver
improved customer segmentation and provide customer solutions customized to their specific operational
and financial workflows.
ii.It offers a zero initial deposit requirement for smooth onboarding. As bank maintain higher balances, the
related benefits are expected to increase proportionally.
iii.Some of the unique features of new product suite are: access to a tier-5 Monthly Average Balance
(MAB), significant charge waivers & concessions, and premium services.
iv.It also offers some other benefits like: Integrated digital tools, free Coursera licenses for educational
institutions, complimentary premium debit cards and dedicated relationship support across Pan-India
branches for its clients.
v.Facilitates smooth day-to-day banking with unlimited free transactions via National Electronic Funds
Transfer(NEFT), Real-Time Gross Settlement(RTGS), Immediate Payment Service(IMPS), and Unified
Payments Interface(UPI), along with unlimited cheque leaves and tier-based free issuance of Demand
Drafts(DDs) to ensure operational efficiency.

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UBI Launched ‘Union Wellness Deposit’ Innovative Term Deposit Scheme

In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based PSB, Union Bank of India (UBI) officially launched “Union
Wellness Deposit “, an innovative retail term deposit scheme, in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The newly launched scheme is strategically designed to promote both wealth creation and health
protection by combining the benefits of fixed deposit products with health insurance and lifestyle
perks.
Key Features:
i.This new offering is available to resident individuals who are aged between 18 and 75 years, either
individually or jointly. However, for joint account holders, only the primary account holder will be eligible to
avail the benefits of insurance coverage.
ii.The scheme has a fixed tenure of 375 days and offers an interest rate of 6.75% per annum, with an
additional 0.50% for senior citizens.
iii.Customers can invest minimum Rs 10 lakh and maximum Rs 3 crore in the scheme. It has also provision
of premature closure and loans against the deposit.
iv.A unique feature of the scheme is a 375-day Super Top-up Health Insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh, including
cashless hospitalization.
• In addition to these benefits, the product offers a range of lifestyle benefits through the RuPay
Select Debit Card.
v.It offers flexibility with premature closure and the option for loans against the deposit.
About Canara Bank:
Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- K. Satyanarayana Raju
Headquarters- Bengaluru, Karnataka
Tagline- ‘Together We Can’
Established- 1906
About Union Bank of India (UBI):
Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– A. Manimekhalai
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Tagline- ‘Good People to Bank with’
Established- 1919

Uttarakhand Secures Rs 1910 Crore Funding from EIB for Urban Infrastructure Projects
In May 2025, Uttarakhand has secured Rs.1910 crore fund from Luxembourg based European Investment
Bank (EIB) to enhance urban infrastructure development across four cities in Uttarakhand, under the
Uttarakhand Urban Sector Development Agency (UUSDA).
• The agreement is scheduled for signing in June 2025, following which the tender process will
commence.
• The funding was confirmed during project negotiations held between the Government of India
(GoI), the Government of Uttarakhand, and EIB.
i.The funding will support projects in cities, Pithoragarh, Sitarganj, Rudrapur, and Kashipur, focusing on:
• Pithoragarh: Development of drinking water and sewerage systems.
• Sitarganj, Rudrapur, and Kashipur: Enhancement of drinking water supply infrastructure.
ii.Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been prepared and reviewed by the Department of Economic Affairs
(DEA) under the Ministry of Finance (MoF), GoI.
iii.The project aim to improve sanitation and access to clean drinking water in key urban areas, to raise
living standards and accelerate the overall development of the state.

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Indian Bank Launched 2 New FD Schemes ‘IND SECURE’ & ‘IND GREEN’
In May 2025, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)-based Indian Bank, a Public Sector Bank (PSB), launched two new fixed
deposit (FD) schemes, ‘IND SECURE’ and ‘IND GREEN’, to offer secure investment options and promote
environmentally sustainable initiatives among its customers.
• This move comes alongside the discontinuation of its earlier retail FD schemes, IND SUPER 400
Days and IND SUPREME 300 Days, effective 8th May 2025.
• These schemes are available in the form of Fixed Deposit(FD) or money multiplier deposit with
callable options.
IND SECURE Fixed Deposit Scheme:
i.Investment Amount: Minimum Rs 1,000 and less than Rs 3 crore
ii.Form: Fixed Deposit (FD)/Monthly Maturity Deposit (MMD)
iii.Maturity Tenure: 444 days
iv.Validity: Till 30th September 2025
v.Interest Rates:
• General Public: 7.15% per annum (p.a.)
• Senior Citizens (60 years & above): 7.65% p.a.
• Super Senior Citizens (80 years & above): 7.90% p.a.
IND GREEN Fixed Deposit Scheme:
IND GREEN is designed to promote sustainable development while providing guaranteed returns.
i.Investment Amount: Minimum Rs 1,000 and less than Rs 3 crore
ii.Form: FD/MMD
iii.Maturity Tenure: 555 days
iv.Interest Rates:
• General Public: 6.80% p.a.
• Senior Citizens: 7.30% p.a.
• Super Senior Citizens: 7.55% p.a.
v.Validity: Open for investment until September 30, 2025
Discontinued FD Schemes:
Indian Bank discontinued two earlier FD schemes from 8th May 2025:
i.IND SUPER 400 Days: Offered 7.30% to 8.05%
ii.IND SUPREME 300 Days: Offered 7.05% to 7.80%
iii.No new deposits will be accepted under these schemes. Existing deposits will continue to earn interest as
per the agreed terms until maturity.
About Indian Bank:
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Binod Kumar
Headquarters – Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN)
Established – 1907
Tagline – Your Own Bank

HDFC Bank Launches ‘Biz+ Current Accounts’ to Support MSME Sector

In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based HDFC Bank Limited, India’s leading private sector bank in
current account deposits, launched a new suite of ‘Biz+ Current Accounts (CA)’ to meet the evolving needs
of India’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• The accounts aim to address the evolving financial needs of businesses across four growth stages:
setup, growth, expansion, and diversification.

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About Biz+ Current Accounts:

i.The Biz+ Current Accounts are designed under a One Bank approach, offering bundled banking solutions,
including liability products, asset solutions, digital payment tools, and business cards. The accounts provide
sector-specific solutions catering to business segments such as manufacturing, trading, and services.
ii.The accounts are structured in tiers to suit different business stages:
• Biz Lite+: For businesses in the setup stage
• Biz Pro+: For businesses in the growth stage
• Biz Ultra+: For businesses in the expansion stage
• Biz Elite+: For businesses in the diversification stage
iii.These accounts offer the following core benefits from day one: Cash handling services, Seamless digital
banking platforms, Dedicated Relationship Manager support and Business and payment protection
insurance (free for first year for new-to-bank customers).

Vivriti Fund Secured USD 20 Million from Development Bank of Austria

In May 2025, Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN) based Vivriti Asset Management (VAM) secured a fresh
commitment of USD 20 million in senior debt from Vienna (Austria)-based Development Bank of
Austria (OeEB) for its Vivriti India Retail Assets Fund (VIRAF), bolstering the fund’s capital base to USD
165 million.
• This latest investment reflects OeEB’s commitment of investing in developing economies,
especially those aligned with green finance, Small, Micro Enterprise (SME) development and
gender inclusion.
About VIRAF:
i.VIRAF, an Asset-Backed Securitisation (ABS) was launched in March 2023 at Gujarat International Finance
Tec-City- International Financial Services Centre (GIFT-IFSC) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, aims to raise a
corpus of USD 250 million.
ii.It is specifically designed to expand access to small-ticket retail and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
(MSME) loans in India, particularly for women and underserved communities.
iii.So far, VIRAF has disbursed over USD 200 million through partnerships with 25 Non-Banking Financial
Companies (NBFCs), reaching more than 35,000 individuals and 1 lakh MSMEs, and of those, over 75% are
women.

Axis Bank & super.money Launched Co-Branded RuPay Credit Card for UPI Payments
In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Axis Bank Limited in partnership with Bengaluru (Karnataka)
based super.money, a fintech platform backed by Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Flipkart, launched the Axis
Bank super.money RuPay Credit Card to offer high cash back rewards for Unified Payments Interface
(UPI)-based Quick Response (QR) code payments.
Key Features:
i.Card Network: RuPay (enables UPI transactions)
ii.Cashback Benefits:
• 3% cashback on “Scan & Pay” UPI transactions via the super.money app.
• 1% cashback on other eligible spends (excluding fuel, insurance, rent, etc.).
iii.Maximum cashback: Rs. 500 per billing cycle.
iv.Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% waiver on transactions between Rs. 400 and Rs. 4,000 (up to Rs. 400 per
cycle).
v.No Fees: Zero joining/annual fees.
vi.UPI Integration: Functions across QR codes, Point of Sale (POS) terminals, online platforms, and
Automated Teller Machine (ATM)s.

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KMBL Introduces New Chapter for Kotak 811 Digital Platform

In May 2025, the Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL) has introduced a new
chapter of its flagship digital banking platform Kotak811, with a campaign that celebrates the seamless,
intuitive, and full-service experience it offers its customers.
• The initiative aims to enhance the digital banking experience for the customers, who seek modern
banking than traditional banking.
i.The upgraded Kotak811 caters the evolving needs of India’s digital first generation and the users can open
a zero-balance savings account through a fully digital process under 5 minutes.
ii.The platform offers a range of services including Unified Payment Interface (UPI) payments, Fixed
Deposits (FDs), Mutual Fund (MF) investments, and cashback rewards.
iii.KMBL offers three types of 811 Digital Savings Account such as:
• Kotak 811Digital Savings Account with no minimum balance requirement
• Kotak 811 Edge Savings Account with the maintenance of Rs.10,000 per month as minimum
balance.
• Kotak 811 Super Savings Account with zero minimum balance maintenance.

SBI Life, Vidyaniti Acquire 4.25% Stake in NHIT for Rs.1,100 Crore
In May 2025, Mumbai(Maharashtra) based SBI Life Insurance Company Limited, a Joint Venture(JV)
between State Bank of India (SBI) and France’s BNP Paribas Cardif, and Bengaluru(Karnataka)
based Vidyaniti LLP have jointly acquired a 4.25% stake in the National Highways Infra
Trust (NHIT) for Rs.1,100.61 crore, marking a significant investment in India’s infrastructure sector.
• This acquisition was carried out through an open market transaction, reflecting growing investor
interest in long-term infrastructure assets.
i.SBI Life Insurance purchased approximately 3.74 crore units, accounting for a 1.93% stake, while
Vidyaniti LLP acquired over 4.49 crore units, translating to a 2.3% stake in NHIT.
ii.The units were bought at an average price of Rs.133.57 each, which also matched the price at which the
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) divested 8.24 crore units on the National Stock Exchange
(NSE).
iii.NHIT, launched in 2021 by NHAI, is an Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) aimed at supporting the
Government of India(GoI)’s National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP).
• It facilitates the monetisation of operational infrastructure assets to raise funds for future
developments.

FINANCE NEWS
Bajaj Allianz Launched Parametric Insurance Product ‘ClimateSafe’ for Climate-Related Risks
On 29th April 2025, Pune (Maharashtra) based Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Limited, a joint
venture between Bajaj Finserv Limited (Pune) and Germany-based Allianz SE, launched ‘ClimateSafe’, a
first-of-its-kind parametric climate risk insurance product in India.
• The product is designed to offer quick financial relief to individuals affected by climate change-
related weather events such as extreme heat, cold waves, or excessive rainfall.
• It will provide financial support of up to Rs 6,000 per worker if the daily Air Quality Index (AQI)
exceeds 400 beyond two strikes.
Note: A strike is defined as occurring when the AQI crosses 400 for at least three out of the previous five
days.

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Key Features of ClimateSafe:

i.Parametric Insurance Model:
• Automatic payouts are triggered when predefined weather thresholds (e.g., temperature or
rainfall levels) are breached, as measured by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• No manual claims: Settlements occur within 7 days without customer intervention.
ii.Coverage:
• Compensates for income loss (e.g., daily wage workers, gig workers) and additional expenses
(e.g., higher electricity bills, commute costs).
• Protects against supply chain delays, event cancellations, and damage to household items due to
floods/heatwaves.
iii.Flexibility:
• Customers can customize risk location, risk period (1–30 days), sum insured, and weather
triggers (excessive rainfall, high/low temperature).
• Dynamic pricing based on real-time climate data.

EnKash Launches India’s 1st Payment Gateway, Built for SMBs and Startups
In May 2025, Mumbai(Maharashtra) based EnKash, India’s leading spend management and payments
platform, has officially launched the ‘EnKash Payment Gateway’ , a first-of-its-kind payment solution
engineered for India’s Small to Medium-sized Business (SMB) and Startup merchants.
• The gateway is specifically designed to cater to India’s over 63 million SMBs and startup
merchants, addressing their unique payment processing needs.
Key Points:
India processed over Rs.14 lakh crore in UPI transactions in March 2025 alone, yet SMBs continue to
struggle with outdated infrastructure:
• 20–30% failure rates during peak hours
• Manual reconciliations that slow down decisions and cause revenue leakages
• Disjointed systems offering no unified control across payments and spend
Key Features of EnKash Payment Gateway:
i.The Enkash will offer a truly unified payments and spend stack, bringing together accounts payable
automation, expense management, corporate cards, loyalty programs, and now, a seamlessly embedded
payment gateway.
ii.The Gateway incorporates low-code/no-code integration, automated reconciliation, and zero-cost lifetime
support to enhance digital commerce capabilities.
iii.The Payment Gateway is engineered to deliver a frictionless experience for merchants across categories –
from Direct to Customer (D2C) brands, Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms, and Business to Business
(B2B) commerce to healthcare, hospitality, education, and logistics.
iv.It ensures bank-grade security with features like Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard(PCI DSS),
end-to-end encryption, tokenization, and real-time threat assessments to protect sensitive data.
About Enkash:
EnKash is a Mumbai-based business-to-business (B2B) fintech company founded in 2018 by Yadvendra
Singh Tyagi, Hemant Vishnoi, and Naveen Bindal.
• It has as emerged as a fintech innovator by securing multiple Reserve Bank of India (RBI)-
regulated licenses, including PAPG (Payment Aggregator–Payment Gateway), BBPOU (Bharat Bill
Payment Operating Unit), and the recently obtained PPI (Prepaid Payment Instrument) license.

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Star Health Insurance Launches Star Flexi variants under Super Star Plan
In May 2025, India’s largest retail health insurer, Star Health and Allied Insurance Company has
expanded its flagship health plan, Super Star, with the introduction of Star Flexi.
• The Super Star plan has sold over 1.6 lakh policies, generating Rs.580 crores in revenue within
seven months of its launch.
• With this Star Flexi expansion, three new plan variants—Essential, Preferred, and Secure have
been introduced, targeting a range of customer segments with varying healthcare coverage needs.
Key Highlights:
i.Star Flexi is a multi-rider add-on designed to enhance flexibility and personalization within the Super Star
plan.
• It aims to provide options for a broad range of customers right from first-time buyers in smaller
towns to experienced policyholders in metro cities.
ii.The three variants under Star Flexi offer varying coverage levels and features:
Essential:
i.Specially designed for first-time buyers and value-conscious customers in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets.
ii.The coverage starts at Rs.5 lakhs, including single private room hospitalization, day care procedures,
AYUSH treatment, and unlimited sum insured restoration.
Preferred:
i.This variant is designed for urban families and professionals seeking balanced coverage with long-term
benefits.
ii.The policy offers unlimited room rent, air ambulance coverage up to Rs.5 lakh, health booster benefits,
premium return for claim-free years, and a range of additional healthcare services.
Secure:
i.It is tailored for experienced customers looking for comprehensive protection.
ii.It provides no room rent cap, air ambulance covers up to Rs. 5 lakhs, unlimited sum insured restoration, a
limitless loyalty bonus on renewals, and wellness program access.
iii.All plan variants offer key benefits such as unlimited sum insured restoration, loyalty bonuses, premium
refunds, health booster options, and access to the STAR Wellness Program.
About Star Health and Allied Insurance Company:
• It commenced its operation in 2006 India’s first Standalone Health Insurance Company.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer – Mr. Anand Roy
Headquarters – Chennai, TamilNadu

ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS

S&P Global Ratings Cuts India’s FY26 GDP Growth Forecast to 6.3%
On May 02, 2025, S&P Global Ratings (previously known as standard & Poor’s) released its report
titled “Global Macro Update: Seismic Shift in US Trade Policy Will Slow World
Growth”, revising India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for the fiscal year 2025-26 (FY26)
to 6.3%, a reduction of 20 basis points (bps) from its previous estimate of 6.5% in March 2025.
• The downgrade is attributed to uncertainties arising from recent United States(U.S.) tariff policies
and their potential spillover effects on the global economy.
• India’s GDP growth forecast for FY27 has been revised to 6.5%, reflecting a reduction of 30 bps
from the previous estimate of 6.8%.

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Key Highlights
i.Impact of US Tariff Policies: The report highlights that the recent rise in US import tariffs, along with
possible retaliation from other countries, has created major uncertainties in global trade, which is expected
to adversely affect market confidence and economic stability worldwide.
ii.Exchange Rate Projections: S&P projects the Indian Rupee (INR)/U.S. Dollar(USD) exchange rate to
reach 88 by the end of 2025, compared to 86.64 in 2024, indicating anticipated currency fluctuations amid
global trade tensions.
iii.Global Economic Outlook: The agency has also lowered global growth projections by 30 basis points for
both 2025 and 2026.
• The agency now forecasts global growth at 2.2% for 2025 and 2.4% for 2026, marking the
weakest expansion since the global financial crisis, excluding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Points to Note:
Projections of India’s GDP growth by following agency in April 2025,
i.International Monetary Fund (IMF) reduced India’s FY26 growth forecast by 30 bps to 6.2%, citing global
trade tensions.
ii.World Bank (WB) adjusted India’s FY26 growth projection downward by 40 bps to 6.3%, aligning with
concerns over global economic uncertainties.
iii.Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revised its FY26 growth estimate to 6.5%, a 20 bps reduction.
About S&P Global Ratings:
President – Yann Le Pallec
Headquarters – New York, the United States of America (USA)
Founded – 1860

Moody’s cuts India’s GDP forecast to 6.3% in 2025

In May 2025, New York, United States of America(USA) based Moody’s Ratings, formerly Moody’s Investors
Service, released its Global Macro Outlook 2025-26 (May update). It revised India’s Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) growth forecast for 2025 downward to 6.3%, from the earlier estimate of 6.5%.
• This adjustment reflects concerns over global economic uncertainties, including heightened USA
policy unpredictability, trade restrictions, and escalating geopolitical tensions, particularly
between India and Pakistan .
• It has retained its GDP growth projection for 2026 at 6.5%, following an estimated expansion
of 6.7% in 2024.
Key Highlights:
i.In its May 2025 update of the Global Macro Outlook 2025–26, Moody’s Ratings revised the global
GDP growth forecast downward to 1.9% for 2025 and 2.3% for 2026, citing heightened policy
uncertainty, escalating trade tensions, and geopolitical risks as primary factors influencing the slowdown.
ii.Despite some easing of tariffs, ongoing policy uncertainty and trade frictions, particularly between the
USA and China are expected to affect global trade and investment, impacting G-20 economies.
iii.Additional risk factors include ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, heightened South China
Sea tensions and instability in financial markets.
iv.Moody’s indicates these factors could restrict liquidity availability and increase capital
expenses,potentially destabilising economic conditions further.
v.The rating agency anticipates that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will implement additional reductions to
benchmark policy rates in 2025 to bolster domestic economic growth.

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About Moody’s Ratings:

President– Michael West
Headquarters– New York, the United States of America (USA)
Founded – 1909

CK Birla Group rebrands as The CKA Birla Group

In May 2025, the New Delhi( Delhi)-based CK Birla Group, a conglomerate with a legacy spanning over 170
years, announced its rebranding to ‘The CKA Birla Group’. This strategic move signifies the Group’s
evolution from a diversified industrial entity into a future-focused enterprise emphasizing technology and
services.
• The Group is chaired by C.K. Birla, with Amita Birla serving as co-chairman.
i.The rebranding reflects the organization’s shift from its manufacturing origins to becoming a services-led
enterprise with technology at its core.
• It underscores the Group’s dedication to empowering people and recognizing diverse talents and
leadership as pivotal to continued success.
ii.The CKA Birla Group encompasses several companies across various sectors: Birlasoft Limited, GMMCO
Limited, National Engineering Industries Limited (manufacturer of NBC Bearings), BirlaNu Limited
(formerly HIL Limited), Orient Electric Limited, CK Birla Healthcare Private Limited (CK Birla Hospitals and
Birla Fertility & IVF), Orient Paper & Industries Limited, AVTEC Limited, and Neosym Industry Limited.

Porter Becomes India’s 3rd Unicorn of 2025 by Raising USD 200 million in Series F Round
In May 2025, Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Porter, an on-demand logistics platform, raised USD 200
million (approximately Rs.1700 crore) in a Series F funding round, making it India’s 3rd unicorn of
2025 following Netradyne and Juspay.
• Porter also aims to improve the efficiency of urban logistics, with a focus on supporting Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and empowering gig economy workers.
Key Details of the Funding:
i.Investors: Led by Kedaara Capital Investment Managers Limited (Mumbai, Maharashtra -based private
equity firm) and Wellington Management Company (Boston, United States of America, USA-based global
asset manager).
ii.Funding Type: Mix of primary capital infusion and secondary share sales by existing shareholders.
iii.Purpose: Expand operations to new cities, strengthen tech (technology) infrastructure, and support over
1 million gig workers.
iv.With this fundraise, Porter’s valuation is reported to be in the range of USD 1.1 billion to USD 1.2
billion, qualifying it as a unicorn (a startup valued at over USD 1 billion).
What is Series F Funding?
i.A Series F funding round is a sixth major round of venture capital funding that typically occurs after earlier
rounds such as Series A, B, C, D, and E.
ii.It usually involves mature startups or private companies that have already raised significant capital in
earlier rounds and are now seeking additional funds.
About Porter:
i.Porter was founded in 2014 by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) graduates Pranav Goel, Uttam Digga
(Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Porter), and Vikas Choudhary, Executive Vice Chairman of Porter.
ii.It provides Intra-city logistics solutions, including on-demand trucks, packers and movers, and enterprise
logistics.
iii.It currently operates in 22 cities across India and has a presence in two international markets, serving
over 30 lakh customers and engaging around 3 lakh gig workers monthly.

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SBI joins global top 100 in net profit, becomes third Indian firm to achieve the milestone
Mumbai(Maharashtra) based State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest Public Sector Bank (PSB), has reached
a new milestone by becoming one of the world’s most profitable companies.
• With a net profit of USD 9.2 billion (Rs. 77,561 crore) in Financial Year 2024-25(FY25), SBI now
ranks 98th globally in terms of annual earnings, according to data from Bloomberg.
Key Points:
i.SBI becomes the third Indian company to enter the top 100 most profitable companies in the world
after New Delhi(Delhi) based Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) in 2009,and Mumbai
(Maharashtra) based Reliance Industries Limited(RIL) in 2021.
ii.SBI’s rise in the global rankings is largely due to its strong financial performance, with a 31% compound
annual growth (CAGR) in net profit over the last five years.
iii.This comes nearly a decade after SBI’s merger with five associate banks that made it one of the world’s
top 50 banks by assets.
Key Highlights:
i.SBI has now joined the ranks of some of the world’s most profitable companies like Alphabet, Apple,
NVIDIA, and JPMorgan Chase.
ii.Alphabet, the parent company of Google, tops the list with a profit of USD 111 billion, showing the strong
earnings power of tech companies.
• Saudi Aramco comes next with USD105 billion, proving that the energy sector continues to be
very profitable.
• Other tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Meta are also in the top 10.
iii.The list is led by United States of America (USA) companies with 43 entries, followed by China with 19
companies and Germany comes third with five companies in the list.
About State Bank of India(SBI):
i.SBI is a Public Sector Bank(PSB) and financial services company, headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
ii.In 2017, SBI merged with 5 five of its associates:State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (SBBJ), State Bank of
Hyderabad (SBH), State Bank of Mysore (SBM), State Bank of Patiala (SBP) and State Bank of Travancore
(SBT). The merger also included the Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB).
Chairman –Challa Sreenivasulu Setty
Established – 1955
Tagline – Pure Banking, Nothing Else

JSW One Platforms Achieves Unicorn Status After USD 40 Million Funding
On May 13, 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based JSW One Platforms Limited, the Business-to-Business
(B2B) e-commerce arm of JSW Group, secured approximately USD 40 million (Rs. 340 crore) in a funding
round led by Principal Asset Management, OneUp, and JSW Steel. This investment propels the company’s
valuation to USD 1 billion, marking its entry into India’s unicorn club.
• The latest funding round marks a threefold increase in valuation for JSW One Platforms since
April 2023, when Tokyo (Japan)-based Mitsui & Co., Ltd. invested Rs. 205 crores (approximately
USD 25 million) in the company.
Utilization of Funds:
i.The capital raised will be utilized to strengthen national supply chain leadership in the steel and cement
categories, and to enhance distribution and logistics networks across India.
ii.It will also help scale the fintech and Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) arms, and expand access to
credit for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across India.
iii.These initiatives will be supported by developing a robust technological infrastructure to provide an
integrated digital procurement experience for small businesses.

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Note: In March 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based JSW Steel Limited became the world’s highest-valued
steelmaker with a market capitalisation exceeding USD 30 billion.
About JSW Group:
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) – Sajjan Jindal
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Founded – 1982

UN Lowers India’s GDP Growth Forecast to 6.3% for CY25

In May 2025, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) released its latest
report titled ‘The World Economic Situation and Prospects as of mid-2025’. The report has revised
down India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for Calendar Year 2025 (CY25) to 6.3%, down
from 7.1% in CY24.
• Despite this downward projection, India remains one of the world’s fastest-growing large
economies, supported by strong consumption and government spending.
• Also, India’s GDP is projected to grow marginally in CY26 to 6.4%.
Key Points:
i.This latest report is the update of UN-DESA’s previous report titled “World Economic Situation and
Prospects (WESP) 2025”, released on January 09, 2025.
ii.The report is prepared by the Global Economic Monitoring Branch in the Economic Analysis and Policy
Division of UN-DESA.
India-Specific Findings:
i.The report cited that unemployment in India, remains largely stable amid steady economic conditions,
however, it cautioned about persistent gender disparities in employment and emphasized on the need for
greater inclusivity in workforce participation.
ii.The report projected India’s inflation to decline from 4.9% (in CY24) to 4.3% (in CY25), which is in line
with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s 2 to 6% medium-term target range.
Global Scenario:
i.The report has projected that global economic growth rate will be at 2.4% (in 2025) and 2.5% (in 2026).
These projections are 40 basis points (bps) lower compared to previous estimates made in January 2025.
ii.As per the report, global headline inflation is projected to decrease from 4.0% (in 2024) to 3.6% (in 2025),
which is 20 bps higher than the January forecast (3.4%).
iii.The United States of America (USA) economy is expected to grow from 2.8% (in 2024) to 1.6% (in 2025),
with higher tariffs and policy uncertainty are likely to impact private investment and consumption.
v.The growth rate of China is projected to decrease from 4.9% (in 2024) to 4.6% (in 2025), due to subdued
consumer sentiment, disruptions in export-oriented manufacturing and ongoing property sector challenges.
vi.The growth rate of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) is projected to decline from 4.5% (in 2024) to 4.1%
(in 2025).
• The report outlined certain challenges that may dampen the growth and increase the risk of debt
distress: declining export revenues, tightening financial conditions.
About United Nations Department of Economic & Social Affairs (UN-DESA):
Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Economic and Social Affairs – Li Junhua (China)
Headquarters-New York, the United States of America (USA)
Establishment – 1948

MSCI May 2025: Coromandel, Nykaa added to Global Standard Index

In May 2025, Global index provider New York, United States of America (USA) based fintech firm Morgan
Stanley Capital International(MSCI) announced the inclusion of Secunderabad (Telangana)

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based Coromandel International Limited and Mumbai(Maharashtra) based FSN E-Commerce Ventures
Limited (Nykaa) in its MSCI Global Standard Index as part of its semi-annual index review.
• These changes will be effective from the close of trading on 30th May 2025.
Key Highlights:
i.Coromandel International Limited, a leading agrochemical company, and FSN E-Commerce Ventures
Limited (Nykaa), a prominent beauty and fashion e-commerce platform, have been added to the MSCI Global
Standard Index.
ii.Both companies have also been added to the MSCI India Domestic Index, reflecting their growing
prominence in the Indian equity market.
iii. No Indian companies were removed from the MSCI Global Standard Index in this review.
iv.Additionally, 12 new stocks have been added to the MSCI India Domestic Smallcap Index, while 21 stocks
have been removed, indicating a significant reshuffling in the small-cap segment.

Morgan Stanley upgrades India’s growth forecast to 6.2% for FY26 and 6.5% for FY27
On May 21st 2025, the global financial services firm, Morgan Stanley upgraded its forecast for the Indian
economy to 6.2% Year-on-Year (YoY) for Financial Year (FY) 2026, up from 6.1% and 6.5% for FY 2027, up
from 6.3%.
• The report noted that the easing of the United States-China trade tensions has slightly improved
the outlook for external demand.
Key Findings:
i.As per the report, India’s growth momentum will primarily be driven by domestic demand, due to the
uncertainties present in the external environment.
• Also, policy support is expected to reinforce this trajectory through easier monetary policy and
fiscal efforts will continue to prioritise capital expenditure.
Note: The RBI has projected a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 6.5% for FY26.
SBI Research projects Q4 FY25 GDP growth at 6.4–6.5%, flags global uncertainty as key risk
On May 21st 2025, State Bank of India research forecast India’s GDP growth for the 4th quarter of FY25
at 6.4–6.5%, citing a slight moderation in economic activity.
• Also, the full-year FY25 GDP is projected to grow at 6.3%, assuming no significant revisions to the
Q1-Q3 data by the National Statistics Office (NSO).
Key Highlights:
i.The projection is based on SBI Research’s proprietary ‘Nowcasting Model,’ which analyses 36 high-
frequency indicators linked to consumption and demand across sectors.
• The report also projects the growth in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) for manufacturing
decelerated from 4.1% in Q3 FY25 to 3.6% in Q4 FY25.
Note: As per International Monetary Fund (IMF), global growth is projected to drop to 2.8% in 2025 and 3%
in 2026.

USA-based Coinbase Joins S&P 500 Index as First Cryptocurrency Exchange

In May 2025, California, the United States of America (USA)-based Coinbase Global Inc. (COIN), became
the first cryptocurrency exchange to join the New York (USA) based Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P
500) Index.
• It replaced Illinois (USA) based Discover Financial Services (DFS) in the S&P 500 Index after DFS
was acquired by Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) based in Virginia (USA).
i.The S&P 500, which tracks 500 leading companies and represents 90% of the USA equity market
capitalization, highlights Coinbase’s inclusion as a significant milestone in the mainstream acceptance of
digital assets.

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ii.The inclusion coincided with Bitcoin (BTC-USD) surpassing USD 100,000, driven by pro-crypto policies
under US President Donald Trump.

ICRA Projected India’s GDP Growth at 6.9% in Q4 FY25; Full-Year Growth Estimated at 6.3%
In May 2025, Gurugram (Haryana) based ICRA Limited, a credit rating agency, projected India’s Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) growth at 6.9% for the fourth quarter (Q4) of the Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25),
up from 6.2% in Q3 of FY25.
• It also estimated the full-year of FY25 GDP growth at 6.3% from 9.2% in FY24.
Key Highlights of ICRA’s Forecast:
i.Gross Value Added (GVA) growth is projected at 6.3% in Q4 FY25, slightly higher than 6.2% in Q3 FY25.
iii.Full-year GDP and GVA growth for FY25 is expected to fall to 6.3% and 6.2%, respectively, from 9.2%
and 8.6% in FY24.
iv.Industrial GVA is estimated to grow at 4.8% in Q4 FY25, compared to 4.5% in Q3 FY25 and 9.5% in Q4
FY24.
v.Manufacturing GVA remained stable with a growth of 3.5% in Q4 FY25.

Fitch Ratings Revises India’s Medium-Term Growth Forecast to 6.4% for Next 5 Years
On May 22, 2025, New York (the United States of America, USA) based Global rating agency Fitch
Ratings has raised India’s medium-term growth potential by 0.2% points to 6.4% over the next five
years compared with 6.2% previously.
• This adjustment is part of Fitch’s updated projection of potential Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
growth for 10 emerging market economies over the next five years.
i.India’s growth projection was raised due to a higher employment rate and a slight rise in the working-age
population.
ii.This upward revision positions India as one of the fastest-growing major economies globally, with growth
projections of 6.4% in 2025, 6.3% in 2026, and 6.4% in 2027 .
ii.Another important factor in the outlook is Total Factor Productivity (TFP), Fitch Ratings expects India’s
TFP growth to slow and settle at its long-term average of 1.5%.
iii.Fitch Ratings has revised its five-year potential GDP growth forecast for emerging markets down to 3.9%
from the previous 4.0%.
Note: TFP also known as Multi-Factor Productivity (MFP), is a measure of economic efficiency. It is
calculated as the ratio of total output (such as GDP) to the combined inputs used in production, typically
including labour and capital.

India’s AM Green, Netherlands’ Port of Rotterdam partners for USD 1 Billion Green Energy Deal
On 26 May 2025, Hyderabad (Telangana) based AM Green (Formerly known as Greenko ZeroC), backed by
the founders of Greenko Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rotterdam
(Netherlands) based Port of Rotterdam Authority, to build a green energy supply chain linking India and
Northwestern Europe via the Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest energy port.
• The partnership aims to enable annual trade of 1 million tonnes of green fuels, including green
ammonia and Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) valued at USD 1 billion.
• AM Green is expected to begin its production at its green ammonia facility in Kakinada, Andhra
Pradesh (AP) in the second half of 2026 with the cost of Rs.12, 500 crores.
i.The MoU includes the supply of bunkering fuels and SAF, and analysing requirements for the development
of terminal infrastructure in Rotterdam and along the supply chain to Northwestern Europe.
ii.The MoU will develop port infrastructure for hydrogen fuel distribution, linking India’s green hydrogen

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hubs with European markets

iv.The phase 1 production of 1 million tonnes of green ammonia at Kakinada plant is primarily targeting the
export markets in Europe.

Pet Food Brand ‘Drools’ Becomes India’s Fourth Unicorn of 2025

In May 2025, Rajnandgaon (Chattisgarh) based Drools Pet Food Private Limited, backed by the United
States of America(USA) based L Catterton, has achieved Unicorn status followed by the purchase of
minority stake in Drools (Target) by Vevey (Switzerland) based Nestle S.A. (Acquirer), resulting in the
elevation in valuation of Drools to above USD 1 Billion. This strategic investment marks Nestlé’s first-ever
funding in an Indian brand
• Drools Pet Food has emerged as India’s first pet food brand to achieve unicorn status. It is
the fourth Indian startup to enter the unicorn club in 2025, after Bengaluru (Karnataka) based
Netradyne Technology Private Limited, Juspay Technologies Private Limited and Porter, an on-
demand logistics platform.
Note: Unicorn is a privately owned startup valued at USD1 billion or above.
Key Points:
i.This milestone follows a USD 60 million minority investment in Drools by Louis Vuitton-backed L
Catterton, a prominent global consumer-focused private equity firm, in June 2023.
ii.Drools, a pet food company, distributes its products across more than 40,000 retail outlets and exports to
22 countries.
iii.It operates 6 manufacturing units and offers over 650 Stock Keeping Units (SKU), including high-protein
and prescription diets for pets.
Note: India is one of the fastest growing pet care markets in the world and the market to grow by
approximately 20% annually over the next five years to reach over USD 1.2 billion in 2028.
About Drools Pet Food Private Limited:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Shashank Sinha
Headquarters – Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh
Founded – 2010

India Records USD 81.04 Billion FDI Inflow in FY25

In May 2025, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry(MoC&I) reported that India recorded provisional
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows of USD 81.04 billion in the Financial Year 2024–25(FY25),
marking a 14% rise compared to USD 71.28 billion received in FY24.
• FDI has steadily grown from USD 36.05 billion in FY14, reflecting strong investor confidence.
Note: FDI is when a company or government invests in a business or assets in another country, aiming to
maintain a lasting interest and significant control over its operations.
Key Highlights:
i.Over the past eleven financial years (FY14–FY25), India attracted USD 748.78 billion in FDI, reflecting a
143% increase compared to the USD 308.38 billion received during FY03–FY14.
• This constitutes nearly 70% of the total USD 1,072.36 billion in FDI received over the past 25
years.
ii.Also, the number of source countries for FDI increased from 89 in FY14 to 112 in FY25,
highlighting India’s growing global appeal.
ii.The services sector emerged as the top recipient of FDI equity in FY25, attracting 19% of total inflows,
followed by Computer software and hardware (16%) and Trading (8%).
• FDI into the services sector rose by 40.77% to USD 9.35 billion from USD 6.64 billion in the
previous year.

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iii.India is also becoming a hub for manufacturing FDI, which grew by 18% in FY25, reaching USD 19.04
billion compared to USD 16.12 billion in FY24.
Top FDI Sources and Destinations in FY25:
i.Maharashtra accounted for the highest share (39%) of total FDI equity inflows in FY25, followed by
Karnataka (13%) and Delhi (12%).
ii.In source countries, Singapore led with 30% share, followed by Mauritius (17%) and the United States of
America (USA) (11%).
India’s FDI evolution: 2014-2025:
i.Between 2014 and 2019, significant reforms included increased FDI caps in:
• Defence, Insurance, and Pension sectors, and liberalized policies for Construction, Civil Aviation,
and Single Brand Retail Trading.
ii.From 2019 to 2024, notable measures included allowing 100% FDI under the automatic route in coal
mining, contract manufacturing, and insurance intermediaries.
iii.In 2025, the Union Budget proposed increasing the FDI limit from 74% to 100% for companies investing
their entire premium within India.
Recent Related News:
As of April 2025, The Indian pharmaceutical industry is the world’s 3rd largest by volume and 11th largest
in terms of value. India is globally the largest supplier of generic drugs, accounting for 20% of global supply.
India is also one of the biggest suppliers of low-cost vaccines in the world.

India’s Coal Imports Fall 7.9% to 243.62 MT in FY25

In May 2025, the Ministry of Coal (MoC) announced that India’s coal imports declined by 7.9%
to 243.62 Million Tonnes (MT) during the financial year 2024-25 (FY25), compared to 264.53 MT in FY24.
• This reduction led to foreign exchange savings of approximately USD 7.93 billion (Rs. 60,681.67
crore) in FY25.
i.The Non-Regulated Sector (NRS), which includes cement, sponge iron, and captive power plants (excluding
the power sector), recorded the sharpest decline in coal imports with an 8.95% year-on-year(Y-o-Y)
decrease during FY25.
ii.While coal-based power generation registered a 3.04% growth in FY25, coal imports for blending
purposes by thermal power plants witnessed a significant decline of 41.4% compared to the previous fiscal
year.
iii.Initiatives such as Commercial Coal Mining and Mission Coking Coal, launched by the MoC to
boost domestic coal production and reduce dependency on imports, resulted in a 5% increase in coal
output during FY25 compared to FY24.

MoU’s & AGREEMENTS

MoL&E and Rapido Signed MoU to Enhance Employment via NCS Portal
In April 2025, the Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoL&E) signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Rapido Private Limited, a prominent ride-hailing service
provider, to enhance employment opportunities in the logistics sector through the National Career Service
(NCS) portal in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The MoU was signed in the presence of the Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, MoL&E and
the Minister of State (MoS) Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, MoL&E.
Key Features of the MoU:
i.Job Listings: Rapido will post 50 lakh verified opportunities for roles like bike taxi, auto, and cab drivers

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on the NCS portal over 1-2 years.

ii.Integration with NCS: The collaboration facilitates the posting of verified job opportunities for bike taxi,
auto, and cab drivers on the NCS portal, ensuring real-time updates and seamless application tracking
through Application Programming Interfaces (API)-based integration.
iii.Inclusive Hiring: Focus on youth, women, and individuals seeking flexible work.
iv.Digital Empowerment: Structured onboarding and awareness programs for worker welfare schemes.
Note: Rapido has recently launched the ‘Pink Rapido’ initiative, focusing on creating employment
opportunities for women.

India & Denmark Renews Energy Cooperation Pact to boost Net-Zero Emission
In May 2025, India and Denmark have renewed their long-term energy cooperation agreement by
signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to strengthen energy sector cooperation, which reflects
the continued commitment of both countries to accelerate clean energy transitions.
• The MoU was signed between Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power (MoP), Government
of India (GOI) and H.E. Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, Ambassador of Denmark to India, in the
presence of Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Ministry of Power(MoP),Ministry of Housing
& Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in New Delhi(Delhi).
Key Points:
i.The formal agreement follows five years of successful collaboration under the original MoU, signed on June
5, 2020, and initially set to expire on June 5, 2025.
ii.This proactive renewal of MoU has ensured continuity in dialogue and cooperation, allowing for a
seamless extension of joint efforts in energy sector development.
iii. The renewed agreement broadens the partnership to cover advanced areas such as power system,
integration of variable renewable energy, cross-border electricity trading and development of Electronic
Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
iv.It emphasizes increased knowledge exchange through expert interactions, joint training sessions, and
study tours. It also supports, India’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
About Denmark:
Prime Minister (PM) – Mette Frederiksen
Capital – Copenhagen
Currency – Danish Krone (DKK)

British Indian Minister Lisa Nandy Signed India-UK Cultural Pact in Delhi
The United Kingdom (UK)’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, paid a three-day
official visit to India from May 1 to 3, 2025 to strengthen cultural ties and foster collaboration between the
UK and India in various creative sectors.
• During the visit, She has signed a cultural cooperation agreement with Union
Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ministry of Culture (MoC) and Ministry of Tourism (MoT)
at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi (Delhi).
• During her visit to India, Lisa Nandy held a bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister(EAM)
Dr. S. Jaishankar on the sidelines of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES)
2025 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
About UK-India Cultural Cooperation Agreement:
The UK-India Programme of Cultural Cooperation is aimed to enhance bilateral cultural exchanges through
the arts and heritage and to promote long-term partnerships between creative businesses and cultural
institutions in both countries.
i.As per this new pact, the UK will work closely with India to support best practices and expertise

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on heritage conservation, museum management and digitisation of collections.

ii.Implementation of the newly signed agreement will involve entities like: the British Council in
India and MoC of Government of India (GoI).
• Apart from them, major UK cultural institutions like: Arts Council England, the British Library, the
British Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum Group and the V&A Museum,
will participate in the implementation of the agreement.
iii.The new pact has the potential for British museums to launch new partnerships on exhibitions or public
programmes that engage the Indian diaspora in the UK.
iv.The primary objective of the pact is to ensure knowledge contained in South Asian manuscripts is more
widely accessible and the protection of cultural property, with both countries committing to tackle the illicit
trafficking of cultural artefacts.
About the United Kingdom (UK):
Prime Minister (PM) – Keir Starmer
Capital- London
Currency- Pound Sterling (GBP)

TCS & IBM Partners to Develop Quantum Valley Tech Park in AP

In May 2025,Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS) and New York (United
States of America, USA) based International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation partnered with the
Government of Andhra Pradesh (AP) to set up India’s largest quantum computer at the upcoming
Quantum Valley Tech Park, located in Amaravati, AP.
• This initiative is aligned with India’s National Quantum Mission (NQM), which aims to establish
the country as a global hub in quantum computing, fostering innovation, job creation, and
advanced research capabilities.
i.The Quantum Valley Tech Park, envisioned as India’s first of its kind, will be anchored by an IBM
Quantum System Two installation, featuring a 156-qubit Heron quantum processor, the largest quantum
computer in India.
ii.Through this collaboration, TCS will develop quantum algorithms and sector-specific applications to
address critical challenges in Life sciences, Material science, Supply chain resilience, Energy optimization,
Cryptography and Sustainable manufacturing.
iii.IBM and TCS aim to accelerate the development of India’s quantum ecosystem by enabling access to
cloud-based IBM quantum systems for developers, scientists, and technologists across the region.
iv.The tech park’s infrastructure will also support hybrid computing architectures, combining quantum,
classical Central Processing Units (CPU), and Graphical Processing Unit (GPU) systems to solve complex
computational problems.

India AI mission partners with Intel India to bolster AI capabilities and skilling
In May 2025, Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Intel Technology India Private Limited has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India AI, National Artificial Intelligence (AI), Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), to advance AI capabilities and skill development across the
country.
• The MoU aims to empower young individuals, professionals, startups, and public sector leaders
with AI competencies, to develop and apply AI skills for social impact and good governance.
Key Initiatives of the Partnership:
The collaboration focuses on four key programmes:
i.YuvaAI, aims to equip school students with AI knowledge through the ‘Intel AI for Youth’ program, while
higher education students will be trained for employability through the ‘Intel AI for Future Workforce’

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initiative.
ii.StartupAI, will provide technical, business and market access mentorship to early-stage companies
through individual and group workshops hosted by the ‘Intel Startup’ Program.
iii.IndiaAI Dialogues and ‘Intel Digital Readiness for Leaders Programme’ initiative will offer workshops
and immersive sessions to enhance AI policy understanding among public sector leaders.
iv.Bhashini, the government’s language translation platform, will be integrated into AI-powered Personal
Computers (PCs) in classrooms. This will improve the learning outcomes.

AP Signs MoU with CLA to Establish India’s First Transmedia Entertainment City
In May 2025, the Government of Andhra Pradesh(AP)signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
Mumbai (Maharashtra) based CreativeLand Asia(CLA) Limited to conceptualize and
operationalize ‘Creatorland’, India’s first Transmedia Entertainment City, in Amaravati, AP.
• The announcement was made during the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit 2025
(WAVES 2025) held in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Key Features of Creatorland:
i.Investment: The project is expected to attract investments ranging from Rs 8,000 crore to Rs 10,000 crore
over the next 5–6 years.
ii.Infrastructure: Creatorland will encompass immersive theme parks, advanced gaming zones, esports
arenas, and global cinema co-production zones. A significant component will be the Virtual Studio Complex,
equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based real-time rendering and volumetric capture technologies.
iii. Skill Development: The establishment of Creatorland Academy aims to train over 10,000 youth
annually in areas such as Visual Effects (VFX), AI, gaming, and immersive storytelling.
• The initiative is projected to generate over 1.5 lakh employment opportunities across
entertainment, technology, and tourism sectors.

UP Govt signs MoU with Australia’s Monash University to elevate Educational Standards
On May 29, 2025, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
Melbourne (Australia) based Monash University, with an aim to elevate the educational standards to
international standards in UP in the presence of Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow, UP.
The MoU in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 would promote multidimensional
learning, skill development, and international cooperation.
i.The agreement will provide students and faculty members from basic, secondary, and higher education
institutions across the state with a global platform for research, innovation, training, and technical
collaboration.
ii.The partnership will incorporate quality, innovation and global perspective in the education system of the
state and will prove helpful in preparing the youth for global competition.
iv.Noida (UP) based Gautam Buddha University will be the central hub for implementing the partnership.

Govt Boosts Inland Waterways for Logistics Movement, Signs Agreement With Rhenus Group
In May 2025, The Noida, Uttar Pradesh based Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency
for National Waterways under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the global logistics major Rhenus Group (Germany) to boost
the inland waterways sector of India.
• This MoU facilitates Rhenus Logistics India Pvt. Ltd. to launch scheduled barge operations across
key National Waterways (NWs) in India.
• This partnership also aims to integrate global best practices into the Indian Inland Water
Transport (IWT) ecosystem.

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Key Highlights:
i.Under this MoU, Rhenus will introduce 100 barges in a phased manner in the NWs, starting with 20 barges
and 6 pushers in the first phase, aiming to handle over one million tonnes of cargo annually by the end of
2025.
ii.The MoU will introduce Inland Waterways Transport solutions and barge scheduled services, with plans
to expand to 100 barges in the coming years.
iii.Rhenus will initially operate on National Waterways 1 (Ganga), 2 (Brahmaputra), and 16 (Barak), as well
as the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route.
iv.These operations will facilitate the movement of bulk and break-bulk cargo across North, East, and
Northeast India, with gradual expansion to other NWs.
v.The partnership is a testament to the success of ‘Jal Marg Vikas’ Project for the capacity augmentation of
NW.
National Waterways Growth Data:
i.The number of operational NWs has grown from 3 in 2014-15 to 29 in 2024-25.
ii.Cargo movement has surged from 30 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MMTPA) in 2014-15 to 145.84
MMTPA in 2024-25, contributing to an overall movement of over 779 MMT in the past decade.
iii.The sector covers 14,500 kilometre (km) of navigable waterways across 111 declared NWs.
About Jal Marg Vikas (JMV):
The JMV project being implemented by the IWAI and funded by World Bank aims to improve the
navigability of the 1390 km stretch of NW1 from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh (UP) to Haldia in West Bengal.
About Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways:
Union Minister – Sarbananda Sonowal (Constituency – Dibrugarh, Assam)
Minister of State (MoS) – Shantanu Thakur (Constituency – Bangaon, West Bengal, WB)

India & UK Conclude FTA and Double Contribution Convention

In May 2025, Prime Minister(PM) of India Narendra Modi and PM of the United Kingdom (UK) Keir
Starmer announced the successful conclusion of a Comprehensive and Mutually Beneficial India–UK Free
Trade Agreement (FTA) along with a Double Contribution Convention to boost bilateral trade,
investment, and economic growth.
• The India–UK FTA aligns with India’s vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) 2047 and is
expected to significantly enhance India’s participation in global value chains.
Background:
Negotiations for the India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) were officially launched on January 13, 2022.
After 14 rounds of negotiations, the two sides successfully concluded the agreement on May 6, 2025.
Key Highlights:
i.The FTA ensures zero-duty market access for 99% of Indian exports to the UK, covering almost 100% of
the trade value.
ii. It provides a major push to labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, marine products, leather, footwear,
sports goods, toys, gems and jewellery, and other sectors including engineering goods, auto parts and
engines, and organic chemicals.
iii.The FTA also facilitates mobility for skilled professionals, including Independent Professionals, Business
Visitors, and Intra-Corporate Transferees along with their dependents.
Impact:
i.India received strong commitments from the UK in Services, especially in Information Technology
(IT)/Information Technology Enabled Services (ITeS), financial services, professional services, educational
services, and other business services.

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ii.The agreement promotes sustainable and inclusive growth, ensures resilient supply chains, and supports
the ease of doing business.
iii.Bilateral trade between India and the UK currently stands at USD 60 billion, and the FTA is expected
to double this volume by 2030.
About the Free Trade Agreement (FTA):
A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is a legally binding pact between two or more countries aimed at reducing or
eliminating barriers to trade. These agreements facilitate the free flow of goods and services across borders
by minimizing tariffs, quotas, and other trade restrictions.
• As of May 2025, India has signed 14 FTAs and 6 Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with
various countries and regional blocs.
About Double Contribution Convention:
Alongside the FTA, the Double Contribution Convention was established to prevent double taxation for
workers temporarily assigned between the two countries.
• Under this arrangement, Indian employees seconded to the UK are exempt from paying National
Insurance Contributions, instead continuing contributions to India’s social security system, and
vice versa for British workers in India.
About the United Kingdom (UK):
Prime Minister(PM) – Sir Keir Starmer
Capital – London
Currency – Pound Sterling (GBP)

NIRL Signs PPA with RVUNL for 810 MW Solar Project in Rajasthan
In May 2025, Neyveli (Tamil Nadu, TN)-based Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) India Renewables Limited
(NIRL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NLC India Limited, signed a Power Purchase Agreement
(PPA) with Jaipur (Rajasthan)-based Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RVUNL) for
its 810 Megawatt (MW) solar power project.
• The project was awarded to NIRL through a competitive tariff-based bidding by RVUNL and is
being implemented under Mode 8 of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) Ultra
Mega Renewable Energy Power Park (UMREPP) Scheme.
i.The solar power project will be developed at the Pugal Solar Park, situated in the Bikaner district of
Rajasthan.
• This region is characterized by barren lands and abundant solar radiation, making it highly
suitable for solar energy generation.
ii.It is expected to produce about 2 Billion Units (BU) of green electricity every year, helping India move
closer to its Renewable Energy(RE) goals.
iii.Additionally, it is projected to offset around 1.5 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of carbon dioxide (CO₂)
emissions each year.
Note: NLCIL was the first Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) in India to establish 1 GW of RE
projects.

Airtel Africa Partners with SpaceX’s Starlink to Expand Satellite Internet Services in Africa
In May 2025, New Delhi (Delhi) based Bharti Airtel’s subsidiary Airtel Africa, has partnered with the United
States of America (USA) based Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX), led by Elon Musk, to
deploy Starlink’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet services across Africa.
• As of May 2025, SpaceX has secured the necessary operating licenses in nine of the 14 countries
where Airtel Africa operates. Regulatory processes are underway for the remaining five countries.

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Note: Airtel Africa operates in Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi,
Niger, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
i.The collaboration aims to enhance digital connectivity for enterprises, small businesses, and socio-
economic institutions such as schools and health centers, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach
regions of Africa.
ii.By integrating Starlink’s LEO satellite technology, Airtel Africa seeks to provide broader coverage and
higher connectivity resilience.
iii.Additionally, Airtel Africa plans to explore rural coverage expansion through cellular backhauling (data
transmission between cell towers and networks) supported by satellite links.
iv.As of May 2025, Starlink provides satellite internet services in over 125 countries and territories
worldwide, spanning all seven continents.

India’s Paras Defence & Israel’s HevenDrones Established JV to Manufacture Hydrogen-Powered

Drones
In May 2025, Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Paras Defence & Space Technologies Limited, a leading
Indian defence engineering company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Israel-
based HevenDrones Limited, a subsidiary of United States of America (USA)-based Heven, to establish a
Joint Venture (JV) for designing, manufacturing and supplying Hydrogen(H)-powered drones, marking
the first of its kind in India.
• The new JV aims to indigenously design and produce next-generation Unmanned Aerial Systems
(UAS) in alignment with the Government of India’s Make in India initiative.
i.It will be the exclusive platform to introduce Hydrogen-powered drones in India, featuring Extended flight
endurance, Modular payload capabilities and Ready-to-fly configurations.
ii.The drones will support operations in Logistics for remote and border areas, Tactical surveillance,
Defence supply chains and High-altitude missions.
iii.HevenDrones will provide the JV with its technology, prototypes, and production manuals, while Paras
Defence will manage manufacturing, regulatory approvals, sales, and overall operations in India.
iv.The JV’s board will consist of representatives from both companies, jointly appointing a Chief Executive
Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Coal Ministry signs Coal Gasification Plant Development and Production Agreement
On May 8, 2025, the Ministry of Coal (MoC) signed the Coal Gasification Plant Development and Production
Agreement (CGPDPA), with selected applicants under category II of the Coal Gasification Financial
Incentive Scheme (FIS), to promote clean and sustainable energy alternatives.
• The applicants chosen under Category II, comprising both private sector firms and government
Public Sector Undertakings(PSUs), include New Delhi(Delhi) based Jindal Steel and Power
Limited(JSP), Mumbai(Maharashtra) based New Era Cleantech Solution Private Limited and
Chennai(Tamil Nadu, TN) based Greta Energy and Metal Private Limited.
Note: Coal gasification is a process that converts carbon-based raw material like coal into fuel gas or
synthesis gas (syngas) and is considered a cleaner option as compared to burning coal.
Key People:
The CGPDPA was signed in the presence of Sanoj Kumar Jha, Additional Secretary, MoC, along with
Asheesh Kumar, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) (Technical), and BK Thakur, Director (Technical), MoC.
About Financial Incentive Scheme (FIS) for Coal Gasification:
i.The scheme was launched with a total outlay of Rs.8,500 crore in 2024, with an aim to achieve 100
million tonnes of coal gasification by 2030.

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ii.It encourages participation from both public and private sector players to establish coal gasification
projects across the country.
Categories:
The participants are divided into 3 categories:
i.Category I includes government PSUs, was sanctioned Rs.4050 crore.
• Under this category, up to 3 projects are supported with a grant of Rs.1350 crore for 15% of
Capital Expenditure (Capex); whichever is lower.
• The grant will be paid to the selected applicants in two equal installments.
ii.Category II, includes both government PSUs and Private sector companies with a sanction amount of
Rs.3850 crore.
• Under this, at least 1 project is bid out on a tariff-based bidding process and its criteria is
designed in consultation with NITI(National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog.
• A grant of Rs.1000 crore or 15% of capex, whichever is lower, is provided.
• The selection of applicants is carried out through a transparent bidding process.
iii.Category III, provisioned with Rs600 crore, includes demonstration projects with indigenous technology
and/or small-scale product-based Gasification Plants.
• Under this, a grant of Rs100 crore or 15% of capex, whichever is lower, is given to the selected
entity, with a minimum capex of Rs100 crore and minimum production of 1500 Nm3/hr Syn gas
(Normal Cubic Meter/ hour synthesis Gas)
• The selection of applicants is carried out through a transparent bidding proces.
About the Ministry of Coal (MoC):
Union Minister – G Kishan Reddy (Constituency – Secunderabad, Telangana)
Minister of State (MoS) – Satish Chandra Dubey (Rajya Sabha – Bihar)

India & Chile sign Term of Reference for CEPA

On 8 May 2025, India and Chile have signed Term of Reference (ToR) for a Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Agreement (CEPA), marking a significant advancement in the bilateral trade relations between
the two countries.
• The ToR was signed by H. E. Juan Angulo, Ambassador of Chile in India and Vimal Anand, Joint
Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I) and also the
Chief Negotiator India-Chile CEPA from the Indian side.
• The first round of negotiations for the CEPA is scheduled to begin on May 26, 2025.
Background:
i.The ToR signed, is a plan to widen the scope for a CEPA between India and Chile, who implemented a
Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) in 2006.
ii.An expanded PTA was subsequently signed in September 2016 and became effective from May 16, 2017.
iii.In April 2019, both countries agreed to pursue a further expansion of the PTA.
iv.Earlier, a Framework Agreement on Economic Cooperation was signed between the two countries in
2005.
Key Points:
i.The CEPA aims to build upon the existing PTA between the two nations.
ii.CEPA seeks to encompass a broader range of sectors, including digital services, investment promotion and
cooperation, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), critical minerals etc., to enhance economic
integration and cooperation.
iii.India and Chile intends to deepen their economic engagement by unlocking the full potential of their
trade and commerce relationship, boosting employment, facilitating investment promotion, and cooperation
and exports.

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About Chile:
President – Gabriel Boric Font
Capital – Santiago
Currency – Chilean Peso (CLP)

C-DOT and CSIR-NPL Signed MoU for Advancing Quantum and Classical Communication
Technologies
In May 2025, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), India’s leading telecom research
institution under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications (MoC) signed
a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with New Delhi (Delhi) the Council of Scientific & Industrial
Research – National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), the National Metrology Institute (NMI) of India, to
collaborate on advancing indigenous communication technologies.
• The MoU aims to establish a long-term collaborative framework focused on the research,
development, standardization, and delivery of next-generation communication technologies.
i.C-DOT brings expertise in network protocols, Internet of Things (IoT), and quantum communications.
ii.CSIR-NPL contributes proficiency in scientific measurement, standardization, and traceability to the
International System of Units (SI).
iii.The partnership aims to enhance the security of digital communication systems through the development
and implementation of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) techniques.
iv.The development of Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based control electronics will be prioritized
to improve the hardware capabilities required for efficient quantum systems.

Karnataka & IN-SPACe signs two MoUs to Establish Space Manufacturing Park and CoE
In May 2025, the Government of Karnataka and Ahmedabad, Gujarat based Indian National Space
Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to
bolster the state’s position in India’s commercial space sector. The agreements focus on establishing a
Centre of Excellence (CoE) for space technologies and a public-private space manufacturing park.
• The MoUs were signed by Dr. Ekroop Caur, Secretary to the Government (Electronics, IT,
Biotechnology, and Science & Technology), Government of Karnataka, and Lochan Sehra,Joint
Secretary, IN-SPACe in the presence of Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, IAS, Chief Secretary to the
Government of Karnataka, and Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe.
i.Key Initiatives:
• Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Space Technologies: To be established
in Bengaluru(Karnataka), this center aims to drive research and innovation in space
technologies.
• Space Manufacturing Park: A public-private partnership model will be adopted to set up a
manufacturing park focused on next-generation satellite and launch-vehicle production.
ii.These initiatives align with the Indian Space Policy, 2023, aiming to promote innovation and support the
state’s NewSpace ecosystem.
iii.Karnataka’s existing infrastructure, including institutions like the Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL),
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), and National Aerospace
Laboratories (NAL), provides a robust foundation for these developments.

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India’s HLL Lifecare Limited Signed a Agreement with Maldives’s STO for Supply of Essential
Medicines under PMBJP
In May 2025, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala based HLL Lifecare Limited (formerly Hindustan Latex
Limited), a Government of India (GoI) enterprise under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW)
has signed a strategic agreement with the State Trade Organisation Plc (STO), a Government of Maldives
enterprise responsible for the import and distribution of essential goods, under Pradhan Mantri
Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), GoI’s flagship initiative aimed at providing affordable, high-
quality medicines to the public.
• Under this agreement, India has pledged its support to Maldives by ensuring the supply of
essential medicines through HLL Lifecare Limited.
• The agreement links HLL’s vast Janaushadi network, which facilitates more than 2,000 quality-
assured generics and 300 surgical items, which will help Maldives to tap one of the world’s most
efficient pharmaceutical supply chains.
Need of Agreement:
i.Over the last one year, the health system of Maldives has faced challenges with frequent stock-outs of
important pharmaceuticals, disrupting patient care and placing major stress on Aasandha, the national
health scheme of Maldives.
ii.99% of the availability of essential medicines was restored through Emergency imports by April 2025, but
short-term solutions alone cannot ensure sustainable access.
About Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP):
i.It was launched in November 2008 by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) under the Ministry of
Chemicals & Fertilizers (MoC&F), in collaboration with Central Pharma Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
• The scheme is being implemented through the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of
India (PMBI) under DoP.
ii.Under this scheme, quality medicines at affordable prices i.e. cost 50% to 80% less than branded
medicines in the market, are provided to the public through dedicated outlets called
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK).
• As of February 28 2025, total 15,057 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) are operational in India.
iii.Jan Aushadhi Diwas (Generic Medicine Day) is annually observed on March 07 across India to raise
awareness about the significance of generic medicines and to highlight the benefits of PMBJP.
India Extended Financial Support to Maldives via Rollover of USD 50 Million Treasury Bill
In May 2025, the GoI has extended its financial support to Maldives via the rollover of USD 50
million Treasury Bill for another one year. This reflects the robust friendship between two countries and
supports the Maldives’ ongoing fiscal reforms.
• Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based the State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest Public Sector Bank,
has subscribed for one more year, a USD 50 million Government Treasury issued by the Ministry
of Finance (MoF), following the request of the Government of Maldives.
Note: Treasury Bills (T-Bills) ‘rollover’ is a process of reinvesting the proceeds received from maturing T-
bill into a new T-bill, effectively extending the investment term.
Key Points:
i.Since March 2019, the GoI has been providing subscription of various such Treasury Bills by the SBI and
rolling them over, annually, interest-free to the Government of Maldives.
ii.Maldives is one of India’s key maritime neighbours and also an important partner in India’s
‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ and Vision ‘MAHASAGAR’ (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and
Growth Across Regions).

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About Maldives:
President- Mohamed Muizzu
Capital- Malé
Currency- Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)

NLCIL signs MoU with IREL for Collaboration in Critical Minerals

In May 2025, Neyveli (Tamil Nadu, TN) -based Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLCIL), a Public
Sector Undertaking (PSU) under Ministry of Coal(MoC) has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based IREL (India) Limited, formerly known as Indian
Rare Earths Limited, to jointly explore and develop opportunities in the critical minerals and Rare Earth
Elements (REE) sector.
• The MoU was signed by V. Saravana Nagarajan, Chief General Manager(GM)(Mine Planning),
NLCIL and Ravi Prakash Jha, General Manager (Technical-Protects), IREL in the presence of
Prasanna Kumar Acharya, Director (Finance), NLCIL.
i.Under the agreement, the two companies will collaborate on the development of mutually agreed critical
mineral assets, including activities such as mining, excavation and refining.
ii.The partnership aims to acquire and source raw materials both domestically and internationally, in line
with the Government of India (GoI)’s push for public sector enterprises to secure critical mineral assets with
a clear timeline.

GDAI and SEPC Signed MoU to Boost India’s Gaming & Esports Sectors
In May 2025, Hyderabad (Telangana) based Game Developers Association of India (GDAI) and the New
Delhi (Delhi) based Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC), under Ministry of Commerce and Industry
(MoC&I), Government of India (GoI), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the World Audio
Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) Summit 2025 in Mumbai (Maharashtra).
• This partnership aims to strengthen India’s gaming and esports sector by promoting
collaboration, innovation, and global outreach.
Key Objectives of the MoU:
i.Facilitate Investments: GDAI and SEPC will work jointly to attract bilateral investments and establish
joint ventures in the gaming sector.
ii.Global Market Access: The partnership focuses on international promotion of Indian game developers
and companies to enhance their global reach.
iii.Skill Development: Initiatives will be launched to train professionals, strengthen India’s talent pool, and
increase industry readiness.
iv.Technological Advancements: The alliance will support development in emerging technologies such as
Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), metaverse, gamification, animation,
and visual effects (VFX).
v.Export Promotion: A consortium of Indian companies will be formed to boost India’s esports and video
game export potential.

India’s Adani Group & Bhutan’s DGPC Signed MoU to Develop 5,000 MW Hydropower Projects in
Bhutan
In May 2025, Ahmedabad (Gujarat) based Adani Group and Thimphu (Bhutan) based Druk Green Power
Corporation Limited (DGPC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop 5,000
Megawatt (MW) of hydropower projects in Bhutan.
• The MoU was signed by Dasho Chhewang Rinzin, Managing Director (MD), DGPC, and Naresh
Telgu, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Adani Green Hydro (Pumped Storage Projects & Hydro) in

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the presence of the Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister(PM) of Bhutan and Lyonpo Gem
Tshering, Minister for Energy and Natural Resources in Thimphu, Bhutan.
Key Highlights:
i.The 5,000 MW hydropower initiative will include hydropower and pumped storage projects to be
identified, studied through Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and implemented in phases.
ii.This development builds on the existing partnership between DGPC and Adani for the Wangchhu
Hydropower Project, which has a proposed capacity of 570 MW (expandable to 900 MW).
• In this project, DGPC holds a majority stake of 51%, while Adani holds 49%.
iii.The MoU aligns with Bhutan’s Renewable Energy(RE) Roadmap, which aims to add 20,000 MW of RE

MP & Maharashtra Signed MoU for ‘Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project’
In May 2025, the Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP) and the Government of Maharashtra signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Bhopal (MP) to implement the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge
Project worth Rs 19,244 crore, touted as the world’s largest groundwater recharge initiative.
• The agreement was signed during the 28th MP-Maharashtra Inter-State Control Board meeting, in
the presence of MP Chief Minister (CM) Mohan Yadav and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis,
in Bhopal, MP.
About the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project:
i.Objectives: The project aims to tackle water scarcity, ensure sustainable irrigation, and strengthen
drinking water supply through groundwater recharge. It will provide permanent irrigation to:
• 1,23,082 hectares in MP (Burhanpur and Khandwa districts covering Burhanpur, Nepanagar,
Khaknar & Khalwa tehsils)
• 2,34,706 hectares in Maharashtra (Jalgaon, Akola, Buldhana & Amravati districts)
ii.Estimated Cost: Rs 19,244 crore (based on 2022–23 estimates)
• Central Funding: 90% of the project cost will be provided by the Government of India (GoI)
iii.Water Utilisation: 31.13 Thousand Million Cubic Feet (TMC)
• MP: 11.76 TMC
• Maharashtra: 19.36 TMC
iv.Key Infrastructure:
• Kharia Gutighat Low Diversion Weir (8.31 TMC capacity) on the MP-Maharashtra border.
• Right Bank Canal (Phase I): 221 kilometre (km) (110 km in MP) to irrigate 55,089 hectares.
• Left Bank Canals (Phases I & II): 135.64 km and 123.97 km to irrigate 44,993 hectares (MP) and
80,000 hectares (Maharashtra), respectively
Background:
Shift from Traditional Reservoir to Groundwater Recharge:
i.Initially proposed in the 1990s, the traditional model included a 66 TMC reservoir that would have
displaced 14,000 people and impacted forest and tiger reserve areas.
ii.The model was later revised to a groundwater recharge-based approach, promoting sustainable
development.
iii.This project marks the third major inter-state river initiative involving MP after:
• Ken-Betwa Link Project (with Uttar Pradesh, UP)
• Parvati–Kalisindh-Chambal Link Project (with Rajasthan)
About Tapti River:
The Tapti River originates from Multai in MP and flows westward for about 724 km, making it the second
longest west-flowing river in India after the Narmada River.
• It drains into the Gulf of Khambhat in the Arabian Sea, in Gujarat, and has 14 major tributaries, 10
on the left bank and 4 on the right bank.

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About Madhya Pradesh (MP):

Chief Minister (CM) – Mohan Yadav
Governor – Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel
Capital – Bhopal
Wildlife Sanctuary – Singhori Wildlife Sanctuary, Son Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary
About Maharashtra:
Chief Minister (CM) – Devendra Fadnavis
Governor – Chandrapuram Ponnusamy (C.P.) Radhakrishnan
Capital – Mumbai
National Park (NP) – Navegaon NP, Gugamal NP

C-DOT and Synergy Quantum Sign MoU to Jointly Develop Quantum Key Distribution Technology
suited for Drone based systems
In May 2025, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier telecom Research &
Development (R&D) institution under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of
Communications(MoC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bengaluru (Karnataka)
based Synergy Quantum India Private Limited.
• The agreement focuses on developing drone-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)
systems using the decoy-based BB84 protocol with polarization encoding at Technology
Readiness Level (TRL) 6 or above.
i.C-DOT and Synergy Quantum will combine their expertise to develop QKD technologies that can be
integrated into drone platforms.
ii.This partnership will focus on creating solutions that are both cost-effective and scalable, facilitating
widespread adoption in various applications.
iii.QKD is a secure communication method that uses quantum mechanics principles to enable two parties to
produce a shared random secret key, which can then be used to encrypt and decrypt messages.
It ensures unbreakable encryption, making it highly suitable for sensitive data transmission.

UNESCO & G20 Partner to Empower Civil Servants for Ethical AI Governance in Public Sector
In May 2025, Paris (France) based the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) and the Group of Twenty (G20), under the 2025 Presidency of South Africa, advanced their
strategic partnership to promote ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance by empowering public
services with both technical capabilities and ethical awareness.
• The initiative followed a global workshop organized on 11th April 2025 in Gqeberha, South
Africa, as part of a broader campaign to build human rights-based digital governance.
• The workshop assembled participants from G20 member states, invited guest nations, and
international organizations to discuss inclusive, transparent, and accountable use of AI in public
service delivery.
Key Objectives of the Workshop:
i.Role-Specific AI Training: Emphasized the need for tailored AI training programs for civil servants,
ensuring that policymakers and frontline staff acquire skills pertinent to their roles.
ii.Ethical AI Implementation: Highlighted the importance of embedding human rights and ethical
considerations into AI deployment to build public trust and ensure transparency.
iii.Public-Private Partnerships: Showcased initiatives like Singapore’s “AI Wednesdays,” promoting
collaboration between government, industry, and civil society to foster innovation and shared learning.
iv.Since 2021, UNESCO’s AI for the Public Sector Programme has supported over 50 countries by promoting

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the AI and Digital Transformation Competency Framework and guiding the development of ethical,
inclusive, and people-centric AI-powered governance.

Fiji signs MoU with India to source Medicines, Medical Equipment

In May 2025, the Government of Fiji has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
Government of India (GoI) to strengthen cooperation in the health sector.
• The MoU was signed between Penioni Ravunawa, Assistant Minister for Health, GoF and Pabitra
Margherita, Union Minister of State (MoS), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), GoI, in Suva, Fiji.
i.Under the MoU, Fiji government will source its medicines and medical equipment directly from the Indian
manufacturers.
ii.The MoU includes provisions for training and capacity-building programs for Fiji’s healthcare workforce.
These initiatives aim to strengthen Fiji’s healthcare system and improve service delivery.
iii.All medicines and medical supplies will henceforth be regulated through the Indian Pharmacopoeia
Commission (IPC), an autonomous agency operating under the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare(MoHFW), GoI.

Cochin Shipyard Collaborates with Drydocks World to Develop Ship Repair Clusters in India
In May 2025, Kochi (Kerala)-based Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), a Public Sector Enterprise under the
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) as entered into a strategic collaboration with Dubai,
United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Drydocks World, a wholly owned subsidiary of the DP World, to
develop world-class ship repair clusters across India.
• The collaboration is built on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in April 2025
during the visit of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of
Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, to India.
Key Points:
i.A high-level delegation from Drydocks World, led by Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Captain Rado Antolovic
visited CSL’s Main Yard, the newly Commissioned 310 metre (m) Dry Dock, International Ship Repair
Facility (ISRF) in Kochi, Kerala.
ii.The team also visited the Marine Engineering Training Institute in Kochi.
iii.This partnership aims to enhance India’s ship repair and offshore fabrication capabilities, aligning with
the government’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
About Drydock World:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Rado Antolovic
Headquarters – Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Founded – 1983

ASI in Collaboration with WMFI & TCS Foundation Restored Rajon ki Baoli
In May 2025, New Delhi (Delhi)-based Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ministry of Culture
(MoC) in collaboration the World Monuments Fund India (WMFI) and Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Tata
Consultancy Services (TCS foundation), has successfully restored a 16th century old step
well, ‘Rajon ki Baoli’ located at Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Jamali Kamali in New Delhi (Delhi).
• This restoration project was a part of WMFI’s Historic Water System of India initiative, funded by
TCS Foundation. Also, the project is in alignment with the World Monuments Fund(WMF)’s
Climate Heritage initiative.
• It reflects the significance of restoring traditional water systems as sustainable solutions for
water management, when the world is facing climate change.

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Key Points:
i.The restoration work of baoli included cleaning, de-silting, structural repair, and water quality
improvements, using conventional materials and techniques.
ii.The reservoir was cleaned, desilted, connected to proper drainage systems. Also, ASI introduced fish
which will help in maintaining the quality of water.
iii.Traditional materials like: lime plaster and mortar were used to preserve authenticity of the structure.
iv.Apart from restoration, local communities were engaged to promote awareness of the Baoli’s cultural and
ecological value.
About Rajon ki Baoli:
i.Rajon ki Baoli was built around 1506 during the Lodhi dynasty. It was built by Daulat Khan Lodi, an
official under Sikandar Lodi.
• It reflects as a testament to Lodhi-era architecture and conventional water engineering.
ii.This 4-tiered stepwell was designed to store water and provide shelter to travellers.
iii.Its beautiful arched colonnades, ornate stucco medallions with floral and geometric patterns, and finely
carved stone elements shows the artistic sophistication of the time.
iv.The baoli is spread across the area of 1,610 square meters (sq. m). It is 13.4 meters (m) deep, with the
main tank measuring 23 by 10 m at its base.
About Archaeological Survey of India (ASI):
It is the premier organisation for the archaeological research and protection of the cultural heritage of India.
Director General (DG)- Yadubir Singh Rawat
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 1861

BEL signs Contract with Indian Army to Manufacture IDDIS Counter Drone System
In May 2025, Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Navratna Defence Public
Sector Undertaking (DPSU) under Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with the Indian Army
Air Defence for the manufacture of the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System (IDDIS).
• IDDIS is jointly developed by the New Delhi(Delhi) based Defence Research and Development
Organization (DRDO) and BEL, marking a significant milestone under the Make in India initiative
of Government of India (GOI)
• The IDDIS is designed to detect, track and neutralize hostile drones, providing a crucial layer of
protection against evolving unmanned aerial threats.
Note: BEL has secured additional orders worth Rs.572 crores since the last disclosure on April 7, 2025. The
major orders include IDDIS, Software Defined Ratio (SDR) and Data Communication Unit (DCU) for attack
guns, AI based solutions for ships, simulators, communication equipment, jammers, spares, services etc.
About IDDIS Drone:
i.The IDDIS drone activates electronic jamming to disrupt drone communications and utilize high-energy
lasers to physically neutralize the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
ii.The IDDIS complements the Akashteer air defence system, which integrates surveillance assets, radar
systems, and command units into a unified network, enhancing situational awareness across the force.
iii.IDDIS detect drones at distances ranging from 5 to 8 kilometers (kms)
About Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL):
Chairman & Managing Director (MD) – Manoj Jain
Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka
Founded – 1954

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About Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO):

Chairman – Samir V Kamat
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Founded – 1958

ARIES-DST Signed MoU with IRDE-DRDO to Boost Ground-based SSA

In May 2025, Nainital (Uttarakhand) based Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational
Sciences (ARIES), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under
the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
Dehradun (Uttarakhand), Instruments Research & Development Establishment (IRDE) a laboratory under
the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to collaborate on strengthening India’s
capabilities in ground-based Space Situational Awareness (SSA).
• The primary aim of this MoU is to leverage ARIES’ advanced observational facilities and scientific
expertise in space exploration and astronomy to support IRDE in designing Electro-Optical
surveillance systems for defence platforms.
• The MoU was signed by Dr. Manish Kumar Naja, Director, ARIES, and Dr. Ajay Kumar, Director
of IRDE at Dehradun.
Key Highlights:
i.ARIES will provide access to its state-of-the-art national observing facilities such as:
• 3.6-metre(m) Devasthal Optical Telescope
• Stratosphere-Troposphere (ST) Radar system
ii.The collaboration will enable joint development of Electro-Optics-based systems for astronomy and SSA
applications.
iii. It also aims at developing image processing and data analysis techniques by integrating Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies.
iv.The MoU includes knowledge exchange, training activities, and capacity building through joint scientific
and technical research & development initiatives.
Note: Established in 1960, the IRDE is a premier DRDO laboratory specializing in the design and
development of Electro-Optical surveillance systems.
About Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES):
Director – Dr. Manish Kumar Naja
Headquarters – Nainital, Uttarakhand
Established – 2004

India, Maldives sign 13 MoUs for projects under Indian grant assistance
In May 2025, The Government of India(GoI) has signed 13 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with
the Government of Maldives for enhancing ferry services in the island nation with Maldivian
Rufiyaa (MVR) 100 million grant(approximately Rs.55.3 crore), expanding maritime connectivity and
uplifting community livelihoods.
• The MoUs were signed by Abdulla Khaleel, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Maldivian
government, and G Balasubramanian, the High Commissioner of India to the Maldives in
Malé, Maldives.
• Mohamed Ameen, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, signed on behalf of the implementing
agency.
Key Highlights:
i.The MoUs signed for projects slated for implementation under Phase III of the High Impact Community
Development Project (HICDP), supported by Indian grant assistance.

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• The announcement of Phase III of the HICDP scheme was made during the state visit to India
by Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu in October 2024.
ii.The 13 projects launched under this phase, primarily aimed at enhancing ferry services in the Maldives,
expanding connectivity, and uplifting community livelihoods.
iii.The project initially scheduled for completion in 2027 is now expected to be finalised by the end of this
year.
iv.This collaboration underscores India’s commitment to supporting the Maldives’ socio-economic
development, particularly in enhancing maritime connectivity, which is vital for the island nation’s daily life
and economic activities.
About Maldives:
President – Mohamed Muizzu
Capital – Male
Currency – Maldivian Rufiyaa(MVR)

IndianOil UTT & JioStar Sign 3-Year Broadcast Deal to Boost Table Tennis in India
In May 2025, IndianOil Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), a franchise-based league organized under the Table
Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), signed a 3-year agreement with Mumbai(Maharashtra) based JioStar
Private Limited, a leading sports broadcaster, to enhance the reach and visibility of table tennis in India.
• Under this agreement, JioStar will serve as the exclusive broadcast and streaming partner of
IndianOil UTT till 2027.
i.The collaboration aims to enhance the visibility, reach, and engagement of table tennis across India
through live multilingual coverage on television and Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms.
ii.Matches will be broadcast live on Star Sports 2 (for the opening day), Star Sports Khel, and Star Sports
Tamil, with digital streaming on JioHotstar in English, Hindi, and Tamil.
iii.IndianOil UTT 2025 is organized under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and
promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani. Season 6 will witness 48 top-tier players competing across eight
franchises.
• It will be held from May 31 to June 15, 2025 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

IFFCO and FDRVC Signed MoU to Boost Sustainable Agricultural Inputs for FPOs across India
In May 2025, New Delhi (Delhi) based Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), the world’s
largest processed fertiliser cooperative, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
Foundation for Development of Rural Value Chains (FDRVC), a not-for-profit organisation under the
Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), to enhance access to sustainable agricultural inputs for Farmer
Producer Organizations (FPOs) across India.
• The MoU was signed by Yogendra Kumar, Marketing Director of IFFCO Limited
and Bipin Bihari, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FDRVC.
i.The initiative is expected to benefit more than 800 FPOs and approximately 10 lakh (1 million) farmers
across India by empowering FPOs through enhanced access to innovative, sustainable, and high-quality
agricultural inputs.
ii.Under this MoU, IFFCO will supply its advanced range of Nano Fertilisers, Bio-stimulants,
Speciality Fertilisers and Organic products, including Bio-fertilisers and Bio-decomposers.
Note: FDRVC, a company promoted by New Delhi(Delhi) based National Cooperative Development
Corporation (NCDC), will facilitate outreach to registered FPOs and promote usage of IFFCO’s products
through training, capacity building, and awareness campaigns.

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Colombia Joins China’s BRI to Strengthen Bilateral Ties

In May 2025, Colombia officially joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by signing a cooperation pact
during a meeting between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing,
China.
• Colombia’s decision to join the BRI reflects its intent to diversify international alliances and
attract investment in infrastructure, renewable energy, and technology sectors.
i.The agreement is expected to boost Colombia’s exports, attract Chinese investment, and improve
connectivity, particularly along the Pacific coast.
ii.Launched in 2013, the BRI is a global infrastructure and investment strategy initiated by China to enhance
connectivity and economic integration across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.
• It aims to develop trade routes and stimulate economic growth through investments in
infrastructure projects such as roads, ports, and railways.
iii.As of 2024, over 140 countries have joined the BRI, encompassing nearly 75% of the world’s population
and over half of global Gross Domestic Product(GDP).

India’s Reliance Power & Bhutan’s DHI Partner to Develop 500 MW Solar Project in Bhutan
On May 19, 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Reliance Power Limited (RPower), led by Anil Ambani,
signed a commercial term sheet for a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Bhutan’s Green
Digital Private Limited (GDL), a subsidiary of Druk Holding and Investments Limited (DHI), the investment
arm of the Royal Government of Bhutan.
• A 50:50 Joint Venture (JV) has been established between RPower and DHI to develop Bhutan’s
largest solar power project with a capacity of 500 Megawatt (MW), involving a capital outlay
of Rs. 2,000 crores.
Key Highlights:
i.The project, to be developed under the Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model and marks the largest private
sector Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Bhutan’s solar energy sector.
ii.It aims to enhance cross-border infrastructure collaboration across South Asia and play a pivotal role in
advancing regional clean energy integration.
iii.It will be rolled out in phased tranches over 24 months, targeting completion by May 2027.
Note: With this project, Reliance Power’s total clean energy pipeline stands at 2.5 gigawatts peak (GWp) in
solar, making it India’s largest player in the integrated solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
segment.
Background:
i.In October 2024, Reliance Enterprises, a joint initiative by Reliance Power and Reliance Infrastructure
Limited, entered a strategic partnership with DHI to develop solar and hydroelectric projects in Bhutan.
ii.As part of that agreement, the two sides committed to developing the 500 MW solar power plant and
jointly operating the 770 MW Chamkharchhu-I hydroelectric project, a run-of-the-river venture aligned
with Bhutan’s long-term national energy goals.
About Bhutan:
Prime Minister (PM) – H. E. Dasho Tshering Tobgay
Capital – Thimphu
Currency – Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN)

DPIIT signs MoU with GEAPP for Climate-Tech Entrepreneurship in India

In May 2025, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), Government of India (GoI) has signed a Memorandum of

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Understanding (MoU) with New York, United States of America (USA) based Global Energy Alliance for
People and Planet (GEAPP) to support early-stage climate-tech startups in India for two years.
• The partnership aims to provide the startups with access to funding, mentorship, and growth
opportunities.
i.Under the agreement, GEAPP will launch the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE), a
competitive platform that offers rewards of up to USD 500,000 (approximately Rs. 4 Crores) for impactful
solutions, with an aim to accelerate the clean energy transition.
ii.Additionally, investment support for selected startups will be facilitated through ecosystem partners
through impact investors such as Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Spectrum Impact and Mumbai based Avana
Capital.

Adani Defence & Aerospace Collaborates with Sparton to Indigenise ASW Systems
In May 2025, Ahmedabad (Gujarat) based Adani Defence & Aerospace, arm of the Adani Group and
operates under Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), signed a binding collaboration agreement with DeLeon
Springs (Florida, the United States of America, USA) based Sparton (DeLeon Springs LLC), a subsidiary of
Haifa (Israel) based Elbit Systems Ltd., to localize the production of advanced Anti-Submarine
Warfare(ASW) systems, including sonobuoys, for the Indian Navy and global markets.
• This collaboration positions Adani Defence & Aerospace as the first private sector company in
India to offer domestically developed sonobuoy solutions, aligning with the government’s
‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives.
i.The partnership aims to localize the assembly and eventual manufacturing of advanced ASW solutions
in India, addressing this longstanding reliance on foreign imports.
ii.Sonobuoys are mission-critical sonar systems used in ASW to detect, locate, and track submarines and
underwater threats, thus enhancing Undersea Domain Awareness (UDA).
iii.The indigenisation of sonobuoys is expected to reduce India’s dependence on foreign Original Equipment
Manufacturers (OEMs) and will contribute to securing naval assets, including carrier strike groups.

AEPC Partners with GBCI to Boost LEED-Certified Garment Factories in India

In May 2025, Gurugram (Haryana) based Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with Washington, D.C., the United States of America (USA) based Green Business
Certification Institute (GBCI) to encourage sustainable manufacturing within India’s garment industry.
• The agreement was formalized by Mithileshwar Thakur, Secretary General (SG) of
AEPC, and Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan, Managing Director (MD) of GBCI Asia Pacific and the
Middle East.
i.The primary aim of this collaboration is to increase the number of garment factories in India that
receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, a globally recognized system
assessing a building’s environmental impact and sustainability.
ii.India currently has only 13 garment factories certified under LEED, which offers several key benefits
such as lower resource consumption, reduced carbon emissions, better indoor air quality, lower operational
costs, higher property valuation, and greater investor confidence.
Note: In 2024, India retained its third position globally in LEED certification, as per the USA-based United
States Green Building Council (USGBC), ranking behind China (1st) and Canada (2nd).

Ministry of MSME Partnered with DKPTO to Boost IPR Access

In May 2025, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME), Government of India
(GoI), partnered with the Denmark based Danish Patent and Trademark Office (DKPTO) under the Support
for Commercialisation of Intellectual Property (MSME-SCIP) programme.

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• This collaboration aims to streamline the acquisition and commercialization of Intellectual

Property Rights (IPR) for Indian MSMEs, thereby bolstering innovation and competitiveness in
the sector.
Key Objectives of the Collaboration
i.The partnership will assist MSMEs in acquiring patents, trademarks, and technology licenses, addressing
longstanding challenges in technology transfer and IP protection that have historically limited innovation
access for smaller enterprises.
ii.The Ministry, through its network of Intellectual Property Facilitation Centres (IPFCs), will collaborate
with DKPTO to process applications for transferring technology under the IPR framework, along with the
acquisition of trademarks and patents (licensing) by MSMEs.
iii.Financial Support: Under this initiative, the Ministry will bear 70% of registration and other acquisition
costs, with a target to register 2,500 different innovations in the financial year 2025–26.

India Partners with WHO to mainstream Ayush Globally

On May 24, 2025, Ministry of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy),
Government of India (GoI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Geneva (Switzerland)
based World Health Organization (WHO), to develop a Traditional Medicine Module under the International
Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI).
• This initiative aims to standardize traditional medical practices globally, enhancing their
accessibility and scientific credibility
Key Features of the Agreement:
i.The new module will complement WHO’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) by codifying
interventions from Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha, and Unani (AYUSH) systems.
ii.With the inclusion of a traditional module, therapies from Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha, and Unani systems
such as Panchakarma (Ayurveda), Yoga therapy, Unani regimens and Siddha procedures will be recognized
in globally standardized terms. It will bring about multiple benefits like
• Transparent billing and fair pricing for Ayush services; smoother integration of Ayush treatments
in health insurance coverage; enhanced hospital management, clinical documentation, and health
research; Most importantly, greater global accessibility to Ayush interventions.
iii.The development aligns with India’s vision of bringing its rich heritage of traditional wisdom into the
global healthcare mainstream, backed by scientific classroom and international standards.
iv.As part of this collaboration, India has contributed USD 3 million to the WHO to support the
development of the traditional medicine module under ICHI.
About the Ministry of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy):
Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge/IC) – Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav (Constituency – Buldhana,
Maharashtra)
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Director General (DG)– Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Founded – 7 April 1948

NITC Joins HERITAGE Network and Signs MoUs with European Universities
In May 2025, Kozhikode (Kerala) based National Institute of Technology Calicut (NITC) was inducted into
the HERITAGE Network (Higher Education and Research Innovation Tie-ups for Academic Growth and
Excellence), a consortium of 30 premier Indian and European technical institutions, during the General
Assembly of the Indian and European Universities Consortium held at Technische Universität Dresden (TU
Dresden) in Dresden, Germany.

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• NITC, led by Director Prof. Prasad Krishna, highlighted its academic excellence and global
collaboration focus during the presentation.
i.During the visit to Europe, NITC also signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with:
• Trondheim (Norway) based Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
• Berlin (Germany) based Technische Universität (TU) Berlin
ii.The MoUs focus on programmes.
• Dual-degree postgraduate programs and undergraduate student exchanges.
• Interdisciplinary research in emerging technologies like semiconductor packaging and advanced
electronics
iii.NITC also explored semiconductor packaging research collaborations with the Chip Integration
Technology Center (CITC) in the Netherlands, supporting national missions related to advanced electronics
and high-tech manufacturing.

COMMITTEES & MEETINGS

MHA Constitutes High-Level Committee under Union Minister Amit Shah for National Disaster
Management
On 30th April 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India (GoI), constituted a High-
Level Committee under the chairmanship of Union Minister Amit Shah, MHA, to oversee national
disaster preparedness and response mechanisms under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
Constitution of the Committee:
The committee was formed under sub-section (2) of Section 8B of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (Act
No. 53 of 2005). It comprises:
• Union Minister Amit Shah, MHA (Chairperson)
• Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
(MoA&FW)
• Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance (MoF)
• Suman Bery, Vice Chairman (VC), National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog)
About the Committee:
i.The primary objective of the committee is to enhance India’s resilience against both natural and man-
made disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, pandemics, and industrial accidents, by ensuring a
coordinated national disaster management strategy.
ii.The committee plays a critical role in:
• Guiding national disaster management policies
• Coordinating efforts among multiple ministries and agencies
• Overseeing long-term risk reduction strategies
• Monitoring preparedness levels of States and Union Territories (UTs)
iii.With representatives from finance, agriculture, and planning sectors, it takes a multi-sectoral approach to
ensure quick resource use, joined-up policies, and smooth execution of disaster risk plans.
About Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA):
Union Minister – Amit Shah (Constituency Gandhinagar, Gujarat)
Minister of State(MoS) – Nityanand Rai (Constituency – Ujiarpur, Bihar); Bandi Sanjay Kumar (Constituency
– Karimnagar, Telangana)

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NMCG Approved Key Projects for Ganga Rejuvenation in 62nd EC Meeting in New Delhi
In May 2025, the 62nd Executive Committee (EC) Meeting of National Mission for Clean
Ganga (NMCG) held under the chairmanship of Rajeev Kumar Mital, Director-General (DG) of NMCG in
New Delhi, Delhi. The meeting was primarily focused on sustainability in river rejuvenation. During the EC
meeting, key projects for Ganga Rejuvenation have been approved that align with the mission’s objectives of
ecosystem restoration across the Ganga basin.
• Also, conservation of critical wetlands and promoting the reuse of treated wastewater through
city specific reuse plans were discussed in the meeting.
Key Attendees: Mahabir Prasad, Joint Secretary & Financial Advisor in the Ministry of Power(MoP) and
additional charge of Financial Advisor for the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga
Rejuvenation(DoWRGR) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti(MoJS); Nalin Srivastava, Deputy DG of NMCG;
Anoop Kumar Srivastava, Executive Director (ED) (Technical), among others were present at the meeting.
Key Projects Approved:
i.Wetland Conservation: The EC approved the ‘Conserving and Sustainably
Managing Nathmalpur Bhagad (Wetland) in Bhojpur district, Bihar’, will be developed with an estimated
cost of Rs 3.51 crore. This project is the 5th wetland being undertaken under NGP.
• The newly approved project in Bihar proposes to use a ‘dual approach’ with interventions at the
sub-basin (Ghaghara, Gomti & Sone confluence) and site levels (Nathmalpur Bhagad).
• It includes certain activities like: wetland delineation, hydrological regime enhancement, species
and habitat conservation, among others, to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the
wetland ecosystem
Points to Note:
• So far, total 4 wetlands have been already sanctioned under Namami Gange conservation.
• Among these 4 wetlands, 3 are in Uttar Pradesh (UP) i.e. Kalewada Jheel (Muzaffarnagar);
Namiya Dah Jheel (Prayagraj) and Reoti Dah Wetland (Ballia)
• And, one in Jharkhand: Udhwa Lake (Ramsar Site), Sahibganj.
ii.Treated Wastewater Reuse: In addition to that, the EC has approved funding of total Rs 34.50 lakh for
the ‘Capacity Building Initiatives for making water-sensitive cities in the Ganga Basin’ Project.
• The project aims to prepare a City Plans and training on the reuse of treated wastewater for Agra
and Prayagraj districts of UP.
• It also aims at the preparation of city level reuse plan in alignment with the National Framework
for Safe Reuse of Treated Water (SRTW) prepared by NMCG.
About Namami Gange Programme:
i.It is an integrated conservation mission, approved by the Government of India (GoI) in 2014 as ‘Flagship
Programme’, with total budget outlay of Rs 20,000 crore.
ii.The programme aims to achieve two main objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and
rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
iii.The programme comprises 8 main pillars: sewage treatment infrastructure, river-surface cleaning,
afforestation, industrial effluent monitoring, river-front development, bio-diversity, public awareness and
Ganga Gram.
iv.The programme is implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Department
of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR), Ministry of Jal Shakti
(MoJS).
v.The Namami Gange Program has been recognised as one of the Top TEN, World Restoration
flagship initiatives by UN Decade (United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) & Food and
Agricultural Organisation (FAO)).

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About NMCG:
It was registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 in 2011. It is the implementation
wing of National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga (referred as National
Ganga Council), set up in 2016 replacing the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NRGBA).
Director-General (DG)- Rajeev Kumar Mital
About Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS):
Union Minister- Chandrakant Raghunath Patil (Constituency- Navsari, Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS)- V. Somanna (Constituency- Tumkur, Karnataka); Raj Bhushan Choudhary
(Constituency- Muzaffarpur, Bihar)

BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting 2025 held in Brazil

On May 19, 2025, the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Energy Ministers’
Meeting 2025 under the theme “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and
Sustainable Governance” was held under Brazil’s presidency in Brasilia, Brazil.
• The Indian delegation at the meeting was led by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Ministry
of Power (MoP), and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
Key Discussions by India:
i.During the BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting 2025, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar reaffirmed India’s
strong commitment towards a sustainable and inclusive energy future.
ii.He underscored energy security as a “pressing global challenge”, urging BRICS nations to collaborate
for economic stability, sustainability, and equitable energy access.
iii.He highlighted India’s clean energy achievements:
Electricity Capacity: India achieved 475 Gigawatt (GW) in 2025, marking a 90% increase over the past
decade, with a target of 900 GW by 2032.
Solar and Wind Energy: India has become the world’s third-largest producer of solar and wind energy.
Biofuels: Achieved a 20% ethanol blending milestone, boosting biofuel use and reducing emissions.
Infrastructure: Invested in smart grids, advanced metering, and the Green Energy Corridor for
transmission expansion.
Green Hydrogen and Nuclear Energy: Ambitious targets include 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047 and
strong initiatives in green hydrogen development.
Carbon Market: Launch of a domestic Carbon Credit Market, inviting global participation and collaboration.
iv.He also highlighted India’s efforts in promoting energy efficiency through innovative programs such as:
• Energy Conservation Sustainable Buildings Code
• Rooftop solar initiatives
• Efficient appliance standards
Role of Fossil Fuels and Cleaner Technologies:
i.During the meeting, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar stressed the vital role of fossil fuels in the global
energy mix, particularly for developing countries.
ii.He urged BRICS to adopt cleaner technologies like coal gasification, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS),
and green chemicals.
Key Outcomes from 2025 BRICS Energy Ministerial Communiqué:
The BRICS Energy Ministers jointly adopted a communiqué emphasizing the following:
i.Commitment to SDG 7: Strong focus on achieving United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 7
(SDG 7), which includes universal access to electricity, clean cooking, and eliminating energy poverty.
ii.Balanced Energy Mix: Acknowledged fossil fuels’ role in developing nations but emphasized reducing
emissions under Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC).

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iii.Partnerships and Trade: Backed open, non-discriminatory energy markets and local currency usage in
energy trade.
iv.Research and Cooperation: Recognition of the BRICS Energy Research Cooperation Platform and
approval of the updated BRICS Roadmap for Energy Cooperation (2025–2030) to deepen collaboration.
v.Financing and Infrastructure: Called for concessional financing from developed nations and
expanded New Development Bank (NDB) support for sustainable projects with local currency loans.
vi.Efficiency Goals: Reaffirmed target to double energy efficiency by 2030 through BRICS collaboration.
India’s Invitation to BRICS Nations
Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar invited BRICS members to the 2026 BRICS Energy Gathering to be
hosted by India, reinforcing the country’s leadership in advancing the Global South’s energy agenda.
About BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa):
i.BRICS was originally established as BRIC in September 2006, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
ii.The group was renamed BRICS in September 2010 after the inclusion of South Africa as the fifth member.
iii.During the 15th BRICS Summit held in 2023, four new countries, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, and the United
Arab Emirates (UAE), were added as full members.
iv.In January 2025, Indonesia joined BRICS as the 10th member, further expanding the group.
Note: India is set to hold the BRICS Chairmanship in the year 2026.
About Brazil:
President – Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
Capital – Brasilia
Currency – Brazilian Real (BRL)

ADB’s 58th AM of the Board of Governors Held in Milan, Italy

The 58th Annual Meeting (AM) of the Board of Governors of Manila (The Philippines)-based Asian
Development Bank (ADB) was held from May 4 to 7, 2025 at Allianz MiCo-Milano Convention Centre in
Milan, Italy. This was for the 1st time that Italy hosted AM of ADB and thus, became the 1st European
country to host this AM in almost a decade.
• Theme of 58th AM of ADB: ‘Sharing Experience, Building Tomorrow’.
Highlights of 58th AM of the Board of Governors of ADB:
i.Masato Kanda, President of ADB, inaugurated the 58th AM of Board of Governors of ADB.
ii.The annual meeting witnessed the participation of over 5,000 participants, which included the
representatives from various governments, private sector, civil society, and academia.
iii.This year’s AM was focused on 4 key areas to driving transformational changes across Asia and the
Pacific:
• ADB will mobilize financing for food systems transformation to USD 40 billion by 2030, to
address the vulnerability of the region’s food systems.
• ADB is investing in digital technologies to enhance access to education, finance, and markets.
• ADB is investing in advancing and connecting the energy system, which includes readiness to
pledge up to USD 10 billion to support work on the ASEAN Power Grid.
• ADB is making investments to build resilience by bolstering infrastructure, restoring and
protecting ecosystems, and helping vulnerable communities adapt to the impacts of climate
change.
iv.The 59th AM of Board Governors of ADB is scheduled to be held in Samarkand(one of the oldest
continuously inhabited cities in the world), Uzbekistan from May 03 to May 06, 2026.
• With this announcement, Uzbekistan will host the ADB annual meeting for the 2nd time after the
successful 43rd AM of ADB held in Tashkent, capital city of Uzbekistan in 2010.
Note: Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia hosted the 57th AM of the Board of Governors of ADB in 2024.

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India at 58th AM of Board of Governors of ADB:

i.Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MoCA)
led the Indian delegation of officials from the Department of Economic Affairs (DoEA), MoF at the 4-day long
AM of board of governors of ADB.
ii.While addressing the event, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted India’s ambitious goal of
becoming a developed nation by 2047 (Viksit Bharat) and called the ADB a ‘valued partner’ in the
development journey of India.
iii.She also participated at a Plenary Session of the NEXT Milan Forum at the Bocconi University on
‘Balancing Economic and Climate Resilience’.
• While addressing the session, she underscored the increasing need for universal regulatory
mechanisms to keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI).
iv.She held discussions with leaders from global financial institutions like the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and others, on the
sidelines of ADB meetings.
Key Announcements:
ADB Committed USD 5 billion for India’s healthcare, education, and infrastructure in 2024
ADB has committed USD 5 billion in the forms of loans, grants, and other assistance to India in 2024. This
also includes USD 2.2 billion through cofinancing, to strengthen India’s efforts in tackling key developmental
challenges.
• This loan arrangement is primarily focused on key sectors like: healthcare, education, and
infrastructure development across various Indian states.
Key Points:
i.In order to address the healthcare requirements, the ADB facilitated a significant USD 500 million loan to
the Maharashtra government.
ii.The ADB has also extended its financial support of USD 64 million to Meghalaya, to enhance access to
quality education and skills training, particularly targeted less privileged youth.
iii.ADB committed USD 794 million to the Amaravati Inclusive and Sustainable Capital City Development
Programme.
ADB Records Highest Net Income Allocation in History at USD 1.539 Billion for 2024
The Board of Governors of ADB approved its 2024 financial statements and a registered a record-
breaking USD 1.539 billion (approximately USD 1.54 billion) allocation from its net income. This marks
the Highest Net Income (HNI) allocation ever recorded in nearly 60 year-long history of ADB.
Key Allocations:
i.Of the total amount USD 1.539 billion, USD 1.016 billion is allocated to the Ordinary Reserve
ii.Total USD 393.5 million is allocated to the Asian Development Fund (ADF), which offers grants to poorest
and most vulnerable developing member nations of ADB.
iii.USD 130 million is allocated to the Technical Assistance Special Fund (TASF), which facilitates technical
assistance grants to borrowing members to help prepare projects and undertake technical or policy studies.
ADB Pledged Additional USD 26 Billion to Food & Nutrition Security in APAC
During the meeting, the ADB announced plan to expand its long-term food and nutrition security support in
Asia and Pacific Countries (APAC), by pledging additional USD 26 billion, thereby, bringing its total funding
for food security initiatives to USD 40 billion over 2022-2030.
• This expanded financial support will help APAC to reduce hunger, improve diets, and protect the
natural environment.
Point to Note: By the end of December 2024, ADB had pledged USD 11 billion (accounts 80% of the original
allocation), with an additional investment of USD 3.3 billion programmed for 2025.

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Key Points:
i.Of the additional USD 26 billion, USD 18.5 billion in direct ADB support for governments and USD 7.5
billion in private sector investments.
• ADB has projected that by 2030, private sector investments will account for over 27% of the total
USD 40 billion program.
ii.To further support sustainable agriculture, ADB is planning to establish the Natural Capital Fund, a USD
150 million blended finance vehicle, with anchor support from Global Environment Facility (GEF) and
contributions expected from other partners like: the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program.
ADB Collaborated with 10 Global Insurers to Mobilize USD 2.75 billion for Sustainable Infrastructure
During the meeting, the ADB has signed the ‘Master Framework Agreement for Sustainable Infrastructure’
with 10 leading global insurance companies to mobilize a maximum USD 2.75 billion of private capital to
support ADB’s sustainable development financing across Asia and the Pacific region.
Key Details:
i.ADB has collaborated with 10 global insurers: Tokyo (Japan)-based Tokio Marine Group, Warren, New
Jersey (the United States of America, USA)-based Chubb Corporation, Stamford, Connecticut (the USA)-
based AXA XL Limited, London (the United Kingdom, UK)-based Liberty Specialty Markets, Bois-Colombes
(France)-based Coface SA, Zurich (Switzerland)-based Swiss Re Limited, Hamilton(Bermuda)- based Everest
Re Group, Ltd, Pembroke Parish (Bermuda)-based AXIS Capital Holdings Limited, Hartford, Connecticut (the
USA)-based The Hartford Insurance Group Inc. , and Paris (France)-based Allianz Trade.
• These insurers will help ADB in expanding its support for sustainable infrastructure by
facilitating substantial credit risk capacity.
ii.This newly signed agreement signifies a major step in unlocking private sector investment in Asia and the
Pacific region by derisking infrastructure projects that are important for climate resilience and inclusive
economic growth.
• As per the agreement, ADB will be able to transfer credit risk from its portfolio to insurers’
balance sheets, freeing up ADB’s capital, managing its exposures, and increasing its lending
capacity.
iii.This agreement is likely to benefit sectors like: Renewable Energy (RE), sustainable transport, green
buildings, and data centres that adopt eco-friendly technologies.
FAO & ADB Signed a Framework Agreement:
On the sidelines of 58th AM of the Board Governors of ADB, Rome (Italy)-based Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) signed a framework agreement with ADB to boost digital and AI-powered agricultural
investment solutions across 9 Central and South Asian countries to empower smallholders and build
resilience.
• The agreement was signed in the presence of QuDongu, Director-General (DG) of FAO and Masato
Kanda, President of ADB.
Key Focus Areas of Agreement:
i.The agreement aims to conduct in-depth economic and financial analyses which will support nature-based
and climate-smart investments in China, the Philippines, and Central Asia.
ii.The agreement involves strengthening policy dialogue and investment planning to promote inclusive
Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in countries like: Bangladesh, Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
ADB and Japan Launch Market Acceleration Platform:
i.During the meeting, the ADB and the Government of Japan jointly launched the ADB Market Acceleration
Platform for Asia and the Pacific (AMAP), a new multi-donor trust fund aimed at bolstering private sector
development across the region.

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ii.The initiative was formalized with ADB President Masato Kanda and Japanese Finance
Minister Katsunobu Katō signing the contribution agreement. Japan has committed an initial USD 20
million as the founding contributor to the platform.
iii.The ADB aims to quadruple its private investment financing to $13 billion annually by 2030, reinforcing
its role as both an enabler and mobilizer of private capital.
India-Italy Strategic Action Plan 2025-29:
On the sidelines of 58th AM of Board of Governors of ADB, Union Finance
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held a bilateral meeting with Giancarlo Giorgetti, FM of Italy. During the
meeting, both leaders explored ways to bolster India-Italy economic ties and improve cooperation on
international and multilateral platforms on issues of mutual interest.
• FMs of both countries highlighted the implementation of the Joint-Strategic Action
Plan (JSAP)2025-2029, which was announced by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and his
Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of 19th G-20 Summit held in Brazil in
November 2024.
• JSAP 2025-2029 aims to promote bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade and investment,
defence and security, space, science and technology, clean energy transition, culture, tourism and
people-to-people ties.
Key Points:
i.FM Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted that the bilateral trade between two countries reached USD 14.56
billion in Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24).
ii.During the meeting, FMs of both countries discussed the significance of reforming Multilateral
Development Banks (MDBs) to make them more responsive in order to cater the requirements of
developing countries, adequately aligned capitalized and better aligned with the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).
About Asian Development Bank(ADB):
President– Masato Kanda (Japan)
Headquarters– Manila, the Philippines
Members Nations- 69
Established– 1966
About Italy:
Prime Minister (PM)- Giorgia Meloni
Capital- Rome
Currency- the Euro (EUR)

India Assumed Chairmanship of APO for 2025-26 at 67th GBM in Indonesia

India formally assumed the Chairmanship of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) for the 2025-26
term during the 67th session of the Governing Body Meeting (GBM) of the APO, held from May 20 to 22,
2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
• The Indian delegation was led by Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Secretary of Department for
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I) and
APO Director for India.
Key Highlights:
i.India as chair of the APO, reaffirmed its commitment to driving the APO Vision 2030 and expanding
the Green Productivity 2.0 framework.
ii.Also, India emphasized the significance of fostering regional collaboration in promoting digital
transformation, sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
iii.During the meeting, India also expressed its intent to contribute to inclusive, responsive, and results-

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driven APO programs that aim at addressing evolving productivity and development challenges in the Asia-
Pacific region.
iv.More than 100 Indian professionals annually, participate in APO-led capacity-building initiatives through
the National Productivity Council (NPC) under DPIIT.
• These programs help significantly in improving productivity of various sectors in India such as
industrial, services, and agriculture.
• Also, various demonstration projects, including those focused on Green Productivity and Industry
4.0 applications for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have been implemented
across the country.
About Asian Productivity Organization (APO):
i.APO, a Tokyo (Japan)-based intergovernmental organisation was established in 1961.
ii.The Governing Body, the highest decision-making authority of APO which meets every year to set the
organization’s strategic direction, approve major proposals, and review secretariat performance.
iii.At present, APO comprises 21 member countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Taiwan, Fiji, Hong
Kong (dormant), India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao
PDR), Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkiye, and
Vietnam.
About Indonesia:
President- Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo
Capital- Jakarta
Currency- Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)

India Participated in 24th IORA Meeting Virtually Hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka
On May 21 2025, India Participated in 24th Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Meeting of the Council of
Ministers (COM), which was hosted virtually by the current chair of IORA, Sri Lanka under the theme
‘Sustainable Indian Ocean for Future Generation’.
• The Indian delegation was led by Periasamy Kumaran, Secretary (East), Ministry of External
Affairs (MEA), at the 24th meeting of IORA COM.
• Currently, India is the Vice-Chair of IORA ad part of Troika. India will take over the chairship of
IORA from Sri Lanka, for 2025-2027.
Note: Troika is an institutional mechanism comprising the current chair, vice-chair and previous chair of the
IORA.
About 24th IORA COM:
i.The 24th IORA COM was held under the chairmanship of Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Employment, and Tourism of Government of Sri Lanka.
ii.The meeting saw the participation of the Prime Minister (PM), Foreign Ministers and senior
representatives from 23 IORA member states and 12 Dialogue Partners, along with the Secretary General of
IORA.
• Also, this is for the 1st time that the European Union (EU) officially participated at the meeting as
Dialogue Partner of IORA.
Note: EU was admitted as the 12th Dialogue Partner in IORA during the 23rd IORA COM held in October
2023 in Colombo (Sri Lanka).
iii.Discussions were centered on advancing cooperation in 6 priority areas of IORA: trade and investment,
maritime safety and security, fisheries management, disaster risk management, academic, science and
technology cooperation, blue economy and women’s empowerment.
iv.During the meeting, the ministers adopted the IORA Guidelines on Illegal, Unreported, and
Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, as well as IORA’s climate agenda.

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• Both these initiatives mark a significant step towards promoting environmental sustainability in
the region.
v.The key highlight of the meeting was adoption of ‘Colombo Communique’, which reflects the progress
achieved since the last COM held in 2023.
• The Communiqué reaffirmed the shared commitment to IORA’s goals and objectives, emphasizing
the vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indian Ocean region.
India at 24th IORA COM:
i.During the meeting, P. Kumaran reaffirmed India’s commitment to the well-being and progress of nations
of the Indian Ocean, aligns with India’s Vision of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
ii.India also reiterated that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, whether carried out individually or
by ‘state-sponsored cross-border terrorism’ poses serious threat to the region’s peace, security, and
development, and must be unequivocally condemned.
About Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA):
i.It is an intergovernmental organisation formed in 1997 as Indian Ocean Region-Association for Regional
Cooperation (IOR-ARC), in Mauritius.
ii.IORA COM is the highest decision-making body, comprises the Minister of Foreign Affairs of all member
states.
iii.Currently, IORA comprises 23 member countries, including Australia, Bangladesh, the Comoros, France,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles
Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen.
• Also, it includes 12 dialogue partners namely: China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Italy, Japan,
South Korea, Russia, Turkiye, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America (USA) and
the EU.
iv.In January 2025, Sanjiv Ranjan (India) assumed the role of Secretary-General of IORA for a period of 3
years. The secretariat of IORA is based in Ebene, Mauritius.
About Sri Lanka:
President- Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Capital- Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (legislative capital), Colombo (judicial and executive capital)
Currency- Sri Lankan Rupee (SLR)

Bihar Hosts First International Buyer-Seller Meet to Boost Agri-Food Exports

In May 2025, the government of Bihar hosted its first-ever International Buyer-Seller Meet (IBSM) from
May 19–20, 2025, at Gyan Bhawan, Patna. The event was organized by the Ministry of Food Processing
Industries (MoFPI), in collaboration with New Delhi(Delhi) based Agricultural and Processed Food
Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), and Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI).
• The event was graced by Union Minister Chirag Paswan,MoFPI; Vijay Kumar Sinha, Deputy Chief
Minister(CM) of Bihar; Nitish Mishra, Industries Minister of Bihar; along with several other
senior officials.
• The IBSM witnessed the participation of over 70 international buyers from 20 countries including
the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, Japan, Ghana, Spain, Germany, and the United
Kingdom (UK).
i.The event aimed to create direct market linkages between Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs),
Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) of Bihar with leading international
buyers, thereby boosting exports of Bihar’s agri-food products.
ii.Over 500 structured B2B meetings were conducted, focusing on promoting Bihar’s key agricultural
products such as GI-tagged Makhana, Shahi Litchi, Zardalu Mango, and Katarni Rice.
iii.During the meet, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed among APEDA, the Government of

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Bihar, and United Arab Emirates(UAE) based Lulu Group International to boost the export potential and
shelf life of Bihar’s litchi.

India Advocates Fair Trade and Digital Inclusion at 15th BRICS Trade Ministers’ Meeting in
Brazil
In May 2025, the 15th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Trade Ministers’ Meeting held
in Brazil under the Presidency of Brazil, focusing on the theme: “Strengthening Global South Cooperation
for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.” The meeting focused on fostering intra-BRICS trade
solidarity.
• India was represented by Yashvir Singh, Economic Adviser, Department of Commerce(DoC),
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), who opposed export controls among BRICS
members and called for smooth supply chains and stronger cooperation within the bloc.
Note: India to assume BRICS’ Presidency in 2026.
India’s Key Proposals and Initiatives:
i.Opposition to Export Controls: India urged BRICS members to dismantle internal export restrictions that
hinder trade and disrupt critical supply chains, advocating for mutual support within the bloc.
ii.WTO Reforms: India proposed the “30 for 30” initiative, which aims to introduce 30 reforms to
commemorate the 30th anniversary of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2025, with a key focus on
securing a Permanent Solution to Public Stockholding (PSH) for food security.
iii.Climate and Technology: India called upon developed nations to provide concessional transfer of
Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs), with financial support to promote sustainability.
Adoption of Joint Declaration and Annexures:
A significant outcome was the endorsement of a comprehensive Joint Declaration accompanied by three key
annexures:
i.BRICS Declaration on WTO Reform and Strengthening of Multilateral Trading System: Advocates
equitable global trade rules and opposes climate-related measures as disguised trade barriers.
ii.BRICS Data Economy Governance Understanding: Recognizes Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as
vital for economic transformation
iii.BRICS Trade and Sustainable Development Framework: Emphasizes sustainable development as a
cornerstone of trade governance
India Hosts Virtual Capacity Building Session on Digital Transformation in BRICS
In May 2025, India hosted a Virtual Capacity Building Session on Digital Transformation for BRICS
nations, organized by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communication (MoC)
through the National Communications Academy – Technology (NCA-T), Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh, UP).
• The session was inaugurated by Daniel Cavalcanti, BRICS Chair, and Atul Sinha, Director General
(DG) of NCA-T, India.
• The session convened under the BRICS Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) Working Group, aimed to address shared challenges and promote scalable solutions
in mobile security, cyber resilience, digital infrastructure, and digital twin technology.
Thematic Sessions:
The four thematic sessions addressed pressing challenges and opportunities in the digital domain:
i.Empowering Mobile Users: India showcased its flagship Sanchar Saathi initiative aimed at protecting
mobile users from fraud, enhancing transparency, and ensuring equitable access to mobile services.
ii.Cyber Resilience for the 21st Century: India and Brazil led presentations on their national approaches
to cyber resilience, emphasizing preparedness, rapid response, and cross-border cooperation to counter
cyber threats.

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iii.DPI: India presented AADHAAR as a foundational DPI that has revolutionized public service delivery
through identity-based digital inclusion.
iv.Digital Twin Technology: India introduced its Sangam Digital Twin initiative, leveraging Artificial
Intelligence (AI)-native platforms for scenario-based infrastructure planning and real-time governance
solutions.
About the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I):
Union Minister – Piyush Goyal (Constituency – Mumbai North, Maharashtra) Minister of State (MoS) –
Jitin Prasada (Constituency – Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, UP)

38th CAC Meeting Recommends 36% Hike in Stipend for Youth under NAPS and NATS
In May 2025, the 38th Meeting of the Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC) has recommended a 36% hike
in stipend provided under the two existing national schemes namely, National Apprenticeship Promotion
Scheme (NAPS) and the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS). The meeting was held under the
chairmanship of Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Jayant Chaudhary, Ministry of
Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi,
• Once this recommendation is officially notified by MSDE, the monthly stipend range under NAPS
and NATS will increase from the existing Rs 5,000-Rs 9,000 across five bands to Rs 6,800- Rs
12,300.
• The proposal for stipend hike will come into force only after receiving the final approval from
Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi.
• This decision of CAC aims to reduce dropout rates and attract more candidates across various
sectors.
Note:
i.NAPS is a government initiative implemented by the MSDE to promote apprenticeship training across
various sectors in India.Under the scheme, the government provides a stipend subsidy of Rs.1,500 per
month or 25% of the stipend, whichever is lower, to the employers.
ii.NATS is a flagship program administered by the Ministry of Education(MoE). Under NATS, the
government reimburses 50% of the prescribed stipend to employers to encourage industry participation.
Other Key Decisions at 38th Meeting of CAC:
i.The CAC also recommends that stipends be automatically revised every two years based on changes in the
Consumer Price Index (CPI), aligning with the salary increment cycle in July.
ii.The council underscored about major reforms to bolster apprenticeship integrated education and
streamline policy frameworks under the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992.
• The main agenda of the meeting was the promotion of apprenticeship embedded education
programmes like: the introduction of new definitions such as ‘Degree Apprenticeship’,
‘Institution’, among others, to make them in alignment with educational curricula with on-the-job
training programmes.
iii.The council also highlighted inclusivity by recommending the insertion of a definition for ‘Person with
Benchmark Disability’ in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
• It further recommended that trades or subject fields specify their suitability for persons with
benchmark disabilities and reserve training places in accordance with them.
• It also proposed allowing employers to provide basic and practical training through online,
virtual or hybrid modes , which will ensure flexibility in learning without compromising the
quality or compliance with centrally approved curriculum.
iv.The meeting also discussed about the formation of Regional Boards at new locations to enhance the
administration and outreach of the NATS and regulate the Apprenticeship Embedded Degree
Programme (AEDP), necessitating the insertion of a new clause in the Apprenticeship Rules.

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v.The council has also proposed to replace the existing list of industries (1987 code) with one aligned to
National Industrial Classification (NIC) Code 2008, which will result in expanding the scope of
Apprenticeship Training to cover emerging sectors such as: Information Technology (IT), software services,
telecommunications, biotechnology, and Renewable Energy (RE).
About Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC):
i.It is a statutory body established under the Apprenticeship Act, 1961. It is tripartite by constitution with
members from both central and state governments/Union Territories (UTs), and Employers, among others.
ii.The last CAC meeting was held in June 2021.
Composition:
i.In October 2024, the Government of India (GoI) had reconstituted CAC, with a tenure of 3 years and
comprises total 54 members, including representatives from various central ministries, state governments,
industry (public and private), academia, labour bodies, and technical experts.
• It has replaced the erstwhile CAC formed in March 2019, which had 46 members.
ii.Union MoS Jayant Chaudhary is currently serving as chairman of the reconstituted CAC.
• While, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Member of Parliament (MP) of Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of
Parliament) is serving as its Vice-chairman.
iii.At present, the council has representatives from 6 Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) i.e. Bharat Heavy
Electricals Limited (BHEL), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC), South Eastern Coalfields Limited, Bharat
Electronics Limited (BEL), Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
(HAL).
• It also comprises representatives from private sectors such as: Chairman of the Tata Group,
Maruti Suzuki India, Reliance Industries, Toyota India, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Indian Banks’
Association (IBA), among others.
About Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE):
Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) – Jayant Chaudhary (Rajya Sabha member- Uttar
Pradesh, UP)

India Participated in 9th BRICS Industry Ministers’ Meeting Held in Brasilia, Brazil
In May 2025, India participated in the 9th BRICS(Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Industry
Ministers’ Meeting held under the chairship of Brazil at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, Brazil.
• The meeting was held under the theme ‘Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More
Inclusive and Sustainable Governance’.
About BRICS Industry Ministers’ Meeting 2025:
i.The meeting was attended by Industry Ministers and representatives from both founding BRICS countries:
Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa,
• And, newly inducted members in the forum including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the
United Arab Emirates (UAE).
ii.During the meeting, member countries of BRICS adopted the ‘Joint Declaration’, reaffirmed their
collective commitment to fostering an open, fair, and resilient international environment, bolstering the
multilateral system, and improving economic and social resilience amid rapid global transformations.
India-Specific:
i.The key highlight of the meeting was the formal presentation of the BRICS Startup Knowledge
Hub, which was launched in January 2025 under the BRICS Start-Up Forum.
• It is the 1st-of-its-kind platform aims to foster cross-border collaboration, share policy insights,
and promote mutual learning across startup ecosystems of BRICS member countries.
• Also, India has invited all BRICS countries to actively contribute to and benefit from the platform
through the exchange of policy insights, innovations, and best practices.

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ii.India emphasized the vital role of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the national and
international economy, which is in alignment with Joint Declaration.
• It further highlighted that with more than 5.93 crore registered MSMEs in India, which employs
over 25 crore individuals, the sector contributed 45.73% of the country’s total exports in
Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24), reflecting its global economic significance.
iii.During the meeting, India stressed the significance of digital transformation under the 4th Industrial
Revolution (Industry 4.0) paradigm, highlighting that innovation and smart technologies are important to
achieving sustainable industrial development.
• India highlighted its Digital India Campaign, which has transformed the country into the world’s
largest digitally connected democracy.
• The total number of internet users in India surged from 251.59 million (in 2014) to 954.40
million (as of March 2024).
iv.In its concluding remarks at the meeting, India recommended that BRICS cooperation be guided by the
values of: Sahyog (collaboration); Samanjasya (Harmony); Samagrata (Inclusiveness)
and Sarvasammati (Consesus).
• India emphasized these values will define future cooperation among BRICS countries, which will
help in ensuring shared prosperity, technological empowerment, and industrial resilience across
the Global South.
Points to Note:
At present, the BRICS+ group including its 10 members and 9 partner countries, represents 54.6% of the
world population and 42.2% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
About Brazil:
President-Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Capital- Brasilia
Currency- Brazilian Real (BRL)

SUMMITS, EVENTS & CONFERENCE

2025 World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition Held in Netherlands
The 6th edition of World Hydrogen Summit and Exhibition, the world’s largest dedicated Hydrogen event
,was held from May 20 to 22, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
• Under the theme “Navigating Challenges with Solid Form of Financial Investment
Decision(FIDs)”, the summit focused on advancing the global hydrogen market by addressing
critical challenges and setting actionable steps for industry growth.
• Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), represents
India at the Summit.
Note: Green hydrogen is a clean energy carrier produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using
renewable electricity.
About World Hydrogen Summit and Exhibition 2025:
i.The event was organized by London, the United Kingdom (UK) based Sustainable Energy Council (SEC) and
UK-based Rx Global, in collaboration with the Netherlands government, the Province of Zuid-Holland, the
City of Rotterdam and the Port of Rotterdam.
ii.The agenda of the summit included high-level discussions, Hydrogen (H2) Technology sessions, and
presentations from leading companies. The event also featured the World Hydrogen Awards, the H2 Tech
Series, and site visits to hydrogen projects in the Port of Rotterdam.

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iii.The summit featured over 700 global exhibitors and welcomed approximately 15,000 industry
professionals.
Highlights of 2025 World Hydrogen Summit :
The summit featured more than 400 speakers, including global ministers, Chief Executive Officers(CEOs)
and Chief Technology Officers(CTOs), who discussed key challenges in the hydrogen sector such as
renewable hydrogen production, infrastructure development, policy frameworks, and investment strategies.
MNRE participated in World Hydrogen Summit 2025:
Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, MNRE addressed the World Hydrogen Summit 2025, highlighting
India’s strategic vision and capabilities in the domain of renewable energy and green hydrogen production.
• He also highlighted India’s transformative potential of Green Hydrogen to become a global leader.
i.He highlighted the installation of over 223 Gigawatt (GW) of Renewable Energy (RE) by India, which
includes 108 GW from solar and 51 GW from wind, placing India among the fastest growing RE markets
globally.
• He reiterated India’s vision to achieve energy independence by 2047 and reach Net Zero
emissions by 2070.
ii.To drive the transition, GOI launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) in 2023, with an
initial allocation of USD 2.4 billion. The mission aims to achieve 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green
hydrogen production by 2030.
iii.He also underscored the launch of Green Hydrogen Certification scheme (GHCS), the exemption of Green
Hydrogen and Green Ammonia plants from Environmental Clearance by the Ministry of Environment, Forest
and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Three major ports Kandla Port (Gujarat), Paradip Port (Odisha) and Tuticorin Port (Tamil Nadu,
TN), identified by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), to be developed as
Green Hydrogen hubs.
SECI about India-Europe Cooperation:
Sanjay Sharma, Director, New Delhi (Delhi) based Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) addressed a
high-level session titled “India-Europe Green Hydrogen Trade”, emphasizing the strategic importance of
strengthening India-Europe cooperation to unlock the full potential of green hydrogen in the global clean
energy transition.
• The key highlight of the session was the proposal of developing a hydrogen corridor to strengthen
connectivity and create a resilient and integrated hydrogen supply chain between the two
regions.
World Hydrogen Awards 2025 Winners:
The World Hydrogen 2025 Awards, presented at the World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition 2025,
recognized outstanding contributions across six categories.
• These include Clean Hydrogen Project, Industrial Application, Future Hydrogen Leader, Hydrogen
Transport, Port of the Future, and Person of the Year.
i.Bart Biebuyck, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Green Energy Park (GEP), was honored as the Hydrogen
Person of the Year for his exceptional leadership in advancing hydrogen initiatives.
ii.The REFORMERS project has been awarded the 2025 World Hydrogen Award in the “Clean Hydrogen
Project” category, recognizing its pioneering role in creating Europe’s first Renewable Energy Valley in
Alkmaar and Heilo, the Netherlands.
iii.Jan Rongé, CEO of Solhyd, was honored with the Future Hydrogen Leader award for his pioneering work
in hydrogen technology.

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List of 2025 World Hydrogen Awards winners:

Categories Awardee Country

Port of the Future Porto Piaui Brazil

Bart Biebuyck, Chief Executive Officer

Person of the Year Belgium
(CEO), Green Energy Park (GEP)

Industrial Application Aurubis AG Germany

REFORMERS – Renewable Energy

Clean Project Netherlands
Valley Alkmaar

Future Leader Jan Ronge, CEO of Solhyd Belgium

Hydrogen Transport Beyond Aero France

Highlights of 2025 World Hydrogen Exhibition:
The Exhibition featured over 700 exhibitors from across the globe, including leading companies such as
Hyundai Motor Group ( Seoul, South Korea), Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (headquartered in
Pennsylvania, the United States of America, USA), BP plc( London, the United Kingdom, UK), and the Port of
Rotterdam Authority (Rotterdam, Netherlands).
i.These exhibitors presented innovative solutions in areas like hydrogen production, storage, transportation,
and infrastructure development.
ii.The H2 Tech Series at the World Hydrogen Exhibition 2025 featured three specialized stages: H2 Tech
Action, H2 Tech Insights, and H2 Tech Innovation, each designed to showcase the latest advancements in
hydrogen technology.
iii.The exhibition also facilitated numerous business partnerships and collaborations, underscoring its role
as a pivotal platform for advancing the global hydrogen economy.
India’s Juno Joule Partners with Germany’s Select Energy for USD 1.3 Billion Green Hydrogen
Initiative
During the event, Hyderabad (Telangana) based Juno Joule Green Energy has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Hamburg (Germany) based Select Energy GmbH, to jointly develop a green
hydrogen and ammonia export facility, at Mulapeta Port in Andhra Pradesh(AP).
• The total outlay of the project is USD 1.3 billion (Rs.10,000 crore) and the construction is
expected to begin in 2026.
• The MoU was signed by Nagasharath Rayapati, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Juno Joule and Felix
Danger, Managing Director (MD), Select New Energies GmbH.
Key Points:
i.The facility is planned to be built in three phases and will produce 180 Kilo Tonnes Per Annum (KTPA) of
green hydrogen by 2029. The hydrogen will be converted into up to 1 million tonnes of green ammonia
annually.
ii.The partnership includes equity participation, development of ammonia export terminals, port-connected
logistics infrastructure, alignment with European frameworks such as Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological
Origin (RFNBO) and Renewable Energy Directive(RED) II/III, and a long-term offtake agreement with a
blended pricing model.

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iii.The facility will use electrolysers powered by solar, wind, and hydropower, and a desalination unit to
supply high-purity water.
Hyundai Motor Group showcases Global Hydrogen Leadership:
Seoul (South Korea) based Hyundai Motor Group, an automobile company showcased its position as a
global leader at the World Hydrogen Summit 2025 at its Korean Pavilion, which is organized in partnership
with H2KOREA, highlighting the global advancement of hydrogen technology.
• Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chair Jaehoon Chang co-chaired a high-level Ministerial-CEO
Roundtable, organized in collaboration with the International Hydrogen Trade Forum (IHTF),
the Hydrogen Council, and Vienna, Austria based United Nations Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO).
• The roundtable focused on aligning public and private sector efforts to accelerate the
development of a reliable and inclusive global hydrogen industry.
About Netherlands:
Prime Minister(PM) -Dick Schoof
Capital – Amsterdam
Currency – Euro (EUR)

DEPwD Organised ‘Inclusive India Summit’ in New Delhi

In May 2025, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of
Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) organised the ‘Inclusive India Summit’ on the occasion of Global
Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD on May 15, 2025) at India International Centre (IIC) in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The summit was organised in a hybrid mode by DEPwD in collaboration with Mumbai
(Maharashtra)-based State Bank of India(SBI) Foundation and Delhi-based National Association
for the Blind (NAB), and supported by Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Association of People with
Disability (APD) and Delhi-based Mission Accessibility (Dhananjay Sanjogta Foundation).
• Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary of DEPwD, attended the summit as Chief Guest. The summit was
aimed to promote inclusive development and digital accessibility for persons with disabilities
across the country.
Note: GAAD is observed annually on 3rd Thursday of May, to raise awareness around digital access and
inclusion.
Key Points:
i.During the summit, a voice and WhatsApp-based Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled chatbot, which is
currently under development in collaboration with Sarvam AI, was also demonstrated.
• The chatbot is designed to enhance access to information about disability-related schemes and
initiatives for divyangjan.
ii.During the event, Mission Accessibility released its annual Accessibility Report Card, highlighting the
current state of accessibility across India and identifying key areas of progress and challenges.
iii.A draft curriculum aimed at integrating digital accessibility into undergraduate computer science and
design courses was officially unveiled to promote inclusive education and design practices.
iv.The DEPwD signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with multiple organizations, including New
Delhi (Delhi)-based I for Humanity Foundation, Nipman Foundation; New Delhi -based Nipam Foundation
and Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC); and Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Ramp my city
Foundation to strengthen efforts towards promoting accessibility and social inclusion.
About Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE):
Union Minister- Dr. Virendra Kumar(Constituency- Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Union Minister of State (MoS)– Ramdas Athawale (Rajya Sabha- Maharashtra ); B.L. Verma (Rajya Sabha –
Uttar Pradesh, UP)

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First Edition of WAVES 2025 Held in Mumbai; Garners Rs 1328 crores Business Deals
Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first-of-its-kind World Audio Visual and
Entertainment Summit, WAVES 2025, at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The four-day event,
organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoI&B) in collaboration with the Government
of Maharashtra(GoM), held from May 1-4, 2025.
• WAVES 2025 was held under the tagline “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries.” The
summit showcased areas like films, Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms, gaming, animation, Artificial
Intelligence (AI), and Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics – Extended Reality (AVGC-XR),
highlighting India’s growing strength in entertainment and emerging tech.
• The summit witnessed participation from over 10,000 delegates representing more than 90
countries. It aimed to unlock a USD 50 billion market by 2029.
Highlights of WAVES 2025:
PM Narendra Modi Releases Commemorative Stamps Honouring Icons of Indian Cinema:
During the WAVES 2025, PM Narendra Modi released special postage stamps to honour five great
personalities of Indian cinema.
• These included filmmaker Guru Dutt, director Raj Khosla, filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak, actress P.
Bhanumathi and music composer Salil Chowdhury.
Note: On May 3, 1913, India’s first feature film, Raja Harishchandra, was released., directed by
Dadasaheb Phalke, who is known as the father of Indian cinema.
First Global Media Dialogue(GMD):
At WAVES 2025, the MoI&B organised the Global Media Dialogue (GMD) for the first time, with the support
from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and with ministerial participation from over 50 countries. The
dialogue was co-chaired by Union Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar,MEA, Union Minister Ashwini
Vaishnaw, MoI&B and Union Minister of State (MoS), MoI&B, Dr Loganathan (L.) Murugan.
• During the GMD, 77 countries adopted the 13-point ‘WAVES Declaration’, focusing on promoting
the responsible use of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• According to the declaration, Member countries pledged to promote people-to-people, culture-to-
culture, and country-to-country exchanges by championing media and entertainment as channels
for dialogue.
WAVES Bazaar:
The summit also featured the WAVES Bazaar, a global e-marketplace with over 6,100 buyers, 5,200 sellers,
and 2,100 projects, designed to connect buyers and sellers locally and globally, creating valuable networking
and business opportunities.
• The WAVES Bazaar, has secured Rs 254 crore in business deals across film, music, animation,
radio, and Visual Effects(VFX) industries, with major agreements between Indian and
international film industry players.
Key points:
i.During the event, the GoM signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs.8,000 crore in the
media and entertainment sector.
ii.Also, the WAVEX Startup Accelerator unveiled a Rs.50 crore investment fund, designed to support and
propel emerging startups within the media and entertainment industry.
Union MoS Dr. L Murugan Unveils 5 Key Reports on India’s Growing M&E Sector:
Union MoS Dr. L. Murugan,MoI&B released five reports at the WAVES 2025 Summit that offer a detailed
look at India’s growing M&E industry. The reports were prepared by well-known national and international
organizations.

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The reports included:

1.Statistical Handbook on Media & Entertainment Sector 2024-25:
The Statistical Handbook was prepared by the MoI&B offers key data and trends to support informed
policymaking in the media and entertainment sector.
2.Legal Currents: A Regulatory Handbook on India’s Media & Entertainment Sector 2025:
The handbook “Legal Currents: A Regulatory Handbook on India’s Media & Entertainment Sector 2025” by
Khaitan & Co, a law firm, served as a clear legal guide for India’s media and entertainment (M &E) industry,
covering key topics like content laws, incentives, gaming taxes, and AI guidelines.
3.A Studio Called India:
At WAVES 2025, a report titled “A Studio Called India” by Ernst & Young (EY), a global accounting firm based
in London, United Kingdom (UK) was released, highlighting showed how India had become a major force in
the global media and entertainment (M&E) sector due to its expanding digital audience, cultural richness,
and strong production capabilities.
Key Points from the Report:
i.India produced around 200,000 hours of original content in 2024, which included 1,600 films, 2,600 hours
of premium OTT content, and 20,000 original songs—making it one of the top content producers globally.
India hosted over 30,000 live events in 2024,
ii.In 2024, digital media became the largest segment of India’s M&E industry, generating over Rs 800
billion (around USD 9.4 billion) and making up 32% of total sector revenue.
iii.Indian content became globally popular, drawing 25% of OTT views from outside the country, with 40%
to 60% lower Animation and visual effects (VFX) costs and a skilled workforce.
4.BCG Report :From Content to Commerce: Mapping India’s Creator Economy:
i.The report, “From Content to Commerce: Mapping India’s Creator Economy,” prepared by Boston
Consulting Group (BCG), headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts(United States of America, USA), highlights
the rapid growth of India’s creator economy in the digital age.
ii.As per the report, India, home to 2 to 2.5 million active digital creators, has become one of the fastest-
growing creator ecosystems globally, influencing over USD 350 billion in annual consumer spending, a
figure projected to exceed USD 1 trillion by 2030.
5.Whitepaper on India’s Live Events Industry: Rising Tourism and Demand for Premium
Experiences:
i.The Whitepaper on India’s Live Events Industry highlights a 15% year-on-year (YoY) growth, with the
sector generating Rs 13 billion in revenue in 2024.
ii.It highlights that nearly half a million fans now travel between cities for events, driving the growth of
event-based tourism and increasing demand for premium experiences.
Launch of IICT for AVGC-XR Sector:
At WAVES 2025, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, MoI&B, announced the launch of the Indian Institute of
Creative Technology (IICT), a National Centre of Excellence (CoE) backed by Jio Star based in Mumbai
dedicated to Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR).
• This initiative was developed by MoI&B in collaboration with the New Delhi (Delhi)-based
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Confederation of
Indian Industry (CII) also based in New Delhi.
About Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT):
i.Initially, IICT will offer seven specialized courses across various AVGC-XR domains. Plans are underway to
expand the curriculum to over 35 courses in the coming years, catering to all segments of the AVGC-XR
sector.

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ii.Tech giants such as NVIDIA (USA), Google (USA), Apple (USA), Microsoft (USA), Meta (USA), Star India
Private Limited (Mumbai, Maharashtra), and Adobe (USA) joined hands with the IICT to help design courses
and training programs in the AVGC-XR sector.
iii.PM Narendra Modi has allocated Rs 400 crore for setting up IICT, while the land for the project has been
provided by the Maharashtra government. Ten acres of land at Mumbai Film City have been identified and
will be used for IICT development.
iv.The Executive Team of IICT includes Dr Vishwas Deoskar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ninad
Raikar, Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Shweta Verma, Lead Marketing.
vi.The GoM has launched its AVGC-XR Policy 2025 to transform the state’s tourism sector, targeting USD
240 million in investments and creating over 20,000 jobs by 2029.
Other Points:
i.The Create in India Challenge (CIC) Season 1, a flagship initiative under the World Audio Visual and
Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, culminated in a grand awards ceremony. The event featured 750
finalists, among whom were 43 international participants.
ii.The Bharat Pavilion at WAVES 2025 emerged as a standout attraction, offering visitors an immersive
journey through India’s rich storytelling traditions under the theme “From Kala to Code.”
iii.WAVES 2025 was concluded with remarkable success, recording business transactions totaling Rs.1,328
crore across various sectors including film, music, radio, VFX, and animation.

PM Narendra Modi addresses YUGM Innovation conclave in New Delhi

On April 29, 2025, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi addressed the ‘YUGM: Uniting Academia,
Industry, and Innovators for Viksit Bharat’ Innovation conclave at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Delhi.
• The event, organized by the Ministry of Education(MoE) in collaboration with the Wadhwani
Foundation, brought together leaders from government, academia, and industry to foster
innovation and technological advancement in India.
Key Highlights:
i.During the conclave, PM Narendra Modi highlighted the importance of strengthening the research
ecosystem to achieve national goals, highlighting the doubling of gross expenditure on Research and
Development (R&D) from Rs.60,000 crore in 2013-14 to over Rs.1.25 lakh crore in 2023-24.
ii.He emphasized, “The Trinity of Talent, Temperament and Technology will transform India’s future”,
highlighting initiatives such as Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL), with 10,000 labs already operational and 50,000
announced, to provide early exposure to children.
About YUGM Innovation conclave:
i.YUGM (meaning “confluence” in Sanskrit) is the first-of-its-kind strategic conclave convening leaders from
government, academia, industry, and the innovation ecosystem.
ii.It is set to advance India’s innovation ecosystem through a collaborative initiative valued at
approximately Rs 1,400 crore, with joint investment from the Wadhwani Foundation and various
Government Institutions.
The conclave featured a series of High-level Roundtables and Panel iii.Discussions involving government
representatives, industry leaders, and academic experts, aimed at fostering action-oriented dialogue on
accelerating the translation of research into tangible impact.
• It will also include a Deep Tech Startup Showcase, presenting breakthrough innovations from
across India.

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Initiatives Launched:
Several key initiatives are launched during the conclave, including
i.The establishment of Superhubs at Indian Institute of Technology(IIT) Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh(UP)
focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Intelligent Systems, and at IIT Bombay, Mumbai(Maharashtra),
specializing in Biosciences, Biotechnology, Health, and Medicine.
ii.Additionally, Wadhwani Innovation Network (WIN) Centers will be set up at leading research institutions
to accelerate research commercialization.
ANRF signs LoE with Wadhwani Foundation:
i.During the Conclave, Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and the Wadhwani Foundation
exchanged the Letter of Intent (LoE) in the presence of PM Narendra Modi, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra
Singh, Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T) and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of
Education (MoE).
ii.The partnership is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between a government- backed apex research
institution, ANRF and a Philanthropic Foundation, aimed at co-funding and scaling up research that can
drive tangible societal impact.
iii.With ANRF’s broader vision, this partnership aims to promote equitable access to resources and
opportunities across the country, including tier-2 and tier-3 institutions.
About Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF):
The ANRF was established through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023 (Act No. 25 of
2023), enacted by the Parliament of India.
• This Act, which came into force on February 5, 2024, aims to serve as the apex body providing
strategic direction for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship across various scientific
disciplines in India.

78th World Health Assembly Held from 19 to 27 May 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland – Part I
The 78th session of World Health Assembly (WHA 78), the highest decision-making body of World Health
Organisation (WHO), was held from May 19 to 27, 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland under the theme “One
World for Health”.
• This year’s theme of WHA reflects WHO’s enduring commitment to solidarity and equity,
highlighting that even in unprecedented times, everyone, everywhere should have an equal
chance to live a healthy life.
About WHA 78:
i.Teodoro J. Herbosa, Health Secretary of the Philippines, was elected as President of WHA 78.
ii.While, Dr. Jaleela bint Alsayed Jawad Hasan, Minister of Health of Bahrain, was elected as Vice
President of the WHA 78. He represented the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
iii.The WHA brought together health ministers and representatives from all 194 member states to address
the key global health challenges.
• Member States reviewed around 75 health-related items, actively debated them, and passed
important resolutions aimed at advancing health for everyone.
India at WHA 78:
PM Narendra Modi Addressed the WHA 78:
In May 2025, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi addressed WHA 78 through video-conferencing. He
highlighted this year’s WHA theme aligns with India’s own vision of ‘One Earth, One Health’.
Key Points:
i.He highlighted about India’s transformative health reforms like: Ayushman Bharat, considered as the
world’s largest health insurance scheme, which now covers more than 580 million people and provides
maximum health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh per family.

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• In 2024, the Government of India (GoI) expanded the scheme to cover all Indians above the age of
70 years.
• He underscored India’s free telemedicine service, which has enabled more than 340 million
consultations.
iii.He urged global participation for the 11th International Day of Yoga on June 21, 2025. He invited all
countries to embrace Yoga as a unifying force for global well-being.
iv.PM also congratulated WHO and all its member states on the successful negotiations of the
Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) treaty.
Note: The INB, set up by WHO member states in 2021, drafts and negotiates international agreements to
enhance pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
India Reaffirmed Global Health Commitment at WHA 78:
The India delegation led by Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
(MoH&FW) representing India at WH 78.
• While addressing the plenary session of the assembly, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila
Srivastava emphasized on the transformative progress made under GoI’s flagship initiatives like
Ayushman Bharat which will help India in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
• She also mentioned that medical colleges in India have doubled from 387 to 780 in the last 10
years to train future healthcare professionals.
Key Points:
i.She further highlighted that international organisations like: the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
and the UN Inter-Agency Group appreciated India’s efforts in maternal health, family planning, childhood
mortality and stillbirths’ reduction.
ii.She also reiterated India’s commitment to eliminating diseases such as Tuberculosis (TB), Leprosy,
Lymphatic Filariasis, Measles, Rubella and Kala-azar.
India Reinforced Commitment to WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-34 at WHA 78:
While addressing the assembly, Arindam Baghchi, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva
(Switzerland) appreciated the adoption of the new WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-
34, which aims to encourage member states of WHO to enhance regulation, integrate Traditional Medicine
(TM) services, where appropriate, and uphold indigenous knowledge, environmental sustainability, and
biodiversity.
• He reinforced India’s commitment to bolstering TM systems as part of an integrated approach to
healthcare at WH 78.
Key Points:
i.He highlighted India’s significant contribution to the global TM ecosystem with the establishment of the
WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat. It was launched in 2022 with the
support of GoI.
• The Centre is a 1st –of-its-kind and plays a crucial role in data analytics, policy support, standard-
setting, and research collaboration.
ii.In May 2025, the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy),
India and WHO signed a Donor Agreement, to initiate work on a dedicated TM module under the
International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI).
India Awarded WHO Certification for Elimination of Trachoma as Public Health Problem
India received the Certification of Elimination of Trachoma as a Public Health Problem by the WHO. The
certification was presented by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General (DG) of WHO during the
WHA 78.
• This recognition by WHO reflects India’s sustained efforts in disease elimination, its focus on
preventive healthcare, and its continued commitment to the vision of health for all.

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• Besides Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Mauritania have been validated by WHO for eliminating
trachoma as a public health problem.
Key Points:
i.On October 08 2024, WHO declared the GoI had eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem at the
77th Regional Conference of WHO South East Asia Region (SEAR) held in New Delhi, Delhi.
• Also, India became the 3rd country in SEAR after Nepal and Myanmar to achieve this public health
milestone.
ii.As of October 2024, 21 countries including India, China, Benin, Cambodia, China, Morocco, Mexico, Oman,
among others, had been validated by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem
Note: Trachoma is a contagious bacterial eye infection caused by bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis. It is
classified as Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) and the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness.
India, Nepal Strengthen Health Cooperation at WHA 78 Bilateral Meeting
On the sidelines of WHA 78, Punya Salila Srivastava, Health Secretary of India held a bilateral meeting with
Pradip Paudel, Minister of Health and Population, Government of Nepal.
• The bilateral meeting was focused on key health issues like: affordable drugs, communicable and
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), digital health, and capacity building of the health workforce.
Key Reports/Programmes Launched at WHA 78:
WHO Results Report 2024-25 Released:
In May 2025, the WHO mid-term Results Report 2024-25 was released, ahead of WHA 78. The report shows
progress on global health amid increasing financial uncertainties. The report further shows significant
progress on coverage with health essential services, protection from health emergencies.
• However, this progress is still insufficient to reach the health-related Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
About the WHO Report 2024-25:
i.This latest edition of the report presents a mid-term assessment of WHO’s performance in implementing
the Programme Budget 2024-25.
ii.It also provides a comprehensive overview of the progress made towards the strategic priorities of the
13th General Programme of Work(GPW-13), 2019-25.
iii.The report covers the work of WHO in more than 150 countries, territories and provides an update on the
implementation of the 13th General Programme, highlighting both accomplishments so far and challenges
ahead.
Key Points:
i.As per the report, an estimated 431 million more people are now covered with essential health
services without catastrophic health spending.
• This progress is mainly attributed to improvements in the healthcare workforce, and expanded
Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV) antiretroviral therapy.
ii.The report reveals that an estimated 637 million more people are better protected through robust
preparedness, surveillance, workforce capacity, and equitable access to tools and services, driven by
reforms such as amendments to the International Health Regulations.
iii.It further shows 1.4 billion more people are living healthier lives, mainly driven by reduced tobacco use,
improved air quality, clean household fuels, among others.
Key Progress:
i.As per the report, 7 countries eliminated NTD disease in 2024. With this, a total 54 countries have
eradicated at least one NTD.
ii.The report reveals 70 million more people had access to mental health services by December 2024 and
minimum 1 million people living with a mental health condition received treatment.

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iii.WHO with the support from the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, had distributed
259,000 mpox tests in 32 countries and 6 million mpox vaccines were pledged worldwide.
iv.WHO in partnership with UNICEF and other UN agencies has resulted in multi-layer funding programmes
in 15 high-burden countries. These programmes have reached 9.3 million children and saved an estimated 1
million lives.
Note: The total Programme Budget for 2024–2025 is set at USD 6.83 billion.
WHO Unveiled New Guideline:
On the sidelines of WHA 78, WHO unveiled its comprehensive ‘new guideline on balanced national policies
for controlled medicines’. It is designed to support countries in ensuring safe, equitable and affordable
access to essential controlled medicines which are important in the treatment of acute and chronic pain,
mental health conditions, and other serious health issues.
• This new WHO guideline provides a roadmap for its member states to develop and implement
balanced national policies that support the medical and scientific use of controlled medicines
while protecting individuals from the risks associated with non-medical use.
Key Objectives:
The document offers new evidence-based recommendations and best practice statements:
i.To ensure accurate and timely quantification of controlled medicines based on current consumption and
projected requirements;
ii.To ban misleading and unethical marketing practices;
iii.To strengthen procurement and supply chain systems using appropriate tools and technologies to
enhance traceability;
iv.To allow local production where feasible;
v.To provide continuous access to opioid against treatment in all clinically needed settings;
vi.To promote robust training for healthcare professionals and public education campaigns for safe,
informed use.
Member States Approved WHO Pandemic Agreement in WHA Committee, Paving Way for its Formal
Adoption
Investment Commitments:
Member States Approved 20% Funding Hike for WHO:
In May 2025, member states of WHO approved a new budget and 20% hike in assessed contributions
(annual membership fees), which will account an additional USD 90 million in revenue annually. This is the
2nd such 20% increase in assessed contributions to WHO, the last being made as part of the 2024-25
budget.
• Also, these member states endorsed the WHO’s 2026-27 budget of USD 4.2 billion, down by 22%
compared to the previous estimated budget of USD 5.3 billion.
• The budget for 2026-27 is the 1st to be fully based on the WHO’s 14th General Programme of
Work, 2025-28 (GPW 14), its global health strategy for another 4 years.
Background:
i.In 2022, WHO member states agreed to increase their assessed contributions by gradually increasing their
membership fees to account 50% of WHO’s core budget by the 2030-31 cycle, at the latest.
ii.Assessed contributions accounted for only 16% of the approved programme budget in the 2021-22
biennium.
Note: WHO has secured 60% of its base budget for 2026-27, however, it is still short of USD 1.7 billion,
despite the reduced budget.

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Rockfeller and Wellcome Pledged to Mobilise USD 11.5 Million:

The United States of America, USA-based philanthropic organisations, The Rockefeller
Foundation and Wellcome have pledged to mobilize USD 11.5 million to help Low-and-Middle-Income-
Countries (LMICs) tackle increasing health risks caused by climate change.
• The joint investment was announced on the sideline of WHA 78, where the Rockefeller
Foundation announced USD 5.2 million grants for the WHO-WMO programme.
• While, Wellcome had pledged USD 6.3 million in October 2024 at the World Health Summit.
Key Focus Areas:
i.Prototype and scale in-country: The investment will establish health meteorological units in 7 countries
across Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
ii.Support Cross-sectoral Collaboration and Capacity Building: The joint investment aims to build
stronger cooperation between health ministries and weather agencies in at least 80 countries.
Global Leaders Pledged 210 Million :
Global Leaders pledged at least an additional USD 210 million for 2025-28 Investment Round
(IR) supporting the WHO’s base budget. It brings the total funds raised for the Investment Round to
approximately USD1.7 billion.
• The IR aims to raise funds for WHO’s strategy for global health, GPW 14, which can save an
additional 40 million lives over the next 4 years.
Key Donors:
i.The event witnessed commitments from countries like: Switzerland (USD 40 million),Sweden (USD 13.5
million), Qatar (USD 6 million), Angola (USD 8 million), Cambodia (USD 400,000), among others.
ii.Some of the notable global foundations/organisations: the ELMA Vaccines and Immunization Foundation
(with the WHO Foundation) (USD 2 million), the Nippon Foundation (USD 9.2 million), Fondation Botnar
(USD 9.6 million), Laerdal Global Health and the Novo Nordisk Foundation (USD 57 million).
• Also, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) has committed an additional USD 13
million and announced a further increase in funding.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal Addresses Columbia India Energy Dialogue in New Delhi
In May 2025, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) addressed
the Columbia India Energy Dialogue held in New Delhi(Delhi), where he emphasized India’s global
leadership in clean energy transition and reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive and equitable climate
action.
• The dialogue brought together key stakeholders from India and the United States of
America(USA) to discuss collaborative strategies for advancing clean energy and addressing
climate change.
• The dialogue is organized by the India Program at the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP), part
of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). It is conducted in
collaboration with the Columbia Global Center in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Key Highlights:
i.The Minister highlighted that climate change is a global challenge and highlighted the need for universal
commitment under the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR).
ii.India achieved its 2030 Renewable Energy(RE) target of 200 Gigawatts (GW) in 2022, 8 years ahead of
schedule. Currently, solar power capacity has grown over 30 times in the past decade.
iii.India has built a 500 GW interconnected national grid under a 2014 initiative to integrate regional grids,
ensuring 24/7 affordable energy access and supporting high levels of clean energy integration.
iv.India is rapidly adopting innovations like Light-Emitting Diode(LED) lighting, green hydrogen, biofuels,
ethanol blending, electric mobility, and green ammonia, while emerging as a hub for clean energy-powered

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data centres.
v.Union Minister Piyush Goyal urged Columbia University(the USA) to collaborate with Indian Institutes of
Eminence and establish a campus in India.

PM Modi Unveils India’s Space Roadmap at GLEX 2025

In May 2025, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi addressed the 12th Global Conference on Space
Exploration (GLEX 2025) via video conference. He emphasized India’s commitment to collaborative space
exploration, stating that India’s space journey focuses on collective advancement rather than competition.
• The GLEX 2025 held from May 7-9, 2025 in New Delhi, Delhi. It is organized by Paris(France)
based International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in collaboration with Bengaluru(Karnataka)
based Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Bengaluru based Astronautical Society of
India (ASI).
i.He highlighted that the Chandrayaan missions played a key role in lunar exploration. Chandrayaan-1
(2008) discovered water on the Moon, Chandrayaan-2 (2019) captured high-resolution images, and
Chandrayaan-3 (2023) made India the first country to land near the Moon’s south pole.
ii.In 2014, India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) (Mangalyaan) made India the first Asian country to reach
Mars orbit and the first in the world to do so on its first attempt.
iii.India plans to establish its own space station, the Bharatiya Antariksha Station, by 2035.

World Bank Land Conference 2025 held in Washington DC, USA

The World Bank Land Conference 2025(WBLC 2025), the premier international forum for the land sector,
was held from May 5 to 8, 2025 in Washington DC, the United States of America (USA).
• Washington (the USA)-based World Bank (WB) has been organising the Land Conference for over
20 years, with the aim of bringing together over 1,000 participants from wide range of sectors
such as government, academia, civil society, and the private sector.
• Theme of WBLC 2025: “Securing Land Tenure and Access for Climate Action: Moving from
Awareness”.
• During the conference, India was honored as a Country Champion under the leadership
of Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR). This recognition
underscores India’s global leadership in inclusive land governance and grassroots empowerment.
About World Bank Land Conference 2025(WBLC 2025):
i.The conference aimed to explore strategies for securing land tenure, modernizing land administration for
sustainable development and climate-responsive governance.
ii.Key Speakers: Guangzhe Chen, Vice President for Infrastructure, The World Bank; Rohitesh Dhawan,
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM); Hindou Oumarou
Ibrahim, Vice Chairperson of United Nations (UN) Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, among others.
iii.On the sidelines of the conference, various sessions were organised which highlighted best practices,
operational strategies and cutting-edge research to drive reforms in land tenure, promote the use of
geospatial technologies, and build resilience in tackling climate challenges.
India at 2025 WBLC:
A high-level Indian delegation led by Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary of MoPR showcased India’s pioneering
digital land reform initiatives i.e. Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village
Areas (SWAMITVA Scheme) and Gram Manchitra, India’s advanced Geographic Information System(GIS)-
based spatial planning platform at two different key sessions of 2025 WLC.
• Other members of the Indian delegation were: Alok Prem Nagar, Joint Secretary of MoPR;
Shailesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Surveyor General, Survey of India and other senior officials
from the state of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh (UP).

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Key Sessions:
i.Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary of MoPR represented India as a Country Champion in the Plenary Session on
‘Good Practices and Challenges in Land Tenure and Governance Reform’.
• While addressing the event, he highlighted SWAMITVA Scheme, a flagship initiative of
Government of India (GoI) has emerged as a transformational initiative in India’s rural land
governance.
• Since the inception of scheme in April 2020, India has surveyed 68,000 square kilometers (sq.
kms) of rural land, unlocking an estimated USD 1.16 trillion (approximately 100 crores) in land
value.
• So far, over 24.4 million households have been issued across 1.6 lakh villages and mapped over
100 million property parcels across India.
ii.On the sidelines of 2025 WBLC, MoPR also led a high-level special session titled ‘Securing Land Rights
for a Billion People’. The opening session was addressed by Dr. Klaus W. Deininger, Lead Economist at WB.
• The special session highlighted the end-to-end implementation and impact of the SVAMITVA
Scheme, from drone surveys and legal frameworks to property card issuance and institutional
convergence.
iii.On the last day of 2025 WLC, Alok Prem Nagar, Joint Secretary of MoPR led a Technical session
on ‘Establishing the Land Foundation for Climate Action and Disaster Risk Management’, wherein he
presented India’s Gram Manchitra platform, which uses high-resolution spatial data of SVAMITVA to
support village-level planning, solar energy site selection, disaster mitigation and rural development.
• He emphasized the significance of capacity building, financial incentives, and community
engagement, positioning Gram Manchitra as a forward-looking solution for disaster
preparedness and inclusive development.
WBLC 2025 Concluded: Global Praise for India’s Rural Governance Models
The 4-day long WBLC 2025 was concluded on a high note as India earned global recognition for its
innovative and technology-led rural governance initiatives like: SVAMITVA Scheme and Gram Manchitra
platform.
• Through its participation at WBLC 2025, India has positioned as world thought leader in land
tenure reforms rural development.
About World Bank (WB):
President- Ajay Banga
Headquarters- Washington, DC, the United States of America (USA)
Established- 1944
About Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR):
Union Minister- Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) (Constituency- Munger, Bihar)
Minister of State (MoS)- S.P. Singh Baghel (Constituency- Agra, Uttar Pradesh, UP)

Sri Lanka Hosted the 4th RIMES Ministerial Conference in Colombo

The Government of Sri Lanka hosted the 4th Ministerial Conference of the Regional Integrated Multi-
Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) with the support of Washington DC (the United States of America,
USA)-based World Bank (WB) through CARE Component-1 and London (the United Kingdom, UK)-based
Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), held from May 07 to 09, 2025 in Colombo, Sri
Lanka.
• India participated at the 4th Ministerial Conference of RIMES as a co-chair along with Sri Lanka.
The Indian delegation was led by Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth
Sciences(MoES).

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• Theme of 4th Ministerial Conference of RIMES: ‘Actionable Early Warnings and Climate
Services for All’.
• The conference aimed at achieving the objectives of the Early for All Initiatives by fixing gaps
across the entire weather and climate information value chain.
Note: India currently holds the chair of the RIMES Council, underscoring its pivotal role in advancing
regional efforts toward climate resilience and disaster preparedness.
Key Highlights:
i.Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka represented India at the RIMES Council Meeting,
which was held on the sidelines of 4th Ministerial Conference of RIMES.
• The council held discussions on institutional priorities and finalized the draft Ministerial
Declaration.
ii.During the meeting, he reaffirmed India’s commitment to RIMES initiatives such as the ‘Early Warning for
All’ program and the decentralization of RIMES operation.
• During the conference, he expressed India’s readiness to host the proposed RIMES Regional
Centre.
iii.The conference concluded with the adoption of the ‘Ministerial Declaration’ by RIMES member states,
reinforcing their collective commitment to promoting multi-hazard early warning systems, climate services,
and disaster-resilient development in the region.
About Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES):
i.RIMES was formally established in April 2009. Currently, it hosts a total 62 member nations including, 22
member states and 40 collaborating nations.
ii.RIMES is an intergovernmental organisation that supports its member nations with end-to-end early
warning services, capacity building, and disaster risk reduction.
iii.The 1st Ministerial Conference of RIMES was held in June, 2012 in New Delhi, Delhi (India).
• Papua New Guinea hosted the 3rd Ministerial Conference of RIMES in September, 2017.
About Sri Lanka:
President- Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Capital- Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (legislative capital), Colombo (judicial and executive capital)
Currency– Sri Lankan Rupee (SLR)

LIMA 2025 held in Malaysia; India Showcases Indigenous Defence Technologies

Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2025), biennial event, held from May 20
to 24, 2025, at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC) in Langkawi, Malaysia. It is recognized
as one of the largest maritime and aerospace exhibitions in the Asia-Pacific region.
• The event focused on defense preparedness, regional collaboration, and technological
innovation in maritime and aerospace sectors.
• India’s participation was marked by the inauguration of the ‘India Pavilion’ by Union Minister of
State(MoS), Sanjay Seth, Ministry of Defence(MoD).
About LIMA 2025:
i.The 17th edition of LIMA is organized by Malaysia’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Global Exhibitions and
Conferences Sdn. Bhd. (GEC).
ii.The five-day event was inaugurated by Dato‘ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister (PM) of Malaysia
and witnessed participation from global leaders and industry representatives across the maritime and
aerospace sectors.
iii.This edition attracted 860 exhibitors from 24 countries and 140 delegates representing 46 nations,
including military heads and government officials.

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iv.The exhibition saw participation including Brazil, France, Italy, Singapore, Indonesia, and the United
States. In total, 57 aircraft and 39 maritime display assets were showcased, featuring the latest fighter
jets, helicopters, and naval vessels.
India’s Participation:
i.An Indian delegation led by Union MoS Sanjay Seth, MoD participated in the opening ceremony.
• On the sidelines of the event, Union MoS Sanjay Seth met with Malaysian Defence Minister Dato’
Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin to strengthen bilateral defence ties and advance the
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between two countries.
ii.He inaugurated the India Pavilion, featuring indigenous defense technologies like
the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)-manufactured Dornier
aircraft and Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kavaratti.
iii.Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) such as Mumbai, Maharashtra based Mazagon Dock
Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Hyderabad, Telangana based Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Bengaluru,
Karnataka based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bengaluru based Bharat Earth Movers Limited
(BEML) and Hyderabad, Telangana based Gliders India Limited. showcased India’s growing defense
capabilities.
Note: The Indian Air Force(IAF)’s acclaimed aerobatic team, Surya Kiran, has pulled out of LIMA 2025, citing
“the situation back home” as the reason for the withdrawal.
Global Participants and Exhibits:
i.Beijing (China)-based China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) displayed
advanced aircraft, including the J-10CE fighter jet, FC-31 stealth fighter, and Y-20 transport aircraft.
ii.Ankara (Türkiye)-based STM unveiled its Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) design for amphibious
operations.
iii.São José dos Campos (Brazil)-based Embraer SA highlighted the KC-390 Millennium, a multi-mission
transport aircraft tailored for Southeast Asia.
iv.Russia’s Su-57M, a fifth-generation Artificial Intelligence (AI)-integrated stealth fighter, made its debut,
competing with Western platforms like the F-35 Lightning II.
Key Highlights:
i.The exhibition included aerial demonstrations by aircraft of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and
international teams, including Russia’s Russian Knights and Indonesia’s Jupiter Aerobatic Team, performed
daily demonstrations.
ii.Malaysia-based Ground Team Red Sdn Bhd (GTR), a leading ground services provider, officially launched
its new Private Jet Handling service, marking its strategic entry into the VIP and business aviation
segment. This premium service expands GTR’s existing portfolio of aviation ground handling services.
iii.During the event, a new feature called the A.T.M.O.S Sphere (Aerospace, Technology, Maritime, and
Operations for Sustainability) was introduced by Malaysia. It was an immersive dome using 360-degree
projection to showcase new innovations and future themes in security and defence.
ii.Malaysia secured Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth 11 billion Malaysian
Ringgit (approximately USD 2.34 billion), encompassing collaborations in defence satellite initiatives and
the integration of artificial intelligence in aviation.
About Malaysia:
Prime Minister (PM) – Anwar bin Ibrahim
Capital – Kuala Lumpur
Currency – Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)

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Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman Presides Over 16th Annual Day of CCI in New Delhi
On 20th May 2025, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Ministry of
Corporate Affairs (MCA), presided over the 16th Annual Day celebration of the Competition Commission of
India (CCI) in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The event marked a significant milestone in the journey of the CCI, highlighting its role in
promoting fair competition, advancing regulatory reforms, and supporting India’s economic
vision for Viksit Bharat 2047.
Key Highlights of the Event:
The Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, MoF highlighted:
i.Regulatory Balance: CCI’s role in maintaining a “light-touch regulatory framework” to balance
enforcement and pro-growth policies, ensuring markets benefit all stakeholders.
ii.Global Cooperation: The need for agile regulation and global collaboration, especially in emerging
sectors like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital markets.
iii.Digital Initiatives: CCI’s Market Study on AI and Competition and the establishment of the Digital
Markets Division to address tech-driven market challenges.
Initiatives Launched:
During the event, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman released two important documents:
i.“Diagnostic Toolkit Towards Competitive Tenders for Public Procurement” , a guide to detect and
prevent bid rigging in government tenders.
ii.“Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs) on Combinations”, a user-friendly guide reflecting key updates
under the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023 and the Combination Regulations, 2024, including clarity on
deal value threshold and merger control procedures.
About Competition Commission of India (CCI):
i.CCI is a statutory body under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), responsible for enforcing the
Competition Act, 2002. Its headquarters is located in New Delhi, Delhi.
ii.It was established on 14 October 2003 and began full operations in
May 2009, with Dhanendra Kumar serving as its first Chairman.
iii.CCI’s focus areas include Market access for MSMEs, Prevention of monopolistic practices, Digital
inclusion, and Promotion of competitive innovation.
iv.CCI consists of a Chairperson and between two to six members appointed by the Central Government; the
current Chairperson is Ravneet Kaur, and the other members include Anil Agarwal, Sweta Kakkad, and
Deepak Anurag.

Union MoS Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani Addresses ‘Bharat 6G 2025’ in New Delhi
On May 14, 2025, Union Minister of State (MoS) Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Ministry of
Communications (MoC) and Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) addressed the ‘Bharat 6G 2025’ – 3rd
International Conference and Exhibition in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The event was a joint initiative backed by a broad coalition of government agencies, leading
industry players, academic institutions, and international organizations.
Key Points:
i.The event brought together global technology leaders, researchers, and policymakers to align on India’s
roadmap to become a pioneer in 6th Generation (6G) communications technology
ii.During the event, Union MoS, Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani announced that India has joined the ranks of
the top six countries globally in 6G patent filings.
• India has sanctioned Rs 300 crore (USD 35.14 million) for 111 research projects, marking a
significant milestone in pursuing 6G technology.
iii.He emphasized India’s resolve to lead globally in the development of next generation 6G technologies.

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• He outlined its potential to revolutionize sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture and
smart cities.
About Bharat 6G Vision:
The Bharat 6G Vision, unveiled by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi on March 23, 2023, outlines an
ambitious roadmap for India to become a global leader in 6G technology by 2030.
• To actualize this vision, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), MoC, has established the
Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA), a collaborative platform that brings together domestic industry
stakeholders, academia, national research institutions, and standards organizations.
• The Bharat 6G Vision also outlines a structured nine-year mission (2022–2031) divided into
three phases, aiming to fund 6G research, conduct field trials, and contribute to global standards.
Ministry of Communications (MoC):
Union Minister – Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia (Constituency – Guna, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Minister of State (MoS) – Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani (Constituency – Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, AP)

MoES Hosts 2nd Blue Talks Ahead of UN Ocean Conference 2025

In May 2025, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India (GoI), in collaboration with
the Embassy of France and the Embassy of Costa Rica, hosted the Second Blue Talks at Prithvi Bhawan,
New Delhi (Delhi).
• The event was chaired by Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES, and co-chaired by
H.E.Néstor Baltodano Vargas, Ambassador of Costa Rica to India, and Damien Syed, Deputy Head
of Mission, French Embassy.
• Building on the success of the inaugural Blue Talks held in February 2024, the second edition
convened a diverse group of participants, including scientists, policymakers, industry experts,
academics, and civil society representatives.
i.The conference aims to promote the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, aligning with Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG) 14 (Life Below Water).
ii.During the event, MoES released a white paper titled “Transforming India’s Blue Economy:
Investment, Innovation and Sustainable Growth” in collaboration with its strategic knowledge partner.
• The paper outlines a comprehensive framework to align government actions, foster cross-
sectoral synergies, and attract greater investment to unlock the potential of India’s ocean
resources for sustainable and economic development.
iii.This event was held ahead of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), jointly organized by
France and Costa Rica, and scheduled to be held from 9 to 13 June 2025 in Nice, France.
Note: The 1st UNOC was held in 2017 in the United States of America (USA) and was co-hosted by Fiji and
Sweden, while the 2nd UNOC, held in 2022 in Portugal, was co-hosted by Kenya and Portugal.

INDEX
RANKING
Maharashtra, Gujarat & Karnataka lead 2025 CareEdge state rankings
In April 2025, Mumbai(Maharashtra) based CareEdge Ratings (formerly CARE Ratings Ltd) released
its second edition of it’s state rankings, Maharashtra has emerged as the best in overall composite
rankings with a score of 56.5, followed by Gujarat(52.4) and Karnataka(51.9).

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About CareEdge state rankings:

i.This is a quantitative assessment of states’ potential in terms of sustainable and equitable growth and is
also a reflection of the investment attractiveness of these states. The first edition of the report was released
in 2023.
ii.It evaluates Indian states across 7 pillars: Economic, Fiscal, Infrastructure, Financial Development, Social,
Governance and Environment – together capturing 50 indicators.
iii.The 2025 methodology incorporates a longer normalisation period for better comparability across
periods going forward.
Highlights of CareEdge state rankings 2025:
Western and southern states dominated the top five rankings. Western states ranked high on fiscal and
economic parameters, while southern states stood out across governance, environment and social
outcomes.
• Goa topped the ranking in the North-East, Hilly & Small states (Group B) category with a score of
62.1.
The top 5 Group A and B category Ranking:

North-East, Hilly & Small States

Rank Large States (Group A) Rank
(Group B)

1 Maharashtra( 56.5) 1 Goa (62.1)

2 Gujarat(52.4) 2 Uttarakhand(48.2)

3 Karnataka(51.9). 3 Sikkim(47.2)

4 Telangana(51.4) 4 Himachal Pradesh(46.8)

5 Tamil Nadu, TN(50.1) 5 Assam(44.2)

Note:
Union territories were not included in the above analysis.
Pillar-wise Rankings:
i.Economic Pillar: Gujarat topped the economic pillar, aided by by strong per capita gross state domestic
product (GSDP), high foreign direct investment (FDI) as a share of GSDP, and robust gross fixed capital
formation (GFCF) for industries.
• Under the Group B category, Sikkim ranked the highest.
ii.Fiscal Pillar: Odisha topped the fiscal pillar, scoring well on revenue deficit, interest payments, debt
levels, and fiscal guarantees.
• While under the Group B category, Uttarakhand performed the best.
iii.Financial Development: Apart from leading the composite ranking, Maharashtra also led in financial
development, supported by strong credit disbursement by banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies
(NBFCs) and high penetration of mutual funds and health insurance.
iv.Infrastructure: Punjab and Haryana ranked best in infrastructure, with higher scores on per capita
power availability, railway density, and net irrigated area.
• Goa again led the Group B states faring well in per capita power availability, road and railway
density.
v.Social: Kerala led on social indicators, while Goa and Mizoram (Group B category) were the front-
runners with better scores for infant mortality and multi-dimensional poverty rate outcomes.

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vi.Governance: Andhra Pradesh(AP) topped the governance pillar, scoring high on business environment,
judicial efficiency, and administrative strength.
• In Group B, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh(HP) topped the rankings.
vii.Environment: In environmental performance, Karnataka, Telangana, AP and Tamil Nadu(TN) stood out,
with Karnataka leading in air quality and Renewable Energy(RE), and Telangana scoring well on forest
cover changes and potable water access.
• Himachal Pradesh(HP) excelled in renewable energy, potable water and change in forest cover,
leading the states in Group B.
About CareEdge Ratings:
Chairman – Najib Shah
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established – 1993

IMF Report 2025: USA Retains as Largest economies in the world; India at 4th
The United States of America(USA) retains its position as the largest economy in the world with a Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 30.51 trillion, followed by China(USD 19.53 trillion) and Germany (USD
4.92 trillion) in Washington, D.C., the United States of America(USA) based International Monetary
Fund (IMF’s) ‘April 2025 World Economic Outlook(WEO)’,
• India is the fourth largest economy in the world with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD
4.39 trillion. India is expected to overtake both Germany and Japan by the year 2030, provided
the current economic growth trajectory remains consistent.
• The IMF also forecasts India to be the fastest-growing major economy over the next two years,
maintaining a significant advantage over both global and regional competitors.
Highlights of the Report:
The report highlighted that the ongoing trade conflict has the potential to further weaken global economic
growth prospects and negatively impact the international financial system.
• The global economy has stabilised, showing a steady and well above recession levels, yet modest
growth rates due to the escalating trade-war tensions by the USA-imposed tariffs and global
uncertainty.
Top 10 largest economies in the world by GDP (Current Prices) in 2025:

GDP Per Capita (Current Prices)

Rank Country GDP (USD)
(USD)

United States of
1 USD 30.34 trillion 30.51 thousand
America

2 China USD 19.53 trillion 19.23 thousand

3 Germany USD 4.92 trillion 4.74 thousand

4 India USD 4.39 trillion 4.19 thousand

5 Japan USD 4.27 trillion 4.19 thousand

6 United Kingdom USD 3.73 trillion 3.84 thousand

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7 France USD 3.28 trillion 3.21 thousand

8 Italy USD 2.46 trillion 2.42 thousand

9 Canada USD 2.33 trillion 2.23 thousand

10 Brazil USD 2.31 trillion 2.13 thousand

Points to Note:
i.GDP (Gross Domestic Product) measures the monetary value of final goods and services that is, those that
are bought by the final user, produced in a country in a given period of time (usually one year). It counts all
of the output generated within the borders of a country.
ii.GDP per capita is an economic metric that breaks down a country’s economic output to a per-person
allocation. It is calculated by dividing the GDP of a nation by its population.
Recent Related News:
In March 2025, New York (the United States of America, USA)-based brokerage firm, Morgan Stanley has
projected that India will become the 3rd largest economy in the world by 2028, supported by macro-
stability influenced policy and better infrastructure. India will overtake Germany (which is currently world’s
3rd largest economy) as its economy is most likely to expand to USD 5.7 trillion in 2028.

Forbes India W-Power 2025: Dr. Gita Gopinath, Manu Bhaker & Payal Kapadia Featured
Among 20 India’s Top Self-Made Women
In April 2025, Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Forbes India, in collaboration with France based L’Oréal
Paris, unveiled its annual W-Power 2025 list, honoring 20 exceptional self-made women who have
demonstrated leadership, innovation, and resilience across various sectors, including business, finance,
sports, entertainment, and public service.
• The honorees included Dr. Gita Gopinath, Manu Bhaker, and Payal Kapadia, among others,
recognized for their leadership, innovation, and commitment to building meaningful legacies.
About W-Power:
This initiative, launched in 2017, aims to spotlight women who have carved their paths to success, serving
as inspirations for future generations.
Methodology:
i.The Forbes India team shortlisted candidates from primary and secondary sources, focusing on
entrepreneurs and professionals without inherited wealth/positions.
ii.Key metrics included financial success, influence, leadership, innovation, and societal impact.
iii.The jury members include Arundhati Bhattacharya, President & Chairperson, Salesforce (South Asia);
Ashu Suyash, Co-Founder, Colossa Ventures and former Managing Director (MD) of CRISIL Limited; Meena
Ganesh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Portea Medical; and Swati Piramal, Vice Chairperson of Piramal
Group.
Highlights of W-Power 2025 list:
1.Business & Finance
i.Dr. Gita Gopinath, First Deputy MD of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Washington D.C., United
States of America (USA).
ii.Renuka Ramnath, Founder of Multiples Alternate Asset Management, a key player in India’s Private
Equity (PE) sector.
iii.Sonia Dasgupta, MD & CEO (Investment Banking), Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based JM Financial Services
Limited.

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iv.Kaku Nakhate – India CEO of USA based Bank of America, National Association (N.A.)
v.Leena Nair – Global CEO of France based Chanel, Inc.
vi.Sonal Desai – Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group, USA
vii.Vishakha Mulye – CEO of Mumbai based Aditya Birla Capital Limited(ABCL)
2.Sports:
i.Manu Bhaker, won two bronze medals in shooting at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
ii.Smriti Mandhana, emerged as 2024’s highest run-scorer in women’s cricket,
and Pusarla Venkata Sindhu of Badminton.
3.Entrepreneurship
i.Anamika Khanna – Creative Director and Founder of Anamika Khanna and AK|OK
ii.Mira Kulkarni – Founder and MD of Forest Essentials, Delhi
iii.Rohini Iyer – Founder and Director of Rain Reign Group
iv.Prerna Singh – CEO of Bhansali Productions
4.Public Service & Academia
i.Mona Khandhar – Principal Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Gujarat
ii.Dr. Pratima Murthy – Director, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in
Karnataka.
5.Arts & Entertainment
i.Payal Kapadia – Filmmaker, her debut feature All We Imagine As Light won the Grand Prix at the 2024
Cannes Film Festival, marking the first such achievement for an Indian director in 30 years
ii.Sunidhi Chauhan – Singer
6.Corporate Leadership
i.Savitha Balachandran – CFO of Tata Technologies Limited(TTL)
ii.Shefali Goradia – Chairperson of Deloitte South Asia
About Forbes India:
Editor – Suveen Sinha
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established – 2009

UNDP HDR 2025: India Climbs Three Steps to 130; Iceland tops
On 6th May 2025, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released a report titled “Human
Development Report (HDR) 2025– A matter of choice: people and possibilities in the age of Artificial
Intelligence” with the theme “Harnessing Digital Transformation to Advance Human Development”.
• India is ranked at 130 in 2023 Human Development Index (HDI), with score of 0.685, moving
three places higher from 133 in 2022 with a score of 0.676.
• India is maintaining its status in the medium human development category, maintaining its
position in the medium human development category. This upward trend brings India closer to
the high human development threshold, set at an HDI of 0.700.
• Iceland has secured the top position globally witha HDI score of 0.972. It is followed by
Norway(0.970) and Switzerland – 0.970.
About Human Development Index(HDI):
The Human Development Index (HDI), introduced in 1990, is an annual Human Development Index Report
(HDIR) published by the Human Development Report Office of the UNDP.
• It was created to emphasize that people and their capabilities should be the ultimate criteria for
assessing the development of a country, not economic growth alone.
• The report consists of insights into 193 countries and territories worldwide, measuring gender
gaps, inequality, planetary pressures and poverty.

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Highlights of Human Development Report (HDR) 2025:

i.The 2025 HDR reveals a marked deceleration in global human development, recording the slowest HDI
growth since 1990 (excluding the pandemic years). This stagnation stems from deepening inequalities and
unequal access to emerging technologies.
ii.India is at par with Bangladesh (0.685), with its neighbouring countries Srilanka (0.776) at 89th place,
Nepal (0.622) at 145th, Pakistan (0.544) at 168th and Bhutan (0.698) at 125th rank.
Top 5 countries in HDR 2025:

Rank Country HDI Score(2023)

1 Iceland 0.972

2 Norway 0.970

2 Switzerland 0.970

4 Denmark 0.962

5 Germany 0.959

130 India 0.685

Bottom 5 countries in HDR 2025:

Rank Country HDI Score(2023)

193 South Sudan 0.388

192 Chad 0.404

191 Niger 0.414

190 Central African Republic 0.416

189 Burundi 0.419

Key Findings of India:
i.India improved its position on the Gender Inequality Index (GII), moving from 108th out of 166 countries
in 2022 to 102nd out of 193 countries in 2023.
• India’s GDI score of 0.874 places it in Group 5, the lowest category, reflecting persistent
inequalities between men and women in key areas such as health, education, and economic
participation.
ii.India’s life expectancy rose from 58.6 years in 1990 to 72 years in 2023, reaching a new high.
• As per the report, the growth is driven by the flagship health programmes like the National Rural
Health Mission (NRHM), Ayushman Bharat (AB), Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Poshan
Abhiyaan (PA).
• The above schemes have helped reduce multi-dimensional poverty, lifting 135 million people out
of it between 2015-16 and 2019-21.

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iii.As per the report, the average years of schooling have increased from 8.2 in 1990 to 13 years in 2023,
driven by reforms like the Right to Education Act (RTE), Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), and the National
Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• The report notifies that the learning outcomes and quality remain key challenges.
iv.The Gross National Income (GNI) of India, increased over 53%, from USD 2,167.22 in 1990 to USD
9,046.76 in 2023, rising faster than global and South Asian averages, with economic growth and social
investments, including schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(MGNREGA), Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).
iv.India is also recognized as a rising Artificial intelligence (AI) leader, with the highest self-reported AI
skills penetration globally.
• 20% of Indian AI researchers, choosing to remain in India, compared to near zero in 2019, is the
witness of growing talent retention.
Challenged persisting in India:
i.Despite progress, inequality continues to hinder human development in India. As per the report, inequality
led to a 30.7% reduction in India’s HDI value, the highest loss in the region.
ii.Disparities in education and healthcare have lessened, income and gender gaps exist.
• Low female labour participation and limited political representation are the notable concerns in
India.
iii.The report also warns of global stagnation in human development. The current pace is the slowest since
1990.
Note: The gap between Low and Very High HDI countries have widened for the fourth-consecutive year.
About United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):
Administrator – Achim Steiner
Headquarters – New York, the United States of America(USA)
Establishment – 1965

India Topped Global PMI Rankings among Developed & Emerging Markets: JP Morgan
In May 2025, New York (the United States of America, USA)-based JP Morgan released its latest Purchasing
Managers’ Index (PMI) report for April 2025. As per the report, India has topped among the developed
and emerging economies in terms of both manufacturing and services activity.
• The report revealed India’s manufacturing PMI stood at 58.2 while its services PMI stood at 58.7.
These figures are highest compared to both developed and emerging markets.
• The Global Manufacturing PMI, a composite index sponsored by J.P. Morgan and compiled by S&P
Global Market Intelligence, has decreased from 50.3 (in March, 2025) to 49.8 (April, 2025).
About J.P.Morgan Global Manufacturing PMI:
The J.P.Morgan Global Manufacturing PMI is a composite index produced by J.P.Morgan in collaboration with
S&P Global Market Intelligence, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), and the International
Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM).
• This index is derived from monthly surveys of purchasing executives across over 30 countries,
collectively representing a significant portion of global manufacturing output.
PMI of Other Large Economies:
i.China lagged behind India in both manufacturing and services sectors as the manufacturing PMI of China,
monitored by both Markit and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), stood at 50.4 and 49 respectively in
April 2025.
• While, China’s services PMI, monitored by both Markit and the National Bureau of Statistics
(NBS), stood at 50.7 and 50.1 respectively in April 2025.

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• Though these are healthy figures but are far behind India’s 58.7, reflecting India’s services sector
is growing at a much faster rate in April 2025.
ii.The USA registered a manufacturing PMI of 48.7 monitored by Institute for Supply Management (ISM),
while its services PMI stood at 51.6, just marginally above the threshold of 50, indicating sluggish growth in
services and a possible contraction in manufacturing.
iii.The manufacturing PMI of Eurozone in April shrunk at 49 and services PMI at 50.1.
iv.The United Kingdom (UK) registered a contraction in both sectors, with manufacturing PMI at 45.4 and
services at 49.
• Similarly, France also reported contraction with manufacturing PMI at 48.7 and services at 49.
About Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI):
i.It is an important economic indicator which indicates the health of manufacturing and services sectors.
ii.PMI score above 50 indicates expansion, while, PMI below 50 indicates contraction in economic activity.
• PMI score of 50 indicates no change in the manufacturing and services sector.
About J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.:
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Jamie Dimon
Headquarters- New York (the United States of America, USA)

Maharashtra Topped Among Indian States with Highest GST Revenue in FY25
Maharashtra with Rs 3,18, 497 crore, has topped among the top 10 Indian states with highest Goods and
Services Tax (GST) collection for Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25) and even in April 2025 with total GST
collection of Rs 41,645 crore. However, the state’s financial capital’s growth has decreased from 13% (in
April 2024) to 11% (in April 2025).
• Gujarat secured the second position with Rs.1,74,938 crore and Karnataka at the third place with
Rs.1,43,023 crore.
• Also, total GST revenue collection reached at Rs 21.36 lakh crore in 2024, the highest since the
introduction of GST in 2017. This marks an increase of 8.86% compared to the last year’s
collection.
• As per the Ministry of Finance (MoF)’s latest data, total GST revenue collections reached at Rs
2,36,716 lakh crore in April 2025, reflecting an annual growth rate of 12.6%.
Key Points:
i.Among major GST-contributing states, Gujarat has witnessed highest annual growth in GST collections i.e.
13% Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) increase. It has registered total GST revenue of Rs 14,970 crore for April 2025.
• According to the GST Council data accessed via Forbes, Gujarat registered a total GST revenue
collection of Rs 1,74,938 crore for FY25.
ii.Among all Indian Union Territories (UTs), Lakshadweep reported an exponential growth of 287% in GST
revenue collection (as of April 2025).
iii.Arunachal Pradesh (AR) recorded a 66% growth in GST collection, which is highest among all
Northeastern Indian states, followed by Meghalaya (50%) and Nagaland (42%).
List of Top 10 Indian with Highest GST Revenue Collection in FY25 & April 2025:

Total GST Collection

Total GST Collection in
Rank Name of the State in April 2025 (in
FY25 (in Rs crore)
Rs crore)

1 Maharashtra 3,18,497 41,645

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2 Karnataka 1,43,023 17,815

3 Gujarat 1,74,938 14,970

4 Tamil Nadu (TN) 1,12,456 13,831

5 Uttar Pradesh (UP) 1,05,789 13,600

6 Haryana 98,234 14,057

7 West Bengal (WB) 87,654 8,188

8 Rajasthan 76,543 6,228

9 Telangana 65, 432 6,983

10 Andhra Pradesh (AP) 54,321 4,686

About Goods and Services Tax (GST):
i.GST was formally launched by the Government of India (GoI) on July 01, 2017 in India.
ii.It is a comprehensive indirect tax that replaced around 17 cascading taxes and cesses levied by the
central government and state governments such as excise duty, service tax , Value-Added Tax (VAT), among
others.
iii.Currently, the primary GST slab rates for any regular taxpayer are: 0%, 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%.
About Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council:
GST Council is a constitutional body introduced through 101st Amendment Act, 2016 in the constitution. It
was constituted under Article 279-A of the constitution.
Chairperson- Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance Minister (Rajya Sabha member- Karnataka)
Established – 2016

5 Indian Languages among Top 20 Most Spoken Languages Worldwide in 2025

As per the recent research from Ethnologue, the most authoritative source on the languages of the world, 5
Indian languages namely, Hindi(3rd), Bengali (7th), Urdu (11th), Marathi (16th), and
Telugu (18th), are among the top 20 most spoken languages worldwide in 2025. Hindi with 609.1 million
speakers, emerged as the 3rd most widely spoken language globally and the most spoken language in India,
in 2025.
• While, English is the most widely spoken language globally in 2025 as it is the local and second
language of 1.53 billion individuals across 188 countries.
• It is followed by Chinese Mandarin (the official language of China), which is considered the
world’s largest language when counting only native speakers, is the 2nd –most widely spoken
language in the world in 2025, with total 1.18 billion speakers.
About Ethnologue:
i.For over the last 15 years, the Ethnologue has been publishing the list of the largest languages in the
world, often cited by top-tier publications.
ii.More than 88% of people use one of these languages as their native language, and many hundreds of
millions more use them as their second languages.

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Key Findings:
i.The official language of Spain and 20 other countries i.e. Spanish, emerged as the 4th most spoken
language globally in 2025, with 558.5 million speakers.
ii.While, Standard Arabic (ranked at 5th spot) with 334.8 million speakers, is among the top 5 most spoken
languages worldwide in 2025.
iii.Other top 10 most spoken languages in the world (as of 2025): French (ranked at 6th spot with 311.9
million speakers); French(6th) with 311.9 million speakers ; Bengali with 284.3 million speakers;
Portuguese (8th) 266.6 million speakers; Russian (9th) with 253.4 million speakers and Indonesian 252.4
million speakers.
List of Top 5 Most Spoken Languages Globally in 2025:

Rank Name of the Language Total Number of Speakers

1 English 1.53 Billion

2 Mandarin Chinese 1.25 Billion

3 Hindi 609.1 Million

4 Spanish 558.5 Million

5 Standard Arabic 334.8 Million

List of Top 5 Most Spoken Indian Languages Globally in 2025:

Total Number of Language Spoken in Different

Rank Name of the Language
Speakers Indian States and country

Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar,

Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh (MP),
3 Hindi 609.1 Million Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand,
Haryana, Himachal Pradesh (HP),
Uttarakhand and Delhi

West Bengal (WB), Tripura,

7 Bengali 284.3 Million Assam, and official language of
Bangladesh

Jammu & Kashmir (J&K),

11 Urdu 246 Million Telangana, UP, Bihar, WB and
Delhi

16 Marathi 99.3 Million Maharashtra and Goa

18 Telugu 95.8 Million Andhra Pradesh (AP), Telangana

Note: As per Census of India data, India has about 453 living languages. Among these languages.

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About Ethnologue:
Headquarters- Dallas, Texas, the United States of America (USA)
Established- 1951

TCS, HDFC, Airtel and Infosys ranked among the world’s top 100 most valuable brands in the
Kantar BrandZ 2025 Report
According to the Kantar BrandZ, “2025 World’s Most Valuable Global Brands ” report, 4 Indian
companies namely, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), HDFC Bank, Airtel and Infosys were featured among
the top 100 most valuable brands.
• Apple retains its top position for the 4th year with a brand value of USD 1.3 trillion, followed
by Google with a valuation of USD 944 billion and Microsoft with a valuation of USD 884 billion
at 2nd and 3rd position respectively.
• Overall, the Global Top 100 has reached a record total brand value of USD 10.7 trillion, a year-on-
year (YoY) increase of 29%.
Note: The 2025 report marks the 20th anniversary edition of BrandZ’s world most valuable brands.
Top 5 Most Valuable Global Brands:

Rank Brand Name Value ( in USD)

1 Apple 1.3 trillion

2 Google 944 billion

3 Microsoft 884 billion

4 Amazon 866 billion

5 Nvidia 509 billion

Top 4 Most Valuable Indian Brands:

Global Rank Brand Name Value ( in USD)

45 TCS 57 billion

56 HDFC Bank 44 billion

66 Airtel 37 billion

73 Infosys 33 billion
Key Highlights:
i.The report is based on is based on the opinions of 4.5 million respondents about 22,000 brands across 538
categories. Across 13 category rankings, retail continued its post-pandemic surge, with overall brand value
growth up 48%.
ii.The report highlights Nvidia, Huawei, VMware, Xiaomi, and Instagram as the leading risers, all achieving
brand value growth exceeding 100%.
iii.ChatGPT ranks as the highest new entrant in the Top 100 list, followed by Stripe and Chipotle.

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iv.Outside the US, Sweden’s Spotify has made a comeback to the Top 100, and Argentinian retailer Mercado
Libre continues to be the only Latin American brand represented in the Top 100.
v.The only trillion-dollar brand in the ranking, Apple represents more than 12% of the total value of the
Global Top 100.
India-Specific:
i.TCS emerged as India’s most valuable brand in the Kantar Brandz 2025 report by securing 45th position
with a brand valuation of USD 57 billion and YoY growth of 28%.
• Compared to the previous year’s rank, 46th in 2024, TCS has improved by 1 place this year.
ii.HDFC rank deteriorated from 47th position in 2024, to 56th position in the latest brand report.
iii.Airtel secured 66th position with a brand valuation of USD 37 billion. It has improved its position by 7
places compared to previous year (73rd rank). India’s Airtel is the fastest growing telecom brand in the
world.
iv.Infosys secured 73rd rank (74th in 2024) with a valuation of USD 33 billion.
V.The combined brand value of all Indian brands on the top 100 list is more than USD 170 billion.
About Kantar Group:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Chris Jansen
Headquarters – London, United Kingdom (UK)

Indira Gandhi International Airport Ranks 9th Busiest Airports for 2024-25 : ACI World
In May 2025, Montreal (Canada)-based Airports Council International (ACI) World released the Top 10
Busiest Airports by Passenger Traffic in 2024-25 list. As per the report, New Delhi (Delhi) based Indira
Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) with Airport code, DEL, ranked 9th globally. IGIA saw passenger traffic
of 77, 820, 834 and has emerged as the busiest airport by passenger traffic in India.
• Atlanta, United States of America (USA)-based Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL) has topped the
list.
Key Points:
ii.The Global Passenger level is forecasted to reach 9.9 billion in 2025, reflecting 4.8% year-over-year (Y-O-
Y) growth rate.
ii.The USA remains at the forefront of global passenger traffic, with five of the top 10 busiest airports
located within the country.
iii.In the broader Asian context, Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) ranks as the 3rd busiest airport,
trailing behind Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND).
iv.As of 2024, IGIA has surpassed Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Chatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj International
Airport (BOM), which recorded 52,820,754 passengers.
Note: DEL has been recognized as the Best Airport in India and in South Asia in the 2025 UK-based Aviation
Consultancy, Skytrax Best Airport Rankings.
Top 5 Busiest Airport in the world in 2024:

Rank Airport Name Located In Total Passengers

Atlanta, United
1 Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson(ATL) States of 108, 067, 766
America(USA)

Dubai, United Arab

2 Dubai International Airport(DXB) 92, 331, 506
Emirates (UAE)

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Dallas/Fort Worth International Dallas/Fort Worth,

3 87, 817, 864
Airport(DFW) USA

Tokyo Haneda International

4 Tokyo, Japan 85, 900, 617
Airport(HND)

London Heathrow International London, United

5 83, 884, 572
Airport(LHR) Kingdom (UK)

Indira Gandhi International

9 Delhi, India 77, 820, 834
Airport(IGIA)
About Airports Council International (ACI):
Director General (DG) – Justin Erbacci
Headquarters – Montreal, Canada
Established – 1991

Henley & Partners World’s Wealthiest Cities Report 2025: Mumbai Wealthiest City in India; New
York Topped the List Globally
London (the United Kingdom, UK)-based Henley & Partners in partnership with wealth intelligence
firm, New World Wealth released the 4th annual edition of World’s Wealthiest Cities Report 2025. As per
the report, Mumbai (Maharashtra) ranked at 27th position globally with more than 51,000 millionaires,
and 25 billionaires, emerged as the wealthiest city in India.
• Mumbai also known as the financial capital of India registered a robust growth of 69% in
millionaire numbers over the last 10 years.
• As per the report, New York City (USA) retained its position as the world’s wealthiest city, with
384, 500 High-Net Worth Individuals (HNIs), followed by the Bay Area (including the city of San
Francisco and Silicon Valley, USA) and Tokyo (Japan) ranked at 2nd and 3rd position in the list.
Tokyo stands as Asia’s wealthiest city.
About World’s Wealthiest Cities Report 2025:
i.This latest edition of the report provides a comprehensive review of the world’s top 50 wealthiest cities,
with in-depth insights on economic mobility, prime property, the investment migration sector, and wealth
management.
ii.The report also benchmarks wealth in over 100 centi-millionaire (individuals with assets over $100
million) hotspots across the world.
List of World’s Top 5 Wealthiest Cities 2025:

Number of Millionaires
Rank City Name Country Name
(USD 1Million +)

The United States of America

1 New York City 384,500
(USA)

342,400
2 The Bay Area USA

3 Tokyo Japan 292,300

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242,400
4 Singapore Singapore

220,600
5 Los Angeles USA

Key Highlights:
i.Singapore ranked at 4th position on the list, with 242, 400 millionaires, followed by Los Angeles (USA)
ranked at 5th with 220, 600 millionaires.
ii.This year, Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal debuted the list, ranked at 50th spot with 22,00 millionaires,
due to which Auckland (New Zealand) dropped out from this year’s list.
iii.London (the United Kingdom, UK), ranked at 6th spot (down from 5th spot in 2024)with 215,600
millionaires and Moscow, the capital city of Russia, ranked at 40th position with 30,000 millionaires, are the
only two countries that have recorded negative growth of 12% and 15%, respectively in the number of
resident millionaires compared to last decade.
iv.China’s Shenzhen city emerged as the fastest growing cities in terms of wealth accumulation between
2014 and 2024, ranked at 28th position with 142% growth and 50,800 millionaires.
v.Among top 50 wealthiest cities in the world, Dubai (the United Arab Emirates, UAE) has improved its
ranking significantly by 4 places, from 21st (in 2024) to 18th (in 2025), with 81,200 resident millionaires
which includes 237 centis and 20 billionaires.
• In contrast to it, Seoul, the capital city of Korea witnessed the sharpest decline in its ranking i.e.
from 24th (in 2024) to 19th (in 2025), despite a 17% growth in millionaire numbers.
India-Specific:
i.Other than Mumbai, the Only Indian city featured in the world’s top 50 wealthiest cities list is Delhi, ranked
at 39th position globally with 31,200 millionaires and 16 billionaires.
• Delhi has registered an impressive 82% growth in millionaires over the last decade.
ii.Bengaluru (Karnataka) known as the Silicon Valley of India, is one of the world’s fastest growing wealth
hubs list, registering a robust 120% millionaire growth from 2014 to 2024.
• As per the report, Bengaluru, is emerging one of the centi-millionaire city hotspots over the next
decade (2025 to 2035).
About New World Wealth:
Headquarters- South Africa
Established- 2013
About Henley & Partners:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Dr. Juerg Steffen
Headquarters- London, United Kingdom (UK)
Established- 1997

REPORTS
NITI Aayog Releases Report on Enhancing MSMEs Competitiveness in India
On May 2, 2025, the Government of India’s (GoI) policy think tank, National Institution for Transforming
India (NITI) Aayog, in collaboration with the Gurgaon (Haryana)- based Institute for Competitiveness (IFC),
released a comprehensive report titled ‘Enhancing MSMEs Competitiveness in India’.

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• The report provides a strategic roadmap to unlock the potential of India’s Micro, Small, and
Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through systemic reforms in financing, skilling, innovation, and
market access.
• It highlights that MSMEs contribute 30.1% to India’s Gross Value Added (GVA) and account for
45.79% of total exports, valued at Rs. 12.39 lakh crore in 2024-25.
Highlights of the Report:
1.Credit Access and Financial Gaps:
i.Between 2020 and 2024, the proportion of Micro and Small Enterprises(MSEs) accessing credit through
scheduled banks increased from 14% to 20%, while medium enterprises saw an increase from 4% to 9%.
ii.Despite this improvement, only 19% of MSME credit demand was met formally by Financial Year 2020-21
(FY21), leaving an estimated Rs. 80 lakh crore unmet.
iii.The report recommends overhauling the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small
Enterprises (CGTMSE) to enhance regulatory oversight, reduce premium rates, and increase coverage,
especially for women-led enterprises.
2.Sector-Specific Focus:
i.The report delves into four critical sectors: textiles manufacturing and apparel, chemical products,
automotive, and food processing.
ii.It identifies sector-specific challenges and opportunities to enhance MSME competitiveness within these
industries.
3.Skilling and Technology Adoption Challenges:
i.A significant portion of the MSME workforce lacks formal vocational or technical training, hindering
productivity and scalability.
• The report emphasizes the need for accessible skill development initiatives, particularly for
MSMEs in remote areas.
ii.About 35% of MSME clusters struggle with unreliable electricity, along with weak internet connectivity
and high technology costs.
• The report urges state governments to improve basic infrastructure and promote affordable
digital solutions to strengthen MSME supply chains.
4.Policy Implementation and Awareness:
i.The report highlights gaps in the implementation of national and state policies and limited awareness
among MSMEs.
ii.It recommends stronger state-level design and implementation, consistent monitoring, better data
integration, and improved stakeholder engagement.
NITI Aayog & GAME Partner to Boost Local Entrepreneurship Ecosystems in India
On May 2, 2025, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) and the Bengaluru
(Karnataka)-based Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME) announced a strategic
collaboration to foster entrepreneurship ecosystems across India.
• The initiative will begin with pilot projects in Nagpur (Maharashtra), Visakhapatnam (Andhra
Pradesh, AP), and Uttar Pradesh (UP), focusing on place-based interventions to empower local
entrepreneurs.
Key Focus Areas:
i.The partnership will unite government bodies, corporates, educational institutions, financial institutions,
entrepreneurs, and community organizations to address regional challenges.
ii.Tailored strategies will be developed to enhance access to finance, capacity-building programs, policy
advocacy, and community-driven initiatives.
iii.Under this partnership, the pilot sites will implement GAME’s established methodologies that focus on
enabling entrepreneurs to start and scale businesses.

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• Key interventions include: Access to finance, Capacity-building programs, Policy advocacy and
Community-driven initiatives.
About Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME):
GAME is a non-profit organization dedicated to catalyzing a nationwide movement of mass
entrepreneurship in India.
Founder & Chairperson – Ravi Venkatesan
Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established – 2018
About National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 2015

RGI released three reports – CRS, SRS and MCCD 2021; Life expectancy in India Drops
The Registrar General of India (RGI), under the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA), released three reports for
2021: the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2021, the Vital Statistics of India Based on the
Civil Registration System (CRS) 2021, and the Report on the Medical Certification of Cause of
Death (MCCD) 2021.
• CRS is the record of all registered deaths and births in India.
• SRS is a survey-based estimate of births and deaths and tries to cover unregistered births and
deaths as well, making it a vital complement to the CRS data.
• The MCCD captures a small fraction of the CRS deaths where deaths are medically certified.
Key Highlights:
i.According to the 2021 SRS report, the Crude Death Rate (CDR), which measures the number of deaths per
1,000 people, rose to 7.5, marking 2021 as the deadliest year of the Covid-19 pandemic.
ii.Even the CRS, which counts only registered deaths, shows an increase of around 2 million deaths in 2021.
iii.While, the MCCD report counted 4,13,580 Covid-19 deaths in 2021 and 160,618 deaths in 2020.
iv.Across 32 states and Union territories that reported higher deaths, Uttar Pradesh(UP), Gujarat,
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu(TN), Madhya Pradesh(MP), Karnataka, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh(AP), Kerala, West
Bengal(WB), Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Punjab, Telangana, Jharkhand and Delhi have recorded
significantly increased number of deaths registered in a year from 2020 to 2021.
Death Rate and Birth Rate:
i.In 2021, the death rate in rural areas increased from 6.4 to 7.9, while in cities it increased from 5.1 to
6.6 between 2020 and 2021 respectively.
ii.The birth rate also saw a decline at the all India level, dropping from 36.9 in 1971 to 19.3 in 2021.
• The corresponding decline in rural areas (from 23.1 to 20.9) is higher than in urban areas (from
17.4 to 15.9) respectively.
iii.Meanwhile, the registered births have also reduced marginally by about 0.1% from 24.22 million to 24.2
million.
Decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) and Infant Mortality Ratio (IMR):
i.According to the SRS report, the all-India MMR for 2019-21 is 93 deaths per 1,00,000 live births, recording
a decline of 37 points, from 130 deaths per 1 lakh live births during 2014–2016.
• MMR for Assam dropped from 195 to 167 deaths per lakh live births, as per latest SRS report,
marking a record 28-point fall, the highest among all states for 2019-2021.
ii.The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of the country has declined from 39 per 1000 live births in 2014 to 27
per 1000 live births in 2021.

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• At 167, Assam has the second-highest MMR among Indian states, only next to Madhya
Pradesh (MP), where the IMR was 175 from 2019 to 2021.
iii.Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) has declined from 26 per 1000 live births in 2014 to 19 per 1000 live
births in 2021. Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) has declined from 45 per 1000 live births in 2014 to 31
per 1000 live births in 2021.
iv.The Sex Ratio at Birth improves from 899 in 2014 to 913 in 2021. Total Fertility Rate(TFR) is consistent
at 2.0 in 2021, which is a significant improvement from 2.3 in 2014.
States Achieving SDG Target for MMR:
i.Eight States have already attained SDG target of MMR (<=70 by 2030): Kerala (20), Maharashtra (38),
Telangana (45), AP(46), TN (49), Jharkhand (51), Gujarat (53), Karnataka (63).
ii.Twelve States/UT have already attained SDG target of U5MR (<=25 by 2030): Kerala (8), Delhi (14), TN
(14), Jammu & Kashmir(J&K) (16), Maharashtra (16), West Bengal(WB) (20), Karnataka (21), Punjab (22),
Telangana (22), Himachal Pradesh(HP) (23), AP (24) and Gujarat (24).
iii.Six States/ UT have already attained SDG target of NMR (<=12 by 2030): Kerala (4), Delhi (8), TN (9),
Maharashtra (11), J & K (12) and HP (12).
Life expectancy in India drops:
i.Expectation of life at birth for India has dropped for the first time in 50 years, registering a decrease
of 0.2 years in a year.
ii.According to the SRS, Life expectancy at birth has been estimated at 69.8 years between 2017 and 2021,
compared to 2016-2020. Urban areas experienced a sharper decline of 0.3 years, while rural regions saw a
0.1-year drop.
• Life expectancy at birth was registered highest in Delhi at 73 years for males and Kerala for
females at 77.9 years.
• The lowest was noted in Chhattisgarh with 62.8 years for males and 66.4 years for females.
• The maximum per annum average increase in life expectancy for males during the period 1970-
75 to 2017-21 has been observed in Odisha and the minimum in Haryana.
• For females, the maximum annual increase has been recorded in Himachal Pradesh and Odisha
and the minimum in Kerala.
Points to Note:
i.As per the latest United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group (UN-MMEIG) Report
2000–2023, India’s MMR has reduced by 23 points between 2020 and 2023.
• With this progress, India has recorded an overall 86% decline in MMR over the 33-year period
from 1990 to 2023, significantly outperforming the global reduction of 48% during the same
period.
ii.India’s remarkable progress in reducing child mortality has also been highlighted in the United Nations
Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) Report 2024.
Important terms:
• Death Rate: It offers the closest estimate of morality and is measured as the number of deaths
per thousand population in a given region and time period.
• Birth Rate: The factor is a crude determinant of fertility of a population and crucial measure to
understand population growth. Birth rate gives the number of live births per thousand population
of a given region and year.
• Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): It is a key indicator of maternal health, defined as the number
of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births during a specific time period
• Infant Mortality Ratio (IMR): It is the number of deaths of infants under one year of age
per 1,000 live births in a given year.

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• Total Fertility Rate(TFR): represents the number of children that would be born to a woman if
she were to live to the end of her childbearing years and bear children in accordance with age-
specific fertility rates of the specified year.
Recent Related News:
In April 2025, .Ashish Srivastava, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, to the position of
Secretary, Inter-State Council Secretariat (ISCS) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• He succeeds K. Moses Chalai, a 1990-batch IAS officer of the Manipur cadre, who has been
appointed as Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) under the Ministry of
Finance(MoF).

Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood Launched Report on India’s Priority Corridors for Zero Emission
Trucking
In May 2025, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India (GoI),
has launched a report on India’s Priority Corridors for Zero Emission Trucking in New Delhi, Delhi. The
report was presented by Akshima Ghate, Managing Director (MD) of the United States of America, (USA)-
based Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI).
• The report highlighted 10 critical highway segments across India that offer the highest potential
for the adoption of Zero-Emission Trucks (ZETs). It aims to drive a national transition towards a
cleaner, more sustainable freight movement.
Key Points:
i.The report is developed with support of Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking – Indian Institute
of Technology Madras (CoEZET-IIT-Madras), located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN).
• While, RMI and Nagpur (Maharashtra)-based pManifold Business Private Limited were
associated as knowledge partners.
ii.The report has identified top 10 corridors for ZET in India through a 3-phase process, which included both
qualitative and quantitative assessment of an initial list of 230 corridors.
iii.These top 10 corridors were short-listed using parameters like: toll traffic data and mapping of
supply/demand centres, stakeholder consultations and detailed field research.
• Other these parameters, factor like: high freight traffic, industrial activity, availability of ancillary
services, grid infrastructure readiness, among other were also considered while finalizing the
corridors.
iv.As per the report, long-distance trucks are the main source for nearly 40% of fuel consumption and
transport emissions in India.
v.It also acts as a reference for the PM E-DRIVE scheme, launched in 2024 bythe Ministry of Heavy
Industries (MHI), GoI, with a total outlay of Rs. 500 crore, to promote the adoption of zero-emission
transport (ZET) solutions.

GRID 2025: Global IDPs Reaches 83.4 Million in 2024; India Records 5.4 Million Displacements
On May 13, 2025, the Geneva (Switzerland) based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
(IDMC) and Oslo (Norway) based Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) released the Global Report on Internal
Displacement (GRID) 2025 which presents a comprehensive analysis of internal displacement trends
worldwide.
• The report revealed that the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) worldwide reached a
record high of 83.4 million by the end of 2024, marking the highest figure ever recorded and a
doubling of the total since 2018.
• In India, the total number of displacements reached 5.4 million in 2024, the highest figure in 12
years.

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Note: An internal displacement is a forced movement recorded during the year. The same person can be
forced to move multiple times, and we count each one.
Key Findings of GRID 2025:
1.Conflict-Driven Displacement:
i.In 2024, conflict and violence accounted for nearly 90% (73.5 million) of all internal displacements,
an 80% rise since 2018, making them the leading factors behind the increase in displaced populations.
ii.Sudan, topped the list with 11.6 million IDPs, the highest ever in a single country due to civil war.
iii.Other affected nations such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Afghanistan, and
Myanmar each hosted over 3 million IDPs.
2.Disasters and Climate Impact:
i.Disaster caused 45.8 million displacements in 2024, the highest since IDMC began tracking in 2008.
ii.Floods caused 42% of disaster displacements, affecting Chad, Afghanistan, Brazil, and Europe.
iii.Cyclones like Dana and Remal in India triggered 1.6 million displacements.
3.India’s Displacement Scenario:
i.Floods responsible for 66% of displacements, including 2.5 million in Assam, which witnessed its most
severe floods in over a decade.
ii.Cyclone Remal impacted West Bengal(WB) (208,000 displacements) and Assam (338,000).
iii.Tripura experienced its worst monsoon season in over 40 years, triggering 3.15 lakh displacements due
to heavy rains and landslides.
iv.Conflict triggered 1,700 displacements in India in 2024, marking a decline from 2023. However,
communal violence in Manipur continued to impact populations, causing 1,000 displacements in 2024.
4.Regional Highlights:
i.Sub-Saharan Africa: This region accounted for approximately 46% of the global total, with 38.8 million
internally displaced people.
ii.South Asia: Disaster-related displacements nearly tripled in 2024, reaching 9.2 million, the second-
highest figure for the region in over a decade.
iii.Americas: The Americas experienced a record 14.5 million internal displacements in 2024, more than
the previous five years combined. The United States of America(USA) reported the highest figure with 11
million disaster-related movements.
About Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC):
Director – Alexandra Bilak
Headquarters – Geneva (Switzerland)
Established – 1998

Annual SAPFR 2024-25: India a Part of Wider Trend of Eroding Press Freedom in South Asia
In May 2025, Brussels (Belgium)-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), on behalf of the South
Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) released the 23rd Annual South Asia Press Freedom Report(SAPFR
24-25), titled ‘Frontline Democracy: Media and Political Churn’. As per the report, India is a part of a
wider trend of eroding press freedom in the South Asia region.
• The report highlighted that Indian media ‘has been shackled and subjected to a systematic
strategy to cripple it’.
• The SAPFR 24-25 was formally launched during UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day 2025 event
held at Kathmandu, Nepal.
About SAPFR 2024-25:
i.The report is produced with the support from Paris (France)-based United Nations Educational Scientific
and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO); Norsk Journalistlag (NJ); European Commission (EC); and National
Endowment for Democracy (NED).

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ii.The report annually reviews the state of press freedom in 8 South Asian countries, namely: India,
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Maldives.
iii.This latest edition of the report has covered the complexities and challenges of an industry that is
endeavouring to find stability in democratic spaces driven by political challenges and massive economic and
civil disruptions from May 01, 2024 to April 30, 2025.
Key Findings:
i.The report recorded a total of 250 media rights violations in 2024-25, which included the targeted
killings of 20 journalists and media workers, up from 8 deaths reported in 2023-24 period.
ii.The report highlighted journalists across the South Asia region faced attacks, arrests, and detention with
at least 70 media professionals jailed or detained and more than 190 journalists were assaulted, threatened,
or harassed, often by law enforcement.
iii.Also, the report has raised several concerning trends, like: a “increasing trust deficit in media outlets”,
“choking of independent websites” and “extreme precarity of gig workers who are also facing challenges
posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI)”.
iv.As per the report, Pakistan witnessed the “most violent year for journalists in the country” in 20 years,
with 8 journalists killed in the period under review.
v.The report highlighted some of the major threats which pose challenges to the media: unprecedented
obstacles on freedom of expression in Afghanistan, the undemocratic polarization of new across the entire
South Asian region and the rise of AI tools and misinformation.
India-Specific:
i.The report has a section specifically dedicated to India titled ‘India: Propaganda and the Press’. This
particular section of the report flagged the proliferation of hate speech and disinformation with the
Information Technology (IT) cells of political parties playing a significant role in it.
ii.The report has outlined the frequent use of certain laws like: defamation laws, sedition laws, the Unlawful
Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), to suppress media
freedom.
iii.The report highlighted the Global Risks Report 2024 released by World Economic Forum (WEF), which
has found manipulated and falsified information to be the “most severe short-term risk the world faces”.
• It identified India at the highest risk of misinformation and disinformation globally.
iv.The report underlined various other challenges which India media faces specifically and the South Asia
region in general, and these are: media workforce reeling under ‘shrunken job market’, the ‘increasing use of
AI for content creation’, decrease in advertisement revenue, new labour codes promoting contractual work,
among other.
About International Federation of Journalists (IFJ):
It is the largest organisation of journalists in the world. It comprises 6 lakh media professionals from 187
trade unions and associations over 140 countries.
President- Dominique Pradalié
Headquarters- Brussels, Belgium
Established- 1926

IUCN SSC’s PSG Report 2023-25: Cross River Gorilla, Tapanuli Orangutan among
25 Most Endangered Primates
In May 2025, Gland(Switzerland) based Primate Specialist Group (PSG) of International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Special Survival Commission (SSC) in collaboration with Louisiana, the
United States of America(USA) based International Primatological Society(IPS) and Texas(USA)
based Re:wild, has released 12th edition of the report titled “Primates in Peril: The World’s 25 Most

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Endangered Primates 2023 – 2025” , which has listed species across Asia, Africa, Madagascar and South
America region.
• The 2023-25 report’s list has 6 species from across Africa, 4 from Madagascar, 9 from Asia, and 6
from Neotropics (Central & South America).
• The Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli), found in Cameroon and Nigeria, and the Tapanuli
Orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis), found in Sumatra (Indonesia) are among the top 25 most
endangered primates list.
Note: Primates are an order of Mammals like apes, monkeys that have grasping hands and feet, and a large
brain relative to their body size.
About World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates report:
The biennial report, World’s 25 most endangered primates, is the widely recognized of the surveys and
publications of PSG. The list is reviewed at Open meetings during the congresses of the IPS that are held
every two years.
• 67 primates have been listed since 2000, which was the first edition of the report.
Highlights of the Report:
i.15 of the primates listed in the report 2023-25 were not listed on the previous report 2022-23 list.
ii.8 Primates such as Sahafray Sportive Lemur, Red-bellied Monkey, Northern Pygmy Slow Loris, Myanmar
Snub-nosed Monkey, Bornean Banded Langur, Central American Squirrel Monkey have been listed for
the first time
iii.9 Primates such as Red Ruffed Lemur, Cross River Gorilla, Pig-tailed Snub-nosed Langur, Cao-vit Gibbon,
Olalla Brothers’ Titi, Peruvian Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey, Variegated Spider Monkey, Caatinga Titi
Monkey and Pied Tamarin were listed on previous iterations but were subsequently removed to call
attention to other highly threatened species.
iv.2 Primates such as Phayre’s Langur (Northeast India) and the Western Hoolock Gibbon (Bangladesh),
were among species considered but did not enter the final list.
• As per the report, Phayre’s Langur (Trachypithecus phayrei) is one of the least-studied Asian
colobines or leaf-eating monkeys. Its distribution was recently restricted to eastern Bangladesh,
Northeastern India and western Myanmar.
iv.Two primate species native to Northeast India and Bangladesh: Phayre’s Langur and the Western Hoolock
Gibbon, were shortlisted for the final list but ultimately did not make the cut.
• The species has been listed as ‘Endangered’ for two decades on the IUCN Red list of Threatened
Species.
The report categorizes the 25 most endangered primates by region:
List of Endangered Primates in Asia:

S.No Animal Names Countries

1 Northern Pygmy Slow Loris China, Lao PDR, Vietnam

2 Sangihe Island Tarsier Indonesia (Sulawesi)

3 Cat Ba Langur Vietnam

4 Pig-tailed Snub-nosed Langur Indonesia (Mentawai Islands)

5 Myanmar Snub-nosed Monkey China, Myanmar

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6 Raffles’ Banded Langur Malaysia, Singapore

7 Bornean Banded Langur Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia

8 Cao-Vit Gibbon China, Vietnam

9 Tapanuli Orangutan Indonesia (Sumatra Island)

List of Endangered Primates in Africa:

S.No Animal Names Countries

1 Rondo Dwarf Galago Tanzania

Democratic Republic of the

2 Golden-bellied Mangabey
Congo

3 Southern Patas Monkey Tanzania

4 Red-bellied Monkey Benin, Nigeria, Togo

5 Niger Delta Red Colobus Nigeria

6 Cross River Gorilla Cameroon, Nigeria.

List of Endangered Primates in Madagascar:

S.No Animal Names Countries

1 Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur Madagascar

2 Sahafary Sportive Lemur Madagascar

3 Coquerel’s Giant Mouse Lemur Madagascar

4 Red Ruffed Lemur Madagascar

List of Endangered Primates in Neotropics (Central & South America):

S.No Animal Names Countries

1 Olalla Brothers’ Titi Bolivia

2 Caatinga or Blond Titi Monkey Brazil

3 Pied Tamarin Brazil

4 Central American Squirrel Monkey Costa Rica, Panama

5 Peruvian Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey Peru

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6 Variegated Spider Monkey Colombia, Venezuela

About Primate Special Group (PSG):
PSG is a network of scientists and conservationists who stand against the tide of extinction which threatens
humanity’s closest kin.
• PSG is a member of the IUCN’s Species Survival Commission (SSC)
About IUCN SSC:
IUCN SSC is a network of volunteer experts that plays a vital role in providing information to IUCN on
biodiversity conservation.
• It also works to develop policies, guidelines and conservation plans to promote biodiversity.
About International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Bruno Oberle
Headquarters – Gland, Switzerland
Established – 1948

MSMEs merchandise export share increased to 45.7 % in FY24: SIDBI report

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has released a report titled ‘Understanding the
Indian MSME Sector: Progress, and Challenges’ which report provides insights into the Indian Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector based on a survey of 2,097 MSMEs across 19 sectors in
manufacturing, services, and trading.
• The number of registrations Udyam Registration Portal (URP) have surged to over 6.2 crore by
March 2025, up from 2.5 crore in March 2024, indicating significant formalization within the
sector.
• With MSMEs contributing nearly 30% to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and providing
employment to over 11 crore individuals, empowering this sector is crucial for driving
sustainable and long-term economic growth.
Key Findings:
i.Export Potential: MSMEs contribution to India’s total exports has steadily grown, reaching 43.59% in
Financial Year 2022-23 (FY23), 45.73% in FY24, and 45.79% in FY25.
ii.Formalization Drive: The total number of establishments in the sector increased substantially from 6.50
crore in 2022-23 to 7.34 crore in 2023-24, showing a 13% growth.
iii.Access to credit: Due to limited credit access, 12% of micro enterprises turned to informal borrowing,
compared to 3% of small and 2% of medium enterprises.
iv.Digital Lending: While 18% of MSMEs use digital lending, 90% accept digital payments, highlighting a
strong growth opportunity in the digital lending space.
• This trend, bolstered by platforms such as the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), has the potential
to significantly improve credit accessibility in the future.
v.Credit Gap: Despite credit supply to MSMEs increasing, the sector has a broad addressable credit gap of
Rs. 30 lakh crore.
• Medium enterprises face the highest credit gap, at 29%, followed by micro and small enterprises.
• The credit gap is notably wider in the services sector at 27%, and even more pronounced at 35%
among women-owned Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), underscoring the urgent
need for targeted policy interventions.
vi.Women Entrepreneurship: Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE 2023-
24) shows female owned proprietary establishments increased from 22.9% in 2022-23 to 26.2% in 2023-
24.

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• As of January 2025, they accounted for 70% of the MSMEs registered on Udyam Assist, while
women-owned MSMEs accounted for 20.5% of the entities registered on the Udyam platform.
vii. Skilled Labour Shortage: Around a fourth of the surveyed MSMEs cite the lack of skilled manpower as
one of their major challenges. Skilled labour shortages are particularly high in defence equipment,
readymade garments, hotel sectors, tiles and sanitaryware as reflected in the survey.
viii.Sustainability: More than one third of the respondents in the MSME sector have adopted some form of
sustainable practices.
• 31% of the respondents in the primary survey have adopted Energy-efficient lighting and
machinery.
• 21% have adopted Renewable Energy(RE) Sources.
• 33% cite limited awareness as a key barrier to further adoption.
About Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI):
Chairman & Managing Director(CMD)- Manoj Mittal
Headquarters– Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh(UP)
Established- 1990

PLFS Monthly Bulletin – April 2025 : Unemployment Rate at 5.1%

In May 2025, the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation (MoSPI) released the inaugural Monthly Bulletin of the Periodic Labour Force Survey
(PLFS) for April 2025. As per the data, the Unemployment Rate(UR) at the national level for individuals
aged 15 years and above was recorded at 5.1% in April 2025.
• The release signifies a major shift in employment monitoring, transitioning from previously
published quarterly and annual data to a more frequent monthly reporting format.
• The data is based on the Current Weekly Status (CWS) methodology, which considers the
previous seven days as the reference period for measuring employment indicators.
Revamped PLFS Methodology:
To enhance the frequency and coverage of labour force data, MoSPI has revamped the PLFS methodology
effective January 2025. Key changes include:
i.Monthly Estimates: Introduction of monthly estimates for Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR),
Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and UR at the all-India level, covering both rural and urban areas using the
CWS approach
ii.Quarterly Rural Data: Extension of quarterly employment estimates to include rural areas, providing a
more comprehensive view of the labour market.
iii.Calendar Year Reporting: Transition to calendar year-based annual reporting (January–
December), aligning with international standards and facilitating timely policy interventions.
Sample Size:
i.At the all-India level, a total number of 7,511 First Stage units (FSUs) (4,140 rural area sub-units and 3,371
urban sub-units) have been surveyed during April, 2025.
ii.The number of households surveyed was 89,434 (49,323 in rural areas and 40,111 in urban areas) and
number of persons surveyed was 3,80,838 (2,17,483 in rural areas and 1,63,355 in urban areas).
Key Findings of PLFS for April 2025.:
i.Unemployment Rate (UR) in CWS:
• UR for persons of age 15 years and above in rural areas was 4.5% and in urban areas was 6.5%.
• Among the rural male of age 15 years and above, the UR was 4.9% compared to 3.9% observed
for rural female.
• In urban areas, among female of age 15 years and above during April, 2025, UR
was 8.7% compared to 5.8% observed for male.

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Note: An individual was classified as unemployed during a reference week if they did not engage in any
work for even one hour on any day, but were actively seeking or available for work for at least one hour on
any day within that same week.
UR (in %) in CWS for persons of age 15 years and above during April 2025

Sector Age Group Male Female Person

15-29 Years 13.0 10.7 12.3

15 Years And
Rural 4.9 3.9 4.5
Above

All Ages 4.9 3.8 4.5

15-29 Years 15.0 23.7 17.2

15 Years And
Urban 5.8 8.7 6.5
Above

All Ages 5.8 8.7 6.5

15-29 Years 13.6 14.4 13.8

Rural + 15 Years And

5.2 5.0 5.1
Urban Above

All Ages 5.2 5.0 5.1

ii.LFPR in CWS:
• The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in Current Weekly Status (CWS) among persons of
age 15 years and above was 55.6% during April,2025.
• LFPR in rural areas was 58.0% and LFPR in urban areas was 50.7% for April, 2025 for persons of
the same age group.
• Among the rural male of age group of 15 years and above was 79.0% during April, 2025
and 38.2% for rural female.
• Among the urban female of age 15 years and above was 25.7% compared to 75.3% observed for
urban male of the same age group.
• At the national level, the percentage for females in the same age group was observed to be 34.2%,
while for males it was 77.7%.
LFPR (in per %) in CWS for persons of age 15 years and above during April 2025 :

Sector Age Group Male Female Person

Rural 15-29 Years 63.5 23.8 43.4

15 Years And
79.0 38.2 58.0
Above

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All Ages 57.5 28.8 42.9

Urban 15-29 Years 59.1 21.5 41.2

15 Years And
75.3 25.7 50.7
Above

All Ages 58.5 20.5 39.9

Rural + Urban 15-29 Years 62.0 23.1 42.7

15 Years And
77.7 34.2 55.6
Above

All Ages 57.8 26.2 42.0

iii.WPR in CWS:
• WPR in CWS for persons of age 15 years and above at the national level stood at 52.8% in April
2025.
• WPR in rural areas among persons of age 15 years and above was 55.4%. WPR in urban areas
among persons of the same age group was 47.4%
• WPR for female of the same age group at the country level was observed at 32.5% and similarly
for male it was 73.7%
WPR (in %) in CWS for persons of age 15 years and above during April 2025:

Sector Age Group Male Female Person

Rural 15-29 Years 55.3 21.2 38.0

15 Years And
75.1 36.8 55.4
Above

All Ages 54.7 27.7 41.0

Urban 15-29 Years 50.2 16.4 34.1

15 Years And
71.0 23.5 47.4
Above

All Ages 55.1 18.7 37.3

Rural + Urban 15-29 Years 53.6 19.8 36.8

15 Years And
73.7 32.5 52.8
Above

All Ages 54.8 24.9 39.8

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Key Terms:
i.LFPR: It is defined as the percentage of persons in the labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for
work) in the population.
ii.WPR: It is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population.
iii.UR: It is defined as the percentage of persons unemployed among the persons in the labour force.
iii.CWS: The activity status determined on the basis of a reference period of last 7 days preceding the date of
survey is known as the current weekly status (CWS) of the person.
About the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS):
The NSO launched the PLFS in April 2017 to provide labour force data at more frequent intervals. Its
objectives include:
• Estimating key employment and unemployment indicators, such as LFPR, WPR and UR in urban
and rural areas.
About the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI):
Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) – Rao Inderjit Singh (Constituency: Gurgaon, Haryana)

OPEC Report 2025: India’s Oil Demand to Surge by 3.39% to 5.74 million bpd in 2025
In May 2025, Vienna (Austria)-based Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) released its
latest Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) for May 2025. The report projected that India’s oil demand is
expected to increase by 3.39%, from 5.55 million barrels per day (bpd) (in 2024) to 5.74 million bpd (in
2025), driven by rising energy needs in the world’s fastest growing economy. It is further projected to
increase by 4.28% i.e. to 5.99 million bpd (in 2026).
• This growth estimate of India is expected to outpace China’s projected 1.5% and 1.25% increase
in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
• India ranked third in terms of absolute oil consumption globally after the United States of
America (USA) and China.
Key Findings:
i.The report cited that the United States of America (USA) will continue to be the world’s top oil consumer,
with a projected demand of 20.5 million bpd (in 2025). However, the USA is likely to witness marginal
growth of 0.09% (in 2025) and 0.6% (2026).
• It is followed by China, with projected oil demand of 16.90 million bpd (in 2025) and 17.12
million bpd (in 2026) and India, ranked at 2nd and 3rd position in terms of absolute oil
consumption globally.
ii.As per the report, global oil demand will increase by 1.3 million bpd both in 2025 and 2026, unchanged
from OPEC’s previous projections.
India-Specific:
i.The report highlighted that India’s economy continued to expand at the starting of 2025. It projected that
India will continue to maintain robust economic growth for the remaining part of the year, supported by
ongoing consumer spending, investment and government support for key sectors.
ii.As per the report, Diesel will continue to be the primary driver of oil demand growth in India, driven by
extensive road infrastructure projects boosting bitumen consumption.
• Also, robust transport fuel demand, manufacturing growth and petrochemical feedstock
requirements will further boost overall oil demand growth.
iii.In 2025, overall oil demand growth in India is projected to grow by 188,000 bpd on yearly basis i.e. to
an average of 5.7 million bpd.
• In 2026, oil demand in India is expected to increase by 246,000 bpd to an average of 6.0 million
bpd , driven by resilient economic activity and government backing key sectors.

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iv.The report noted that recent USA tariffs have the potential to dampen India’s Gross Domestic Product
(GDP), but, fiscal and monetary stimulus measures are expected to mitigate some of these effects.
v.As per the report, India currently depends on imports for over 85% of its crude requirements, with
imports hitting a record of 5.4 million bpd in March 2025, marking an increase of over 5% month-on-
month (m-o-m).
• Also, product imports increased by 2% m-o-m, driven by increased inflows of Liquefied
Petroleum Gas (LPG).
• While, product exports declined by almost 3%m-o-m, mainly due to decreased gasoline and
naphtha exports, partially offset by higher diesel and fuel oil outflows.
vi.The report mentioned about top 3 countries which are the highest source of India’s total crude
imports (as per the Kpler data): Russia accounted 36% of India’s total crude imports in March 2025
compared to 31% (in February 2025); followed by Iraq (17%) and Saudi Arabia (11%).
About Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC):
It was founded in September 1960 in Baghdad (Iraq), with signing of an agreement by 5 countries namely,
Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
Secretary General- Haitham Al Ghais
Headquarters- Vienna, Austria
Member Nations- 12 (India is not its member)

FAO’s GRFC 2025: Nearly 300 Million People Faced Acute Hunger in 2024
In May 2025, Rome (Italy)-based United Nations (UN)’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) released
its latest report titled ‘2025 Global Report on Food Crisis (GRFC)’. The report revealed that nearly 300
million (295.3 million) people across 53 countries and territories faced acute levels of hunger in 2024,
marking an increase of 13.7 million compared to 2023.
• Also, nearly 23% of the total people analysed by the report, faced acute food insecurity.
• It is the 5th consecutive year that the number of people facing high levels of acute food
insecurity remained above 20% and overall 6th consecutive year of increase in these levels.
About Global Report on Food Crisis (GRFC):
i.The report is published annually by the Global Network Against Food Crisis (GNAFC) with analytical
support from the Food Security Information Network (FSIN).
ii.GNAFC is a global alliance of the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), governmental and non-
governmental agencies working together to address food crises.
iii.The 2025 Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) analyzed acute food insecurity in 53 countries and
territories for the year 2024. These regions were selected based on the severity and scale of food crises,
with a focus on areas experiencing significant challenges due to conflict, economic shocks, and climate-
related disasters.
• India was not among the 53 countries analyzed in the 2025 GRFC.
Key Findings:
i.As per the report, the number of people facing catastrophic food crises (IPC/CH Phase-5) more than
doubled between 2023 and 2024, to reach 1.9 million , which is the highest figure on record since the GRFC
started tracking in 2016. This food crisis is mainly driven by armed conflict.
• More than 90% of people facing extreme levels of hunger are in Gaza and Sudan.
• While, other countries with people experiencing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity: the
Gaza Strip, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali.
ii.The report showed that 37.7 million children aged 6–59 months suffered from acute malnutrition in 26
countries had suffered from acute malnutrition in 2024, which includes over 10.2 million with severe acute
malnutrition (SAM).

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• In addition to that, 14 million children are at high risk of losing access to nutrition services due to
cuts in fundings.
• It further showed that over 10.9 million pregnant and breastfeeding women in 21 countries were
also acutely malnourished.
• The level of malnutrition is extremely high in countries like: the Gaza Strip, Mali, Sudan, and
Yemen.
iii.Countries like: Nigeria, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Bangladesh, were found to
have the largest numbers of people facing high levels of acute food in security, each with at least 23 million
affected.
• Collectively, these 4 countries account for over 1/3rd (33%) of the global total of people in the
food crisis.
iv.Globally, most forcibly displaced individuals reside in regions experiencing food crises. In 2024, an
estimated 95.8 million displaced people were located across the 53 countries and territories analyzed, with
approximately 75% being internally displaced.
Key Drivers of acute food insecurity and malnutrition:
i.Conflict: The report highlighted that conflict remains to be the top driver of acute food insecurity, affecting
nearly 140 million people in 20 countries and territories.
ii.Forced Displacement: The report highlighted significant increase in hunger driven by forced
displacement, with around 95 million forcibly displaced people which includes Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs), asylum seekers, people living in countries facing food crisis, like: Democratic Republic of the
Congo(DRC), Colombia, Sudan, and Syria out of a global total of 128 million forcibly displaced people.
iii.Economic Shocks: The report has outlined inflation and currency devaluation, have played a ,major role
in driving hunger in 15 countries affecting 59.4 million people, which is still around double pre-COVID 19
levels despite a modest decrease from 2023.
• Countries like: Afghanistan, South Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, and Yemen, faced the most
protracted food crisis mainly driven by economic shocks.
iv.Weather Extremes: El-Nino induced droughts and floods had pushed 18 countries into food crises
affecting more than 96 million people. The report has confirmed famine in 10 regions of Sudan and 17 more
on the brink.
v.Significant Cut in Global Food Aid: The report projected that global food aid is expected to decrease by
45%. This projection is based on substantial reductions by major donors and abrupt termination of funding
in 2025 that has disrupted operation in countries like: Afghanistan, DRC, Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, among
others.
• This reduction in funding is expected to pose acute food insecurity risk to at least 14 million
children globally, which will further push them to severe malnutrition and death.
About Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO):
It is of the specialized agencies of the United Nations (UN), to make international efforts to combat hunger
and to achieve food security for all.
Director-General (DG)- Qu Dongyu
Headquarters- Rome, Italy
Established- 1945

WOAH Report: Animal Diseases Spreading to New regions, nearly half of them pose Threat to
Humans
On May 23, 2025, Paris (France)-based World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the international
authority on animal health, released its 1st State of the World’s Animal Health report.

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• The report highlighted that infectious animal diseases are spreading to new regions and species
which were previously unaffected by them, with nearly half i.e. 47% of them have potential of
zoonotic transmission (animal-to-human) or spreading between animals.
• The report was released ahead of 92nd session of WOAH which is scheduled to be held from May
25 to 29, 2025 in Paris, France.
About State of the World’s Animal Health Report:
i.The report marks the launch of WOAH’s flagship annual publication, which will be published annually on
the occasion of WOAH’s general session.
ii.It provides the comprehensive review of animal disease trends, risks and challenges and their impact on
human health, food security and economies.
iii.It highlights the positive impact of vaccination on high-priority animal diseases and the challenges
associated with vaccine uptake and availability.
Key Findings:
The data of the report showed that major outbreaks were recorded across several regions in 2024 and early
2025, mainly driven by climate change, expanding international trade, and evolving pathogen dynamics.
i.Zoonotic Potential: The report revealed that 47% of WOAH-notified diseases between 2005 and 2023
were zoonotic in nature, which means capable of infecting humans.
ii.Avian Influenza Outbreaks: In 2024, there were 1,022 outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) or
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) were reported in mammals across 55 countries, which was more
than double the 459 outbreaks reported in 2023.
iii.Impact on Poultry: Over the last 20 years, bird flu has caused the loss or culling of over 630 million
birds, causing substantial economic damage and disruptions in the global food supply.
iv.Antimicrobial Use: The use of anti-microbials, including antibiotics in animals decreased by 5% between
2020 and 2022, with Europe witnessing the sharpest decline of 23%, followed by Africa at 20%.
• Despite this, one in five countries is still using anti-microbials as promoters, which is discouraged
by WOAH.
v.Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): The report has projected that AMR is expected to cause livestock
losses that will affect the food security of 2 billion people by 2050 and will result in a USD 100
trillion economic loss.
Countries Showed Success in Vaccination:
i.France became the 1st European Union (EU) country to implement nationwide vaccination campaign
against bird flu in ducks, in October 2023.
ii.Türkiye developed a new vaccine for an outbreak of FMD within just 37 days and has vaccinated 14.2
million cattle (90% of the national herd) and 2.5 million sheep within 6 months.
iii.The Philippines with the support of WOAH vaccine bank, has now vaccinated millions of dogs against
rabies.
Prevalence of other Major Diseases:
i.Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD): A total of 216 outbreaks of FMD were reported across 18 countries,
including 29 exceptional epidemiological events. Germany saw its 1st FMD outbreak since 1988 and EU’s 1st
since 2011.
ii.Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR): Once confined to the global south has now re-emerged in Europe,
with outbreaks in Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria in 2024 and in Hungary in January 2025.
iii.Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD): A total of 319 outbreaks of LSD were reported across 11 countries, including
11 exceptional epidemiological events.
• For the 1st time, LSD was detected in northern Africa, with outbreaks reported in Algeria, Libya,
Tunisia and Japan. It has also re-emerged in Eastern and Southern Asia.

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iv.African Swine Fever (ASF): In 2024, the disease spread across 1,800 kilometer (km) to Sri Lanka,
affecting 16 countries and resulting in 6,807 recorded outbreaks.

MoPR Launches Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 Portal to Empower Grassroots
Governance
In May 2025, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) launched the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0
portal in the presence of Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary of MoPR, during a two-day National Writeshop on
PAI 2.0 for Financial Year 2023-24(FY24), held at Dr.Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.
• Local Indicator Framework (LIF) Booklet for FY24 along with the Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP) was also released during the event.
• The initiatives were launched with an aim to empower Gram Panchayats with data driven tools
for evidence-based planning and monitoring.
Key People:
Saurabh Garg, Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI); Sushil Kumar
Lohani, Additional Secretary, MoPR and Rajib Kumar Sen, Senior Advisor, NITI (National Institution for
Transforming India) Aayog were also present.
Key Points:
i.The National Writeshop offers hands-on training, in-depth portal walkthroughs, and knowledge sharing
from various States and Union Territories (UTs).
ii.The event hosts over 250 delegates from 32 States and UTs, alongside representatives from government
bodies and technical partners like the National Informatics Centre (NIC), National Institution for
Transforming India(NITI) Aayog, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United
Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Piramal Foundation.
About Panchayat Advancement Index 2.0:
i.PAI is a multidimensional assessment framework, developed by the MoPR to enable performance tracking
of over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats across 9 themes, aligned with the Localization of Sustainable
Development Goals (LSDGs).
• The 9 LSDG themes include Poverty-free and Enhanced Livelihoods Panchayat, Healthy
Panchayat, Child-Friendly Panchayat, Water-Sufficient Panchayat, Clean and Green Panchayat,
Panchayat with Self-Sufficient infrastructure, Socially Just and Socially Secured Panchayat,
Panchayat with Good Governance, and Women-Friendly Panchayat.
ii.While PAI version 1.0 served as the baseline and covered data from 2.16 lakh Gram Panchayats across 29
States/Union Territories (UTs), PAI 2.0 represents a major leap towards functionality, efficiency and
usability.
iii.The transition from PAI 1.0 to 2.0 reflects a focused refinement of the framework, with a sharper and
more practical set of indicators and data points to improve usability and reliability while retaining thematic
competitiveness.
iv.PAI 2.0 has reduced the number of indicators from 516 in PAI 1.0 to 147 indicators, focusing on quality
and sharper focus on the 9 LSDGs themes.
v.The data points have been reduced from 794 in version 1.0 to 227 in version 2.0, for streamlining
efficiency and data clarity.
Note: India’s SDG data availability has risen from 55% to nearly 95% in the last five years.
About the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR):
Union Minister – Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh (Constituency – Munger, Bihar)
Minister of State (MoS) – S P Singh Baghel (Constituency – Agra, Uttar Pradesh, UP)

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NITI Aayog Releases Report on “Designing a Policy for Medium Enterprises”

In May 2025, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog released a report
titled “Designing a Policy for Medium Enterprises”. It was launched by Shri Suman Bery, Vice Chairman,
NITI Aayog.
• It offers a comprehensive roadmap for transforming medium enterprises into future growth
engines of India’s economy.
• The report highlights the critical, yet underutilized role played by medium enterprises and
outlines targeted interventions to unlock their full potential.
Key People:
The report was launched in the presence of Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog and Dr. Arvind Virmani,
Member, NITI Aayog.
India’s Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector:
i.The MSME sector contributes approximately 29% to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), accounts
for 40% of exports, and employs over 60% of the workforce.
ii.Despite its critical role, the composition of the sector is disproportionately weighted:
• 97% of registered MSMEs are micro enterprises
• 2.7% are small
• Only 0.3% are medium enterprises
iii.But, this 0.3% of medium enterprises contributes nearly 40% of MSME exports, highlighting their
immense untapped potential as scalable and innovation-driven businesses.
Key Challenges:
i.The report highlights the following key challenges faced by medium enterprises:
• Constrained access to tailored financial products
• Limited adoption of advanced technologies
• Inadequate Research and Development (R&D) support
• Lack of sectoral testing infrastructure
• A mismatch between training programmes and enterprise needs
Comprehensive Policy Framework:
To address these issues, the report outlines a comprehensive policy framework with targeted interventions
across six priority areas:
i.Tailored Financial Solutions:
• A new working capital financing scheme tied to enterprise turnover has been introduced, along
with a 5 crores credit card facility at market rates.
ii.Technology Integration and Industry 4.0:
• Existing Technology Centers will be upgraded into India SME 4.0 Competence Centers, tailored to
specific sectors and regional needs.
iii.R&D Promotion Mechanism:
• A dedicated R&D cell will be set up within the Ministry of MSME to support cluster-based projects
of national importance, utilizing the Self-Reliant India (SRI) Fund.
iv.Cluster-Based Testing Infrastructure:
• Development of sector-focused testing and certification facilities to ease compliance and enhance
product quality.
v.Custom Skill Development:
• Alignment of skilling programmes with enterprise-specific needs by region and sector, and
integration of medium enterprise-centric modules into existing Entrepreneurship and Skill
Development Programmes (ESDP)

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vi.Centralized Digital Portal:

• Creation of a dedicated sub-portal within the Udyam platform featuring scheme discovery tools,
compliance support, and AI-based assistance to help enterprises navigate resources effectively.
Points to Note:
New Classification of the MSME Units as per Budget 2025-2026:

Classification on Investment Classification on Turnover

Type
Earlier – July Revised – April Earlier – July Revised – April
2020 2025 2020 2025

Micro Rs 1cr Rs 2.5cr Rs 5cr Rs 10cr

Small Rs 10cr Rs 25cr Rs 50cr Rs 100cr

Medium Rs 50cr Rs 125cr Rs 250cr Rs 500cr

About the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 2015

Life insurance sector in India to grow at 10.5% against global average of 5%

India’s life insurance market is projected to surge at 10.5% annually over the next decade, significantly
outpacing the global average of 5% according to a report The Allianz Global Insurance Report 2025 by
Allianze Global Insurance in May 2025.
• This growth is fueled by a robust economy and supportive government policies.
• The Indian market is poised to become the second largest in Asia, surpassing Japan as India’s life
insurance sector is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5% over the next
decade.
Key Highlights:
i.The report stated that most of the growth will be in the life segment, adding that more than half of the
additional premium pool will be generated in Asia, with China leading the segment.
ii.China is followed by North America and Europe, but India is likely to grow at a much faster rate.
• Although China is expected to lead the region in absolute growth at 7.8% annually, India is poised
to emerge as the fastest-growing economy with a projected annual growth rate of 10.5% over the
next decade from 2025 to 2035.
• Also, the Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance segment in the global insurance sector will
grow by 4.5% per year until 2035.
iii.The report has also mentioned that the life insurance sector will get benefitted from higher interest rate
and expected to grow at a Compounded Annual Growth rate (CAGR) of about 5.0% over the next decade.
iv.India’s entire insurance market (across all segments) expanded by 10.6% in 2024, up from 7.7% in the
previous year 2023, with premium income touching USD 145 billion. Health insurance, although still the
smallest segment, led this surge with a remarkable 20.8% growth. Life insurance, holding almost 75% of the
market, experienced robust growth of 10.6%, increasing from 7.7% in 2023.
India’s Insurance Sector Reforms:

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i.To tap into the global insurance growth momentum, India has increased the Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI) limit in insurance from 74% to 100%, positioning itself to benefit from the sector’s projected 10.5%
annual growth over the next decade.
ii.In the previous fiscal year, Indian Public Sector General Insurance Companies (PSGICs) witnessed a major
turnaround, with all of them having become profitable again after historical losses.
• One of the main reason behind this is, Government infused Rs. 17,450 crores into PSGICs
between 2019-20 and 2021-22 to support reforms, improve efficiency, and drive profitability.

WMO Report 2025-29: Global Temperature Likely to Exceed 1.5°C in next 5 years
On May 28, 2025, the Geneva (Switzerland) based World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released
its ‘Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update (2025–2029)’, projecting a significant likelihood of global
temperatures temporarily surpassing the 1.5 degree Celsius (°C) threshold above pre-industrial levels
(1850–1900) within the next five years.
• This projection underscores the escalating urgency for comprehensive climate action to mitigate
the adverse effects of global warming.
Key Projections:
i.Annual Temperature Increase: Each year from 2025 to 2029 is expected to witness an average global
near-surface temperature rise between 1.2°C and 1.9°C above the 1850–1900 baseline.
ii.Record-Breaking Years: There is an 80% chance that at least one year in 2025 to 2029 will surpass 2024
as the warmest year on record.
iii.Exceeding Paris Agreement Threshold: An 86% probability exists that at least one year during 2025 to
2029 will exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, a critical threshold outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
iv.Five-Year Average: The report indicates a 70% chance that the five-year average warming for 2025–
2029 will be more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial average, up from 47% in the previous year’s report.
Regional Climate Impacts:
1.Arctic Region
i.Accelerated Warming: The Arctic is anticipated to warm over 3.5 times faster than the global average,
with temperatures rising by 2.4°C above the 1991–2020 baseline during the November to March periods.
ii.Sea Ice Decline: Further reductions in sea-ice concentration are expected in the Barents Sea, Bering Sea,
and Sea of Okhotsk by March 2025-2029.
2.South Asia
i.Increased Rainfall: The WMO forecasts that South Asia will continue to experience wetter-than-average
conditions between 2025 and 2029, extending the trend observed in recent years, except for 2023.
ii.India’s Monsoon Outlook: The New Delhi (Delhi) based India Meteorological Department (IMD) is
expected to continue experiencing above-average monsoon rainfall through 2029, extending the trend
observed in recent years, excluding 2023.
3.Others:
i.Wetter Conditions: Predicted precipitation patterns for May–September 2025–2029 suggest wetter-than-
average conditions in the Sahel, Northern Europe, Alaska, and Northern Siberia.
ii.Drier Conditions: Conversely, the Amazon region is expected to experience drier-than-average
conditions during the same period.
Long-Term Warming Context:
i.The Paris Agreement aims to limit long-term global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels,
measured over 20–30 years, not just in a single year.
ii.2024 was the first calendar year to breach 1.5°C (reaching 1.55 ± 0.13°C), marking the 10th
consecutive warmest year on record (WMO State of the Global Climate 2024 report).

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iii.The current central estimate for the 20-year average warming (2015–2034) is 1.44°C, with a 90%
confidence range of 1.22°C to 1.54°C.
Global Implications:
i.Extreme Weather Events: The anticipated temperature rise is likely to intensify heatwaves, extreme
rainfall events, and droughts globally
ii.Cryosphere Impact: Melting of ice sheets, sea ice, and glaciers is expected to accelerate, contributing to
sea-level rise.
iii.Oceanic Changes: Increased ocean heating may lead to more frequent and severe marine heatwaves,
affecting marine ecosystems and fisheries.
Policy Urgency:
195 countries under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) must
submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for 2031–2035 period ahead of the 30th Conference
of the Parties (COP30), scheduled to be held in 2025 in Belém, Brazil from November 10-21, 2025.
• Only 15 of 195 UNFCCC parties have submitted NDCs so far, highlighting a critical gap in climate
action.
• COP30 will review these climate plans, which are vital to limit long-term warming to 1.5°C.
About World Meteorological Organization (WMO):
Secretary General – Celeste Saulo
Headquarters – Geneva (Switzerland)
Established – 1950

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Kamla Persad-Bissessar Elected as PM of Trinidad and Tobago
In April 2025, Kamla Susheila Persad-Bissessar (commonly referred to as KPB), leader of the United
National Congress (UNC), was elected as the 9th Prime Minister (PM) of Trinidad and Tobago for five
years, marking her second term in office from April 30, 2025.
• She returned to power after a decisive victory in the
general elections held on April 28, 2025, where the UNC,
in alliance with the Coalition of Interests (CoI), secured 26
out of 41 seats in the House of Representatives
comfortably crossing the 21-seat majority mark.
• She succeeded the incumbent PM, Stuart Richard
Young of the People’s National Movement (PNM), who
served from March 17, 2025, to April 29, 2025.
About Kamla Susheila Persad-Bissessar:
i.Kamla Persad-Bissessar, born to Indian descendants, is a renowned lawyer and politician from Trinidad
and Tobago.
ii.She was the first woman to hold the roles of PM, Attorney General, and Opposition Leader in Trinidad and
Tobago. She was also the first female Chairperson-in-Office of the Commonwealth of Nations.
iii.Her political career includes serving as Attorney General in 1995 and 2001, and Leader of the Opposition
from 2006. In 2010, she became the political leader of the UNC.
• She served as the 6th PM of Trinidad and Tobago from May 26, 2010, to September 9, 2015, and
remains the nation’s first and only female PM.
iv.In 2011, Time magazine named her the 13th most influential female leader globally.
v.In 2012, the Government of India (GoI) honoured her with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Overseas

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Indian Award), the highest Indian award for Overseas Indians, for her contributions to public service.
About Trinidad and Tobago:
President – Christine Carla Kangaloo
Prime Minister (PM) – Kamla Susheila Persad-Bissessar
Capital – Port of Spain
Currency – Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TTD)

Mark Carney elected as Canada’s New Prime Minister

On April 28, 2025, The Liberal Party, led by Canada Prime Minister (PM), Mark Carney won Canada’s
federal election against Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party.
• Mark Carney, sworn in as the first unelected PM of Canada in March 2025 after the resignation
of former PM Justin Trudeau.
• He was the 24th Prime Minister of Canada.
• The Liberal Party is elected to power for
the fourth consecutive time.
About Mark Carney:
• He was born on March 16, 1965, near the Arctic in Fort
Smith, located in Canada’s North-west territories.
• Mark embarked on his banking career with Goldman
Sachs (1995 – 2003) and later joined public service.
• He worked as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada between 2003 and 2004, and further as
senior associate deputy minister of finance.
• He worked as governor of the Bank of Canda between 2008 and 2013.
• Mark Carney became the first non-British governor of Bank of England (2013-2020), making the
first person to have headed the central banks of two G7 economies (Canada & England)
• He was appointed as the United Nation Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance in 2019
• He gained recognition as an economist during the 2008 financial crisis, when he helped Canada
overcome the crisis.
About Canada:
Prime Minister – Mark Carney
Capital – Ottawa
Currency – Canadian Dollar

RBI Approves Interim “Committee of Executives” for IndusInd Bank Amid Leadership Transition
In April 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the formation of an interim “Committee of
Executives” to oversee operations at Mumbai (Maharashtra) based IndusInd Bank Limited, for up to three
months or until a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is appointed, following the resignation of the bank’s
Managing Director (MD) and CEO Sumant Kathpalia.
• The decision comes in the wake of significant accounting
discrepancies related to the bank’s derivatives portfolio.
Key Details of the Interim Committee:
i.Composition: The newly formed leadership committee will
include Soumitra Sen, currently Head of Consumer Banking at
IndusInd Bank, and Anil Rao, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) at
IndusInd Bank.
ii.Oversight Structure: The committee will operate under an Oversight Committee of the Board, chaired
by Sunil Mehta, the Chairman of the Board, IndusInd Bank and including heads of the Audit Committee,

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Compensation and Nomination & Remuneration Committee, and Risk Management Committee.
iii.The Oversight Committee will oversee the bank’s operations to ensure stability, after internal audits
uncovered significant accounting mistakes, including a Rs 1,959.98 crore discrepancy in the profit and loss
statement caused by improper handling of internal derivative trades.
Background of Leadership Changes:
i.On April 28, 2025, IndusInd Bank’s Deputy CEO and Whole-time Director, Arun Khurana, resigned
following the discovery of accounting discrepancies in the bank’s derivatives portfolio.
ii.IndusInd Bank’s CEO Sumant Kathpalia also tendered his resignation, taking moral responsibility for the
lapses.
iii.These discrepancies were identified by an external agency’s investigation, which reported a cumulative
adverse impact of Rs. 1,959.98 crore on the bank’s Profit and Loss (P&L) account as of March 31, 2025.
About IndusInd Bank Limited:
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established – 1994
Tagline – We make you feel richer

Indian Armed Forces Leadership Reshuffle: Tiwari, Dixit & Sharma Appointed to Top Positions
In April 2025, the Indian Armed Forces underwent significant leadership changes across the Indian Air
Force (IAF), the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), and the Indian Army’s Northern Command. These changes
will be effective from 1st May, 2025
1.Indian Air Force (IAF):
New Vice Chief: Air Marshal Narmadeshwar Tiwari assumed the
role of 49th Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) on 1st May
2025, succeeding Air Marshal Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar, who
retired on 30th April 2025 after a 40-year career.
Previous Role: Air Marshal Tiwari served as the Air Officer
Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the South Western Air Command
(SWAC) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Awards of Narmdeshwar Tiwari: In 2025, he was honoured with Param Vishisht Seva Medal (Highest
peacetime medal of Indian Armed Forces). Earlier, he received the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2022) and Vayu
Sena Medal (2008).
2.Integrated Defence Staff (IDS):
New Chief: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit took over as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the
Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), on 1st May 2025, replacing Lieutenant General Johnson P
Matthew, who retired on April 30, 2025.
Previous Role: Air Marshal Dixit served as AOC-in-C of Central Air Command in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
(UP).
Awards of Ashutosh Dixit: He was awarded with Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2023), Vayu Sena Medal (2006),
and Vishisht Seva Medal (2011)
3.Indian Army – Northern Command:
New Commander: Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma was appointed as the General Officer Commanding-
in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Northern Command in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
He succeeded Lieutenant General MV Suchendra Kumar, who retired on April 30, 2025.
Previous Role: Lt Gen Sharma previously served as Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) and Director
General of Military Operations (DGMO)
Awards of Pratik Sharma: He was awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2025.

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About Indian Air Force (IAF):

Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) – Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1932

Former R&AW Chief Alok Joshi appointed as Chairman of new NSAB

In April 2025, the Government of India (GoI) reconstituted the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB),
appointing Alok Joshi, former Chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), as its new Chairman. This
strategic move aims to bolster national security advisory mechanisms in light of recent security challenges.
• The decision followed a Cabinet Committee on Security
(CCS) meeting chaired by Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
(PM) of India, in response to the Pahalgam, Jammu and
Kashmir (J&K) terrorist attack.
• Alok Joshi is a 1976-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer
from the Haryana cadre. He served as the chief of the
Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), India’s external
intelligence agency, from December 30, 2012, to December 31, 2014.
Composition of new NSAB:
The revamped seven-member NSAB comprises distinguished retired officials from India’s military, police,
and diplomatic services
i.Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha (Retd.): He is a former officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF), served as
the Western Air Commander.
ii.Lieutenant General Ajai Kumar Singh (Retd.): He is a former officer of the Indian Army (IA), held the
position of Southern Army Commander.
iii.Rear Admiral Monty Khanna (Retd.): Ex-Indian Navy (IN) officer .He has also served as the Naval
Attaché at the Embassy of India in Washington D.C, the United States of America(USA).
iv.Rajiv Ranjan Verma (Retd.): He is a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, served as the Director
General (DG) of Police.
v.Manmohan Singh (Retd.): He is a retired IPS officer, served as the Director General of Police (DGP) and is
also a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award for his notable contributions to Punjabi literature.
vi.D. Bala Venkatesh Varma (Retd.): He is a retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, formerly served as
the Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation.
National Security Advisory Board (NSAB):
i.Established in 1998, the NSAB functions as a key advisory body to the National Security Council (NSC) of
India, which is chaired by PM of India.
• Over the years, it has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s security policies, including drafting
the country’s nuclear doctrine in 2001.
ii.In 1998, the first board was chaired by the late Krishnaswamy Subrahmanyam, a renowned Indian
strategic affairs analyst.
iii.The previous board, constituted in 2018, was led by P.S. Raghavan, former Indian Ambassador to Russia
About National Security Council (NSC) India:
i.NSC (India) was established in 1998 by the Government of India (GoI) under the leadership of the then
Prime Minister (PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It serves as the apex body for managing national security and
strategic affairs in India.
ii.Brajesh Mishra was appointed as the first National Security Advisor (NSA) of India.
National Security Advisor(NSA) of India – Ajit Kumar Doval
Headquarters – New Delhi (Delhi)

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Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh Appointed as DG & CEO of IICA

In May 2025, Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, an officer of the Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and
Finance Service (IP&TAFS) from the 1992 batch, assumed charge as the Director General(DG) and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), a think tank under the Ministry of
Corporate Affairs (MCA).
• This marks his second tenure at IICA, following his leadership during 2017–2018.
• He replaced Dr. Ajay Bhushan Prasad Pandey, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
officer, who was entrusted with the additional charge of the institute in April 2024
i.With over 30 years of experience in finance, corporate law, governance, and public policy, Singh
brings a strong administrative background.
ii.He has previously served as:
• Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA)
• CEO, Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA)
• Member, Governing Body of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI)
• Member Secretary, Insolvency Law Committee (2018–2021).
iii. He played a crucial role in:
• Developing the National Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards
• Reforming CSR rules to enhance transparency.

ECI Appointed Rakesh Verma as DG of IIIDEM; Ashish Goyal as DG of Media

In May 2025, the Election Commission of India (ECI) appointed two senior officers to key leadership roles.
These appointments aim to strengthen the administrative and media-related functions of the ECI.
i.Rakesh Verma, a 1993-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Punjab cadre, assumed
charge as the Director General (DG) of the India International Institute of Democracy and Election
Management (IIIDEM), New Delhi(Delhi).
• Prior to this role, he served as Additional Secretary in the Department of Water Resources, River
Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti(MoJS). He also held
significant positions in the Ministry of Tourism(MoT).
ii.Ashish Goyal, a 1996-batch officer of the Indian Information Service (IIS), took charge as Director
General(DG), Media, in the ECI.
• Before this appointment, he served as DG of the National Museum under the Ministry of
Culture(MoC) and held additional charge as Director of the Salar Jung Museum,
Hyderabad(Telangana).
Note: IIIDEM is an ECI-affiliated institute that trains election officials and promotes democratic practices
globally.

Sanjay Khanna Assumes Additional Charge as CMD of BPCL

On 1st May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a Fortune
Global 500 company under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), announced that Sanjay
Khanna, currently serving as Director (Refineries), has assumed additional charge as Chairman and
Managing Director (CMD) of BPCL.
• Sanjay Khanna succeeded G. Krishnakumar, whose term ended on 30th April 2025.
i.He brings over 30 years of experience in refinery operations, technical services, and project
implementation.
ii.As Executive Director(ED) of Kochi Refinery, he played a pivotal role in commissioning BPCL’s first niche
petrochemical project – the Propylene Derivative Petrochemical Project (PDPP).

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iii.He is also a Director on the Boards of Bharat Petro Resources Limited (BPRL) and Ratnagiri Refinery and
Petrochemicals Limited (RRPL)
iv.He serves as the Chairperson of the Technical Committee for Petroleum Refineries under the Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG).

Sanjay Jaiswal appointed as Head of CoE; Baijayant Panda as Head of CoPU for FY26
In May 2025, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla appointed Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal, Member of Parliament (MP) from
the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as the Chairperson of the Committee on Estimates (CoE) for the fiscal year
2025–26 (FY26).
• The committee comprises 30 members, all from the Lok Sabha.
• The committee’s term is effective from May 1, 2025, and will conclude on April 30, 2026.
• This committee examines the estimates included in the budget and suggests economies in public
expenditure. It also recommends alternative policies to bring about efficiency and economy in
administration.
Committee on Public Undertakings (CoPU):
Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda, BJP MP representing Kendrapara, Odisha, has been reappointed as the Chairperson
of the Committee on Public Undertakings (CoPU) for FY26.
• The committee consists of 22 members, with 15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha.
• The committee’s term commenced on May 1, 2025, and will end on April 30, 2026.
• This committee evaluates the reports and accounts of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and
assesses whether they are being managed in accordance with sound business principles and
prudent commercial practices.

Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese wins a 2nd Consecutive 3-year Term

In May 2025, the incumbent Prime Minister (PM) of Australia Anthony Norman Albanese, leader of the
Labor Party(LP), has been re-elected as Australia’s PM in the federal elections. With this, he became the 1st
Australian PM to win a 2nd consecutive 3-year term in two decades.
• As per Australian Electoral Commission’s estimates,
Albanese led ruling centre-left LP got 70 seats while the
conservative opposition coalition led by Peter Dutton got
just 24 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, the
lower chamber of Australian Parliament.
About Anthony Norman Albanese:
i.He started his political career by joining the Labor Party in 1979. In
1996, he was 1st elected to Australian Parliament as the member for
the Sydney seat of Grayndler.
• Since 1996, he had been re-elected in the federal House of Representatives 9 times (1998, 2001,
2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022).
ii.He served as Deputy PM of the country, from June 2013 to September 2018 and Leader of the Opposition
(LoP) from May 2019 to May 2022.
iii.He has been serving as the Leader of the Australian LP since 2019.
iv.During his tenure as Infrastructure Minister and Communication Minister (from July 2013 to September
2013), he delivered nation-building projects, and rolled out the high speed fibre National Broadband
Network (NBN).
iii.In May 2022, he became the 31st PM of Australia and the head of the 1st Labor government to rule the
country since 2013.

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About Australia:
Prime Minister (PM) – Anthony Norman Albanese
Capital- Canberra
Currency- Australian Dollar (AUD)

Salem Saleh Bin Braik Appointed as New PM of Yemen

On May 4 2025, the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) of Yemen appointed , Finance
Minister (FM) Salem Saleh Bin Braik as the new Prime Minister (PM) of Yemen.
• He replaced Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, who stepped down on May 3, 2025, after facing many
difficulties including being unable to reshuffle the government.
About Salem Saleh Bin Braik :
i.He began his professional journey working in customs at the
Mukalla port in Yemen and later transitioned to the port’s audit
department, where he served until the 1990s.
ii.In 2005, he was appointed as the Director-General(DG) of
customs at the al-Tuwal/Haradh crossing in Hajjah Governorate,
Yemen. He subsequently held the position of DG at the Hodeidah
port on the Red Sea and, in mid-2013, became the DG of Aden Free
Zone Customs.
iii.From 2014 to 2018, he served as the head of the Customs Authority. In 2019, he was appointed as a
member of the Supreme Economic Committee of the internationally recognized government.
• Following this, he joined the Board of Directors(BoD) of the Central Bank of Yemen and later
became the deputy FM.
iv.He was appointed as the FM in 2019 and served in this capacity until he was appointed as the PM of
Yemen.
About Yemen:
Prime Minister(PM) – Salem Saleh Bin Braik
Capital – Sanaa
Currency – Yemeni Rial(YER)

South Korea’s Acting President Han Duck-soo Resigns

In May 2025, Han Duck-soo, the Acting President and Prime Minister (PM) of the Republic of Korea (South
Korea), announced his resignation to pursue candidacy in the upcoming presidential election scheduled
for June 3, 2025.
• The election follows the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol in December 2024
over his controversial martial law declaration.
i.After Han Duck-soo’s resignation, Education Minister Lee Ju-ho has assumed the role of acting
president, marking the fourth leadership change since December 2024.
ii.Han Duck-soois a distinguished South Korean economist, diplomat, and politician whose career spans over
four decades.
• He held the position of PM twice, first from 2007 to 2008 under President Roh Moo-hyun, and
again from 2022 to 2025 under President Yoon Suk Yeol. During his tenure, he was also
appointed as acting president during transitional periods.
iii.He is expected to align with the People Power Party (PPP), South Korea’s main conservative party, to
challenge Lee Jae-myung, the frontrunner from the liberal Democratic Party (DP).

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Togo Elected Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové as its First President Under New Parliamentary System
In May 2025, the Parliament of Togo (Togolese Republic), a West African country, elected Jean-
Lucien Kwassi Lanyo Savi de Tové as the first President under Togo’s new parliamentary system for a
four-year term. He was elected unanimously by 150 members present in the bicameral Parliament (National
Assembly and Senate), which comprises 174 seats.
• This follows a major constitutional reform in May 2024 that transitioned Togo from a semi-
presidential to a parliamentary form of governance.
• He succeeded Faure Gnassingbé who was sworn in as the President of Togo’s Council of
Ministers, the most powerful role under the new framework.
About Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové :
i.Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové’s political journey began in 1967 when
he was appointed Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs following a military coup.
ii.After the legalization of multiparty politics in Togo, Savi de Tové
founded the Party of Democrats for Unity (PDU), which later
merged into the Pan-African Patriotic Convergence (CPP) in 1999,
where he served as first vice-president .
iii.From 2005 to 2007, he served as Minister of Trade, Industry, and Handicrafts under Prime Ministers
Edem Kodjo and Yawovi Agboyibo.
iv.In 2009, he was appointed president of the Permanent Framework for Dialogue and Consultation (CPDC).
About the New Parliamentary System:
i.Togo’s constitutional amendment was passed in April 2024 and came into effect in May 2024, marking a
shift from a semi-presidential system in place since independence.
ii.The President of the Republic of Togo is elected by the Parliament for a ceremonial four-year term,
renewable once.
iii.The Chairman of the Council of Ministers is now the head of government with executive authority over
domestic and international affairs.
• The chairman is selected from the majority party or coalition in Parliament and holds office for
a six-year term.
iv.A 12-month transition period was provided, during which the outgoing president retained executive
powers.
About Togo (Togolese Republic):
President – Jean-Lucien Kwassi Lanyo Savi de Tové
Capital – Lomé
Currency –West African CFA franc (XOF)

GoI Terminates K.V. Subramanian as IMF ED (India); Appoints Parameswaran Iyer as Interim ED
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra
Modi, terminated Krishnamurthy Venkata (K.V.) Subramanian as Executive Director (ED) for India at
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 30 April 2025.
• His three-year tenure, which began in November 2022, was ended six months early, without any
official reason given. He represented India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan at IMF.
• Parameswaran Iyer, the current ED for India at the World Bank (WB) has been appointed as
the interim ED to represent India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka at the IMF.
About K.V. Subramanian:
i.K.V. Subramanian served as the 17th Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) to the Government of India (GoI) from
2018 to 2021, becoming the youngest person to ever hold this role.

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ii.He also served on expert committees of the Securities and

Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
iii.He served as a member of the Board of Directors at Bandhan Bank
Limited, the National Institute of Bank Management (NIBM), Pune
(Maharashtra), and RBI Academy.
About Interim ED appointment:
i.This leadership change occurs just days before a critical IMF Board
meeting scheduled for May 9, 2025 to review:
• A USD 1.3 billion climate resilience loan for Pakistan
• The first assessment of Pakistan’s ongoing USD 7 billion bailout package.
About International Monetary Fund (IMF):
Managing Director (MD) – Kristalina Georgieva
Headquarters – Washington DC, the United States of America (USA)
Established – 1944
Member nations – 191

FSIB Recommends Sanjay Joshi as CMD of OICL

In May 2025, the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB), under the Department of Financial Services
(DFS), Ministry of Finance(MoF), recommended Sanjay Joshi, a 1989-batch officer, for the role of Chairman-
cum-Managing Director (CMD) at New Delhi (Delhi)-based Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OICL).
• This recommendation follows the retirement of R.R. Singh in February 2025.
Subsequently, Amit Misra, Executive Director (ED) of OICL, was appointed as the acting CMD for
a three-month term starting March 1, 2025.
• Sanjay Joshi appointment awaits approval from the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC),
headed by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi. If approved, he will serve until 31 August 2027,
when he turns 60.
i.Sanjay Joshi, the current General Manager (GM) at Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN)-based United India Insurance
Company Limited (UIICL).
ii.With over three decades of experience in the general insurance sector, he has served in various capacities,
including Branch and Divisional Head across multiple regional offices, and has been part of the Large
Corporate Cell (LCC) in Delhi.
iii.At UIICL’s Head Office, he held positions such as Deputy General Manager(GM) and Chief Grievance
Officer(CGO), contributing to product development and regulatory compliance.

Friedrich Merz Becomes Germany’s 10th Chancellor

On May 6, 2025, Joachim-Friedrich Martin Josef Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
and lawyer, was elected as the 10th Chancellor of Germany. He secured the majority with 325 votes out
of 630 seats in the second round of voting.
• In the first round of secret ballot voting, he failed by six
votes, receiving 310 votes, with the need for a majority of
316 votes, the threshold for winning the election.
• The President of Germany, Frank- Walter Steinmeier,
approved Friedrich Merz as Chancellor at Bundestag, Berlin,
Germany.
Key points:
i.Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, which won an
election in February 2025, was in alliance with Social Democrats. The coalition had a total of 328 seats.

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ii.Merz is the first Chancellor to lose Bundestag vote since Germany’s independence.
iii.He is the oldest Chancellor to assume office since Konrad Adenauer, the first post-war German head of
government.
About Friedrich Merz:
i.Joachim Friedrich Martin Josef Merz, born on 11 November 1955 born in Brilon, an area of North-Rhine
Westphalia in West Germany, served in German Army before embarking on his political career.
ii.Merz served as a Member of the Parliament (MP) from 1989 to 1994, he was a member of Bundestag
from 1994 to 2009.
iii.In 2004, he took a break from his political career and embarked on his legal career. He worked as a
corporate lawyer, becoming a senior counsel at Mayer Brown and served on the boards of different
companies.
iv.He returned to politics in 2018 and became CDU leader in 2021.
About Germany:
President – Frank-Walter Steinmeir
Capital – Berlin
Currency – the Euro (EUR)

Prakash Magdum appointed as MD of NFDC

On May 5, 2025, Prakash Magdum, a 1999-batch officer of the Indian Information Service (IIS), assumed
charge as the Managing Director (MD) of the Mumbai (Maharashtra) based National Film Development
Corporation (NFDC), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting (MoI&B), Government of India (GoI).
• He succeeded Prithul Kumar, who served as the previous MD of NFDC.
i.Prior to this appointment, Prakash Magdum served as the Additional Director General (ADG) at the Press
Information Bureau (PIB) and the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) in Ahmedabad (Gujarat).
ii.He was a director of the Pune (Maharashtra)-based National Film Archive of India (NFAI), where he
spearheaded the National Film Heritage Mission.
iii.He was also a registrar of the Pune based Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).

Senior INC Leader KC Venugopal Reappointed as PAC Chairperson

In May 2025, Senior Indian National Congress (INC) Party leader, K C Venugopal was re-appointed as
chairperson of the New Delhi(Delhi) based Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament of India, by
the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. His tenure will continue until April 2026, as per the announcement by the
Lok Sabha Secretariat.
• This appointment aligns with the convention established in 1967, where the PAC Chairperson is
selected from the principal opposition party in the Lok Sabha.
About KC Venugopal:
Current Positions:
i.Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee (PAC)
ii.General Secretary (Organisation), All India Congress Committee (AICC)
Previous Roles:
• Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (2020–2024)
• Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation (2012–2014)
• Union Minister of State for Power (2011–2012)
• Member of Legislative Assembly, Kerala (1996–2009)
About Public Accounts Committee (PAC):
• Established: 1921 (pre-independence), reconstituted in 1950 (post-independence)

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• Significance: The PAC ensures accountability in the utilization of public funds by examining audit
reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
• Role: The committee comprises 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha) and
reviews compliance with parliamentary approvals.

Cardinal Robert Prevost elected as New Pope in Vatican City

On May 8, 2025, the United States of America (USA)-based Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been
elected as the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church. He was elected by the cardinals across the globe on the
second day of the Papal conclave held in Sistine Chapel, Vatican City.
• He adopted the name Pope Leo XIV and is the first pope from the USA.
• He succeeds Pope Francis, who died on 21st April 2025.
Selection of a new Pope:
i.Following the death of Pope Francis, 133 red-robed cardinals across the globe were brought together at
the Papal Conclave in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, to select the new successor.
ii.Robert Francis Pervost, was elected at the fourth ballot, held on the second day of the conclave.
• He had secured at least 89, two-thirds majority of the votes.
Colour Smoke tradition:
Black and White smoke is used to signal about the election of the new pope.
• Black indicates no pope is selected and the voting is restarted.
• White smoke indicates the selection of a new pope.
About Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost:
i.He joined the Order of Saint Augustine and was ordained as priest in Rome in 1982.
ii.In 1985, he began his missionary work in Peru, serving in various capacities including parish pastor,
seminary teacher, and diocesan official.
iii.From 2001 to 2013, he served as the Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine. In 2015, he was
appointed Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru.
iii.Robert Prevost, holds dual citizenship of USA and Peru, where he spent several years, initially as a
missionary and later as Bishop.
iv.In 2023, Former Pope Francis appointed Prevost as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and the
President of Pontifical Commission for Latin America and was promoted as Cardinal.
iv.Former Pope Francis appointed him to lead the curia’s influential department for Bishop appointments.

CBI Director Praveen Sood Granted One-Year Tenure Extension

In May 2025, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved a one-year extension in the
tenure of Praveen Sood a 1986-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Karnataka cadre
as Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). His term, originally set to end on 24th May 2025,
has now been extended till May 2026.
• The extension was approved based on recommendations by
the high-level selection committee, chaired by Prime
Minister(PM) Narendra Modi, and comprising Justice Sanjiv
Khanna, Judge of the Supreme Court of India(SCI), and
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha.
i.He began his service as Assistant Superintendent of Police in Mysuru,
Karnataka in 1989.
ii.He served as Director General of Police (DGP) in Karnataka before his appointment as CBI Director.
• He also held various key positions, including Police Commissioner of Bengaluru and Mysuru, and
Police Advisor to the Government of Mauritius .

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iii. He contributed to the implementation of key policing digital initiatives like the Crime and Criminal
Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) and Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS).
iv.He has been recognized with several awards, including the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished
Service (2011), Police Medal for Meritorious Service (2002), Chief Minister’s Gold Medal for Excellence in
Service (1996), and the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award (2006).

Harvansh P. Chawla Appointed as Chairman of BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry

In May 2025, Harvansh P. Chawla, a renowned senior corporate legal expert, was appointed as
the Chairman of the New Delhi (Delhi) based BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BRICS CCI) to
strengthen ties among BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).
• The appointment is aligned with the upcoming 17th BRICS
Summit, scheduled to be held from 6th to 7th July 2025 in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• Under Chawla’s leadership, the Chamber aims to intensify
efforts towards inclusive economic growth, innovation,
and sustainable development within the Global
South framework.
About Harvansh P. Chawla:
i.Harvansh P. Chawla is a distinguished Indian corporate lawyer and the Founder and Managing Partner of
K.R. Chawla & Co. Advocates, a prominent law firm based in New Delhi (Delhi).
ii.He is also appointed as an Advisor to the Trade and Invest British Columbia in India which is a
collaboration with the Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology, British Columbia, Canada.
iii.The Ministry of Finance (MoF), Government of India (GoI), chose him to draft counter guarantees for all
infrastructure projects in the country, and he was also among the first lawyers in India to carry out detailed
legal work on port privatization.
iv.Mr. Chawla is a member of the London (United Kingdom, UK) based International Bar Association (IBA),
Tokyo (Japan) based Inter Pacific Bar Association (IPBA), and Washington, D.C., (United States of America,
USA) based Indo-US Business Council (IUBC).
v.Trade Expansion: Championed efforts to boost intra-BRICS trade, which surged to USD 162 billion in
2022–23, despite global economic headwinds.
vi.Green Energy Partnerships: Facilitated collaborations among BRICS nations in solar energy, hydrogen
fuel, and smart grid technologies.
vii. Digital Innovation: Promoted BRICS-wide digital payment systems and tech startups to reduce
dependency on Western financial platforms.
About BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BRICS CCI):
Chairman – Harvansh P. Chawla
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 2012

Santosh Kumar Sarangi Gets Additional Charge as CMD of SECI

In May 2025, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), under the Ministry of Personnel, Public
Grievances and Pensions (MoPPG&P), assigned additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director
(CMD) of New Delhi (Delhi)-based Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) to Santosh Kumar
Sarangi.
• He will hold this position until the appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders,
whichever is earlier.

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• He succeeded Rameshwar Prasad (R.P) Gupta, whose

service was terminated with immediate effect by the
Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on 10th
May 2025, ahead of his scheduled tenure completion in
June 2025.
About Santosh Kumar Sarangi:
i.Santosh Kumar Sarangi is a 1994-batch Indian Administrative
Service (IAS) officer from the Odisha cadre.
ii.He is currently serving as the Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
iii.Prior to his appointment as MNRE Secretary, he held the post of Director General of Foreign Trade
(DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I).
iv.He has held several prominent leadership positions in both state and central government roles. At the
national level, he served as Chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority (APEDA) and the Tea Board of India.
• Additionally, he was Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Education(MoE) and concurrently
held the position of Chairperson of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) .
About RP Gupta:
i.RP Gupta is a retired 1987-batch IAS officer from the Gujarat cadre. He assumed charge as CMD of SECI in
June 2023.
ii.Prior to this, he served as the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEF&CC).
About Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI):
SECI is a Navratna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) – Santosh Kumar Sarangi
Headquarters – New Delhi (Delhi)
Founded – 2011

Former England Selector Ed Smith appointed as MCC’s next President

In May 2025, Former England Men’s Cricket Selector, Edward Thomas Smith was appointed as the
President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), London, England. He will assume office for one year
from 1st October 2025.
• He was appointed by the current president of MCC, Lord King of Lothbury, at the MCC Annual
General Meeting (AGM) held at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, England.
About Edward Thomas Smith :
i.He is a former England Cricketer, Cricket commentator, Journalist and an English author.
ii.During his playing days, Smith played for Kent, Middlesex and England in a career that spanned 13
seasons.
• During this period, he scored nearly 13,000 runs, including 34 centuries.
iii.He retired in 2008 and embarked on a career in the media and wrote five books.
iv.He was the Chief Selector of England Men’s Cricket team from 2018 to 2021.
• England won the ICC Men’s World Cup for the first time in 2019 during his tenure as chief
selector.
v.He is also involved in academia, as co-founder of the Institute of Sports Humanities (ISH), which has a
mission to nurture and inspire sport’s current and future leaders.

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Ajoy Chawla to Succeed C K Venkataraman as MD of Titan

In May 2025, Bengaluru (Karnataka)- based Titan Company Limited, a prominent lifestyle company under
the Tata Group, has announced the appointment of Ajoy Chawla, currently the Chief Executive
Officer(CEO) of its Jewellery Division, as the next Managing Director (MD).
• He will assume the role on January 1, 2026, succeeding C.K. Venkataraman, who is set to retire
on December 31, 2025, upon reaching the superannuation age as per Tata Group’s retirement
policy.
About Ajoy Chawla:
i.Ajoy Chawla, became part of the Tata Administrative Services (TAS) in 1990 and initially joined the finance
department of Titan in 1991.
ii.Over the next two decades, he worked in the watches division and played several roles spanning
commercial, sales, retailing, and supply chain.
iv.From 2013 to 2019, he served as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), overseeing business incubation, fragrances
expansion, and the Taneira business.
v.Since 2019 as CEO, Jewellery division to significant achievements, with sales and profits expanding by 2.5
times and strengthening Tanishq’s market leadership.

Former Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar Appointed as Chairman of UPSC

In May 2025, the Government of India (GoI) appointed Dr. Ajay Kumar, former Defence Secretary, Ministry
of Defence (MoD) and retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1985 Kerala cadre, as the
new Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for 6 years or until reaching the age of 65,
whichever is earlier.
• The appointment was approved by President of India Droupadi Murmu, under Article 316(1) of
the Constitution of India, as per an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training
(DoPT), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPP&P).
• He succeeded Preeti Sudan whose tenure ended on 29th April 2025.
About Dr. Ajay Kumar:
i.Ajay Kumar served as Defence Secretary of India, MoD from 23rd
August 2019 to 31st October 2022.
ii.Prior to his role in the MoD, he served in key roles in the Ministry
of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), including:
• Director General (Dg), National Informatics Centre (NIC),
New Delhi (Delhi)
• Additional Secretary, MeitY
• Principal Secretary, Government of Kerala
• Managing Director(MD), Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KELTRON),
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala)
iii.He played a key role in implementing Digital India initiatives under Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi,
including Aadhaar (biometric identity system), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), myGov portal,
Jeevan Pramaan and
Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
iv.He contributed to initiatives such as Agnipath Scheme (under MoD) and the creation of the Chief of
Defence Staff (CDS) post.
Awards:
i.He is a recipient of several awards like “Silver Elephant” medallion by National Scouts and Guides in 1994.
ii.“Electronics Leader” of the Year for the year 2012 for promotion of electronics industry in the country.
iii. “Technovation Sarabhai Award” by India Electronics & Semiconductor Association in 2015

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iv.“Champion of Change” by Consumer Electronics & Appliances Manufacturers Association in 2017.

Note: On 1 May 2025, Sujata Chaturvedi, former Secretary of the Department of Sports (DoS), Ministry of
Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS), was sworn in as a Member of UPSC.
About Union Public Service Commission (UPSC):
The UPSC is responsible for conducting civil services examinations to recruit officers for prestigious roles
like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS).
The commission is headed by a Chairman and can have a maximum of 10 members.
Chairman – Dr. Ajay Kumar
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1926

IOC Appointed Mikaela Jaworski as Chair of Coordination Commission for the Brisbane 2032
Olympic Games
In May 2025, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board member, Mikaela Cojuangco
Jaworski, has been appointed as the new Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission, for the 2032
Olympic games, to be held at Brisbane, Australia. The appointment was made by IOC President, Thomas
Bach, at an Executive Board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.
• She will succeed Kristy Coventry, who is set to become the IOC President in June 2025
• She will chair the Coordination Commission meeting in Brisbane( Australia) from May 20 to 22,
2025.
Key Points:
i.As a Commission Chair,Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski will oversee
the planning and delivery of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games,
working in close partnership with the Organizing Committee, the
Olympic Movement stakeholders, local authorities and International
Sports Federations.
ii.Her role will be to ensure that all aspects of the project are
developed and executed to the highest standards, creating an inclusive, sustainable and memorable Olympic
experience for athletes, fans and communities.
About Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski:
i.Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworksi is a former equestrian athlete, represented Philippines internationally and
won a gold medal in individual equestrian jumping at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.
• She also secured a team gold medal at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games (Equestrian jumping) in
Manila, Philippines.
iii.She has been a member of IOC since 2013, IOC Executive Board(EB) since 2020 and has been on the
Coordination Commissions for the 2020 Tokyo(Japan), and 2024 Paris(France).
About International Olympic Committee (IOC):
IOC is a non-governmental organization that is responsible for organizing Olympic games and overseeing
the Network of National Olympic Committees (NOCs), International Federations, Athletes and other
stakeholders.
President – Thomas Bach
President Elect – Kirsty Coventry(From June 23,2025)
Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland
Establishment – 1894

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NTPC Green Energy Appointed Sarit Maheshwari as CEO & Key Managerial Personnel
In May 2025, New Delhi (Delhi) based NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of
NTPC Limited (formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation Limited), announced the
appointment of Sarit Maheshwari as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and designated Key Managerial
Personnel (KMP), effective from May 10, 2025.
• He succeeded Rajiv Gupta, who was repatriated to NTPC Limited to serve in another role.
About Sarit Maheshwari:
i.Sarit Maheshwari has over 35 years of experience in the power sector.
ii.Before his appointment as CEO of NGEL, he served in key leadership roles across NTPC’s Renewable
Energy(RE) subsidiaries:
• CEO of NTPC Renewable Energy Limited(NTPCREL).
• CEO of NTPC Rajasthan Green Energy Limited (NRGEL), a 74:26 joint venture between NGEL and
Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RRVUNL).
iii. He also held various operational roles in NTPC, including Head of Project at NTPC Korba, one of NTPC’s
major power plants.
Note: NGEL was incorporated in 2022. It is central to India’s target of achieving 500 gigawatts (GW) of non-
fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030. The company focuses on large-scale solar, wind, and hybrid projects to
support national climate commitments.

President Draupadi Murmu appointed SC Judge Surya Kant as Executive Chairman of NALSA
In May 2025, President Draupadi Murmu has appointed Justice Surya Kant, Supreme Court (SC) Judge, as
the Executive Chairman of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), effective May 14, 2025.
• He will succeed Justice B R Gavai, Judge, Supreme Court of India.
i.He is currently the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC).
ii.Before his elevation to the Supreme Court in May 2019, he served as the Chief Justice of the Himachal
Pradesh High Court(HC) and as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana HC.
ii.He will lead NALSA’s mission to provide accessible and free legal aid to all citizens, particularly those from
Marginalized and economically weaker sections of society across India.
Note: The NALSA is a statutory body established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, which came
into effect on November 9, 1995.

Arunabha Ghosh Appointed as South Asia Envoy to COP-30 in Brazil

In May 2025, Arunabha Gosh, founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of New Delhi(Delhi)-based Council
of Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), a climate and energy think tank of India, has been appointed as
the South Asia envoy for the 30th Conference of Parties (COP-30), a United Nations(UN) climate
conference, which will be held in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil.
• He is currently the Vice-Chair of the United Nations Committee for Development Policy (UNCDP)
• He is one of the ten international envoys for strategic regions.
Key Points:
i.Arunabha Gosh will play a key role in facilitating dialogue and ensuring that South Asian voices are
strongly represented and supported at the global climate conference.
ii.The appointed envoys will serve on a voluntary and personal basis, will serve as a key person for the flow
of information and perspectives from the area they represent, enabling faster and more effective
communication.

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iii.Other 9 international envoys are

1. Jacinda Ardern (Oceania), Former Prime Minister(PM) of
New Zealand
2. Patricia Espinosa Cantellano (Latin America and the
Caribbean), Former Executive Secretary of the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change(UNFCCC).
3. Laurence Tubiana (Europe), Chief Executive Officer(CEO)
of the European Climate Foundation and key architect of the Paris Agreement
4. Adnan Amin (Middle East), First Director-General(DG) of the International Renewable Energy
Agency (IRENA)
5. Xie Zhenhua (East Asia), China’s long-serving climate envoy and veteran negotiator
6. Jonathan Pershing (North America), Former United States of America(USA) climate envoy and
current program director at the Hewlett Foundation.
7. Carlos Lopes (Africa), Former Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
8. Denis Minev (Amazonian private sector), Brazilian entrepreneur and sustainability advocate
9. Joaquim Belo (Amazonian civil society), Representative of Amazonian civil society
iv.In addition to these regional envoys, the COP30 Presidency has appointed 20 envoys to represent key
sectors.
About Arunabha Gosh:
i.He is an internationally recognized public policy expert, author, and institution builder. He played a key
role in shaping climate and development policies.
ii.He was instrumental in the creation of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and served as a founding
member of the Clean Energy Access Network (CEAN)
iii.His has held advisory roles in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Trade
Organization (WTO) and World Economic Forum (WEF).
iv.In 2020, the Government of India (GOI) appointed him as Co-Chair of the Energy, Environment and
Climate Change Track for India’s Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2020 (STIP 2020).
v.In 2022, the Asia Society honoured him with the Asia Game Changer Award for his contribution in making
a real difference for India and the planet.
About the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW):
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Arunabha Gosh
Headquarters -New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 2010

BillDesk Co-Founder M N Srinivasu Appointed Chairperson of IAMAI

In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based IndiaIdeas.com Limited (BillDesk) co-founder M N
Srinivasu was appointed as the Chairperson of the Mumbai based Internet and Mobile Association of India
(IAMAI) for the 2025–2027 term, following the governing council elections held in Mumbai.
• He succeeds Harsh Jain, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mumbai based Dream
Sports Private Limited.
Key Appointments at IAMAI:
i.Dr Subho Ray, current President of IAMAI, will serve as the ex-officio member of the council.
ii.Harshil Mathur, Co-founder and CEO of Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Razorpay, was appointed as the
Vice-Chairperson.
iii.Sameer Nigam, Founder and CEO of Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based PhonePe, took over as the Treasurer.
iv.They replace Rajesh Magow, Co-founder of Gurugram (Haryana)-based MakeMyTrip Limited, Satyan

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Gajwani, Vice-Chairperson of Noida (UP)-based Times Internet Limited, , respectively.

Note: The IAMAI is a not-for-profit industry body established in 2004. It was registered under the Societies
Registration Act, 1860.

ONDC Appoints Vibhor Jain as Acting CEO Amid Leadership Transition

In May 2025, the New Delhi (Delhi)-based Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a government-
backed e-commerce platform, announced the appointment of Vibhor Jain as the acting Chief Executive
Officer (CEO). This decision follows the resignation of the current CEO, Thampy Koshy, who is set to step
down on 30 June 2025.
• Vibhor Jain, previously serving as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and a member of the eight-
member Executive Committee, will assume the role with immediate effect, ensuring continuity in
leadership during this transitional phase.
i.As acting CEO, he will oversee executive functions and drive ONDC’s mission to democratize digital
commerce in India.
ii.Prior to joining ONDC, he held leadership roles at JUMO.WORLD, where he established its operations in
India, and served as the CEO of Mobike India, overseeing its service launch.
iii.Earlier, he co-founded Atlanta Healthcare, an air quality solutions firm, and spent over a decade at
Andersen/EY(previously known as Ernst & Young), advising governments across India, the Middle East,
Africa, and Southeast Asia on public policy and digital transformation initiatives.
Note: ONDC was established in 2021 under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
(DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoC&I).

Neeraj Chopra Conferred Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Rank in TA

India’s star javelin thrower and double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra was conferred the Honorary
Rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army (TA). The appointment was officially notified in The
Gazette of India on 13 May 2025 by the Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence
(MoD), recognizing his contributions to sports and national pride.
• Droupadi Murmu, the president of India, conferred the
honorary rank under Para-31 of the Territorial Army
Regulations, 1948, effective 16 April 2025.
About Neeraj Chopra:
Military Career:
i.Neeraj Chopra’s association with the Indian Army (IA) began on
August 26, 2016, when he was enrolled as a Naib Subedar in the 4
Rajputana Rifles.
ii.Following his historic gold medal win at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (India’s first in track and field), he
was promoted to Subedar in 2021.
iii.In 2024, he was elevated to Subedar Major, the highest Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) rank.
Awards and Honors:
i.Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM): Awarded in 2022, recognizing distinguished service of the most
exceptional order in the Indian Armed Forces.
ii.Padma Shri: In 2022 Conferred with India’s fourth-highest civilian award For Outstanding performance
in the field of sports.
iii.Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award: Received in 2021, India’s highest sporting honor.
iv.Arjuna Award: Bestowed in 2018 for outstanding performance in sports.
v.Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM): It’s military award in India, recognizing “distinguished service of a high
order” in 2020

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About the Territorial Army (TA):

i.The Territorial Army (TA), established on 9 October 1949, completed 75 years in 2024.
ii.It functions as a part-time volunteer force that supports the regular Indian Army during emergencies and
actively contributes to nation-building and developmental projects.
Notable Indian Sportspersons in the Territorial Army:
i.Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Cricket), conferred the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in TA in 2011
ii.Abhinav Bindra (Shooting), (Lieutenant Colonel, TA, 2011)
iii.Vijay Kumar Sharma (Shooting), (Honorary Captain, 2012)
iv.Kapil Dev (Cricket), (Lieutenant Colonel, TA, 2008)

LIC Appoints Dinesh Pant, Ratnakar Patnaik as MDs

In May 2025, the Government of India (GoI) approved the appointment of Dinesh Pant and Ratnakar
Patnaik as Managing Directors (MDs) of Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of
India, effective from June 1, 2025.
• Dinesh Pant and Ratnakar Patnaik will replace Jagannath Mukkavilli and Tablesh Pandey, on
their superannuation on 31 May 2025.
i.Dinesh Pant, who is currently the Appointed Actuary & Executive Director (Actuarial) in LIC, will serve as
MD up to the date of his superannuation, May 31, 2027, or until further orders.
ii.Ratnakar Patnaik, who is currently the Executive Director (Investment – Front Office) & Chief Investment
Officer in LIC, will serve as MD up to the date of his superannuation, March 31, 2028, or until further
orders.

Manoj Kumar Jhawar Appointed CMD of PTC India

New Delhi (Delhi) based PTC India Limited (formerly Power Trading Corporation of India Limited), India’s
power trading company, has appointed Dr. Manoj Kumar Jhawar as its new Chairman and Managing
Director (CMD), effective from May 13, 2025.
• The PTC India board of directors approved Dr. Jhawar’s appointment on April 26, 2025, and he
will serve until his superannuation at the age of 60.
i.Dr. Jhawar brings over three decades of experience in the power sector.
ii.He started his career in May 1989 with the Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board (MP) and later held
key roles, including Director (Finance) and Director (Commercial), at Indore (MP) based MP
Paschim Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company Limited.
iii.Before joining PTC India, he was Director (Finance) at Bengaluru (Karnataka) based KIOCL Limited, a
Category-I Mini Ratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Steel (MoS), from May
2023.
iv.He joined PTC India as Whole Time Director (Commercial & Operations) on January 18, 2024, and
held additional charge as CMD from June 13, 2024.

China’s Miao Lijie & Japan’s Yuko Oga Named as Ambassadors for FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025
Chinese basketball legend Miao Lijie and Japanese basketball icon Yuko Oga have been
named ambassadors for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 (31st edition), organised by Mies
(Switzerland)-based Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA), to be held in Shenzhen, China, from
13th to 20th July 2025.
• This marks the first time China will host the event in 10 years, with the last edition held in 2015.
i.Miao Lijie became the only Asian player to win a Women’s National Basketball Association
(WNBA) Championship with the Sacramento Monarchs in 2005.

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• She was the first player to score 6,000 points in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association
(WCBA) and led her team to the 2011 WCBA title.
• Secured three consecutive Asian Games gold medals (2002, 2006, 2010).
• She was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame (HOF) in 2024, becoming the fourth
Chinese honoree after Mou Zuoyun, Zheng Haixia, and Yao Ming.
ii.Yuko Oga represented Japan in seven consecutive FIBA Women’s Asia Cup editions and the 2004 Athens
Olympics.
• She was inducted into the FIBA HOF in 2023, acknowledging her role in advancing women’s
basketball in Asia.

Sudanese Army Appointed Kamil Idris as 16th PM Amid Civil War

In May 2025, Sudan’s military leader and Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, General Abdel-
Fattah al-Burhan appointed Kamil El-Tayeb Idris as the 16th Prime Minister (PM) of the Republic of the
Sudan (Sudan), marking the country’s first PM appointment since January 2022, following the resignation
of PM Abdalla Hamdok amid political unrest and pro-democracy protests.
• General Burhan also re-appointed Salma Abdel
Jabbar Almubarak and Nowara Abo Mohamed Mohamed
Tahir to the Sovereign Council, the executive body
managing state affairs during the transition.
About Kamil El-Tayeb Idris:
i.Kamil Eltayeb Idris is a distinguished Sudanese diplomat, legal
scholar, and international civil servant.
ii.He joined the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in
1982, ascending to Director General(DG) from 1997 to 2008. During his tenure, he also served as Secretary-
General of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV).
iii.He was also a member of the United Nations(UN) International Law Commission(ILC) between 1992–
1996 and 2000–2001.
iv.Additionally, he held various roles within Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2010, he ran as an
independent candidate in Sudan’s presidential elections.
v.He has earned global acclaim for his work in international law and intellectual property, with top honors
including the Order of Oman, Order of the Two Niles(Sudan), Order of the Aztec Eagle (Mexico), and the
Venice IP Award.
vi.His publications focus on intellectual property and international development, notably “A Better United
Nations for the New Millennium” and “Intellectual Property: A Power Tool for Economic Growth.”
Background of Sudan’s Civil War:
i.The war began in April 2023 after a power struggle between the Sudanese Army and a paramilitary group
Rapid Support Forces (RSF),which had jointly led a coup in 2021.
ii.The conflict spread across Sudan, especially beyond Khartoum (Sudan), resulting in one of the world’s
worst humanitarian crises.
About the Republic of the Sudan:
Capital – Khartoum
Currency – Sudanese Pound (SDG)
Continent – Africa

Intelligence Bureau Chief Tapan Kumar Deka Gets 1 Year Extension

In May 2025, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra
Modi has approved a second one-year extension of Counter-terrorism expert, Tapan Kumar Deka as

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the Director, Intelligence Bureau (IB), under the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) for a period of one year
till June 2026.
• With this extension, he becomes the longest-serving IB chief since the tenure was formalized in
2005.
• The extension is in relaxation of the provisions of Fundamental Rules (FR) 56 (d) and Rule 16
(1A) of All India Services (Death Cum Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958.
i.Tapan Kumar Deka, a 1988-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Himachal Pradesh(HP) cadre,
was appointed as the IB Director for two years in June 2022.
ii.He was first appointed as the Director of the IB for a two-year term starting from June 2022. His tenure
was extended by one year in June 2024.
iii.He led the operations wing of the IB for over two decades and played a key role in coordinating
counterassault efforts during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008.

Daniel Noboa Sworn in as the New President of Ecuador

In May 2025, Daniel Noboa, representing the National Democratic Action (ADN) party, was officially sworn
in as the 48th President of the Republic of Ecuador. The inauguration ceremony took place at the National
Assembly in Quito(Ecuador) marking the beginning of his four-year presidential term (2025–2029),
alongside Vice President(VP) María José Pinto.
• The event was attended by international dignitaries, including Colombian President Gustavo
Petro, Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, and United State of America(USA) Health Secretary
Robert Kennedy.
• At 37 years old, he continues as the youngest president in Ecuador’s history. He previously
assumed office in November 2023 following a snap election to complete the remainder of former
President Guillermo Lasso’s term.
About Daniel Noboa:
i.Daniel Roy Gilchrist Noboa Azin was born on November 30, 1987, at
Miami in Florida, USA.
ii.In his 18 years of age, Noboa founded DNA Entertainment Group, an
event organization Group.
iii.Later, he joined his family business, Noboa Corporation, where he
held various positions including Shipping Director and Commercial &
Logistics Director.
iv.In 2021, he embarked on his political career as a member of the National Assembly, tenure lasted till May
2023.
vi.In April 2025, he was re-elected as President defeating Luisa Gonzalez, Citizen Revolution Party.
About Ecuador:
President – Daniel Noboa
Capital – Quito
Currency – United States Dollar(USD)

Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra Becomes Brand Ambassador of Audi India

On May 26, 2025, the renowned Indian athlete and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has been appointed
as the brand ambassador of Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Audi India, marking a collaboration bringing
together two entities powered by performance, precision, and a positive mindset.
• The announcement of the appointment was made by the Mumbai (Maharashtra) based JSW
Sports Private Limited, the sports division of the JSW Group, for which Neeraj Chopra is already
a brand ambassador.

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About Neeraj Chopra:

i.Neeraj Chopra is an Indian track and field athlete specializing in the javelin throw. He has earned
international recognition as one of the most accomplished javelin athletes in history.
ii.In 2016, he set a world Under 20 (U20) record with a throw of 86.48 metres (m) at the International
Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF) World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
iii.He won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games (86.47m) and the Asian Games (88.06m) in 2018.
iv.He won India’s first gold medal in athletics with a throw of 87.58 m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,
becoming the first Indian to win an Olympic gold in athletics and only the second Indian to win an individual
Olympic gold medal after Abhinav Bindra.
v.In 2023, he became the first Asian to win gold in Javelin at the
World Athletics Championships (88.17m), held in Budapest,
Hungary.
vi.He won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics (89.45m), held in
France in 2024.
vii.He achieved a personal best throw of 90.23 m in 2025, breaking
the 90-m barrier and setting a new benchmark for Indian javelin
throwers.
Awards and Honours:
i.He was awarded the Arjuna Award, India’s second highest sporting honour, in 2018.
ii.In 2021, he received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting honor.
iii.In 2021, he was also honoured with the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) by the Indian Army, he holds the rank
of Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army(IA).
• He was inducted into the Rajputana Rifles as a Naib Subedar in 2016, recognizing his potential in
sports.
iv.He was conferred the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award in 2022 in the field of Sports.
Tamannaah Bhatia Appointed As Brand Ambassador for KSDL:
In May 2025, Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), the state-owned manufacturer of the
iconic Mysore Sandal Soap, appointed Bollywood actress Tamannaah Bhatia as its brand ambassador
under a two-year contract worth Rs.6.2 crore.
• This strategic move aims to enhance the brand’s appeal among younger consumers and expand
its market presence beyond Karnataka.
About Audi India:
Head of Operations – Balbir Singh Dhillon
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Founded – 2004

Independent Candidate Nicusor Dan Sworn-in as New President of Romania

In May 2025, independent candidate Nicușor Daniel Dan, a mathematician and former Mayor of Bucharest,
has officially sworn-in as the 7th President of Romania during the joint session of Romanian Parliament in
Bucharest, the capital city of Romania.
• He replaced Centralist Liberal Party
leader Ilie Bolojan, who has been serving interim
President of Romania since February 2025.
• He ran for the presidential election as an independent
candidate and won the election by defeating his
opponent George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the

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Union of Romanians (AUR), with 53.6% of the total votes.

About Nicușor Daniel Dan:
i.Nicușor Daniel Dan is brilliant mathematician, who won two gold medals at the International
Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in 1987 and 1988.
ii.Before starting his political career, he was actively engaged in civic activism and public service work.
iii.In 2012, he contested his 1st election as an independent candidate for the City Hall of Bucharest.
iv.He co-founded the Save Bucharest Union (USB), a political party focused on anti-corruption and
transparency in 2015, which was later, renamed as Save Romania Union (USR).
• In 2016, he was elected to the Romanian Parliament but later resigned from USR in 2017 over
ideological disagreements.
v.He was elected as Mayor of Bucharest in 2020, and was again elected for second term in 2024.
About Romania:
Capital- Bucharest
Currency- Romanian Leu (RON)

Dr. Samir V. Kamat Gets Second Extension as Chairman of DRDO & Secretary of DDR&D
In May 2025, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved a second one-year extension in
service to Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of New Delhi(Delhi) based Department of Defence Research and
Development (DDR&D) and Chairman of New Delhi based Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO). His tenure has been extended from June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, or until further
orders, whichever is earlier, under Fundamental Rule 56(d).
• He was first appointed as Secretary, DDR&D and Chairman, DRDO on 25th August 2022,
succeeding Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy.
About Dr. Samir V. Kamat:
i.Dr. Samir V. Kamat joined DRDO in 1989 and earlier served as Director General(DG), Naval Systems and
Materials.
ii.He is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and the Institution of Engineers
(India) (IEI).
iii.He received several awards, including:
• In 2018, Distinguished Alumni Award by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, West
Bengal(WB).
• In 2008, Metallurgist of the Year Award from Ministry of Steel(MoS), Government of India(GoI).
• In 2012, He received Scientist of the Year Award from DRDO.

Citigroup Appoints Prashant Thakker as Head of Corporate Bank for South and Southeast Asia
On May 26, 2025, New York, United States of America (USA)-based Citigroup Inc., a leading multinational
investment bank and financial services corporation, appointed Prashant Thakker as the Head of
its corporate bank for South- and Southeast Asia, effective immediately.
• He currently leads Citi’s Capital Management for Japan, Asia North, Australia, and Asia South.
i.Thakker will be based in Singapore to oversee business strategy, financial performance, talent
development, and execution across Citi’s corporate banking sectors.
ii.This includes local corporate, financial institution, public sector, and global network banking businesses in
the Asia South markets, comprising India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
iii.He will report to Jason Rekate and John Chirico, both Citi’s Global Co-Heads of Corporate Banking, and
Amol Gupte, Citi’s Head of Asia South.

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Anil Kumble Appointed as Forest and Wildlife Ambassador of Karnataka

On May 27, 2025, Former Cricketer Anil Kumble has been appointed as the brand ambassador for
the Karnataka Forest and Wildlife Department, to create awareness among the public about forest
conservation, forest development, tree preservation, and wildlife conservation.
• The announcement was made by Eshwar B Khandre,
Minister of Forest, Ecology and Environment of Karnataka.
• He previously served as the Vice-President of the
Karnataka Wildlife Board.
Note: In the years 2023-24 and 2024-25, a total of 1,20,975 hectares
of plantations, 25 new arboretums, and 35 forests have been
developed in Karnataka
About Anil Kumble:
i.He is a former Indian cricketer renowned for his exceptional leg-spin bowling.
• In 1990, he made his international debut for One Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka and
for Test against England.
ii.Over an illustrious 18-year international career, he represented India in 132 Test matches and 271 One
Day Internationals (ODIs), amassing 619 and 337 wickets, respectively.
iii.In 1999, he made a history by taking all 10 wickets in a test innings against Pakistan in Delhi, joining
alongside Jim Laker, England Bowler.
iv.He was appointed the head coach of the Indian National cricket team in 2016.
Awards and Honours:
i.He was awarded the Arjuna award, the second highest sporting honour in India in 1995.
ii.He was named Wisden Cricketer of the year in 1996.
iii.He was conferred the Padma Shri award, the fourth-highest civilian award in the field of sports, in 2005.
iv.His name was inducted in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Wall of Fame in 2015.
Dettol Appoints MS Dhoni as its Brand Ambassador
In May 2025, Gurugram (Haryana) based Dettol India, germ protection brand, has appointed renowned
former cricket player Mahendra Singh (MS) Dhoni as its brand ambassador for its Dettol Soaps, Bodywash
and Handwash range.
About MS Dhoni:
i.MS Dhoni made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2004 and Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2005.
ii.He led the Indian cricket team in Twenty-20 (T20) format and clinched the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup
in 2007, the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011, and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013.
• He is the only captain in history to have won all three major ICC trophies.
iii.He retired from Test cricket in 2014 and from all international formats in 2020.
iv.Currently, he has been playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the franchise, Chennai Super Kings
(CSK).
Awards and Honours:
i.He was conferred the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award(formerly Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award),
India’s highest sporting honour, in 2007.
ii.In 2009, he received the Padma Shri Award, the fourth-highest civilian award, and Padma
Bhushan Award, third-highest civilian award in 2018 in the field of sports.
iii.He was named as the ICC ODI Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009.
About Karnataka:
Chief Minister (CM) – Siddaramaiah
Governor – Thawar Chand Ghelot

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Capital – Bengaluru
National Parks (NP) – Bandipur NP, Bannerghatta NP

Prashant Tripathy Steps Down as Axis Max Life Insurance MD & CEO
In May 2025, Prashant Tripathy, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of New Delhi
(Delhi) based Axis Max Life Insurance Limited (formerly Max Life Insurance Company Ltd), announced his
decision to retire early, effective September 30, 2025. His tenure was originally scheduled until December
2028.
• The Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC) and Board of Directors of Axis Max Life
Insurance approved Prashant Tripathy’s proposal during meetings held on May 28, 2025
i.Prashant Tripathy joined Axis Max Life Insurance in 2007 as Head of Strategy and was appointed MD &
CEO in January 2019. During his leadership, Axis Max Life Insurance achieved significant milestones:
ii.Prior to this, he was associated with New York, United States of America (USA)-based Genpact, a global
professional services and business consulting company.
iii.He also served as the Head of Financial Planning and Analysis at General Electric Commercial Finance
(GECF), a division of GE Capital, United Kingdom (UK).
Note: Axis Max Life Insurance is a joint venture(JV) between Max Financial Services and Axis Bank.

IndiGo Appoints Vikram Singh Mehta as New Chairman

In May 2025, Gurgaon (Haryana)-based InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo), India’s largest airline,
appointed Vikram Singh Mehta as the new Chairman of its Board. He has been associated with InterGlobe
Aviation as a board member since May 2022.
• He replaced Venkataramani Sumantran, who had held the position since May 2022 and stepped
down in May 2025 upon completion of his five-year tenure as a board member.
About Vikram Singh Mehta:
i.He began his professional journey with the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1978.
ii.He has served as the Chairman of the Shell Group of Companies in India (1994-2012) and as the Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of Shell Markets and Shell Chemicals, Egypt.
iii.He has also held positions on the boards of major companies, including Colgate Palmolive (India)
Limited, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited (M&M), and Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T).
iv.He currently serves as Chairman of the public policy think tank, Centre for Social and Economic Progress,
and previously held roles as Executive Chairman of Brookings India and Senior Fellow at the Brookings
Institution.
v.He has been recognized with awards such as the ‘Businessman of the Year’ by Asia House in 2010 and the
‘Best Independent Director’ in India by Asia Centre for Corporate Governance and Sustainability in 2016.

Raman Aggarwal Assumes Charge as CEO of FIDC

In May 2025, the Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC), the apex
representative body for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) in India, has appointed Raman
Aggarwal as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
• Raman Aggarwal, as a CEO, will be responsible for driving FIDC’s mission to strengthen the NBFC
sector through policy representation, industry dialogue, and collaborative platforms.
i.As a long-serving board member and former head of the Professional Development committee of FIDC,
Raman Aggarwal has been instrumental in shaping the council’s policy advocacy, professional development
strategies, and institutional engagement.
ii.He has worked as advisor in Shriram Transport Finance Limited, Independent Director in Pasialo Digital

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Limited, Consultant in World Bank and Nomura Research Institute Consulting & Solutions India Private
Limited.
iii.He has also worked as Chairman of the National Council on NBFCs and member of the Managing
Committee at Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India(ASSOCHAM).
Note: The FIDC, registered with the Reserve Bank of India(RBI), was established in 2004.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

AIFF Awards 2024-25: Subhasish Bose, Soumya Guguloth Named Footballer of the Year
In May 2025, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced the winners of AIFF annual awards 2024-
25 during the award ceremony held at Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) Defender from West Bengal (WB), Subhasish Bose was named
the AIFF Men’s Footballer of the year for 2024-25. He became the 1st player from WB to win
this title since Nabi (2012).
• While, East Bengal Football Club (FC) forward player from Odisha, Soumya Guguloth was named
the AIFF Women’s Footballer of the Year for 2024-25. With this, she became the 1st player
from Telangana to win AIFF Women’s Player of the Year title.
Key Dignitaries:
Kalyan Chaubey, President of AIFF; Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy
Chief Minister (Dy CM) of Odisha; Tankadhar Tripathy, President of
Football Association of Odisha, among others were present during the
event.
About Subhasish Bose:
i.Subhasish Bose who captained MBSG, played a significant role in
guiding his club to both the Indian Super League (ISL) League Shield
and the ISL Championship title in the 2024-25 season. He also helped MBSG with 12 out of 14 clean sheets in
their record-breaking season.
ii.He became only the 7th defender to win the AIFF Men’s Player of the Year title after Sandesh Jhingan
(2021), Syed Rahim Nabi (2012), Gouramangi Singh (2010), Surkumar Singh (2006), Deepak Mondal (2002)
and VP Sathyan (1995).
About Soumya Guguloth:
i.Soumya Guguloth emerged as a standout performer in the 2024–25 Indian Women’s League (IWL), netting
9 goals for East Bengal FC. Her impressive tally made her the third-highest scorer of the season and the top
Indian goal-scorer in the league.
ii.She also scored the decisive goal in East Bengal’s 1–0 victory over Odisha FC in April 2025, clinching the
club’s maiden IWL title.
Highlights of AIFF Awards 2024-25:
i.Brison Deuben Fernandes, midfielder of FC Goa was awarded the AIFF Promising Men’s Player of the
Year for 2024-25. He had a breakthrough season for FC Goa, scoring 7 goals and providing 2 assists in the
ISL.
• He was named the ‘Emerging Player’ of ISL season for 2024-25.
ii.Toijam Thoibisana Chanu, became the 1st centre-back ever to win AIFF Promising Women’s Player of
the Year Award for 2024-25. She commanded the Sribhumi FC backline as they finished at 3rd position in
the IWL as a newly-promoted side.
• He made her senior India debut in December 2024 against Maldives.

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iii.Elangbam Panthoi was awarded the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year Award. Earlier, she won the
Promising Women’s Player Award in 2017, represented India at 5 matches in last year.
iv.Vishal Kaith of MBSG was awarded the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year Award following a historic and
record-breaking campaign between the sticks for MBSG.
v.Khalid Jamil, Jamshedpur FC head coach was awarded the AIFF Men’s Coach of the Year for 2nd
consecutive time. He led the Red Miners team to the semi-finals of the Kalinga Super Cup final.
vi.Sujata Kar, who guided newly-promoted Sribumi FC to secure 3rd position in IWL (2024-25),
was named as the AIFF Women’s Coach of the Year.
vii.Ramachandran Venkatesh who has been an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Elite Referee since
2022, was awarded the AIFF male Referee of the Year title for second consecutive time.
• So far, he has officiated 17 matches in the ISL 2024-25 and has also officiated international
matches in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, AFC U17 Asian Cup 2024, among others.
viii.Tekcham Ranjita Devi, who has been working as a International Federation of Association Football
(FIFA) International Referee for last 7 years, was awarded the AIFF Female Referee of the Year title.
• Other than officiating in national-level tournaments like: the IWL and Rajmata Jijabai Trophy for
Senior Women’s NFC, she refereed internationally in the AFC U-20 Women’s Asia Cup 2024 and
FIFA Friendlies in Nepal.
ix.Vairamuthi P was honoured with the AIFF Male Assistant Referee of the Year. He has officiated total 25
matches in the ISL for 2024-25 season. At international level, he has officiated matches in the AFC Asian Cup
Qualifiers, AFC U17 Asian Cup 2024, AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifiers, and AFC Challenge League 2024-25.
x.Riiohlang Dhar was honoured with the AIFF Female Assistant Referee of the Year for 2024-25. She
scripted history by officiating at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.
• She had also officiated matches at AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup 2024 held in Indonesia.
List of Winners of AIFF Awards 2024-25:

AIFF Awards 2024-25 Name of the Winners

AIFF Men’s Footballer of the Year Subhasish Bose

AIFF Women’s Footballer of the Year Soumya Guguloth

AIFF Promising Men’s Player of the Year Brison Fernandes

AIFF Promising Women’s Player of the

Toijam Thoibisana Chanu
Year

AIFF Best Men’s Goalkeeper Vishal Kaith

AIFF Best Women’s Goalkeeper Elangbam Panthoi Chanu

AIFF Men’s Coach of the Year Khalid Jamil

AIFF Women’s Coach of the Year Sujata Kar

AIFF Male Referee of the Year Venkatesh R

AIFF Female Referee of the Year Tekcham Ranjita Devi

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AIFF Male Assistant Referee of the Year Vairamuthu P

AIFF Female Assistant Referee of the

Riiohlang Dhar
Year

President’s Special Honour for Coaching

Ranjan Chowdhury
Excellence
Winners of Others Categories:

Category Name of the Football Association

Most Successful Member Association (MA) (Club

Indian Football Association (WB)
Competitions)

All Manipur Football Association and Indian

Most Successful MA (NFC Competitions)
Football Association (WB)

Assam Football Association, Indian Football

Best MA for hosting most AIFF competitions Association (WB) and Karnataka State
Football Association

Western India Football Association

MA with most player registrations (men’s)
(Maharashtra)

Western India Football Association

MA with most player registrations (women’s)
(Maharashtra)

Kerala Football Association and Nagaland

Special Award for MA launching new projects
Football Association

Western India Football Association

MA with most Grassroots activities
(Maharashtra)

MA with most Youth tournaments conducted Karnataka State Football Association

MA with most Coaching courses Punjab Football Association

MA with most Refereeing Courses Kerala Football Association

About All India Football Federation (AIFF):
It is the apex governing body of football in India.
President- Kalyan Chaubey
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Founded- 1937

Kerala’s Kozhikode Gets WHO Recognition as Age-Friendly City

In May 2025, Kozhikode city in Kerala has officially become the member of World Health Organisation
(WHO)’s Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities (GNAFCC).

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• With such recognition, Kozhikode joins a group of cities that frame policies, provide services, and
develop infrastructure aimed at supporting elderly people like: helping them remain healthy,
active and creative in old age.
• Now, Kozhikode has become the 2nd Indian city, after Kochi (Kerala) (2024) and 2nd city in
WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR) after Wellawaya in Sri Lanka, to join the WHO GNAFCC.
Note: This marks Kozhikode’s second international honor after the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) 2023 recognition as a UNESCO City of Literature,
reinforcing its commitment to progressive urban planning.
Key Factors Behind Recognition:
Kozhikode Corporation implemented several age-friendly policies, including the establishment of daycare
centres, safe spaces for elderly engagement, and seminars tailored to senior citizens.
Impact and Benefits: As a member of the WHO GNAFCC, Kozhikode Corporation will now access global
best practices and guidance to enhance elderly-friendly infrastructure, fostering an inclusive urban
environment.
About WHO GNAFCC:
i.It was established in 2010, aimed to connect cities, communities and organisations across the world with
common vision of making their community a great place to grow old in.
ii.The network aims to achieve its goal of age-friendly cities worldwide by:
• Inspiring change by demonstrating what can be done and how it can be done;
• Connecting cities and communities across the world to provide the exchange of information,
knowledge and experience;
• Supporting cities and communities to find innovative and evidence-based innovative and
evidence-based solutions.
iii.The network is coordinated by the Department of Social Determinants of Health (SDH) at WHO
headquarters, with administrative support from Toronto (Canada)-based International Federation on
Ageing (IFA).
iv.At present, WHO GNAFCC includes 1,705 cities and communities in 60 countries covering more than 330
people across the world.
About World Health Organisation (WHO):
Director General (DG) – Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Established –7th April, 1948

Pulitzer Prize 2025: NYT wins 4, Reuters wins for US Fentanyl Investigation
In May 2025, The Pulitzer Prize Board announced the winners of 109th Pulitzer Prize (2025), honoring
outstanding works produced in the 2024 calendar year across categories including Journalism, Books,
Drama and Music, and Special Citations.
• This year, The New York Times (NYT) won 4 awards in
different categories of Pulitzer Prize. With this, NYT
increased its total Pulitzer prizes to 139, a record high
since the awards started in year 1917.
• It is followed by the New Yorker magazine which secured
3 awards in categories like: commentary, feature
photography and audio reporting, mainly in recognition of
their coverage of overseas wars.

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Key Highlights:
i.Renowned American Photographer Doug Mills (NYT) won in the category of ‘Breaking News Photography’
for capturing the attempted assassination of then- the United States of America (USA)Presidential candidate
Donald Trump on July 13, 2024 in Pennsylvania (USA).
• Also, the NYT won in the category of ‘Local Reporting’ for its own coverage of the fentanyl crisis in
partnership with the non-profit organisation Baltimore Banner.
ii.The staff of Toronto (Canada)-based Reuters won 2025 Pulitzer Prize in ‘investigative
reporting’ category for its 7-part series named ‘Fentanyl Express’ that penetrated the international trade in
the chemicals used to make fentanyl, the drug that has killed some 450,000 Americans.
• This marks the 13th Pulitzer Prize for Reuters, all since 2008.
iii.ProPublica won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism in the Public Service category.
• ProPublica’s journalists Kavitha Surana, Lizzie Presser, Cassandra Jaramillo, and Stacy Kranitz
were recognised for their groundbreaking report on pregnant women who died after doctors
delayed their care out of fear of violating stringent abortion laws in certain states of USA.
v.The Wall Street Journal won 2025 Pulitzer Prize in ‘national reporting’ category for its examination of
the political and personal shifts of Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tesla and SpaceX.
vi.This year, the Pulitzer Board awarded a special citation to Charles Summer ‘Chuck’ Stone
Jr. (Posthumously), former journalism professor at the University of North Carolina (UNC) in USA, in
recognition of his outstanding work as a journalist covering the Civil Rights Movement, his pioneering role
as the 1st Black Columnist at the Philadelphia Daily News.
About The Pulitzer Prize:
i.Pulitzer Prize is the highest national honor in USA in the field of journalism, literature, and music
composition.
ii.The Pulitzer Prize was established by Joseph Pulitzer, a Hungarian-American journalist and newspaper
publisher.
• It is administered by Columbia University, New York (USA) and the Pulitzer Prize Board.
Categories:
i.Currently, Pulitzer Prize is presented in 24 categories which are broadly classified as: Journalism (15),
Letters, Drama and Music (8), and Special Citation (1).
ii.Each Pulitzer Prize winner receives a certificate and a prize money of USD 15,000, while the winner
in the ‘Public Service’ category is awarded a gold medal.
Eligibility:
i.Only American citizens are eligible to apply for the Pulitzer Prize in Books, Drama and Music.
• Except for History category, the book must be about history of USA but the author may be of any
nationality.
ii.In Journalism category, entrants may be of any nationality but their work must have appeared in U.S.
newspaper, magazine or news site that publishes regularly.
Winners of 2025 Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism

Category Winners

ProPublica for the work of Kavitha Surana, Lizzie Presser, Cassandra

Public Service
Jaramillo and Stacy Kranitz

Breaking News
Staff of The Washington Post
Reporting

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Investigative
Staff of Reuters
Reporting

Explanatory Azam Ahmed and Christina Goldbaum of NYT and Matthieu Aikins
Reporting (contributing writer)

Alissa Zhu, Nick Thieme and Jessica Gallagher of the Baltimore and The
Local Reporting
New York Times (NYT)

National Reporting Staff of The Wall Street Journal

International
Declan Walsh and the Staff of the NYT
Reporting

Feature Writing Mark Warren (contributor), Esquire

Commentary Mosab Abu Toha (contributor), The New Yorker

Criticism Alexandra Lange (contributing writer), Bloomberg City Lab

Raj Makand, Sharon Steinmann, Lisa Falkenberg and Lean Binkovitz of

Editorial Writing
The Houston Chronicle

Illustrated Reporting
Ann Telnaes of The Washington Post
and Commentary

Breaking News
Doug Mills of The NYT
Photography

Feature Photography Moises Saman (contributor), The New Yorker

Audio Reporting Staffs of The New Yorker

Winners of 2025 Pulitzer Prize – Books, Drama and Music

Category Winner

Fiction James, by Percival Everett (Doubleday)

Drama Purpose, by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Native Nations: A Millennium in North America by Kathleen Du Val

(Random House)
History
Combee: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom
During the Civil War by Edda L. Fields-Black (Oxford University Press)

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Every Living Thing: The Great and Deadly Race to Know All Life by Jason
Biography
Roberts (Random House)

Memoir
Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir by Tessa Hulls (MCD)
(Autobiography)

Poetry New and Selected Poems by Marie Howe (W.W. Norton & Company)

To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause: The Many Lives of the Soviet
General Nonfiction
Dissident Movement by Benjamin Nathans (Princeton University Press)

Music Sky Islands by Susie Ibarra

2025 Pulitzer- Special Citations

Category Winner

Special Awards and

Chuck Stone (Posthumously)
Citations

Renowned Entrepreneur-Social Activist Dr. Mustafa Yusufali Gom Conferred the International
Buddha Peace Award 2025
In May 2025, Renowned social worker and entrepreneur from Mumbai (Maharashtra), Dr.
Mustafa Yusufali Gom was conferred with the International Buddha Peace Award 2025 by Lakshman
Prasad Acharya, Governor of Assam during a grand ceremony organised by Maitri Peace Foundation in
Guwahati, Assam.
• Dr. Mustafa Yusufali Gom, Managing Director(MD of Care
Takers Exterior and Interior Private Limited, received this
award in recognition of his exceptional social activism and
leadership in the building repairs and restoration industry.
• Other than Dr. Mustafa Yusufali Gom, eminent structural
engineer Dr. Munir Khan, founder of Avon Consulting
Engineers was also bestowed with the award in recognition
of his outstanding contributions to social initiatives
promoting sustainable development and community welfare.
About Dr. Mustafa Yusufali Gom:
i.He is the Managing Director (MD) of Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Care Takers Exterior and Interior
Private Limited.
ii.In February 2025, he was honored with the Public Service Award by Governor of Himachal Pradesh (HP)
during a ceremony at the Creator and Business Excellence Awards 2025.
iii.He has previously received several honors for his social work, including the Bharat Ratna Dr. B. R.
Ambedkar Award and recognition from the governors of Maharashtra and Telangana.
About Dr. Munir Khan:
i.During his long-career as structural engineer, Dr. Munir Khan has spearheaded more than 1,500 structural
audits and the restoration of over 300 buildings.
ii.Some of his noted projects were undertaken across various cities of Maharashtra like: Mumbai, Thane,
Navi Mumbai, Mira Bhayandar, among others.

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iii.In September 2024, he was honoured with the International Buddha Peace Award from Jishnu Dev
Varma, Governor of Telangana.
• He was also awarded with the Bharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar Award by C.P. Radhakrishnan,
Governor of Maharashtra in October 2024.
About International Buddha Peace Award:
i.The award was established in 2009, organised annually by Maitri Peace Foundation, a non-government
voluntry organisation.
ii.The award recognizes the individuals who have made extraordinary efforts to promote peace both inside
or outside of their communities.
iii.Dr. Rashmi Saluja, Chairperson of the Global Trade & Technology Council of Indi (GTTCI) was among the
key recipients of the award in year 2024.

Union Minister L Murugan Conferred 10th National Community Radio Awards in Mumbai
On May 3,2025, Union Minister of State (MoS) Dr. L Murugan, Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting (MoI&B), honoured 12 outstanding Community Radio Stations (CRS), with 10th National
Community Radio Awards, at the 8th National Community Radio Conference at Jio World Convention
Centre in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The event was organized by the MoI&B and Indian Institute
of Mass Communication (IIMC), on the sidelines of World
Audio-Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025.
• The conference brought together representatives from
more than 400 CRS across the country on one platform to
provide an opportunity for dialogue and collaboration.
Note: As of April 2025, a total of 531 community radio stations are
operational across India.
Key People:
Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, MoI&B; Prithul Kumar, Joint Secretary, MoI&B and Managing Director (MD), National
Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) and Anupama Bhatnagar, Vice Chancellor, IIMC.
10th National Community Radio Station Awards:
The 10th National Community Radio Station Awards consists of 12 awards under 4 categories such as
Thematic awards, Most Innovative Community Engagement Awards, Promoting Local Culture Awards and
Sustainability Model Awards.
• These prestigious awards recognize the Outstanding CRS from various states across Bihar,
Maharashtra, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu(TN), Odisha, Uttarakhand and Karnataka.
Winners of 10th National Community Radio Awards:
i.Category: Thematic Award:

Prize Name of the Radio Station Name of the Programme

1st Prize Radio Mayur, Mayur Kala Kendra, Bihar Tech Sakhi

2nd Prize Radio Kochi, St. Teresa’s College, Kerala Nirangal

Hello Doon, National Institute for the

3rd Prize Empowerment of Persons with Visual Meri Baat
Disabilities(NIEPVD), Uttarakhand

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ii.Category: Most Innovative Community Engagement Award

Prize Name of the Radio Station Name of the Programme

Yerlawani Sangli, Yerala Projects Society,

1st Prize Kahani sunandachi
Maharashtra

2nd Prize Vaylaga Vanoli, Madurai, Tamil Nadu (TN) Let’s Build a new Norm

Salaam Namaste, Institute of Management

3rd Prize Maid Didi
Studies(IMS), Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP)
iii.Category: Promoting Local Culture Award:

Prize Name of the Radio Station Name of the Programme

Radio Brahmputra, Centre for Northeast

1st Prize Studies and Policy Research (C- NES), Igarekun
Dibrugarh, Assam

Radio Kotagiri, Keystone Foundation, Tamil

2nd Prize En Makkaludan Oru Payanam
Nadu (TN)

3rd Prize Radio Active, LOKHIT Bhagalpur, Bihar Ang Pradesh ki Adbhut Dharohar
iv.Category: Sustainability Model

Prize Name of the Radio Station Name of the Organisation

1st Prize Radio Benziger Kollam, Kerala Bishop Benziger Hospital Society

2nd Prize Radio Namaskar, Konark, Odisha Young India

3rd Prize Radio Antarwani, Gulbarga, Karnataka Sharanbasbeswara Vidya Vardhak Sangh
About National Community Radio Awards:
i.The MoI&B instituted the National Community Radio Awards in 2011–2012 with the objective of
encouraging innovation and fostering healthy competition among Community Radio Stations (CRSs) across
India.
ii.The National Community Radio Awards are given to CRS who have done exemplary work in the field of
Community Radio Broadcasting through Community Centric Programmes.
iii.Cash Prize:
• First Prize – Rs. 1 lakh
• Second Prize – Rs. 75,000
• Third Prize – Rs.50,000
About Community Radio Stations (CRSs) :
Community Radio is an important 3rd tier in Radio Broadcasting, distinct from Public Service Radio
Broadcasting and Commercial Radio.

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• CSRs are low power radio stations, which are meant to be set-up and operated by community-
based organisations.
About Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoI&B):
Union Minister – Ashwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha – Odisha)
Minister of State (MoS) – Dr. L. Murugan (Rajya Sabha – Madhya Pradesh, MP)

Bhuwan Ribhu Becomes 1st Indian Lawyer to Receive WJA ‘Medal of Honour’
In May 2025, Bhuwan Ribhu, a renowned Indian child rights lawyer and activist, was conferred the ‘Medal
of Honour’ by the World Jurist Association (WJA), becoming the first Indian lawyer to receive this
recognition. He was awarded this honor during the World Law Congress(WLC) 2025 held from May 4 to 6,
2025 in the Dominican Republic, a country in North America (NA).
• The Medal of Honour, an esteemed award presented by the WJA, recognised Bhuwan Ribhu’s two-
decade-long legal efforts in protecting children from child marriage, trafficking, sexual abuse, and
forced labour, for his outstanding contributions to justice and human rights.
• He received the award jointly from Eddy Olivares Ortega,
Minister of Labour, Dominican Republic,
and Javier Cremades, President of WJA.
Note: The WJA has previously recognized several iconic global legal
figures, including Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, Ruth Bader
Ginsburg, and René Cassin.
About Bhuwan Ribhu:
Bhuwan Ribhu’s journey into child rights advocacy began in 2005
when he filed his first Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Delhi High Court(HC) after witnessing lapses
during a child rescue operation.
• He holds the position of Trustee at the World Law Foundation(WLF), reinforcing his dedication
to advancing the rule of law and ensuring justice for children across the globe.
i.Legal Interventions: Filed 60 Public Interest Litigations (PILs) in the Supreme Court (SC) of India and
various High Courts (HC).
ii.Influenced landmark rulings including:
• Adoption of the United Nations (UN) Protocol’s definition of trafficking.
• Mandatory First Information Reports (FIRs) for missing children.
• Ban on child labour in hazardous sectors.
iii.Policy Reforms: Instrumental in shaping India’s laws against child marriage, labour, and sexual abuse.
His proposals were included in the Justice Verma Committee (JVC) post the Nirbhaya case (2012).
iv.Global Impact: Founded Just Rights for Children (JRC), the world’s largest legal intervention network for
child protection, uniting over 250 organisations across India, Nepal, Kenya, and the United States of America
(USA).
v.Child Marriage Free India: Spearheads India’s largest civil campaign against child marriage, aiming to
eliminate it by 2030 through his PICKET(Policy, Institutions, Capacity-building, Knowledge, Economics, and
Technology) strategy, which strengthens legal systems and community actions to ensure a safer future for
children.
About World Law Congress (WLC):
WLC, organised by the WLF, is a global event held every two years by the World Jurist Association (WJA),
where over 2,000 legal and global leaders such as judges, lawyers, academics, and officials come together to
discuss important legal topics like human rights, justice, and the Rule of Law to support freedom and
development around the world.

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About World Jurist Association (WJA):

President – Javier Cremades (Spain)
Headquarters – Washington D.C., the United States of America (USA)
Established – 1963

CWRDM’s Water Heritage Museum added to the WAMU-NET list

In May 2025, The Water Heritage Museum operated by the Centre for Water Resources Development and
Management (CWRDM) in Kozhikode, Kerala has been included in the list of Global Network of Water
Museums (WAMU-NET), a flagship initiative under United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO)’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP).
• The Water Heritage Museum is the third in India to be
added to the list, after JAL Water Museum in Udaipur
(Rajasthan) and Living Water Museum in
Pune (Maharashtra), marking a significant milestone in
highlighting Kerala’s rich water heritage on a global
platform.
• The global network aims to promote awareness of
cultural significance of water and foster community
participation in sustainable water management.
Key Highlights:
i.The Museum showcases Kerala’s indigenous water traditions and practices through a variety of
thoughtfully curated exhibits.
ii.It also features a medicinal plant garden, star garden, and a butterfly garden.
iii.It also has a climate change lab and galleries showcasing research achievements of the CWRDM, which
further enhances its educational value.
Note: WAMU-NET is an initiative of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP). It
recognizes museums and institutions that preserve water-related heritage and contribute to sustainable
water management practices.
About United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director General – Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters – Paris, France
Founded – 16 November 1945

Brazilian Microbiologist Mariangela Hungria Wins 2025 World Food Prize

On May 13, 2025, the World Food Prize Foundation, based in Des Moines, Iowa (United States of America,
USA), named Brazilian Microbiologist Dr. Mariangela Hungria as the winner of the 2025 World Food
Prize.
• The award honors Dr. Hungria’s groundbreaking work in
developing biological alternatives to chemical
fertilizers, significantly enhancing sustainable agriculture
practices in Brazil and beyond.
• She will officially receive the award at the World Food
Prize Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium
scheduled for October 2025 in Des Moines and a monetary
prize of USD 500,000.
Note: The World Food Prize Foundation announced the award in Des Moines, for the first time in 25 years,
instead of the usual venue inWashington, D.C. (USA).

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About Dr. Mariangela Hungria:

i.Dr. Hungria has dedicated over 40 years to research at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation
(EMBRAPA) in Brasilia (Brazil), focusing on soil microbiology and plant nutrition.
ii.She developed biological seed/soil treatments using nitrogen-fixing bacteria to replace synthetic
fertilizers.
iii.Her work helped Brazil raise soybean production from about 15 Million Metric Tons (MMT) in the 1980s
to over 170 MMT today, making it the world’s top producer and exporter.
iv.She also developed biological solutions using Azospirillum brasilense bacteria to increase root growth
in crops like corn, helping them reach deeper for water and nutrients.
v.She is the 10th woman to be honoured with the World Food Prize.
About World Food Prize:
i.The World Food Prize is an international accolade honoring individuals who have made exceptional
contributions to improving food quality, quantity, and accessibility worldwide.
ii.Established in 1986 by Dr. Norman Borlaug, the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and “Father of the Green
Revolution”.
iii.Often termed the “Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture”, it is awarded annually by the World Food
Prize Foundation.
iv.It is held annually in October on or around World Food Day (October 16).World Food Prize laureates are
honored with a USD 500,000 monetary award, a diploma, and a commemorative sculpture designed by
renowned artist Saul Bass.
v.As of 2025, the World Food Prize has been awarded to 56 individuals since its inception in 1987.
• In 1987, Dr. Mankombu Sambasivan (M.S.) Swaminathan, an Indian geneticist was the first
recipient of the World Food Prize.
vi.Other Indian laureates include Dr. Verghese Kurien, known as the “Milkman of India,” who was honored
in 1989 for his work on Operation Flood, Gurdev Khush received the award in 1996, Dr. Surinder K. Vasal
was honored in 2000,Dr. Sanjaya Rajaram awarded in 2014 and Dr. Rattan Lal, who received recognition in
2020.
vii.The 2024 World Food Prize was awarded to Dr. Cary Fowler of the United States of America(USA) and
Dr. Geoffrey Hawtin of the United Kingdom(UK) and Canada.
About World Food Prize Foundation:
Chairman – Paul Schickler
Headquarters – Des Moines, Iowa (United States of America, USA)
Founded – 1986

Forbes 2025 Highest-Paid Athletes: Cristiano Ronaldo Tops with USD 275 Million Earnings
In May 2025, Forbes released the 2025 list of the world’s highest-paid athletes with Portuguese soccer
player Cristiano Ronaldo securing the top position for the third consecutive year and fifth overall, total
earning of USD 275 million between May 2024 and May 2025.
• Cristiano Ronaldo earned an estimated USD 225 million
from on-field activities, primarily through his contract
with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, while his off-field
earnings, including endorsements, business ventures, and
social media partnerships,amounted to approximately
USD 50 million.
• The United States of America (USA)-based basketball
player Stephen Curry ranked second on the list with

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total earnings of USD 156 million, while United Kingdom (UK)-based boxer Tyson Fury secured
the third position with total earnings of USD 146 million.
Note: The total earnings of the top 50 highest-paid athletes in 2025 reached a record high of USD 4.23
billion, marking a significant increase from USD 3.88 billion in 2024.
Highlights of Forbes 2025 Highest-Paid Athletes List:
Methodology:
i.Forbes calculated earnings from May 1, 2024, to May 1, 2025, using data from industry insiders, salary
databases (e.g., Capology, Spotrac), and exchange rate conversions.
ii.On-field earnings include salaries, bonuses, prize money, and club-based image rights agreements (for
footballers).
iii.Off-field earnings cover sponsorship deals, appearance fees, memorabilia, licensing income, and cash
returns from businesses where athletes hold significant stakes.
Key Highlights:
i.As per Forbes, the combined earnings of the top 10 highest-paid athletes in 2025 reached USD 1.4
billion, showing a slight increase from USD 1.38 billion recorded in 2024.
• This is the highest total earnings recorded by the top 10 since Forbes began ranking athlete
income in 1990.
ii.LeBron James (USA) secured the 6th position with total earnings of USD 133.8 million, followed by Juan
Soto (Dominican Republic) at 7th with USD 114 million. Karim Benzema (France) ranked 8th with USD 104
million, while Shohei Ohtani (Japan) stood at 9th with USD 102.5 million, and Kevin Durant (USA) completed
the top 10 with USD 101.4 million.
iii.UK based Formula one (F1) racer Lewis Hamilton secured 22 position with earnings of USD 80 million,
while Netherlands based F1 racer Max Verstappen ranked 24th with USD 78 million in earnings.
iv.For the first time since 2019, no female athletes were featured in Forbes’ 2025 list of the top 50 highest-
paid athletes. American tennis player Coco Gauff narrowly missed the cutoff, falling short by USD 19.2
million.
• No Indian athletes were present in the top 50 list for this year.
v.Among the top 50 highest-paid athletes in 2025, the USA leads with 29 athletes featured, the highest
representation from any country.
Top 5 Highest-Paid Athletes in 2025:
On-Field Off-Field
Total Earnings Earnings Earnings
Rank Name Sport Nationality (USD/Million) (USD/Million) (USD/Million)
Cristiano
1 Ronaldo Soccer Portugal 275 225 50
Stephen United States of
2 Curry Basketball America (USA) 156 56 100
United Kingdom
3 Tyson Fury Boxing (UK) 146 140 6
Dak
4 Prescott Football USA 137 127 10
Lionel
5 Messi Soccer Argentina 135 60 75

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About Forbes:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Sherry Phillips
Headquarters – New Jersey, The United States of America (USA)
Founded – 1917

President Draupadi Murmu Presents 58th Jnanpith Award to Gulzar & Ramabhadracharya
On 16 May 2025, President Draupadi Murmu conferred the 58th Jnanpith Award on Sanskrit
Scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya for Sanskrit at an event held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi.
• Another awardee, renowned Indian Urdu poet and
lyricist Sampooran Singh Kalra, popularly known as
Gulzar, was honoured for his contribution
to Urdu literature but was unable to attend the ceremony.
About Jnanpith Award:
i.Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honour, has been annually
presented by the Bharatiya Jnanpith since 1965.
ii.The award recognizes the outstanding contributions towards
literature in English and other Indian languages.
iii.The award carries a cash prize of Rs 11 lakhs, a bronze statue of Vagdevi (Hindu Goddess Saraswati) and
a citation.
About Jagadguru Ramabhadracharya:
i.Jagadguru Ramabhadracharya was born in 1950 in Khandikurd village of Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
ii.He is the founder and President of Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot, UP and one of the Jagadguru
Ramabhadracharyas of the Ramananda sect. He has been holding the position since 1988.
iii.He is a Polyglot, who speaks 22 languages and is a poet and writer in several languages including
Sanskrit, Hindi, Awadhi and Maithili.
iv.He has authored more than 240 books and texts including 2 epics in Sanskrit and 2 in hindi.
v.He was honoured with Padma Vibhushan in 2015 in the field of Literature and Education
About Gulzar:
i.Gulzar was born on August 18, 1934, in the village of Dina in the Jhelum district of Punjab, British India
(Present day Pakistan).
ii.He is celebrated for his works in Hindi cinema and is considered one of the finest Urdu poets of this era.
iii.He wrote his first song “Mora Gora Ang Lai Le” for Bimal Roy’s film Bandini (1963).
• His other notable works are featured in films like Anand (1970), Guddi (1971), Bawarchi (1972),
Khamoshi (1969) and Safar (1970)
Awards and Honours:
i.He received the Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Original Song in 2009 for the song “Jai Ho” from the film
“Slumdog Millionaire”.
• He shared the award with A.R Rahman, Music Director of the film
• “Jai Ho” was the first Hindi song to win an Oscar in the Best Original Score and Best Original Song
categories
ii.He also won the Grammy Award for Best Song written for motion picture, television or other Visual Media
for the same song in 2010
iii.He also received the Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu in 2002; the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2013.
iv.He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2004 in the field of Art.

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Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2025 : Featured 94 Indians; Includes Gukesh D, Ananya Pandey and
Ishaan Khatter
In May 2025, New Jersey, the United States of America (USA)-based Forbes, a Business Magazine released
its 10th Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List, featuring 94 honourees from India, highest in the Asia-Pacific
Region, which includes Chess Grandmaster(GM) Gukesh Dommaraju (18); Actress, Ananya Pandey (26) and
Actor, Ishaan Khatter (29).
About Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List:
i.The Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2025 list celebrates 300 of the region’s
most promising young leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators under
the age of 30.
ii.The 10 categories featured in the 2025 list are: Entertainment &
Sports; Consumer & Enterprise Technology; Social Impact; Finance &
Venture Capital; Artificial Intelligence (AI); Industry, Manufacturing &
Energy; Healthcare & Science, Retail & E-commerce; The Arts (Art &
Style, Food & Drink) and Media, Marketing & Advertising.
iii.Each category highlights 30 individuals who have demonstrated exceptional talent and innovation in
their respective fields.
iv.In total, the list features individuals from 20 countries and territories across the Asia-Pacific region.
Highlights of Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2025:
i.Following India, Australia (32), China (30), Japan (25) and South Korea (23) recorded their entries.
ii.Actor Ananya Panday from India earned a spot on the list for her contributions to the entertainment
industry and her recent recognition as Chanel’s first Indian brand ambassador.
iii.Ishaan Khatter was also featured on the list for his acclaimed performances in films like Beyond the
Clouds and the series A Suitable Boy and Musician Anuv Jain was recognized for his impactful
contributions to India’s independent music scene.
iv.Other prominent names featured on the list include global K-pop sensations Stray Kids, actor-singer Cha
Eun-woo, actress Go Min-si, Australian-Korean actress Yerin Ha, Filipino pop group BINI, Indian chess
grandmaster D Gukesh, and celebrated Paralympian Sheetal Devi.
Notable Indian Entries on the 2025 list:

Category Name Age Title/Company

Entertainment &
Sheetal Devi 17 Paralympian
Sports

Entertainment &
Gukesh Dommaraju 18 Chess Grandmaster(GM)
Sports

Entertainment &
Anuv Jain 29 Singer-Songwriter
Sports

Entertainment &
Ishaan Khatter 29 Actor
Sports

Entertainment & Actress and Chanel Brand

Ananya Pandey 26
Sports Ambassador

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Retail & Commerce Anshita Mehrotra 25 Founder, Fix My Curls

Industry,
Manufacturing & Jinali Mody 27 Co-founder, Banofi Leather
Energy

Consumer &
Enterprise Mukul Chhabra 27 Founder, ScrapUncle
Technology

Consumer &
Enterprise Krishna Gupta 27 Cofounder, AaamDhanE
Technology

Consumer &
Enterprise Vaibhav Kaushik 27 Cofounder, Nawgati Tech
Technology

Industry,
Manu J Nair & Prashant 26, Cofounders, Ethereal
Manufacturing &
Sharma 23 Exploration Guild
Energy

Social Impact Manu Chopra 29 Cofounder, Karya

About Forbes:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Sherry Phillips
Headquarters – New Jersey, the United States of America, USA
Established – 1917

Times Rich List 2025: Hinduja family dominates UK rich list for 4th Successive year
In May 2025, The Hinduja family, led by Gopichand Hinduja, Chairman of the 110-year-old multinational
Hinduja Group, has once again secured the top spot on “The Sunday Times Rich List 2025”, with a
reported net worth of British Pound Sterling (GBP)35.3 Billion(approximately Rs.2,530,000 crore).
• David and Simon Reuben and family, follows the Hinduja
Group, placed at the second place with a reported net worth
of GBP 26.87 Billion.
• Other notable names on the 2025 Sunday Times Rich List
include Sir Leonard Blavatnik (GBP 25.725 billion), Sir
James Dyson and family (GBP 20.8 billion), Idan Ofer (GBP
20.121 billion), the Weston family (GBP 17.746 billion), Sir
Jim Ratcliffe (GBP 17.046 billion), and Lakshmi Mittal and
family (GBP15.444 billion).
About The Sunday Times Rich List:
The Sunday Times Rich List is an annual ranking of the wealthiest individuals and families residing in the
United Kingdom (UK). The list is compiled annually by British Sunday newspaper, The Sunday Times.
• This list evaluates the wealthiest residents in Britain based on identifiable assets including land,
property, shares in publicly quoted companies, and other measurable wealth.

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Highlights of The Sunday Times Rich List 2025:

i.The 37th Sunday Times Rich List features 350 individuals and families, with a combined wealth of GBP
772.8 billion, marking a 3% decline from the previous year.
ii.The 2025 Rich List highlights a significant decline in the number of UK billionaires, dropping from 165 in
2024 to 156, the largest decrease since the list’s inception in 1989.
iii.The top 50 richest families now possess more wealth than the poorest half of the UK population, totaling
over 34 million people.
Top 5 Wealthiest Individuals/Families in The Sunday Times Rich List 2025:

Rank Name Net Worth (in GBP)

1 Gopi Hinduja and Family 35.3 billion

2 David and Simon Reuben and Family 26.87 billion

3 Sir Leonard Blavatnik 25.72 billion

4 Sir James Dyson and family 20.8 billion

5 Idan Ofer 20.12 billion

About Hinduja Group:
i.The Hinduja Group, which tops the list was founded over 110 years ago, and now it operates in 38
countries, with major investments in mobility, banking and financial services, digital technology, media,
project development, lubricants, specialty chemicals, energy, real estate, trading, and healthcare.
• The group has also increased its focus on electric mobility in India, aligning with the country’s
push for sustainable transportation.
• The Hinduja Foundation also remains a core pillar of the family’s commitment to philanthropy,
supporting initiatives across education, healthcare, water conservation, and sustainable rural
development in both the UK and India.
Recent Related News:
On April 02,2025, Forbes released its ‘39th Annual World’s Billionaires list’, the definitive ranking of the
world’s richest people. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors topped the List with a net worth of USD 342 Billion
(bn).
• He is followed by Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta with a net worth of USD 216 bn and at the 3rd
place is Jeff Bezos, chairman and founder of Amazon.

Sansad Ratna Awards 2025: 17 MPs & 2 Parliamentary Committees Honoured; Maharashtra
Leads with 7 MPs
In May 2025, Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN) based Prime Point Foundation (PPF) announced the recipients of
the Sansad Ratna Awards 2025, honouring 17 Members of Parliament (MPs) and 2 Parliamentary
Standing Committees(PSCs) for their exemplary parliamentary performance in both Lok Sabha and Rajya
Sabha.
• The awards will be presented during the 15th edition of the Sansad Ratna Awards ceremony
which is scheduled to be held in New Delhi (Delhi) in the last week of July 2025.
• Maharashtra leads with 7 awards, followed by Uttar Pradesh (UP), Jharkhand, and Rajasthan (2
each). Odisha, Kerala, Tamil Nadu (TN), and Assam secured 1 award each.

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Highlights of Sansad Ratna Awards 2025:

i.The nominations were finalized by the Jury Committee headed
by Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, who serves as the Chairman of the
National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).
ii.In a notable recognition, two PSCs will also be felicitated for their
exceptional contributions:
• Standing Committee on Finance(SCOF), chaired by
Bhartruhari Mahtab, for its in-depth and influential
reports on key financial policies and reforms.
• Standing Committee on Agriculture(SCOA), led by Charanjit Singh Channi of the Congress, for
effectively raising critical farmer-related issues and recommending meaningful agricultural
reforms.
iii.Four MPs receive special awards for “Outstanding and Consistent Contribution to Parliamentary
Democracy” during the 16th and 17th Lok Sabha, and for maintaining their performance in the 18th Lok
Sabha.
• Bhartruhari Mahtab (Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Odisha)
• N.K. Premachandran (Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Kerala)
• Supriya Sule (Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) (NCP SP), Maharashtra)
• Shrirang Appa Barne (Shiv Sena, Maharashtra)
Sansad Ratna Awards 2025:

Name of Member
House Political Party State
of Parliament (MP)

Nationalist Congress Party

Supriya Sule Lok Sabha Maharashtra
(Sharad Pawar) – NCP(SP)

Independent (previously Shiv

Shrirang Barne Lok Sabha Maharashtra
Sena)

Medha Kulkarni Rajya Sabha Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Maharashtra

Indian National Congress

Varsha Gaikwad Lok Sabha Maharashtra
(INC)

Smita Uday Wagh Lok Sabha BJP Maharashtra

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb

Arvind Ganpat Sawant Lok Sabha Maharashtra
Thackeray) – SS(UBT)

Naresh Ganpat Mhaske Lok Sabha Shiv Sena Maharashtra

Uttar Pradesh,
Praveen Patel Lok Sabha BJP
UP

Ravindra Kishan Shukla

Lok Sabha BJP UP
alias Ravi Kishan

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Dr. Nishikant Dubey Lok Sabha BJP Jharkhand

Bidyut Baran Mahato Lok Sabha BJP Jharkhand

P. P. Chaudhary Lok Sabha BJP Rajasthan

Madan Rathore Lok Sabha BJP Rajasthan

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

C. N. Annadurai Lok Sabha Tamil Nadu, TN
(DMK)

Dilip Saikia Lok Sabha BJP Assam

Bhartruhari Mahtab Lok Sabha BJP Odisha

Revolutionary Socialist Party

N. K. Premachandran Lok Sabha Kerala
(RSP)
Awarded PSCs:

Committee Name Chairperson Party State

Standing Committee on
Bhartruhari Mahtab BJP Odisha
Finance(SCOF)

Standing Committee on
Dr. Charanjit Singh Channi INC Punjab
Agriculture(SCOA)
About the Sansad Ratna Awards:
i.Instituted in 2010 by Prime Point Foundation and the eMagazine PreSense, the Sansad Ratna Awards were
established following the suggestion of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India.
ii.The awards are based on comprehensive performance metrics, including participation in debates,
questions raised, and private member bills introduced, as recorded by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
Secretariats and PRS Legislative Research.
iii.Hansraj Gangaram Ahir became the first recipient of the Sansad Ratna Awards in May 2010.
iv.As of 2024, a total of 125 awards have been presented across 14 award ceremonies.

India’s Banu Mushtaq & Deepa Bhasthi Wins International Booker Prize 2025 for ‘Heart Lamp’
On 20 May 2025, Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based writer, lawyer, and activist Banu Mushtaq, along with
translator Deepa Bhasthi, won the International Booker Prize 2025 for the Kannada short story
collection ‘Heart Lamp : Selected Stories’. The award was announced by author Max Porter during a
ceremony held at the Tate Modern in London, the United Kingdom (UK).
• Banu Mushtaq became the first Kannada author and the first Muslim woman from India to win
the International Booker Prize. She is the sixth female author to be awarded the prize since 2016.
• The book was translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, who became the first Indian
translator and ninth female translator to win the International Booker Prize.
• This marks the first time a short story collection and a work originally written in Kannada have
received this award.

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Note: Heart Lamp marks the second Indian win at the

International Booker Prize after the 2022 victory of Geetanjali
Shree (Author) and Daisy Rockwell (Translator) for Tomb of Sand,
the first Hindi novel to receive the prestigious award.
Cash Prize:
The award carries a cash prize of 50,000 British Pound
Sterling(GBP)(USD 66,000) was shared equally between the
author Banu Mushtaq and the translator Deepa Bhasthi.
• Additionally, each shortlisted author and translator received a cash prize of 5,000 British Pound
Sterling.
About Heart Lamp:
i.The collection features 12 short stories written between 1990 and 2023, exploring the lives of women in
southern India’s Muslim communities.
ii.It explores themes including resilience, caste oppression, reproductive rights, and sisterhood, rooted in
Kannada oral storytelling traditions.
iii.The book was published by Sheffield (UK)-based independent publisher And Other Stories in April
2025.
About Banu Mushtaq:
i.Banu Mushtaq has been involved in movements advocating for women’s rights and social justice since the
1980s.
ii.She is the author of six short story collections, a novel, an essay collection, and a poetry collection in
Kannada.
iii.She has won the Karnataka Sahitya Academy and Daana Chintamani Attimabbe awards.
About Deepa Bhasthi:
i.Deepa Bhasthi is a writer and literary translator from South India has translated many works from
Kannada to English.
ii.Her translation of Heart Lamp has received international acclaim, including the prestigious English PEN
Translates Award (2024).
iii.Her notable translations from Kannada include a novel by Kota Shivarama Karanth and a collection of
short stories by Kodagina Gouramma.
About International Booker Prize:
i.The International Booker Prize, formerly known as the Man Booker International Prize, is a prestigious
international literary award presented annually in UK by Booker Prize Foundation.
ii.The prize was established in 2005 as a biennial award for a body of work by a living author of any
nationality, whose work was available in English or English translation.
iii.Since 2016, the format of the award has been revised to an annual prize given to a single work of fiction
or a short story collection that is translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland.
iv.In 2024, the award was conferred on Kairos, authored by Jenny Erpenbeck from Germany, and
translated into English by Michael Hofmann.

TIME100 Philanthropy 2025 List: Ambani Couple, Azim Premji, Nikhil Kamath Featured on the
List
In May 2025, New York (the United States of America, USA)-based TIME magazine, the 102-year-old global
media brand, has released the inaugural edition of “TIME 100 Most Influential People in Philanthropy
2025”. Mukesh Ambani , Chairman of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and his
wife Nita Ambani; Azim Premji, former chairman of WIPRO Limited and Nikhil Kamath, Co-founder of
Zerodha are among other Indians featured on the list.

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• Michael Bloomberg, co-founder, CEO of Bloomberg LP, was

named the largest individual donor of 2024, contributing
USD 3.7 billion to various causes, including a USD1 billion
donation to Johns Hopkins University to make medical
education more accessible.
• Some of the prominent global figures on the list: David
Beckham (Titans), former British football player,
entrepreneur and philanthropist; American entrepreneur and
TV personality Oprah Winfrey (Titans) recognised for her work in female education; Melinda
French Gates (Titans) co-founder of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, among others from 28
countries across the world.
About TIME 100 Most Influential People in Philanthropy List:
i.The list featured individuals who have made significant contributions through charity, funding, and policy
reform.
ii.The 1st –ever list recognizing philanthropic contributions was spearheaded by Ayesha Javed, senior editor
at TIME based in the London (the United Kingdom, UK) bureau.
iii.The list has categorised the influential people in philanthropy into 4 different categories: Titans,
Leaders, Trailblazers and Innovators.
iv.The list was presented by signature partner The Art of Living Foundation and supporting partners Cessna
owned by Kansas(the United States of America, USA) based Textron Aviation Inc. and Armonk, New York
(USA)-based International Business Machines Corporation (IBM).
Highlights of TIME100 Philanthropy 2025 List:
Indians on the List:
1.Mukesh Ambani & Nita Ambani:
Both Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani, placed in ‘Titans’ category. As per the TIME’s list, the couple
donated a total Rs 407 crore (about USD 48 million) in 2024, which placed them among India’s biggest
donors.
2.Azim Premji:
i.Azim Premji, who is famously known as one of India’s most generous philanthropists, was placed
in ‘Titans’ category in recognition of his philanthropy work specially in elevating India’s public education
system.
ii.In 2013, Premji became the 1st Indian to sign the Giving Pledge, a commitment by the world’s wealthiest
individuals and families to dedicate the majority of their wealth for philanthropy work.
• Under the Giving Pledge initiative, he endowed the foundation launched by him nearly 25 years
ago with over USD 29 billion in shares from WIPRO.
3.Nikhil Kamath:
i.Nikhil Kamath at the age of 36, became the youngest Indian to sign the Giving Pledge, was recognized
in ‘Trailblazers List’.
ii.He started the Young India Philanthropic Pledge (YIPP) campaign, which asks for commitment from
Indians under the age of 45 with fortunes more than USD 100 million to donate at least 25% of their wealth.
• So far, USD 8 million has been raised through the YIPP campaign, to fund projects like: upgrading
300 schools with better computers, career counseling, and other services.
Indian-Origin on the List:
i.Indian American journalist and author Anand Giridharadas has made to TIME’s Philanthropy list for
2025. He was placed in ‘Innovator category’ in recognition of his influential critique of elite philanthropy
and his continued advocacy for systematic reform in wealth redistribution.

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ii.Indian-origin Malaysian Reeta Roy, who is currently serving as the President and Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of Mastercard Foundation, richest foundation in Canada, was placed in ‘Leaders’ category
Prominent Global Figures:
i.Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales was placed in “Innovators” category for their efforts in
tackling homelessness and rural mental health through their ‘Royal Foundation’.
• In 2020, Prince William founded the Earthshot Prize, an environmental award which recognizes
individuals for their innovative solutions to climate change.
ii.Jack Ma, China’s first self-made tech giant and founder of Alibaba, Asia’s most valuable company, was
placed in “Leaders” category.
• TIME magazine has recognised Jack Ma philanthropy work done by his Jack Ma Foundation
(2014) which focuses its efforts on education, entrepreneurship, medical and environmental
protection, and womens’ leadership programs.
iii.American Billionaire Warren Buffet, CEO and chair of Berkshire Hathaway was recognised in ‘Titans’
category. His philanthropy work was mainly focused on education, agriculture, and anti-poverty programs.
• He co-founded the Giving Pledge in 2010, along with Bill and Melinda French Gates.
• In 2024, he gave away over USD 1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway to 4 of his family’s foundation,
which has provided scholarships to college students.
About TIME Magazine:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Jessica Sibley
Headquarters- New York, the United States of America (USA)
Founded– 1923

78th Cannes Film Festival: Iranian Filmmaker Jafar Panahi Wins Palme d’Or; Indian Film
‘Homebound’ recognized
The 78th annual Cannes International Film Festival was held from 13 to 24 May 2025 in
Cannes, France. Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi was awarded the festival’s highest honour, the Palme d’Or,
for his drama film ‘It Was Just an Accident’.
• The event was chaired by French actress Juliette
Binoche, who led a nine-member jury comprising notable
figures including Indian director Payal Kapadia, American
actor Jeremy Strong, South Korean auteur Hong Sangsoo,
and other international cinema professionals.
Noted Awards:
i.Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier was honored with the Grand
Prix for Sentimental Value, a family drama exploring the
complexities of reconciliation.
ii.Brazilian actor Wagner Moura received the Best Actor award for his role in The Secret Agent.
iii.French actress Nadia Melliti was honored with the Best Actress award for her performance in The Little
Sister, a coming-of-age film directed by Hafsia Herzi.
iv.American actors Robert De Niro and Denzel Washington were each awarded an Honorary Palme d’Or,
recognizing their significant contributions to cinema.
v.Panda, the dog featured in the film The Love That Remains, was honoured with the Palm Dog Award.
vi.In Caméra d’Or Section, Iraqi filmmaker Hasan Hadi made history as the first from Iraq to win this
award for The President’s Cake, a childhood drama set under economic sanctions.
vii.Chinese director Bi Gan received the Special Jury Prize for his science fiction film Resurrection.

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Indian Cinema at Cannes 2025:

i.Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, ‘Homebound’ was selected for the Un Certain Regard section. The film
features actors Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor, and Vishal Jethwa, and marks Ghaywan’s return to Cannes
after his acclaimed debut Masaan in 2015.
ii.A Doll Made Up of Clay, a student film from Kolkata (West Bengal, WB) based Satyajit Ray Film and
Television Institute (SRFTI), was featured in the La Cinef section, highlighting emerging talent from Indian
film schools.
iii.The Rajasthani-language film ‘Omlo’, directed by Sonu Randeep Choudhury, was showcased at Cannes. It
explores the shared struggles of a 7-year-old boy and a camel, both trapped in lives of helplessness.
iv.At the Cannes Film Market, the biopic ‘Kalam: The Missile Man of India’ was officially unveiled. Directed
by Om Raut and starring Dhanush, the film chronicles the life of India’s former president and distinguished
aerospace scientist, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Note: At the 77th Cannes Film Festival, Payal Kapadia became the first Indian to win the Grand Prix award
for her film “All We Imagine as Light” in the feature film category.
Bharat Pavilion and Initiatives:
i.The Bharat (India) Pavilion at Cannes 2025 served as a hub for Indian cinema, facilitating networking and
showcasing Indian films.
ii.The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoI&B), GoI, in collaboration with the Mumbai
(Maharashtra) based National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) and with support from the
New Delhi (Delhi) based Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), organised the
Bharat Pavilion.
iii.The theme of India Pavilion this year is “Create In India”, highlighting India’s growing potential as a
global content creation hub.
iv.Award-winning producer Guneet Monga launched a special scholarship for mid-career female producers
supported by fellow industry professionals Rucha Pathak, Tillotama Shome, Rabia Chopra, and Dimpy
Agrawal under the banner of Women in Film India (WIF India).
2025 Winners of Cannes Film Festival:

Award Name Winner Director

Palme d’Or It Was Just an Accident Jafar Panahi(Iran)

Grand Prix Sentimental Value Joachim Trier(Norway)

Sirat Oliver Laxe(Spain)

Jury Prize
Sound of Falling Mascha Schilinski(Germany)

Best Director The Secret Agent Kleber Mendonça Filho(Brazil)

Best Performance by an
The Secret Agent Wagner Moura(Brazil)
Actor

Best Performance by an
The Little Sister Nadia Melliti(France)
Actress

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Jean-Pierre and Luc

Best Screenplay Young Mothers
Dardenne(Belgium)
Click here to view the full list
About Cannes Film Festival (Festival de Cannes):
i.The Cannes Film Festival was founded in 1946 and was known until 2003 as the International Film
Festival (Festival international du film).
ii.It is held annually in May in Cannes, France at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès.
iii.It is recognised as the world’s most prestigious film festival and most widely published cultural event
globally.
iv.The awards are presented under multiple competitive sections like Feature films, Short films, Un Certain
Regard, La Cinéf, Caméra D’or, The Higher Technical Commission for Sound and Images, and L’Œil d’Or –
Year of the Documentary.
v.The Palme d’Or (Golden Palm) is the highest and most prestigious award presented at the Cannes Film
Festival to the director of the Best Feature Film.

Sumeet Tappoo Awarded Companion of the Order of Fiji for Humanitarian and Musical
Contributions
In May 2025, Fiji-born, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based singer and humanitarian Sumeet Tappoo was
conferred with the Companion of the Order of Fiji, the highest civilian honor in Fiji, was presented by the
President of Fiji His Excellency Ratu Naiqama TawakecolatiLalabalavu, during a ceremony at the State
House in Suva, the Capital of Fiji.
• The award, equivalent to India’s Bharat Ratna, was given in
recognition of his outstanding service to Fiji through his
music and humanitarian efforts.
Recipients:
The Companion of the Order of Fiji was awarded to three individuals
for their significant contributions, being described as “beacons of
compassion and cultural pride for the people of Fiji“.
• Sumeet Tappoo – Chairman of the Sri Sathya Sai
Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital in Fiji
• Dr. Krupali Tappoo – Director of the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital in Fiji
• Sri Madhusudan Sai – Founder of One World, One Family Global Humanitarian Mission
About Sumeet Tappoo:
i.Sumeet Tappoo started performing at age 8 (1986) in Suva, Fiji and became a professional singer in 2004
in the Indian Music Industry in Mumbai.
ii.He serves as the Chairman of the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital in Fiji, the South Pacific’s
first super-specialty pediatric cardiac hospital, offering all surgeries and treatments completely free of cost.
iii.He also serves as the Director of Sai Prema Foundation Fiji – Fiji premier NGO serving the poor and needy
people of Fiji through healthcare, education, nutrition and social service initiatives.
Awards & Recognitions of Sumeet Tappoo:
i.2020 Fiji Presidential Medal (50th Independence Day) for music and philanthropy.
ii.2021 Pravasi Bharatiya Samman for Sai Prema Foundation from the President of India.
iii.World Book of Records (London)recognition for COVID-19 service.
iv.Youth Icon of Fiji 2022 by India Fiji Forum.
v.International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) India Bhakti Kala Kshetra Award.

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vi.Government of India Sanskriti Award 2016 for promoting Indian culture.

vii.Won 3 CLEF Music Awards (2023) in Mumbai.

MoPPG&P Announced NAeG 2025 Recognising 19 Initiatives Across India

On May 27, 2025, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), under the
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPPG&P), Government of India, announced
the ‘National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2025’ to honor and encourage outstanding achievements
in the implementation of e-Governance initiatives across India.
• The 22nd edition of NAeG includes six award categories,
with the Gram Panchayats category introduced for the first
time to acknowledge grassroots-level digitization efforts.
• The awards will be presented during the 28th National
Conference on e-Governance (NCeG), scheduled to be held
in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP), on June 9-10,
2025.
National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2025:
i.A total of 19 initiatives were recognized under NAeG 2025, comprising 10 gold, 6 silver and 3 jury
awards.
ii.The awards are presented across 6 categories,
1. Government Process Re-engineering by Use of Technology for Digital Transformation
2. Innovation by Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Other New Age Technologies for Providing
Citizen-Centric Services
3. Best e-Governance Practices/Innovation in Cyber Security
4. Grassroot Level Initiatives for Deepening/Widening of Service Delivery with Focus on Initiatives
by District Level/Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Gram Panchayats or Equivalent Traditional
Local Bodies
5. Replication and Scaling up of Successful National Awarded Projects like NAeG, Prime Minister
(PM) Awards in Excellence, Awards conferred by other Central Ministries by State/Union
Territory (UT)/ District
6. Digital transformation by use of data analytics in digital platforms by Central
Ministries/States/UTs
iii.The NAeG 2025 include a Trophy, Certificate, and a monetary incentive of Rs 10 lakh for Gold Awardees
and Rs 5 lakh for Silver Awardees.
• These incentives are granted to the respective Districts, Organisations, or Gram Panchayats to
support the implementation of the awarded projects/programmes or to bridge resource gaps in
areas related to public welfare.
Awardees of NAeG 2025:

Name of Department/ Ministry/

S.No Name of the Project
Organisation

Gold

Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), Ministry

1 Mining Tenement System
of Mines (MoM)

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India Meteorological Department

Multi Hazard Early Warning Decision
2 (IMD), Ministry of Earth Science
Support System
(MoES)

SAMPADA (Stamps And Management of Commercial Tax Department of the

3
Property And Documents Application) 2.0 Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP)

Project Monitoring System and Water

4 State Mission Management Unit, Kerala
Quality Monitoring Information System

Digital India Bhasha Interface for India Ministry of Electronics and Information
5
(BHASHINI) Division Technology (MeitY)

6 Digi Yatra Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA)

Indian Council of Agricultural Research

National Animal Diseases Referral Expert
– National Institute of Veterinary
System- Integrating Data Driven Disease
7 Epidemiology and Disease
Surveillance and Predictive Analytics for
Informatics(ICAR-NIVEDI), Bengaluru
Livestock Diseases (NADRES V2)
(Karnataka)

Robust cybersecurity measures in

Information Technology (IT)- Operational National Capital Region Transport
8 Technology (OT) convergence for railway Corporation (NCRTC), Ministry of
systems – “Best e-Gov Practices/Innovation Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
in Cyber Security”

Data Harmonisation for Risk Insights and National Informatics Centre (NIC),
9
Security Threat Intelligence (DHRISTI) MeitY

Quantum Safe Virtual Private Network

10 Ministry of Defence (MoD)
(VPN)

Silver

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike

(BBMP) – Contactless, Faceless & Online Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike
11
eKhata & Digitized Property Records (BBMP), Government of Karnataka
Management System

12 Amin Management System Gangtok, Sikkim

13 Rohini Gram Panchayat Dhule District, Maharashtra

14 West Majlishpur Gram Panchayat West Tripura District, Tripura

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Latehar District Administration,

15 Sampurna Shiksha Kavach
Jharkhand

National Highways Authority of India

Drone Analytics Monitoring System (DAMS)
16 (NHAI), Ministry of Road Transport &
for Highway Management
Highways (MoRTH)

Jury awardees

1 Suakati Gram Panchayat Kendujhar District, Odisha

2 Palsana Gram Panchayat Surat District, Gujarat

Clean Future: Smart Waste Management for Lalitpur Municipal Council, Uttar
3
Sustainable Growth Pradesh (UP)
About Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MOPPG&P):
Union Minister – Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi (Constituency- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
Union Minister of State (MoS)/ Independent Charge (IC) – Dr. Jitendra Singh (Constituency- Udhampur,
Jammu & Kashmir, J&K)

Adille Sumariwalla Honoured with Asian Athletics Leadership Gold Pin in South Korea
In May 2025, Dr. Adille J. Sumariwalla, Vice President of World Athletics and former President of the
Athletics Federation of India (AFI), was conferred with the Asian Athletics Leadership Gold Pin by the
Asian Athletics Association (AAA) during its Congress held in Gumi, South Korea.
• The award was presented by General Dahlan Al Hamad, President of AAA, in recognition of
Sumariwalla’s significant contributions to the development and leadership of athletics across the
Asian continent.
About Adille J. Sumariwalla:
i.Athletic Achievements:He represented India in the 100 metres(m) sprint at the 1980 Moscow Olympics
and held the national record in the event for 18 years. He clinched the gold medal at the 1984 South Asian
Games.
ii.Administrative Roles: Served as President of AFI for 12 years; elected as Vice President of World
Athletics in 2023, becoming the first Indian to hold this position; held various roles in international
athletics committees, contributing to policy and development.
iii.Awards : Recipient of the Arjuna Award (1985) for excellence in athletics; honored with the Shiv
Chhatrapati Award (1980) for excellence in sport from Government of Maharashtra(GoM) and the Dadoji
Konddev Award(1999) by the GoM for excellence in athletics and coaching.

Sadhguru Conferred ‘Global Indian of the Year 2025’ Award by CIF

In May 2025, spiritual leader and Founder of Isha Foundation Jagadish “Jaggi” Vasudev also known as
‘Sadhguru’ was conferred the ‘Global Indian of the Year 2025’ award by Canada India Foundation (CIF),
Canada based Non-Profit Organisation(NPO), during the event took place in Toronto, Canada.
• The award was presented by Ritesh Malik, Chairperson of CIF, and Sunita Vyas, National
Convenor of CIF.
• The Global Indian of the Year award recognises individuals of Indian origin who have made a
global impact through their work.

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i.Along with the honour, Sadhguru received a cash prize of Canadian Dollar (CAD) 50,000, which he
dedicated to the Cauvery Calling initiative, a movement to revitalise the Cauvery River and support the
livelihoods of 84 million people in Southern India.
ii.The award, originally announced in October 2024, recognises Sadhguru’s contributions towards elevating
human consciousness and promoting ecological sustainability through the Conscious Planet (CP) movement.
iii.Sadhguru has been teaching yoga since 1982. His Isha foundation was established in 1992 in Coimbatore,
Tamil Nadu (TN).
Note: The CIF Global Indian Award has previously been conferred on eminent personalities including Ratan
Tata, Narayana Murthy, and Sudha Murty.

MoPPG&P Declares National Anubhav Awards 2025 to Honour Retirees from Central Govt, CPSEs
& PSBs
In May 2025, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions (MoPPG&P), announced the
winners of the National Anubhav Awards Scheme, 2025. The awards aim to encourage retiring and
retired employees to document and share their valuable work experiences and insights through written
submissions.
• A two-tier evaluation process was conducted, leading to
the selection of 5 Anubhav Awardees and 10 Jury
Certificate winners.
• The Anubhav Awards and Jury Certificates will be
conferred on August 18, 2025, during a national-level
event by Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent
Charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, MoPPG&P.
About the Anubhav Awards Scheme:
i.The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) under the MoPPG&P launched the online
‘Anubhav’ platform in March 2015 on the directions of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi.
• It provides a forum for retired Central Government employees to share write-ups about their
service, fostering a culture of documentation and institutional memory.
ii.Since its launch, 10,886 write-ups have been published from 98 organizations, leading to the conferment
of 59 Anubhav Awards and 19 Jury Certificates.
iii.The Anubhav Awardees will receive a medal, a certificate, and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000, while the Jury
Certificate winners will be honoured with a medal and a certificate.
Highlights of National Anubhav Awards 2025:
i.For the first time, the 2025 edition of the scheme included employees from Central Public Sector
Enterprises (CPSEs) and Public Sector Banks (PSBs), along with Central Government officials, to
acknowledge their role in nation-building.
ii.The scheme evaluated write-ups published between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025
iii.A total of 1,459 write-ups were received from 42 Ministries/
Departments/Organizations, up from 30 in the previous year, under the Anubhav Outreach Programme.
Winners of National Anubhav Awards 2025:
S.No. Name Designation (Ministry/ Department/ Organisation)
Anubhav Awards
Hukum Singh Additional Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural
1 Meena Development (MoRD)
2 Shalini Kacker Chief General Manager (CGM), State Bank of India (SBI)

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Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Ministry of State (MoS) for Prime Minister’s
3 M. Venkatesan Office (PMO)
Senior Superintendent of Post Offices (SSPO), Bangalore South Division,
4 O. Virupakshappa Karnataka
5 Saju P.K Head Constable, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
Anubhav Jury Certificates
Jai Prakash
1 Srivastava Director, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
2 Vinod P Scientist G, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
3 Jolly Dhar Outstanding Scientist, Department of Space (DOS)
Special Director General, Department of Telecommunications (DoT),
4 Sunitha Cherodath Ministry of Communication (MoC)
5 Sabu Sebastian M Scientist G, DRDO
6 Velaga Kumari Deputy Director, Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS)
7 Santosh Gawli Head Constable GD, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
8 Balam Singh Rawat Deputy Commandant, CRPF
S Meenakshi
9 Sundaram Inspector/Pharmacist, CRPF
10 Sheela Rani Poddar Sub-Inspector/GD, CRPF
About Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPPG&P):
Union Minister – Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi (Constituency- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
Union Minister of State (MoS)/ Independent Charge (IC) – Dr. Jitendra Singh (Constituency- Udhampur,
Jammu & Kashmir, J&K)

ACQUISITION & MERGERS

CCI Approvals on May 01, 2025
On May 1, 2025, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs(MCA)
approved two significant acquisition proposals:
i.KKR’s acquisition of a controlling stake in HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited (HCG) through Hector
Asia Holdings II Pte. Ltd. and the KIA EBT II Scheme.
ii.Jubilant Bhartia Group’s acquisition of a 40% stake in Hindustan Coca-Cola Holdings Private Limited
(HCCH) via Jubilant Beverages Limited (JBL), along with the subscription to Compulsorily Convertible
Preference Shares (CCPS) in JBL by Jubilant BevCo Limited (BevCo) and investors.
KKR’s Acquisition of HCG:
Hector Asia Holdings II Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) and the KIA EBT II Scheme (Acquirers) propose to acquire
up to 54% of the diluted voting share capital of Bengaluru (Karnataka) based HCG from Aceso Company
Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) (Target) in two tranches.
• Mandatory open offer for 26% shares from public shareholders under the Securities and
Exchange Board of India (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011.
• Post-transaction, KKR could hold 54%–77% of HCG’s expanded voting share capital.

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Points to Note:
i.Hector Asia Holdings II Pte. Ltd. is fully owned by funds managed by KKR & Co. Inc., a global investment
firm headquartered in New York, the United States of America (USA).
ii.KIA EBT II Scheme 1 is an employee benefit scheme of KIA EBT Trust II, established under the Indian
Trusts Act, 1882, benefiting employees of KKR.
iii.HCG is a publicly listed company operating cancer care centers, hospitals, and diagnostic
facilities in Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Bhavnagar (Gujarat), Rajkot (Gujarat), Hubli (Karnataka), and other
locations.
Jubilant Beverages’ Stake Acquisition in HCCH:
i.Jubilant Beverages Limited (JBL) (Acquirer) based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP), acquires a 40% stake in
HCCH (Target) from Hindustan Coca-Cola Overseas Holdings Pte. Ltd. and Bharat Coca-Cola Overseas
Holdings Pte. Ltd. (both Singapore-based).
ii.Jubilant BevCo Limited (BevCo) (Acquirer) based in Noida, and the investors of WSSS Investments
Aggregator 1 and 2 Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) propose to subscribe to Compulsorily Convertible Preference
Shares (CCPS) in JBL (Target).
Points to Note:
i.JBL and BevCo are entities under the Jubilant Bhartia Group, active in ready-to-eat foods, pharmaceuticals,
and agri-products.
ii.WSSS Investments Aggregator 1 and 2 Pte. Ltd. are owned by funds managed by Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, L.P. (GSAM), an investment manager wholly owned by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.,
headquartered in New York.
About Competition Commission of India (CCI):
Chairman – Ravneet Kaur
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 2003

AMSL Acquires IDL Explosives for Rs 107 Crore to Strengthen Defence Manufacturing
In May 2025, Hyderabad (Telangana) based Apollo Micro Systems Limited (AMSL), through its wholly
owned subsidiary Apollo Defence Industries Private Limited (ADIPL), signed a Share Purchase
Agreement(SPA) to acquire 100% equity stake in IDL Explosives Limited from Hyderabad based GOCL
Corporation Limited, a part of the Hinduja Group, for a total consideration of Rs 107 crore.
• The acquisition involves the purchase of 78.65 lakh equity shares at Rs 136.04 per share. The
transaction is expected to be completed within two to three months, subject to regulatory and
corporate approvals.
i.This strategic acquisition enables AMSL to integrate high-energy materials into its defence manufacturing
pipeline, enhancing its capabilities in artillery, missile systems, and high-impact weapon domains.
ii.It aligns with the company’s vision to become a Tier-I Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for
weapon systems, supporting the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative by offering indigenously developed defence
solutions.
iii.IDL Explosives, established in 2010 in Hyderabad, has a legacy of over 64 years in manufacturing bulk
and packaged explosives, primarily serving the mining and infrastructure sectors.

TPG Acquires 35% Stake in SCHOTT Poonawalla from SII

On May 6, 2025, Germany based SCHOTT Pharma AG & Co. announced that the United States of America
(USA)-based global investment firm TPG Inc. has signed a binding agreement to acquire a 35% stake in its
Indian joint venture( JV), SCHOTT Poonawalla Private Limited, from Pune (Maharashtra) based Serum
Institute of India Private Limited (SII), a part of the Cyrus Poonawalla Group.

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• The investment is being made through TPG Growth, TPG’s middle-market and growth equity
platform, with Denmark-based Novo Holdings A/S joining as a co-investor.
i.Following the transaction, SCHOTT Pharma will retain its 50% stake in the JV, while SII will hold a
minority stake.
ii.This strategic partnership is poised to enhance SCHOTT Poonawalla’s capabilities in delivering high-
quality pharmaceutical packaging solutions, thereby contributing significantly to the global healthcare
ecosystem.
Note: Serum Institute of India (SII), part of the Cyrus Poonawalla Group, is the world’s largest vaccine
manufacturer by volume. It was founded in 1966 by Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla.

Japan’s SMBC Buys 20% Stake in YES Bank for around Rs 13,483 Crore
In May 2025, Japan-based Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Japan’s 2nd largest banking group i.e. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMGF) has entered into a
definitive agreement to buy 20% stake in Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based YES Bank Limited through a
secondary stake purchase valued at around Rs 13, 483 crore.
• This deal is the largest cross-border investment in the Indian banking sector. This transaction
marks a major milestone to drive YES Bank’s next phase of growth, profitability and value
creation.
• Also, the transaction is subject to the mandatory regulatory and statutory approvals including
from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Competition Commission of India (CCI).
Key Details:
i.As part of the transaction, SBI will divest its 13.19% stake in YES Bank at Rs 21.50 per equity share for Rs
8,889 crore.
• Upon completion of this transaction, shareholding of SBI in YES Bank will reduce from existing
23.97% to just over 10%.
ii.While, 7 other private banks namely, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based ICICI Bank Limited, Mumbai
(Maharashtra)-based HDFC Bank Limited,Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited
(KMBL), Axis Bank Limited, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based IDFC First Bank Limited, Aluva (Kerala)-based
Federal Bank Limited, and Kolkata (West Bengal, WB)-based Bandhan Bank Limited, will collectively divest
their 6.81% stakes in YES Bank for Rs 4,594 crore.
Points to Note:
i.In March 2020, SBI along with these 7 banks had invested in YES Bank as part of a Reconstruction Scheme
approved by RBI.
ii.As of March 31, 2025, 7 private lender held stakes in YES Bank: HDFC Bank (2.75%), ICICI Bank (2.39%),
KMBL (1.21%), Axis Bank Limited (1.01%), IDFC First Bank Limited (0.92%), Federal Bank (0.76%), and
Bandhan Bank (0.70%).
iii.Both Federal Bank and Bandhan Bank announced selling 0.5% Stake each in Yes Bank. This will bring
Bandhan Bank’s stake in Yes Bank down to 0.21% from 0.7%.
iv.Yes Bank was advised by Citigroup Global Markets Private Limited (Citi) as its financial adviser and AZB &
Partners (AZB) as its legal advisor.
About Yes Bank Limited:
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Prashant Kumar
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Tagline- “Experience our expertise”
Established- 2004

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About Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC):

Chairman- Makato Takashima
Headquarters- Tokyo, Japan
Established- 2001

CCI Approvals on May 13, 2025

On May 13, 2025, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA)
approved four significant acquisition proposals.
i.Indorama Netherlands B. V’s acquisition of a 24.9% stake in EPL Limited.
ii.AIPCF VIII A-TE Funding L.P.’s investment of 13% of the limited partnership interests in Perseus Parent
L.P.
iii.Knowledge Realty Trust’s acquisition of certain entities belonging to Blackstone Group and Sattva Group
iv.Demerger of MDO Business of Thriveni Earthmovers into Thriveni Earthmovers and Infra and Lloyds
Metals and Energy’s acquisition of shares of Thriveni Earthmovers.
Indorama Netherlands B. V’s acquisition in EPL Limited:
The CCI has approved the acquisition of 24.9% equity share in Mumbai (Maharashtra)- based EPL
Limited (Target) by Indorama Netherlands (Rotterdam, Netherlands based) (Acquirer) from Blackstone
for approximately Rs.1,908 crore (USD 220 million).
• Following the completion of the transaction, Indorama Ventures will have the right to nominate a
director to EPL’s board, signifying a strategic alliance focused on harnessing synergies within the
packaging sector.
i.Indorama Netherlands is an indirect subsidiary of Bangkok (Thailand) based Indorama Ventures Public
Company Limited.
ii.EPL Limited (formerly known as Essel Propack Limited) is engaged in the business of manufacturing and
selling packaging products, including laminated and extruded plastic tubes.
• It was established in 1982, operating 21 manufacturing facilities across 11 countries and
producing over eight billion tubes annually.
AIPCF VIII A-TE Funding L.P.’s proposal to invest in Perseus Parent L. P:
The CCI has approved the proposed combination of AIPCF VIII A-TE Funding L.P.(Acquirer), involving an
investment of 13% of the limited partnership interests in Perseus Parent L. P (Target).
• AIPCF VIII A-TE Funding L.P.’is a newly incorporated Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) which will
operate as an investment fund.
• The acquirer belongs to the American Industrial Partners(AIP) Group (Acquirer Group), an
operational oriented private entity group which has investments in industrial businesses like
transportation and logistics, metals and mining, and aerospace and defence across global
markets.
• Perseus Parent L. P is engaged in the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of engine
components for light vehicles and commercial truck and off-way vehicles.
Knowledge Realty Trust’s acquisition in Blackstone Group and/or Sattva Group:
The CCI has approved the direct and indirect acquisition of certain entities, in which some are individually
controlled by Blackstone Group and by Sattva Group and remaining which are jointly controlled by
Blackstone Group and Sattva Group (Target Entities) by the Knowledge Realty Trust (KRT).
• The acquisition is acted through the manager of KRT, Knowledge Realty Office Management
Services Private Limited (formerly known as Trinity Office Management Services Private Limited)
(Acquirer).
• KRT is registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) as a Real Estate
Investment Trust (REIT) under the Indian Trust Act, 1882.

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• The trust is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) aimed at raising over Rs.6,200 crore
(approximately USD 712 million), positioning it as India’s largest REIT by Net Operating Income
(NOI) and Gross Asset Value, estimated at around Rs.60,000 crore.
Note:
i.Blackstone Group, an Alternative Investment Company is headquartered in New York, United States of
America (USA).
ii.Sattva Group, a real estate conglomerate is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka
iii.KRT, a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) is a Joint Venture (JV) between Blackstone Group and Sattva
Group.
Demerger of MDO Business of TEPL into TEIPL:
The CCI has approved the demerger of the business of Mining Development and Operations (MDO) of
Thriveni Earthmovers Private Limited (TEPL) into a new entity Thriveni Earthmovers and Infra Private
Limited (TEIPL).
• Following the demerger, Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited (LMEL) acquired a 79.82% equity
share of TEIPL.
• TEIPL has acquired a majority of shareholding in Lloyds Surya Private Limited (Lloyds Surya).
• The integration of TEIPL into LMEL’s operations aligns with the company’s strategic focus on
scaling operations, creating shareholder value, and achieving operational excellence in the mining
and infrastructure sectors.
Note:
i.TEMPL, headquartered in Salem (Tamil Nadu, TN) is engaged in the business of MDO in relation to iron ore,
coal, barytes and manganese.
ii.LMEL, an iron ore mining company is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was incorporated in
1977.
iii.TEIPL is a newly incorporated entity and currently does not have business operations in India and
abroad.
iv.Lloyds Surya is a wholly owned subsidiary of LMEL, having its registered office in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
About Competition Commission of India(CCI):
Chairperson – Ravneet Kaur
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established– 2003

LIC hikes stake in Bank of India to 8.38%

In May 2025, the Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) increased its stake
in Mumbai based Bank of India (BoI) from 6.35% to 8.38% through open market transactions.
• This acquisition of an additional 2.026% stake occurred between September 2, 2021, and May 9,
2025, as disclosed by BoI in a stock exchange filing.
i.This strategic move reflects LIC’s continued confidence in BoI’s financial performance and growth
potential.
ii.As of March 2025, promoters and the promoter group hold 73.38% of BoI’s equity, with public
shareholders owning the remaining 26.62%. Among the notable public investors, SBI(State Bank of India)
PSU(public sector undertakings) Fund holds a 1.52% stake.

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IDBI Bank Sold Entire 21.14% Stake in PIPDIC to Govt of Puducherry for Rs.18.83 Crore
In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based IDBI Bank Limited, a private sector bank in India, completed
the sale of its entire 21.14% stake in Puducherry Industrial Promotion Development and Investment
Corporation Limited (PIPDIC) for Rs.18.83 crore to the Government of Puducherry, marking a strategic
move in its ongoing portfolio rationalisation plan.
• IDBI Bank sold 8,54,000 equity shares of face value Rs.100 each in PIPDIC, representing its entire
21.14% equity stake.
• The buyer, Government of Puducherry, already held 78.86% stake, thus becoming the sole
owner of PIPDIC after this acquisition.
Note: PIPDIC was established in 1974 to promote industrial development and provide financial assistance
to entrepreneurs in Puducherry.

CCI Approvals on May 20, 2025

On May 20, 2025, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the following proposals:
i.Approved Bajaj Group’s Proposal to Acquire Allianz’s Stakes in Insurance Joint Venture (JV) for Rs. 24,180
Crore
ii.Approved the acquisition of majority shareholding/control in Nazara Technologies Limited (Nazara) by
three entities, namely, Axana Estates LLP (Axana), Plutus Wealth Management LLP (Plutus), and
Junomoneta Finsol Private Limited (JFPL).
iii.Approved Singapore-based Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited (Temasek) proposed acquisition of
minority shareholding in Haldiram Snacks Food Private Limited (HSFPL) through its subsidiary, JongSong
Investments Pte. Limited.
iv.Approved 360 ONE WAM Limited (360 ONE) (including its group entities) proposed combined
acquisition of Batlivala & Karani Securities Private Limited, and Batlivala & Karani Finserv Private Limited.
CCI Approved Bajaj Group’s Proposal to Acquire Allianz’s Stakes in Insurance JV for Rs. 24,180 Crore
CCI has approved Bajaj Group’s proposal to acquire 26% stake each in Pune (Maharashtra)-based Bajaj
Allianz General Insurance Company Limited (BAGIC) and Pune-based Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company
Limited (BALIC) from its partner Allianz SE (Allianz), worth Rs 24,180 crore. This marks the largest deal in
India’s insurance sector.
• After the completion of this transaction, the shareholding of Bajaj Group will increase both in
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company, from the
existing 74% to 100%.
Key Details:
i.As per the proposed combination, Bajaj Group entities: Pune-based Bajaj Finserv Limited (BFS), Pune-
based Bajaj Holdings & Investment Limited (BHIL), and Wardha (Maharashtra)-based Jamnalal Sons Private
Limited (JSPL) will acquire proposed stakes in BALIC and BAGIC.
ii.The proposed transaction also involves the acquisition of 50% paid-up equity share capital of Pune-based
Bajaj Allianz Financial Distributors Limited (BAFDL) by BFS from Allianz.
About Key Entities Involved in Transaction:
i.BFS is a listed public limited company established under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956. It acts
as a promoter of financial services and an aggregator of healthcare services through its subsidiaries in India.
• It is also an unregistered Core Investment Company (CIC) as understood under the Core
Investment Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016 (Unregistered CIC).

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ii.BHIL is a listed public limited company established under the provisions of the Indian Companies Act,
1913, and is registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC)-
Investment and Credit Company (ICC).
iii.BALIC is a public limited company established under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956. It is a JV
between BFS and Allianz and a private sector insurance company registered with the Insurance Regulatory
and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) in 2001.
iv.BAFDL is a public limited company established under the provisions of Companies Act, 1956. It is a 50:50
JV between BFS and Allianz and is registered with IRDAI as a corporate agent (composite) for life and
general/ non-life insurance business.
v.BAGIC is also a public limited company established under the provisions of Companies Act, 1956. It is a JV
between BFS and Allianz and is registered with IRDAI, engaged primarily in life and general/ non-life
insurance business.
vi.JSPL is a private limited company established under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1913, and is
classified as an Unregistered CIC.
CCI Approved Acquisition of Majority Stake in Nazara Tech by Axana, Plutus, and Junomoneta
CCI has approved the acquisition of majority shareholding/control in Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Nazara
Technologies Limited (Nazara) that operates as a diversified platform in gaming and sports media, by three
entities, namely, Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN)-based Axana Estates Limited Liability Partnership
(LLP) (Axana), Ahmedabad (Gujarat)-based Plutus Wealth Management LLP (Plutus) and Gandhinagar
(Gujarat)-based Junomoneta Finsol Private Limited (JFPL).
• As per the proposed combination, Nazara (Target) is actively engaged in skill-based Real Money
Gaming (RMG), organizes esports events, and offers a multi-sports content platform catering
audiences in India and the United States of America (USA).
About Acquirers:
i.Axana is primarily engaged in real estate and related activities. It also invests buys, sells, and acquires
shares and securities and other financial instruments whether listed on recognised stock exchanges or
otherwise in India or elsewhere.
ii.Plutus is engaged in the business of proprietary stock and commodity broking, trading and investments in
stock, commodities and other related businesses.
iii.JFPL works in the businesses of proprietary stock broking and trades in equity, commodity, and
derivative markets.
CCI Approved Jongsong Investments Pte. Ltd Minority Stake Acquisition in Haldiram Snacks Food
CCI has approved Jongsong Investments Pte. Limited, an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-
based Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited (Temasek), proposed the acquisition of minority shareholding in
Noida (Uttar Pradesh, UP)-based Haldiram Snacks Food Private Limited (HSFPL).
• As per the proposed transaction, Jongsong Investments Pte (Acquirer) will purchase less than
10% of the issued and paid-up equity share capital of Haldiram Snacks Food Pvt. Ltd. (Target).
Key Point:
i.Haldiram Snacks Food was incorporated in India on December 12, 2022. The company, including its
affiliates, will be engaged in the manufacture and sale of packaged food products in India, like: snacks,
sweets, ready-to-eat products, dairy products, etc.
ii.Temasek is an investment holding company which covers wide spectrum of industries including,
transportation & industrials, financial services, telecommunications, consumer & real estate and others
(including credit).

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CCI Approved Proposed Acquisition of Batlivala & Karani Securities Private Limited & Batlivala &
Karanu Finserv Private Limited by 360 ONE
CCI has approved Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based wealth and asset management company, 360 ONE WAM
Limited (360 ONE) (including its group entities) proposed combined acquisition of Batlivala & Karani
Securities Private Limited, and Batlivala & Karani Finserv Private Limited.
• As per the proposed combination, 360 ONE (Acquirer) will buy shareholding in Batlivala & Karani
Securities Pvt. Ltd. (Target 1) which is engaged in the business of equity broking, distribution of
financial products, and Batlivala & Karani Finserv Private Limited (Target 2) which is engaged in
the business of distribution of financial products from Saahil Murarka, Batlivala & Karani
Resources Management (BKRM).
Recent Related News:
In April 2025, CCI approved a joint proposal of wealth management company 360 ONE Private Equity
Fund and New Delhi (Delhi)-based Bharti Life Ventures Private Limited (BLVPL) to buy certain stakes in
Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Bharti Axa Life Insurance Company Limited (BALIC)(Target), a limited
liability public unlisted company incorporated in India.

Singapore’s Singtel Sold 1.2% Stake in Bharti Airtel for SGD 2 Billion
In May 2025, Singapore based Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Singtel) sold
approximately 1.2% of its stake in New Delhi (Delhi) based Bharti Airtel Limited for Singapore Dollars
(SGD) 2 billion (approximately USD 1.54 billion or Rs 13,182 crore) through its investment arm, Mauritius-
based Pastel Limited.
• The divestment is part of Singtel’s ongoing capital management strategy aimed at optimizing its
asset portfolio and enhancing shareholder returns. The transaction generated an estimated gain
of SGD 1.4 billion (USD 1.08 billion) for Singtel.
i.Pastel Limited, a subsidiary of Singtel, sold 71 million shares of Bharti Airtel at Rs 1,814 per share,
reflecting a 2.85% discount to Airtel’s closing price on 16th May 2025.
ii.With this transaction, Singtel’s total shareholding in Bharti Airtel reduced to 28.3% from 29.5%, valued at
SGD 48 billion.

SEBI approves merger of Sumuka Agro Industries Limited with Gujjubhai Foods
In May 2025, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) granted approval for the merger
of Bengaluru(Karnataka) based Gujjubhai Foods Private Limited with Mumbai (Maharashtra)-
based Sumuka Agro Industries Limited. The merger now awaits final approval from the National
Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
• This strategic merger, executed through absorption, aims to consolidate the operations and
market strengths of both entities in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector.
Key Details of the Merger:
i.Share Exchange Ratio: Shareholders of Gujjubhai Foods will receive 17.5 shares of Sumuka Agro for
every 10 shares held in the private company.
ii.Promoter Stake Increase: Post-merger, the promoters’ stake in the combined entity will rise
from 27.71% to 64%.
iii.BSE Approval: The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) had given a ‘No objection’ to the proposal in July 2024.
Note: Sumuka Agro Industries Limited, established in 1989, is a publicly listed company engaged in the
production and distribution of branded Gujarati snacks, dry fruits, natural beverages, and packaged foods
across India.

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PNB inks Pact to Sell Entire Stake in ISARC for Rs. 34 crores
In May 2025, New Delhi (Delhi) based Punjab National Bank (PNB) has signed an agreement to sell its
entire 20.90% stake in Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Indian Small Medium Enterprise (SME) Asset
Reconstruction Company (ISARC) for Rs. 34.04 crores to the Mumbai based Authum Infrastructure and
Investment Limited (AIIL).
• The transaction involves the sale of 2.09 crore shares at Rs.16.29 each and is expected to be
completed by the end of the first quarter of the financial year 2025–26(Q1 of FY26).
i.The decision is in line with the revised guidelines of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which stipulated banks
may sponsor only one ARC at any point in time and must limit their investment in other ARCs to less than
10% of their paid-up capital of the company.
ii.The stakes in ISARC are held by AIIL (79.28%) and other Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and other financial
institutions (20.72%).
iii. ISARC was initially sponsored by Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh, UP) based Small Industries Development
Bank of India (SIDBI), Vadodara (Gujarat) based Bank of Baroda (BOB), New Delhi (Delhi) based Punjab
National Bank (PNB), and Mumbai (Maharashtra) based SIDBI Venture Capital Limited(SVCL), a wholly
owned subsidiary of Small Industries Development Bank of India(SIDBI).
Note:ISARC, the first ARC supported by large number of PSBs and undertakings, focuses on reviving
distressed assets in the SME sector.

CCI Approvals on May 27, 2025

On May 27, 2025, Competition Commission of India (CCI), Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) approved the
following proposals:
i.Approved the proposed combination involving JTPL, SCRTIPL, Solv-India, SCV-Master, Artal Asia and
founders of JTPL.
ii.Approved the proposed acquisition of 100% shareholding of Dowlais Group plc by American Axle &
Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.
iii.Approved the merger and demerger involving RPAL, MPPL, JKMPTL, and JKMGAL
CCI Approved the proposed combination involving JTPL, SCRTIPL, Solv-India, SCV-Master and Artal
Asia:
i.CCI has approved the proposal of acquisition of 100% shareholding in Bengaluru (Karnataka) based
Standard Chartered Research and Technology India Private Limited (SCRTIPL) (Target) by Bengaluru based
Jumbotail Technologies Private Limited (JTPL) (Acquirer).
• JTPL, an online marketplace, facilitating the wholesale and distribution of products; and providing
certain ancillary services to the sellers and buyers of the products on its platform.
ii.CCI has approved the issuance of certain shares of JTPL (Target) to London, United Kingdom (UK) based
SC Ventures Holdings Limited (SC Ventures), and Bengaluru based Solv-India Private
Limited (Acquirers).
• Solv, a Business to Business (B2B) Electronic (e)- commerce platform, backed by SCRTIPL,
facilitating Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to sell their products to retailers and
other businesses; and provides ancillary services such as payment collection and credit solutions
to the users of its platform ‘Solv’.
• SC Ventures does not have any business activity in India and is present only through its indirect
subsidiaries in relation to the online B2B business and other businesses.
iii.CCI has approved the subscription of certain shares in JTPL (Target) by Singapore-based SCV Master
Holding Company Private Limited (SCV Master) and Singapore-based Artal Asia Private Limited (Artal
Asia) (Acquirers).

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• SCV Master as an entity does not have any direct business activity in India and is only present
through its direct and indirect subsidiaries in relation to the online B2B business and other
businesses.
• Artal Asia invests in large-stage companies in e-commerce, food and beverage and grocery
industries, and has an indirect business presence in India through its affiliate entities including
JTPL.
iv.CCI has approved the subscription of certain shares in JTPL (Target) by Artal Asia and Founders, who
have agreed to backstop the investment obligations of certain other entities.
CCI Approved acquisition of 100% shareholding of Dowlais Group plc by American Axle &
Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.:
CCI has approved the proposal of acquisition of 100% shareholding of London, UK based Dowlais Group plc
(Target) by Michigan, United States of America (USA) based American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings,
Inc (Acquirer).
• Through this acquisition, American Axle will have sole control of Dowlais Group plc.
Key Details:
i.American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. is a company listed in the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE) and is the Ultimate Parent Entity (UPE) of the AAM Group.
• Globally, the AAM Group is engaged in the design, engineering, and manufacture of drive
transmission components and metal forming technologies to support electric, hybrid and internal
combustion vehicles.
• In India, AAM Group is engaged in the supply of drive transmission components and metal
automotive components.
iii.Dowlais Group is a company listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and is the UPE of the Dowlais
Group.
• Globally, the Dowlais Group is engaged in the development of driveline products, production of
sintered metal products for the automotive and industrial sectors, manufacture of atomized metal
powders and products manufactured using additive manufacturing processes.
• In India, the Dowlais Group is engaged in the supply of drive transmission components and metal
automotive components.
CCI Approved the merger and demerger involving RPAL, MPPL, JKMPTL, JKMGAL:
i.CCI has approved the merger of Thane (Maharashtra) based Ring Plus Aqua Limited (RPAL) and
Bengaluru based Maini Precision Products Limited (MPPL) into Thane based JK Maini Precision
Technologies Limited (JKMPTL).
• RPAL is engaged in manufacturing and exporting ring gears, flex plates, and water pump bearings.
• MPPL is engaged in manufacturing precision products for different industries and manufacturing
products based on the design requirements of its customers.
ii.CCI has also approved the demerger of the aerospace business of JKMPTL into Thane based JK Maini
Global Aerospace Limited (JKMGAL).
• Both JKMPTL and JKMGAL does not have any operations currently.
About Competition Commission of India (CCI):
Chairperson – Ravneet Kaur
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Founded – 2003

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Sarvam AI Launches ‘Bulbul v2’ Text-to-Speech Model with 11 Indian Languages
In May 2025, Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Sarvam Artificial Intelligence (Sarvam AI) Private Limited
launched ‘Bulbul v2’, an advanced AI based Text-To-Speech (TTS) model that supports 11 Indian
languages, enhancing digital voice applications with natural-sounding speech and authentic Indian accents.
• The model supports the following 11 Indian languages: Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi, Odia, Tamil,
Bengali, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, and English.
i.Bulbul v2 is Sarvam AI’s flagship TTS model designed to synthesize natural, human-like speech from
textual input in multiple Indian languages. It is an upgraded version of Bulbul v1, which was released in
August 2024.
ii.It is cost-efficient and offers India-first pricing for Application Programming Interface (API)
access, making AI speech services more accessible across India.
iii.The model offers fine-grained control over pitch, pace, and loudness, while also supporting multiple
sample rates ranging from 8 kilohertz(kHz) to 24kHz. Additionally, it includes smart normalization for
numbers, dates, and mixed-language text, ensuring more accurate and natural speech synthesis.

Elon Musk’s Starlink Receives Approval to Launch Satellite Internet Services in India
In May 2025, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, issued a Letter of
Intent (LoI) to Starlink, a satellite internet service provider owned by Elon Musk, marking a significant step
towards its commercial operations in India. This development comes nearly three years after Starlink
first applied for an operator licence.
• Starlink operates a constellation of over 7,000 low Earth orbit satellites, providing satellite
communication services in more than 100 countries. Its entry into the Indian market is poised to
enhance connectivity, especially in remote and underserved regions, aligning with the
government’s vision of digital inclusivity.
Key Developments:
i.Regulatory Progress: The LoI paves the way for Starlink to obtain a Global Mobile Personal
Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence, essential for offering satellite-based internet services in India.
ii.Security Compliance: Starlink has agreed to 29 stringent security conditions set by the DoT, including
real-time terminal tracking, mandatory local data processing, legal interception capabilities, and localisation
of at least 20% of its ground segment infrastructure within the initial years of operation.
iii.Pending Approvals: Before commencing services, Starlink must secure approvals from the Indian
National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and obtain spectrum allocation from the
government. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is currently finalising pricing
recommendations for the administrative allocation of satellite communication spectrum.
iv.Strategic Partnerships: Starlink has entered into agreements with major Indian telecom firms, including
Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Reliance Jio and New Delhi(Delhi)-based Bharti Airtel, to expand its reach and
explore bundled service offerings.

Chinese Researchers Developed First-Ever Asian Rice Pangenome to Enhance Climate Resilience
In May 2025, the scientist from the Beijing(China) based Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) launched the
first-ever pangenome of Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) by decoding the genomes of 144 wild and
cultivated rice varieties across Asia

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• The initiative aims to support the development of high-yield, disease-tolerant, and climate-
resilient rice cultivars, which are crucial amid rising global temperatures and threats to food
security.
• A pangenome is a complete collection of genes in rice, including those shared by all varieties and
those unique to certain types, helping scientists better understand and improve rice diversity.
Key Developments:
i.The pangenome was built using PacBio high-fidelity (HiFi) sequencing technology and computational
tools.
ii.Researchers identified 69,531 genes, including: 28,907 core genes and 13,728 wild-rice-specific genes
iii.Around 3.87 billion base pairs of genetic material were identified that were absent from the earlier
reference genome.
iv.The study confirmed that all Asian cultivated rice descended from Or-IIIa, a subgroup of Oryza rufipogon,
the wild ancestor of japonica rice.
v.About 20% of the identified genes are exclusive to wild rice, useful for phenotypic plasticity,
environmental adaptation, and regeneration traits.
Note: The New Delhi (Delhi) based Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed two
genome-edited rice varieties, Samba Mahsuri and MTU 1010, with improved drought resistance and
higher yields (under testing).

Taiwan Test-Fires USA-Supplied HIMARS Rocket System

On May 12, 2025, Taiwan conducted its first live-fire test of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket
System (HIMARS), supplied by the United States of America (USA), at the Jiupeng military base in Pingtung
country, Taiwan.
• This test was part of Taiwan’s annual missile drills aimed at
strengthening its asymmetric defense strategies .
• The drill was carried out by the Taiwan army’s 58th Artillery
Command.During the drill, 33 rockets were fired, with 11
launch vehicles each firing three rounds.
About HIMARS system:
i.HIMARS was manufactured by Maryland (USA)-based Lockheed
Martin Corporation, an American defence and aerospace
manufacturing company.
ii.HIMARS can be equipped with one pod containing six 227 Millimeter (mm) rockets or a single Army
Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) with a range of up to 300 Kilometres (km).
• In addition to long-range missiles, HIMARS can also launch 70-km-range rockets. It is also
designed to deliver long-range firepower rapidly and flexibly.
iii.It carries six packs of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), two Precision Strike Missiles
(PrSM) or one ATACMS missile, and is designed to launch the entire Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
family of munitions.
iv.It is the most technically advanced, affordable and sustainable artillery solution.It provides cutting-edge
technology on an indigenous platform.
v.It offers maximum commonality with M270 platform launch systems and MLRS interoperability. It
simplifies coalition operations, training, logistics and coordination.
Note: Taiwan has purchased 29 HIMARS from the USA, 11 were delivered in 2024. The second batch of 18
HIMARS is scheduled to be delivered in 2027

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About Taiwan:
President – Lai Ching-te
Capital – Taipei City
Currency – New Taiwan dollar(TWD)
About Lockheed Martin Corporation:
President – James Taiclet
Headquarters – Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America (USA)
Founded – 1995

Spanish Firm GMV Launched GPS-Navigation System “LUPIN” for the Moon
In May 2025, Spanish technology company Grupo Mecanica del Vuelo (GMV) has launched a Global
Positioning System (GPS)-like navigation system named ‘LUPIN’ for the moon that aims to revolutionalise
lunar missions with real-time navigation with applications (apps) such as Google Maps or Waze.
• The newly launched LUPIN, short for ‘Enabling High Performance PNT in the Lunar Environment’
was developed as part of the European Space Agency (ESA) programme, focused on testing
advanced Positioning, Navigation, and Timing(PNT) techniques.
i.The system, combines real-time mapping with existing lunar cartography, provides real-time positioning
for astronauts and rovers using signals from satellites orbiting the Moon.
ii.GVM conducted the field testing of LUPIN from April 27 to May 08, 2025, in La Oliva, Fuerteventura, one of
Spain’s Canary Islands, a site selected for its rocky, barren landscape similar to that of the Moon.
iii.LUPIN represents a significant step toward Europe’s goal of establishing a sustained human presence on
the Moon and serves as a precursor to future Mars exploration missions.

Akashteer: The Unseen Force behind India’s New War Capability

Akashteer, India’s fully indigenous, automated air defence control and reporting system, played a pivotal
role in destroying Pakistan’s aerial attacks, by neutralizing and intercepting every inbound projectile during
the 4-day military stand-off between India and Pakistan.
• During Operation Sindoor on May 9-10, 2025, Akashteer, including the advanced Akash NG,
acted as an invisible shield, intercepting multiple missiles and drone swarms launched from
Pakistan.
• While Pakistan relied on imported HQ-9 and HQ16 systems that failed to detect and intercept
Indian strikes, India demonstrated its dominance in real-time, automated air defence warfare.
Background:
i.The Ministry of Defence (MoD), Government of India (GoI) had signed an agreement worth Rs 1,982 crore
with Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Indian Defence Public Sector Unit (DPSU) Bharat Electronics
Limited (BEL) in March 2023, for the procurement of Akashteer for IA.
ii.In April 2024, IA commenced the induction of “Akashteer Control & Reporting Systems,” aimed at
enhancing its air defence capabilities.
iii.It is part of the wider Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and
Reconnaissance (C4ISR) framework.
Key Features of Akashteer:
i.Various sensors that are integrated with the system: Tactical Control Radar REPORTER, 3D Tactical
Control Radars, Low-level Lightweight Radar, and the radar of the Akash Weapon System.
ii.It is designed to automate detection, tracking, and engagement of enemy aircraft, drones, and missiles.
iii.It collects data from various sources, processes that data, and allows for automated, real-time
engagement decisions.

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iv.Its vehicle-mounted design offers high mobility, allowing easier deployment even in a hostile
environment.
v.Unlike traditional air defence models that depend on ground-based radars and manual decisions,
Akashteer enables independent monitoring of low-level airspace in battle zones and efficient control of
Ground-based Air Defence Weapon Systems.
vi.It connects smoothly with the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) of the Indian Air
Force (IAF) and TRIGUN of the Indian Navy (IN), to create a clear and real-time scenario of the battlefield.
Key Points:
i.The Government of India (GoI) has set a Rs 3 lakh crore target in defence production
by 2029, consolidating its position as a global defence manufacturing hub.
ii.The private sector contributes 21% to total defence production, promoting innovation and efficiency.
iii.Strong defence industrial base includes 16DPSUs, more than 430 licensed companies, and nearly 16,000
Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), bolstering India’s indigenous production capabilities.
iv.Currently, 65% of defence equipment is manufactured locally, marking a significant transition from the
previous 65-70% import dependency, demonstrating India’s self-reliance in defence.
Recent Related News:
In March 2025, Delhi-based Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian
Navy (IN) successfully conducted the flight-test of indigenously developed Vertically-Launched Short Range
Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, off the Odisha coast.
• It was launched from a land-based vertical launcher against a high-speed aerial target at a very
close range and low altitude, showing its Near-Boundary-Low Altitude capability.

ISRO’s PSLV-C61 Mission Carrying EOS-09 Satellite Fails Due to Third-Stage Anomaly
On 18th May 2025, Bengaluru, Karnataka based space agency of the Government of India(GoI), Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO) attempted its 101st mission by launching the Earth Observation Satellite
(EOS-09) aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C61) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre
(SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
• The mission aimed to place the 1,696.24 kilogram (kg)
EOS-09 into a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO) at an
altitude of 529 kilometers (km) but failed due to a third-
stage(PS3) anomaly.
Cause of Mission Failure:
The PSLV is a four-stage launch vehicle designed for efficient satellite
deployment. Its first stage (PS1) comprises a solid rocket motor
accompanied by six strap-on boosters. The second stage (PS2) uses
the liquid-fueled Vikas engine, while the third stage (PS3) operates with a solid rocket motor to deliver high
thrust. The final stage (PS4) is powered by two Earth-storable liquid engines.
• The mission proceeded nominally through the first and second stages. However, during the third
stage, an anomaly occurred due to a drop in chamber pressure within the motor case, leading to
the failure of the mission.
About the EOS-09 Satellite:
i.It is also known as RISAT-1B, the satellite formed part of India’s Earth Observation Satellite series and
marked the program’s ninth mission.
ii.Purpose: Provide 24/7 all-weather surveillance using C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for
applications in agriculture, disaster management, forestry, and border security.
iii.Key Features:
• Follow-up to EOS-04 (2022) with enhanced imaging frequency.

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• Equipped with five imaging modes, including ultra-high-resolution scans.

• Integrated deorbiting fuel for responsible post-mission disposal to reduce space debris
About PSLV-C61 Rocket:
i.Rocket Configuration: PSLV-XL (four-stage rocket with 6 strap-on boosters)
ii.Dimensions: 44.5 meters (m) tall, weighing 321 tonnes at liftoff
iii.Flight History:
• This failure marks the third unsuccessful launch out of 63 PSLV launches since its inception in
1993. The previous failures occurred in 1993 (PSLV-D1) and 2017 (PSLV-C39).
• Additionally, this is ISRO’s second mission failure in 2025, following the unsuccessful launch of
the NVS-02 navigation satellite in January 2025.
• Apart from this, the PSLV-C1 mission in 1997, which carried the IRS-1D satellite, experienced a
partial failure.
About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
Chairman – V Narayanan
Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established – 1969

China Launched 12 AI-Satellites to build World’s 1st Supercomputer in Orbit

In May 2025, China launched First batch of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered satellites aboard a Long
March 2D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre to build World’s 1st Supercomputer in Orbit
• These satellites are part of the ‘Three-Body Computing Constellation’, a network designed to
match and potentially surpass, the capabilities of the world’s most powerful supercomputers in
orbit.
• Batch contains 12 satellites and all are equipped with AI-powered computing systems and high-
speed laser communication links, which enables them to process data directly in space.
About Three-Body Computing Constellation:
i.The space supercomputer has been developed by Chinese start-up ADA Space in collaboration with
Zhejiang Lab and the Neijiang High-Tech Zone.
• On successful completion of the constellation in space, the system aims to achieve total computing
capacity of 1,000 Peta Operations per Second (POPS), equivalent to 1 quintillion operations per
second.
Note: At present, El Captain Supercomputer based at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in
California, the United States of America (USA), is considered one of the world’s most powerful
supercomputer, which has capacity to process over 1.72 POPS.
ii.Each satellite has the capacity to process maximum 744 Trillion Operations per Second (TOPS). Also, these
satellites carry a space-based AI model with 8 billion parameters, capable of processing raw satellite directly
in orbit.
iii.These newly launched satellites are interconnected through high-speed laser links capable of data
transfer rates up to 100 gigabits per second, the initial network offers a combined computing power of 5
POPS and 30 terabytes of on-board storage.
iv.Chengdu (China)-based Guoxing Aerospace, an AI satellite developer, was mainly responsible for
developing the intelligent satellite platforms and monitoring satellite assembly.
• While, HiStarlink, a start-up that has specialization in laser communications, developed the high-
speed optical terminals that enables data transfers between satellites in the network.

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China’s LandSpace Developed Enhanced Zhuque-2 Rocket Launched 6 Satellites into Orbit
In May 2025, Zhuque-2E Y2, a new methane-powered rocket developed by Beijing (China)-based
LandSpace Technology Corporation Limited has successfully launched 6 satellites into orbit. This marks the
5th launch of its Zhuque-2 series methane-fueled rocket.
• Also, this marks the 27th orbital launch of the year for China.
• These satellites were lifted off from a dedicated pad at Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation
Test Area at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China.
Note: In July 2023, LandSpace became the world’s 1st company to launch a methane-liquid oxygen rocket,
ahead of United States of America (USA) rivals including Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.
About 6 Satellites:
i.These newly launched satellites were mainly developed by Changsha (China)-based Spacety, also known as
Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute.
ii.The rocket carrier included a radar satellite named ‘Tianyi-42’ will be used for commercial C-band
synthetic aperture radar imagery.
• 2 multispectral satellites, Tianyi-29 and Tianyi-35 will be used for optical remote sensing. Both
these satellites will help in environmental monitoring and identifying mineral deposits.
• 3 research-focused satellites namely, Tianyi-34, Tianyi-45 and Tianyi-46 will be used for scientific
experiments and will help with China’s deep-space exploration ambitions, weighing between 20
kilogram (kg) and 300 kg.
iii.Tiany-45 satellite uses argon ion thrusters and will be used for active deorbit control at the end of
mission.
• While, Tianyi-45 is equipped with separate gamma-ray burst and X-ray polarization detector
payloads, and a camera which is specifically used to observe aurora.
Key Points:
i.The latest version of Zhuque-2 series includes technical improvements that will help the LandSpace in
achieving its goal of launching reusable rocket.
ii.This was the 2nd flight of enhanced Zhuque-2 (Vermillion Bird-2), or Zhuque-2E, which has the capacity to
carry payload of 4,000 kg to a 500 kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.
iii.Zhuque-2E is equipped with upgraded Tianque-12A engines, while 2nd stage included Tianque-15A
engine used a niobium-tungsten alloy extended nozzle.
iv.Also, for the 1st time quasi-real-time wind correction trajectory design technology is used in the mission
and it is claimed to be developed domestically.
About LandSpace Technology Corporation Limited:
Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Zhang Changwu
Headquarters- Beijing, China
Founded- 2015

JNCASR Develops Super-Fast-Charging Sodium-Ion Battery with NASICON Technology

In May 2025, Researchers at Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific
Research (JNCASR), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under
the Ministry of Science and Technology(MoS&T), have developed a Sodium-Ion Battery (SIB) utilizing
NASICON (Na Super Ionic Conductor) technology. It can reach 80% charge in just 6 minutes and supports
more than 3,000 charging cycles.
• The research team, led by Prof. Premkumar Senguttuvan and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
scholar Biplab Patra, improved the anode material to get these results.
• The battery’s performance was tested using advanced methods like electrochemical cycling and
quantum simulations.

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i.SIB is built using a NASICON –type cathode and anode material, specifically
Na₁.₀V₀.₂₅Al₀.₂₅Nb₁.₅(PO₄)₃, which has been improved by reducing particle size to the nanoscale, adding a
carbon coating, and doping with aluminium to enhance conductivity.
ii.These modifications enable faster sodium-ion movement and reduced fire risks compared to lithium
batteries.
iii.Sodium is abundant and inexpensive in India, unlike lithium, which is rare and mostly imported. This
makes the battery technology a promising option for powering electric vehicles (EVs), solar grids, drones,
and rural electrification projects, helping to make clean energy accessible across India.
Note: This innovation addresses the limitations of lithium-ion batteries, which are costly, resource-
constrained, and rely on imports.

Agnikul Cosmos successfully fires India’s First Electric Motor-Driven Semi-Cryogenic Engine Test
Firing
On 23rd May 2025, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN) based space start-up, AgniKul Cosmos Private Limited had
successfully fired India’s first electric motor-driven semi-cryogenic engine which is set to power its
upcoming Agnibaan launch vehicle.
• This is the first time an engine of this kind has been developed and tested in India.
Key Highlights:
i.The start-up highlighted that electric motor-driven throttling enables – higher accuracy and rapid
response, both of which are critical for handling complex trajectories in space missions.
• The test showcased the engine’s ability to throttle across a broad range of thrust levels,
highlighting the technology’s flexibility and operational reliability.
ii.Agnikul Cosmos has developed this unique system with its signature single-piece engine design and
several sub-systems for the pump.
• They were 3 Dimension (3D) -printed and assembled at their Rocket Factory – 1 at Indian
Institute of Technology(IIT) Madras Research Park in Chennai(TN).
iii.Along with the engine, Agnikul Cosmos has also designed and developed the motor drives and associated
control software in-house.
iv.This successful engine firing could soon pave the way for clustered engine tests, where multiple engines
are fired together.
• This a key step for building more powerful launch vehicles capable of carrying bigger payloads to
space.
v.This event further highlights the company’s commitment to innovation and self-reliance in India’s space
industry.
About Semi-Cryogenic Engine:
i.Traditional rocket engines rely on either solid propellants or fully cryogenic fuel systems.
• A semi-cryogenic engine is a type of rocket engine that uses a combination of Liquid Oxygen (LOX,
a cryogenic oxidizer) and a refined form of kerosene, typically RP-1 (a room-temperature
hydrocarbon fuel), as its propellants.
ii.Semi-cryogenic engines offer higher specific impulse (efficiency) than solid or purely liquid-fueled engines
using hypergolic propellants.
iii.Agnikul’s engine is India’s first homegrown electric motor-powered semi-cryogenic engine, a major step
in indigenous space propulsion, already used globally in rockets like Falcon 9 and Soyuz.
About Agnikul Cosmos Private Limited:
It is an Indian private aerospace manufacturer and commercial launch service provider based in National
Centre for Combustion Research and Development of IIT Madras, Chennai (TN).
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Srinath Ravichandran

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Headquarters – Tamil Nadu (TN)

Established – 2017

Jarosite: A Natural Geological Clock for Mars Exploration

In May 2025, Indian researchers investigated Jarosite, a rare iron-potassium sulfate mineral found in the
arid Kachchh region of Gujarat, confirming its potential as a natural geological clock for Mars exploration.
• It is typically formed in acidic and saline environments and is commonly associated with acid
mine drainage, oxidized ore deposits, and glacial or clay-rich terrains.
i.Jarosite is a yellow-brown hydrous sulphate mineral composed of potassium (K), ferric iron (Fe³⁺), and
sulphate (SO₄) with the chemical formula KFe₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆.
ii.It is a hydrous sulfate mineral with a trigonal crystal structure, a hardness of 2.5 to 3.5 on the Mohs scale,
a dark yellow to yellow-brown color, thermal stability up to 450°C, and is formed by the oxidation of iron
sulfides like pyrite, serving as the iron analogue of alunite.
iii.Researchers collected six jarosite vein samples from Kachchh and analyzed
their luminescence properties in a laboratory.
• Luminescence refers to the light emitted by minerals when they release energy stored from
natural radiation over time.
iv.The study found that jarosite grains became saturated with radiation doses between 590 and 2,600 gray,
demonstrating their ability to record geological events accurately.
Note: Notably, jarosite has been previously identified on Mars by NASA’s rovers Spirit, Opportunity, and
Curiosity, signaling the past existence of acidic and oxidizing conditions on the Martian surface.

Bengaluru-Based ADTL Delivers Indigenous Surya VHF Radar to IAF

Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Alpha Design Technologies Private Limited (ADTL) delivered the first
of six indigenously developed Surya Very High Frequency (VHF) radar systems to the Indian Air Force
(IAF). This delivery, part of a Rs.200 crore contract, was completed in March 2025.
• The Surya VHF radar is a mobile, solid-state three dimensional (3D) radar designed to
detect stealth aircraft and low-observable threats, thereby strengthening India’s defense
infrastructure.
Key features of Surya VHF radars:
i.Detection Range: The Surya VHF radar offers a detection range of up to 360 kilometers (km) for targets
with a radar cross-section of 2 square meters (sq.m).
ii.Altitude Coverage: Capable of detecting targets up to 15 km in altitude.
iii.Operational Band: VHF band (30–300 megahertz, MHz), leveraging longer wavelengths to neutralize
radar-absorbing coatings on stealth platforms.
iv.Mobility: Mounted on two 6×6 trucks, enabling rapid deployment across diverse terrains. The radar
performs 10 rotations per minute for 360° coverage.
v.Integration: Compatible with India’s C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers,
Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) framework and indigenous systems like Akash
missiles and Ashwini Low-Level Transportable Radar (LLTR)
About Alpha Design Technologies Private Limited (ADTL):
ADTL specialises in defence and aerospace technologies, is a part of Adani Defence Systems and
Technologies Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited.
President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Hari Prasad HS
Headquarters – Bengaluru (Karnataka)
Established – 2003

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Indrajaal Launched AI-Powered Anti-Drone Solution ‘Indrajaal Infra’ to Protect India’s Critical
Infrastructure
In May 2025, Hyderabad (Telangana)-based Indrajaal, an autonomous anti-drone technology company,
launched ‘Indrajaal Infra’, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered solution to protect India’s high-value
infrastructure from the growing threat of drone warfare.
• Indrajaal Infra has been designed to secure nuclear power plants, power grids, oil refineries,
ports, and airports against rogue drone attacks.
i.Indrajaal Infra, built on the SkyOS platform, uses AI-driven threat detection along with sensors, spoofers,
and jammers to cover airspace up to 4,000 square kilometers (sq km).
ii.Indrajaal Infra was first operational at a naval port in Gujarat during a recent cross-border escalation
with Pakistan. The system is now being deployed at India’s largest naval port in Karnataka to strengthen
India’s maritime and industrial defence infrastructure.
iii.Drone strikes can cause severe disruptions, with refinery operations losses estimated at Rs 400-800
crore per day, while logistics hubs and ports could face weeks of downtime and export disruptions.
• Damage to power grids or nuclear facilities can potentially paralyse entire cities and regions.

Intelsat Receives IN-SPACe Approval to Offer Direct Satellite Broadcast Services in India
On May 27, 2025, United States of America (USA) based Intelsat, a multinational satellite services provider
has received an approval from the Ahmedabad (Gujarat) based Indian National Space Promotion and
Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), Department of Space (DoS), Government of India (GoI), to provide direct
satellite coverage to media organizations in India.
• The approval authorizes Intelsat to operate four Geostationary (GEO) satellites such as Indian
Space (IS)-17, IS-20, IS-36, and IS-39, offering Communication Band (C-Band) coverage across
India.
• Following the authorization, Intelsat secured contracts with three of India’s largest media
companies, expanding its regional footprint.
Key Points:
i.The approved satellite fleet will primarily serve the dynamic broadcast media industry of India, enabling
enhanced content delivery and distribution capabilities across the subcontinent and from India to other
regions of the world.
ii.The satellite network with four satellites covering the region will provide Indian broadcasters with
reliable, high-quality connectivity solutions that meet their evolving needs.
iii.Intelsat has become one of the first foreign satellite operators to receive approval from the Indian
government to provide satellite coverage in India
About Intelsat:
Intelsat is a leading provider of satellite communication services, operating a global network of satellites to
deliver high-quality, cost-effective video and broadband services.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – David C. Wajsgras
Headquarters – Virginia, United States of America (USA)
Founded – 20 August 1964
About Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe):
Chairman – Pawan Kumar Goenka
Headquarters – Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Founded – 24 June 2020

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Google Unveils ‘AI Matryoshka’: AI-First Strategy Emphasizing Intelligence and Privacy
Challenges
In May 2025, California (United States of America, USA)-based Google LLC introduced its Artificial
Intelligence (AI)-first restructuring strategy, titled “AI Matryoshka”, during the Google I/O Developers
Conference 2025 held in California.
• This multi-layered AI ecosystem aims to revolutionize
interactions among users, developers, and enterprises by
deeply embedding AI across all Google platforms.
• Inspired by Russian nesting dolls, AI Matryoshka places
Google’s core AI, powered by the Gemini 2.5 models, at its
center, with each surrounding layer representing a
product or platform that leverages this central
intelligence.
Key Components of AI Matryoshka:
i.Layered Architecture: The strategy integrates AI uniformly across Google’s platforms, creating an
interconnected and agentic experience.
ii.Central Intelligence: Google’s core AI functions as the central brain, powering every layer from
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to user applications.
iii.Gemini 2.5 Models: The Gemini 2.5 Pro model for complex reasoning and coding tasks, while the Gemini
2.5 Flash model for efficiency, offering 20–30% better performance and supporting multi-speaker Text-To-
Speech (TTS) in 24 languages.
iii.Ironwood TPUs: Google’s seventh-generation Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), named Ironwood,
deliver 5 exaFLOPS (Floating point operations per second) of computing power, enabling large-scale deep
learning and AI model training.
iv.Generative Media Models: AI models such as Imagen 4, Veo 3, and Lyria 2 generate high-quality images,
videos, and music. SynthID tools are employed to watermark and verify content, ensuring copyright
protection and authenticity.
v.Developer Tools: The Gemini API and Vertex AI support the Model Context Protocol (MCP) for agent
interactions and provide thinking budgets for better resource management.
vi.User Integration: AI Mode in Search offers deep, cited search results, while the Gemini App enables
private data analysis, raising important considerations about user privacy.
About Google LLC:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Sundar Pichai
Headquarters – California, the United States of America (USA)
Established – 1998

China’s Long March-4B Rocket Successfully Launched ‘Shijian-26 Satellite’ for Land Survey and
Environmental Monitoring
On 29th May 2025, China successfully launched the ‘Shijian-26 satellite’ into space aboard a Long March-
4B carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in northwest China’s Gobi Desert.
• The satellite successfully entered its sun-synchronous orbit, marking China’s 33rd rocket launch
in 2025 and the 579th mission of the Long March rocket series.
Key Highlights:
i.Aim: The satellite collects data to support land monitoring, environmental protection, and economic
planning, strengthening China’s space-based information services.
ii.Developed by: Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Heilongjiang, China, in collaboration with Shenzhen
(China) based Aerospace Dongfanghong Satellite Co., Limited, a subsidiary of China Academy of Space

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Technology (CAST); and Jilin (China) based Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics
(CIOMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
iii.Rocket Specifications:
• The Long March 4B (Chang Zheng 4B or CZ-4B) is a three-stage, medium-lift launch vehicle.
• Built by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), Shanghai, China.
• Capable of carrying 2.5 metric tons (mt) to a 700 kilometer (km) sun-synchronous orbit
• Introduced in 1999, it has become a reliable workhorse for China’s space missions, particularly
for deploying satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) and Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).
iv.This mission reinforces China’s leadership in space technology, contributing to sustainable development
and national growth.
About Shijian-26 satellite:
The Shijian series of satellites is designed to carry out scientific experiments and test emerging space
technologies.
• The preceding mission, Shijian-25, launched in January 2025, focused on demonstrating on-orbit
refueling and technologies aimed at extending satellite lifespans.
Major Chinese Rocket Launches in 2025:
• In March 2025, China launched the TJS-15 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit.
• In February 2025, the ChinaSat-10R satellite was launched to replace the aging ChinaSat-10,
enhancing China’s satellite communication services.
• In January 2025, A CERES-1 rocket launched five satellites, including Yunyao-1 37-40 and JTX-A-
05, into orbit to collect atmospheric and ionospheric data.

DEFENCE
EXERCISE
INS Sharda Participates Inaugural India-Maldives HADR Exercise in Maldives
In May 2025, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sharda arrived at Maafilaafushi Atoll in Maldives to participate in the
inaugural Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise scheduled from May 4-10, 2025.
• This joint exercise highlights the strengthening defence and maritime cooperation between India
and the Maldives and aligns with India’s regional maritime vision “MAHASAGAR” (Mutual and
Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
Objectives of the Exercise:
The HADR exercise aims to enhance interoperability between the Indian Navy (IN) and the Maldives
National Defence Force (MNDF).
• It will focus on:Disaster Response Coordination, Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations, Medical
Assistance, Logistical Support, Joint Drills, Training Sessions and Community Engagement during
simulated natural disaster scenarios
About MAHASAGAR initiative:
The MAHASAGAR initiative, unveiled by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi in March 2025 during his visit
to Mauritius, stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
• This strategic vision builds upon the 2015 SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region)
doctrine, expanding its scope to foster deeper cooperation among Global South nations across
various domains.
India-Maldives Defence Cooperation:
i.India is the primary training partner of MNDF, having trained over 1,500 personnel in the last decade.
ii.India has also conducted over 630 medical evacuations (MEDEVACs), Search and Rescue (SAR)

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operations, and air surveillance missions since 2019, and supports MNDF with infrastructure like the
Composite Training Centre, Coastal Radar System, and “Ekatha” harbor (2023).
About Maldives:
President – Mohamed Muizzu
Capital – Malé
Currency – Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)

Quad Partners Conduct Tabletop Exercise in Hawaii to Launch IPLN

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) partners :India, Australia, Japan, and the United States of
America (USA), conducted a Tabletop Exercise (TTX) at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS)
in Honolulu, Hawaii (USA) from April 28 to May 2, 2025 to simulate the launch of the Quad Indo-Pacific
Logistics Network (IPLN).
• TTX was aimed at simulating real-world maritime scenarios to enhance coordination,
interoperability, and information-sharing among the Quad nations and maritime agencies.
About Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN):
i.The IPLN is a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing shared logistics capabilities among Quad nations to
support civilian disaster response in the Indo-Pacific region.
ii.It enables faster, coordinated, and efficient deployment of humanitarian assistance and disaster
relief (HADR) by creating a robust, interoperable logistics network.
Key Highlights:
i.Civilian-First Focus: Designed to respond effectively to natural disasters including cyclones, tsunamis,
and public health emergencies.
ii.Shared Logistics Framework: Promotes joint resource planning, digital logistics mapping, and real-time
tracking systems.
iii.Interoperability: Builds mutual trust and logistical coordination among Quad members to enable
flexible and scalable crisis response.
iv.Technology-Driven: Encourages the use of digital tools to enhance supply chain responsiveness.
v.Regional Reach: Covers Indo-Pacific islands, coastal nations, and remote areas that are vulnerable to
disasters.
Complementary Initiatives:
i.Quad Pandemic Preparedness Workshop 2025: It was held in New Delhi(Delhi) in India under its Quad
presidency from March 17 to 19, 2025.
ii.Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA): Focuses on maritime security and
illegal fishing monitoring through satellite technology.
About Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad):
i.Quad is an informal strategic group to strengthen cooperation, ensure maritime security, economic growth,
and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific, especially in response to China’s growing influence.
ii.The Quad was initially launched in 2007 by Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Shinzo Abe, with support from
Australian PM John Howard, Indian PM Manmohan Singh, and United States of America (USA) Vice President
(VP) Dick Cheney, and was later revived in 2017.

IA Conducted Successful ‘Teesta Prahar’ Exercise in West Bengal

In May 2025, the Indian Army (IA) successfully conducted a large-scale integrated field training exercise
named ‘Teesta Prahar’ at the Teesta field firing range in West Bengal (WB).
• The exercise demonstrated operational preparedness and the seamless coordination between
combat and support units of IA in challenging riverine terrain.

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About Teesta Prahar Exercise:

i.Key combat and support arms, including the Infantry, Artillery,
Armoured Corps, Mechanised Infantry, Para Special Forces, Army
Aviation, Engineers, and Signals, had actively participated in the
exercise.
ii.The main highlight of the exercise was the deployment and
assessment of newly inducted next-generation weapon systems,
military platforms, and advanced battlefield technologies, which is
in alignment with the IA’s modernization initiatives.
iii.The exercise focused on jointness, synergy, and seamless coordination, showing IA’s ability to function
quickly and effectively across diverse terrain and adverse weather conditions.
iv.The exercise featured tactical drills, battle rehearsals, and adaptive manoeuvres aimed to enhance
responses to evolving battle situations.
DRDO’s DMSRDE Developed High-Pressure Polymeric Membrane :
In May 2025, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh, UP)-based Defence Materials Stores and Research & Development
Establishment (DMSRDE), a laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has
developed an indigenous nanoporous multi-layered polymeric membrane for high-pressure seawater
desalination technology for Indian Coast Guard (ICG) vessel desalination plants.
• This newly developed technology will help ICG’s ships to address the serious challenge of stability
when exposed to chloride ions in saline water and was completed within a time period of 8
months.
i.As per Ministry of Defence (MoD), DMSRDE and ICG successfully conducted the existing desalination plant
of ICG’s Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV).
ii.The ICG will give final operational approval following 500 hours (hrs) of operational testing.
About Indian Army (IA):
Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) – General Upendra Dwivedi
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 1895
Motto- Seva Paramo Dharma (Service Before Self)

Indian Army & NDRF Conducted ‘Exercise Raahat’ in Nagaland

The Indian Army (IA) Engineers under the Spear Corps, in collaboration with National Disaster Relief
Force (NDRF) conducted ‘Exercise Raahat’ from May 13 to 15, 2025 at Rangapahar Military Station in
Dimapur, Nagaland.
• The idea of this bilateral exercise was conceptualized with sole vision of enhancing the readiness
and efficiency of disaster relief operations, especially during the monsoon season.
i.The 1st two days of the exercise was focused on strategic planning and scenario-based
discussions which involved experts from both agencies who dissected real-life case studies, engaged in
group discussions and explored innovative response strategies.
ii.The exercise concluded with Lecture-cum-demonstration, where, Sappers of the IA and NDRF
showcased state-of-the-art disaster relief equipment and simulated rescue and medical operations.
iii.Also, the Flood Relief Columns from various units of the Spear Corps participated in the exercise, which
reinforces the importance on inter-agency cooperation.
Note: The NDRF is India’s premier specialized force established in 2006 under the Disaster Management
Act, 2005. It operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) and functions as the operational arm of the
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

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MoU Signed
India’s Samtel Avionics and Malaysia’s ATSC Forge Strategic Partnership for RMAF’s Su-30MKM
Fleet
In May 2025, New Delhi (Delhi) based Samtel Avionics Limited has partnered with Kuantan (Malaysia)
based Aerospace Technology Systems Corporation.Sdn.Bhd. (ATSC) to jointly support the Royal Malaysian
Air Force (RMAF)’s fleet, especially the Su-30MKM aircraft, with cutting-edge avionics systems, repair and
overhaul services and post-sales support.
• ATSC will become a Centre of Excellence (COE), Samtel will supply cutting-edge technology and
facilitate local expertise development.
• This collaboration builds on Samtel’s prior agreement with the RMAF in October 2024 to equip all
18 Su-30MKM jets with Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) and Head-Up Displays (HUDs).
i.The partnership focuses on providing advanced avionics, Maintenance, Repair and Operation (MRO)
services.
ii.Under the agreement, ATSC and Samtel will jointly support RMAF in Malaysia for the repair, upgrade,
technical services, and post-sales support related to aircraft display systems, avionics components and
automated test equipment of Su-30MKM aircraft and other RMAF aircrafts in Malaysia.
iii.Samtel will supply advanced avionics and display systems, supporting local capability development
through knowledge transfer and sustained engagement.

TEST
DRDO and IN Successfully Test Indigenously Developed MIGM
In May 2025, New Delhi(Delhi) based the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), under
the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Government of India (GoI), and the Indian Navy (IN) successfully conducted
combat firing (with reduced explosive payload) of the indigenously designed Multi-Influence Ground Mine
(MIGM).
• This system aims to enhance IN’s defense against modern stealth ships and submarines, offering
advanced detection and engagement capabilities.
i.MIGM is an advanced underwater naval mine designed and developed by Visakhapatnam (Andhra
Pradesh) based Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), in collaboration with Pune
(Maharashtra) based High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) and Chandigarh (Punjab &
Haryana) based Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL).
ii.Visakhapatnam based Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Hyderabad (Telangana)-based Apollo
Microsystems Limited (AML) are the production partners of MIGM.

India Successfully Test-Fires Indigenous ‘Bhargavastra’ Counter-Drone System in Odisha

In May 2025, India successfully conducted trials of its indigenously developed low-cost counter-drone
system, Bhargavastra, at the Seaward Firing Range in Gopalpur, Odisha. The system has been developed
by Nagpur (Maharashtra)-based Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL), a subsidiary of Solar
Industries India Limited (SIIL).
• It is designed to neutralize drone swarms through a two-layered defence system comprising
unguided micro-rockets for wide-area impact and guided micro-missiles for precision targeting.
Test Details:
i.Three trials were performed: two involved firing a single micro-rocket each, and the third demonstrated
the system’s salvo capability by firing two micro-rockets within two seconds.
ii.All rockets met the required launch parameters, validating Bhargavastra’s effectiveness in counter-drone
operations.

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Key Features of Bhargavastra:

i.Hard Kill Mode Operation: Bhargavastra operates in a hard kill mode, employing unguided micro-rockets
as the first layer of defense to neutralize drone swarms within a lethal radius of 20 meters (m).
ii.Guided Micro-Missiles: The second layer comprises guided micro-missiles, previously tested, providing
pinpoint accuracy for targeted neutralization of drones.
iii.Detection Range: The system can detect small and incoming drones at distances up to 2.5
kilometers (km), while its radar can identify small aerial threats within a range of 6 to 10 km.
• It is equipped with an Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor suite that enables accurate
detection and tracking of Low Radar Cross-Section (LRCS) targets.
• It is also equipped with a state-of-the-art Command-and-Control Centre, the system integrates
advanced C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence) technologies to
enhance operational effectiveness.
iv.Modular Architecture: The system’s modular design allows integration of additional soft-kill measures,
such as jamming and spoofing, providing a comprehensive shield against Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
v.Adaptability: Designed for deployment across diverse terrains, including high-altitude regions above
5,000 m, Bhargavastra addresses the unique operational demands of India’s armed forces.
About Solar Industries India Limited (SIIL):
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Manish Satyanarayan Nuwal
Headquarters – Nagpur, Maharashtra
Founded – 1983

CSIR-NAL Successfully Conducts Pre-Monsoon Flight Tests of Indigenous HAP Prototype

In May 2025, Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), operating under the
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), successfully completed a series of pre-monsoon flight
tests for its indigenous High-Altitude Platform (HAP) prototype, marking a significant advancement in
India’s capabilities in border surveillance and aerial monitoring.
• The tests with upgraded certified pilot system, were conducted from May 8 to May 13, 2025, at
the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Challakere in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
• The HAP aims to provide continuous aerial coverage for military and civilian needs like border
security, disaster help, telecom, weather forecasts, and environmental monitoring.
Test outcomes of HAP prototype:
i.The subscale HAP prototype reached an altitude of 24,000 feet (FL240), demonstrating its capability to
operate in the stratosphere.
ii.The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) maintained flight even under reduced solar energy conditions due to
cloud cover, showcasing its endurance and reliability.
Features of HAP prototype:
i.The HAP equipped with a certified sensor-redundant autopilot system can operate fully autonomously
without human intervention.
ii.The subscale model features a 12-meter (m) wingspan and weighs less than 22 kilograms (kg), with a
payload capacity of approximately 1 kg.
iii.Full-Scale HAP is planned to operate at 65,000 feet (20 km) with a 10 kg payload, offering geographic
persistence for extended missions
About National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL):
Director – Dr. Abhay Anant Pashilkar
Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka
Founded – June 1, 1959

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OTHER DEFENCE NEWS

IA and IAF’s ALH Dhruv Helicopters Cleared for Operations After Safety Review
On 1st May 2025, Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) announced that the
Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv variants operated by the Indian Army (IA) and the Indian Air
Force (IAF) have been cleared for operations.
• The clearance comes after recommendations made by a Defect Investigation (DI) Committee, with
a time-bound plan for phased resumption of operations already in place in coordination with the
services.
i.About ALH Dhruv:
• It is a 5.5-tonne, twin-engine, multi-role helicopter developed indigenously by HAL.
• Over 340 ALH Dhruv helicopters have been manufactured so far, used across military and
civilian sectors.
ii.Impact on Defence Operations:
• The grounding significantly impacted military operational readiness, including the Sarang
Helicopter Display Team of the IAF, which did not participate in Aero India 2025.
• The resumption of flights comes after limited flying resumed in Anantnag, Jammu &
Kashmir (J&K), following the Pahalgam terror attack.

DRDO Conducts Maiden Flight-Trials of Stratospheric Airship Platform in MP

In May 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Research and Development
(R&D) organization of Ministry of Defence (MoD), has successfully conducted the maiden flight-trials
of Stratospheric Airship Platform from Sheopur Trial Site in Madhya Pradesh(MP) to boost India’s
Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
• The unmanned Stratospheric Airship Platform, developed by Agra(Uttar Pradesh, UP)-based
Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) was launched carrying an
instrumental payload to an altitude of around 17 kilometers (km)
Key Points of the trial:
i.The total duration of the flight was about 62 minutes.
ii.The data received from onboard sensors would be utilized for development of high-quality fidelity
simulation models for future high-altitude airship flights.
iii.Envelop pressure control and emergency deflation systems were deployed in flight for their performance
evaluation.
About Stratospheric Airship Platform:
i.Stratospheric Airship Platform, functions as a High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS), designed to operate
between 17km and 22 km above the earth for extended periods
• It uses Helium for lift and is powered by solar energy, with onboard batteries enabling night-time
operation.
ii.Unlike other satellites or aircraft, this platform can fly over a fixed area for days or weeks, offering
persistent surveillance and communications support.
• The capacity to carry imaging sensors, radar systems or telecommunication payloads, makes it
valuable for border monitoring, disaster response and wide-area intelligence missions.
iii.It also fills a critical gap between drones and satellites, delivering the reach of space-based systems,
which offers faster deployment, lower costs, and greater operational flexibility.
About Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
Chairman – Dr Samir Venkatapathy Kamat
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi

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Establishment – 1958
About Ministry of Defence (MoD):
Union Minister – Rajnath Singh (Constituency – Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
Minister of State (MoS) – Sanjay Seth (Constituency – Ranchi, Jharkhand)

IA Received New Batch of Russian-origin ‘Igla-S’ Shoulder-fired Air Defence Missiles

In May 2025, the Indian Army (IA) has received fresh batch of the Russian-origin ‘Igla-S missiles’, are
portable, shoulder-fired weapons, designed to neutralize low-flying threats such as helicopters, Unmanned
Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and low-speed aircraft, especially in forward areas and mountainous terrain.
• These missiles have been procured as part of an Rs 260 crore contract signed by the Government
of India (GoI) under the emergency procurement powers.
• Apart from these missiles, the Ministry of Defence (MoD), in coordination with IA has issued a
Request for Proposal (RFP) to buy 48 launchers, 48 night vision sights, 85 missiles, and one
missile test station for the Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS)- Next Generation
(NG).
Note: In April 2024, IA acquired the 1st batch of 24 Russian-made Igla-S missiles, as part of an agreement
involving domestic production in India.
Background:
i.The Igla-S man-portable air defence systems were assembled in India by Ahmedabad(Gujarat) based Adani
Defence Systems And Technologies Limited(ADSTL).
ii.The Igla-S assembly was undertaken following a Technology Transfer (ToT) agreement between ADSTL
and Rosoboronexport, a Russian state corporation.
iii.The IA contracted ADSTL to assemble 48 Igla-S launchers, 100 missiles, night sights, and a testing station,
with a total value of Rs.260 crore.
About Igla-S Missile:
i.It is also known by its North Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO) designation SA-24 ‘Grinch’. It is an
upgraded version of the Igla missiles which have been in use in the Indian defence system since 1990s. This
new version of Igla missile offers better resistance to countermeasures and enhanced seeker accuracy.
ii.It is a shoulder-launched Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system that uses Infrared (IR) homing to lock onto
the heat signatures of targets in air.
iii.It is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS) comprising 9M342 missile, 9P522 launching
mechanism, 9V866-2 mobile test station, and 9F719-2 test set, it offers comprehensive air defence
capabilities.
iv.It is capable of engaging targets maximum 6 kilometer (km) away and at altitudes of maximum 3.5 km.
v.The weight of this system (including launcher and missile) is 19 kilogram (kg), which makes it highly
portable, thus can be rapidly deployed by infantry units.
About VSHORADS:
i.It is a indigenous 4th generation technically-advanced MANPAD, designed for quick deployment and
engagement of aerial threats at short ranges.
ii.It is designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)’s Hyderabad
(Telangana)-based Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in partnership with other DRDO laboratories and
Development cum Production Partners (DcPPs).
iii.It has a strike range of nearly 6-8 km and are most effective when operated below altitudes of 4.5 km.
iv.The missile system has the capability to meet the requirements of all 3 branches of Indian Armed Forces
i.e. IA, Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Air Force (IAF).

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Recent Related News:

In April 2025, New Delhi (Delhi)-based (DRDO) has successfully conducted the field trial of land version of
vehicle mounted Mk-II (A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) at the National Open Air Range (NOAR) in
Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
It is a 30 kilowatt (KW) laser-based system that has the capability to disable, degrade or destroy small
remotely-piloted aircraft, swarm drones, missiles and sensors.

Operation Sindoor: Indian Armed Forces’ Response to the Pahalgam Terror Attack
On May 7 2025, the Indian Armed Forces carried out ‘Operation Sindoor’, targeting nine terrorist camps
in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) which were identified as launchpads for
attacks being planned against India. Operation Sindoor was carried out in response to the deadly terror
attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in April 2025.
• The action was named “Operation Sindoor” to honour the women who lost their husbands in the
Pahalgam terror attack which was termed as one of the biggest terror attacks after the abrogation
of Article 370 in 2019.
About Operation Sindoor:
i.As part of the operation, nine places connected to terrorist activities were struck in Pakistan and PoJK.
These strikes were done with care, avoiding any Pakistani military sites, and were launched from Indian
airspace.
ii.India carried out 24 missile strikes across nine locations:
1. Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur(Punjab, Pakistan)
2. Markaz Taiba in Muridke(Punjab, Pakistan)
3. Sarjal or Tehra Kalan(Punjab, Pakistan)
4. Mehmoona Joya site in Sialkot(Punjab, Pakistan)
5. Markaz Ahle Hadith in Barnala, Bhimber(PoJK)
6. Markaz Abbas in Kotli(PoJK)
7. Maskar Raheel Shahid in Kotli area(PoJK)
8. Shawai Nallah camp in Muzaffarabad(PoJK)
9. Markaz Syedna Bilal(PoJK)
iii.These locations were terror camps operated by groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
iv.The Indian Air Force (IAF) used its frontline fighter jets to target terror camps without crossing the Line
of Control (LoC). Rafale, Mirage 2000, and Su-30 MKI aircraft were involved in the operation.
• SPICE-2000 bombs were used for accurate strikes on the targets.
• Su-30 MKIs provided air defence support during the mission.
v.Two women officers Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Vikram Misri,
Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs(MEA), jointly led the official media briefing on Operation
Sindoor, marking a significant moment in Indian military history.
• Colonel Qureshi, from the Indian Army (IA) ’s Corps of Signals, became the first woman to lead an
IA training team at the Force 18 exercise, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) Plus
multinational field training exercise. She was instrumental in planning and executing the
operation.
• Wing Commander Singh, a decorated helicopter pilot in the IAF, contributed to the aerial
strategies of the operation. She has flown both Chetak and Cheetah helicopters. Promoted to Wing
Commander in 2017, she has also been a trailblazer for women in the IAF.

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Missiles Utilized:
India has added many powerful and modern weapons to its defence forces in the past years. These are
designed to strike targets with great accuracy, even from long distances. Some of the most important
systems are:
i.AASM HAMMER: The Armement Air-Sol Modulaire(AASM) Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended
Range(HAMMER ) bombs, made by the Paris ( France)- based aerospace company Saffron. It was launched
from Rafale aircraft.
• This weapon can accurately hit targets up to 70 kilometres (km) away, works well in rough
terrain, can be launched from low heights, and resists enemy jamming.
ii.SCALP Missile is a long-range cruise missile launched from fighter jets. It stands for Système de Croisière
Autonome à Longue Portée – Emploi Général (EG), and in the United Kingdom (UK), it is called Storm
Shadow. It is made by the Le Plessis-Robinson (France)-based company MBDA.
• SCALP can strike targets up to 450 km away with high accuracy, works in all weather, even at
night, and is hard to detect due to its low-flying stealth design.
iii.METEOR is a cutting-edge European Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) system, made
by MBDA company. It can hit enemy aircraft from a very long distance, even if they are not visible.
• Meteor uses a ramjet engine for continuous thrust, giving it a massive “no escape zone” to hit
enemy aircraft at long ranges, even in heavy electronic warfare.
iv.The BrahMos Missiles is a fast cruise missile developed by New Delhi based BrahMos Aerospace Private
Limited, a joint effort between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and
Russia’s NPO (Scientific Production Association) Mashinostroyeniya (NPOM).
• It is used by all three branches of India’s defence forces. It uses the “fire and forget” system, flies
up to 15 km high, drops to 10 metres (m) near the target, and carries a 200–300 kilogram (kg)
warhead.
v.Anti-Tank Guided Missile(ATGM): ATGM is a precision-guided weapon designed to neutralize heavily
armored military vehicles, such as tanks and fortified positions. Modern ATGMs often employ advanced
guidance systems, including electro-optical imaging infrared (IIR) seekers, enhancing their accuracy and
effectiveness.
• It is developed by DRDO and has a target range between 1.5 and 5 km.
vi.Loitering munitions are special types of drones that can watch over an area, find enemy targets, and
then strike them with great accuracy, either on their own or with human control.
vii.’Sudarshan Chakra’ Missile Defense System: India’s S-400 systems successfully intercepted multiple
incoming Pakistani missiles and drones, safeguarding critical military installations and civilian areas.
viii.Harpy : It is a loitering munition developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), specifically engineered
for the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD).
• This autonomous, “fire-and-forget” system is designed to detect, track, and neutralize radar
emitters, making it a formidable asset in modern electronic warfare.
ix.The IAI Heron (Machatz-1) is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle
developed by the Malat division of IAI. Designed for extended surveillance and reconnaissance missions, the
Heron is capable of operating at altitudes of up to 35,000 feet (10.5 km) and has demonstrated an
endurance of up to 52 continuous hours.

GRSE Delivered ‘Arnala’, India’s 1st ASW SWC to IN

In May 2025, Kolkata (West Bengal, WB)-based Indian Defence Public Sector Unit (PSU) Garden Reach
Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) has delivered indigenously developed ‘Arnala’, the 1st of the
eight Anti-Submarine Warfare – Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) to the Indian Navy (IN) at M/s L&T
Shipyard in Kattupalli, Tamil Nadu (TN).

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• This new ASW SWC is named after an island with the historic fort ‘Arnala’ located off Vasai,
Maharashtra.
• The newly inducted warship, INS Arnala, boasts nearly 88% indigenous content, marking a
significant milestone in the IN’s pursuit of self-reliance in shipbuilding and aligning with the
Government of India(GoI)’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
About Arnala:
i.The 77.6 metre (m) long and 10.5 m broad warship, is the largest Indian Naval warship propelled by a
Diesel Engine-Waterjet combination and capable of full-scale sub-surface surveillance of coastal waters as
well as search and attack.
ii.The warship has been indigenously designed and constructed in accordance with the Classification Rules
of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) of GRSE with Kattupalli (TN)-
based L&T Shipyard, a unit of Larsen & Toubro.
iii.It will be used for underwater surveillance, search & rescue operations and Low Intensity Maritime
Operations (LIMO).
About Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE):
In 2022, GRSE was honoured with the Raksha Mantri Award for designing the Arnala, described as the
‘most silent ship’.
• Currently, GRSE is constructing 16 more warships, including three P17A advanced stealth
frigates, 7 ASW AWCs, 2 survey vessels, and 4 next-generation offshore patrol vessels.
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)- Commodore (Cmde) PR Hari
Headquarter- Kolkata, West Bengal (WB)
Established- 1884
About Indian Navy (IN):
Chief of Naval Staff (CoNS)- Admiral Dinesh Kumar (DK) Tripathi
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Founded- 1950

Pakistan Launched ‘Operation Bunyan al-Marsus’ Against India

On May 10, 2025, Pakistan launched ‘Operation Bunyan al-Marsu’ against India aimed at targeting
military installations in India: Jammu (Jammu & Kashmir, J&K); Kashmir (J&K) and Pathankot (Punjab), Bhuj
(Gujarat), among others.
• The operation was initiated in response to India’s Operation Sindoor, conducted on May 7, 2025.
• The name of the operation is inspired from the Quran (the holy book of Muslims). The phrase
‘Bunyan al-Marsu’ in Arabic means ‘a wall constructed of molten lead’ which symbolizes unity,
strength, and an unbreakable front.
Key Points:
i.The operation was conducted under the overarching command of Pakistan’s military leadership, with
General Asim Munir serving as the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan.
ii.Under Pakistan’s operation, Fatah-II hypersonic ballistic missile was fired to target Delhi, India’s capital
city but was taken down effectively by Indian Air Defence Systems Forces in Sirsa, Haryana.
iii.Pakistan launched this operation following India struck at least 3 air base stations in Pakistan: Nur Khan
air base station, located near Chaklala, Rawalpindi); Murid airbase station, located in Chakwal, around 120
kilometer (km) away from Pakistan’s capital city Islamabad; and Rafiqui airbase, located Shorkot in Punjab
province of Pakistan.
iv.On May 10, 2025, India and Pakistan have mutually agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire, effectively
halting the most intense military escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in decades.
v.After the ceasefire on 11 May 2025, Pakistan’s Director General(DG) of Inter-Services Public Relations

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(ISPR), Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, addressed the media to share details regarding the conduct
and conclusion of Operation Bunyan al-Marsus.
About Fatah-II:
i.Fatah-II is a guided Multi-Launch Rocket System(MLRS) developed by Pakistan, with a strike range of 450
km.
• It is a successor of Fatah-I which has a strike range of 140 km.
ii.In 2024, Pakistan conducted a test trial of Fatah-II, which boasts a precision-strike capability with a
claimed Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than 10 meters (m).
About Pakistan:
Prime Minister(PM)– Shehbaz Sharif
Capital– Islamabad
Currency– Pakistani Rupee (PKR)

IN Inducts INSV Kaundinya, a 5th Century CE Stitched Sail Ship in Karnataka

On May 21, 2025, the Indian Navy (IN) formally inducted the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel
(INSV) Kaundinya, a 5th-century CE (Common Era)-inspired stitched sail ship, during a ceremonial event
held at the Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka. The ceremony was presided over by Union
Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ministry of Culture (MoC).
• INSV Kaundinya will be based at Karwar (Karnataka), as part of its operational deployment
under IN.
Note: The first voyage of INSV Kaundinya will follow the ancient trade route from Gujarat to Oman, crossing
the Arabian Sea.
Background:
i.The INSV Kaundinya project commenced with a tripartite agreement in July 2023 among MoC, IN, and Goa-
based M/S Hodi Innovations (OPC) Private Limited.
ii.Funded by MoC, the keel was laid in September 2023 under master shipwright Babu Sankaran (Kerala-
based artisans).
iii.The ship was launched in the sea in February 2025 in Goa at the M/s Hodi Innovations shipyards.
iv.After completing its sea trial, the vessel was formally inducted into the IN as INSV Kaundinya.
Key Features of INSV Kaundinya:
i.Design Process: Recreated using iconographic sources due to the absence of historical blueprints.
ii.Design Inspiration: Based on Ajanta Cave paintings (5th century CE)
iii.Construction: Built using traditional stitching methods with wooden planks, coir rope, coconut fiber,
and natural resin.
iv.Cultural Motifs: Features Gandabherunda (mythical bird) and Sun symbols on sails, a Simha Yali (lion
sculpture) on the bow, and a Harappan-style stone anchor.
v.Historical Tribute: Named after Kaundinya, the ancient mariner who sailed to Southeast Asia.
vi.Hydrodynamic Testing: Conducted at the Department of Ocean Engineering, Indian Institute of
Technology Madras (IIT Madras), located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN).
About Ajanta Caves:
i.The Ajanta Caves are a collection of 30 ancient Buddhist rock-cut monuments located in the Aurangabad
district of Maharashtra.
ii.They were designated as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
World Heritage Site in 1983.

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Aerpace Industries Unveils Defence Drones ‘aerRecon ARM-5’ Under aerShield

In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Aerpace Industries Limited(AEL) has successfully tested India’s
next-generation smart Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) ecosystem under the aerShield initiative.
• This Artificial Intelligence(AI)-driven UAV ecosystem enhances India’s defence capabilities by
reducing human intervention while improving battlefield adaptability.
• Developed in collaboration with Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Aerpace Robotics Private Limited,
Hyderabad (Telangana)-based UAV Tech Pvt Ltd and Pune (Maharashtra)-based Leospear
Defence Pvt Ltd.
Key Features of the aerShield Ecosystem:
Central to the aerShield ecosystem is aerOS, an AI-driven autonomous control platform that facilitates real-
time navigation, mission execution, obstacle avoidance, and precise targeting.
i.aerRecon Autonomous Reconnaissance Module(ARM)-5: A Vertical TakeOff and Landing (VTOL)
surveillance drone designed for high-altitude and remote border operations. It boasts a 2-meter wingspan,
speeds up to 125 kilometers per hour(km/h), and a payload capacity of 5 kilogram(kg).
ii.aerRecon ARM-10: A Short TakeOff and Landing (STOL) variant tailored for extended surveillance
missions.
iii.aerReaper Autonomous Multi-Mission Ordnance(AMMO)-R7: A tactical kamikaze drone capable of
carrying RPG-class payloads, intended for precision strike missions.

USA President Donald Trump Unveiled USD 175 billion ‘Golden Dome’ Defence Plan to Counter
Defence Threats
In May 2025, the United States of America (USA) President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White
House in Washington D.C., USA, unveiled defence plan for USD 175 billion ‘Golden Dome’, a new missile
defence system, which will help the USA in countering the foreign missile attack.
• This new defence plan was 1st ordered by Donald Trump in January 2025, and is expected to be
completed by the end of 2nd term of USA President i.e. within 3 years (by 2029).
About Golden Dome System:
i.The Golden Dome is inspired from Israel’s land based ‘Iron Dome’ defence shield, which has intercepted
thousands of short-range rockets since its deployment in 2011.
ii.The Golden Dome aims to create a network of satellites that will help in detecting, monitoring, and
potentially intercepting incoming missiles and has the capability to deploy hundreds of satellites for missile
detection and tracking.
iii.The Golden Dome is a next-generation missile defence plan that integrates land- and space-based
interceptors, early warning satellites, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven tracking systems.
• It will deal with Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs), Fractional Orbital Bombardment System
(FOBS), cruise missiles, and large-swarm of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-equipped drones.
iv.Donald Trump has appointed General Michael Guetlein of the US Space Force, who is currently serving
as Vice Chief of Space Operations as lead program manager.
• He will overall monitor the implementation, testing, and integration of the project.
About United States of America (USA):
President- Donald John Trump
Capital- Washington, D.C.
Currency- United States Dollar (USD)

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SPORTS
RR’s Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player to score IPL Century
In April 2025, Rajasthan Royals’ (RR’s) Vaibhav Suryavanshi (14 year old) has became the youngest
player to score century (100 runs) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history, reaching the mark in just 35
balls against Gujarat Titans (GT) during IPL 2025 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, Rajasthan.
• He surpassed the previous record held by RR’s Riyan Parag
(17 years, 175 days), and RR’s Sanju Samson ranks third on
the list (18 years, 169 days).
Remarkable Achievements of Vaibhav Suryavanshi:
i.Youngest Centurion in T20 History: At 14 years and 32 days, he
broke the record for the youngest player to score a (Twenty20) T20
century, surpassing Manish Pandey (19 years, 253 days in 2009).
ii.Fastest IPL Century by an Indian: His 35-ball hundred eclipsed Yusuf Pathan’s 37-ball ton (2010) and is
now the second-fastest in IPL history after Chris Gayle’s 30-ball century (2013).
iii.Record-Breaking Strike Rate: Suryavanshi’s 101 runs off 38 balls came at a strike rate of 265.79, with
11 sixes (joint-most by an Indian in an IPL innings) and 7 fours.
iv.Highest Boundary Percentage in an IPL Century: 94% of his runs (94/101) came via boundaries.

Cricket Retained and MMA to Debut in 2026 Asian Games

In April 2025, the Kuwait City (Kuwait) based Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Japan-based Aichi-Nagoya
Asian Games Organizing Committee (AINAGOC), officially confirmed the inclusion of Cricket and Mixed
Martial Arts (MMA) in the 2026 Asian Games, during the 41st AINAGOC Board meeting at Nagoya City Hall,
Japan.
• The event is scheduled to be held from September 19 to October 4, 2026, in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Key Detail of the Event:
i.Cricket’s Inclusion: Cricket will return for its fourth appearance at the Asian Games, having been featured
in 2010, 2014, and 2022. It will be played in the Twenty20 International (T20I) format in Aichi Prefecture.
ii.MMA’s Debut: MMA, a full-contact combat sport blending various martial arts techniques, will debut at
the Asian Games with six medal events. It will be classified under combat sports, alongside kurash and
jujitsu.
iii.Global Momentum: Cricket’s inclusion aligns with its return to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after a
128-year hiatus.
iv.Regional Impact: Strengthens South Asian rivalries; boosts India’s medal prospects in MMA with athletes
like Anshul Jubli and Pooja Tomar.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri Secures 3rd Consecutive Victory at 2025 Miami Grand Prix
On May 4, 2025, Oscar Piastri, an Australian Formula One (F1) driver representing the United Kingdom
(UK)-based McLaren clinched his fourth win of the 2025 F1 season at the Miami Grand Prix (GP), held at
the Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida, the United States of America (USA).
• This victory marked Oscar Piastri’s third consecutive win, following triumphs in Bahrain and
Saudi Arabia, and extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship standings.
• This victory marked Piastri’s sixth career win and the first time a McLaren driver has achieved
three consecutive wins since Mika Häkkinen in 1997-1998.

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Key Highlights:
i.Starting from fourth position, Oscar Piastri overtook pole-sitter Max
Verstappen on lap 15 to seize the lead. He maintained his position to
finish first, 4.630 seconds ahead of teammate Lando Norris.
ii.Despite an early setback that pushed Lando Norris down to sixth
position, he made a strong recovery and secured second place,
ensuring a 1-2 finish for McLaren.
iii.George Russell, Mercedes driver secured third place, overtaking Verstappen during a pit stop exchange
on lap 27.
iv.Max Verstappen, the Red Bull Racing driver, who started from pole position, finished fourth after being
overtaken by both McLaren drivers and Russell.
Top 3 Positions in F1 Miami Grand Prix 2025:

Rank Driver Brand Country

1 Oscar Piastri McLaren Australia

2 Lando Norris McLaren the United Kingdom (UK)

3 George Russell Mercedes UK

About Miami Grand Prix:
i.The Miami Grand Prix is a F1 race that debuted during the 2022 F1 season, held at the Miami International
Autodrome, a circuit constructed around the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, USA.
• The circuit, designed by Apex Circuit Design, features a 5.412 kilometers (km) (3.363 miles) track
with 19 corners and three Drag Reduction System (DRS) zones, offering high-speed straights and
challenging turns.
Note: The next race in the 2025 F1 season is the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, which will take place at Imola,
Italy from 16 to 18 May 2025.

Indian Table Tennis Duo Clinches U-19 Boys Doubles Title at WTT Youth Star Contender
Bangkok 2025
In May 2025, Indian Table Tennis Players Ankur Bhattacharjee and Abhinandh Pradhavadhi clinched
the U-19 Boys’ Doubles title at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Youth Star Contender Bangkok 2025 held
at Fashion Island, Bangkok, Thailand, defeating South Korea’s Lee Jungmok and Choi Jiwook 3-1 in the final.
• They secured a 3-1 win over Australia’s Won Bae and India’s Priyanuj Bhattacharyya in the
opening round, then fought back from 0-2 to defeat Japan’s Kazuki Yoshiyama and Iran’s
Benyamin Faraji 3-2 in the quarter-finals.
i.In the U-19 girls’ doubles, India’s Syndrela Das and Divyanshi Bhowmick won silver medal after a loss to
Thailand’s Wirakarn Tayapitak and Phatsaraphon Wonglakhon in the final.
ii.Divyanshi Bhowmick had an impressive run in the U-15 girls’ singles, clinching the silver medal after a 1-3
defeat to China’s Liu Ziling in the final.
iii.In the U-15 girls’ doubles, the Indian pair of Riana Bhootia and Ananya Muralidharan won silver medal.
iv.In the U-19 boys’ singles, Ankur Bhattacharjee advanced to the quarter-finals with a 3-0 win over South
Korea’s Lee Seungsoo but lost 0-3 to Japan’s Kazuki Yoshiyama.
Note: The total prize money in WTT Youth Star Contender Bangkok 2025 is USD 15,000.

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FC Goa Wins Kalinga Super Cup 2025 Defeating Jamshedpur FC

In May 2025, The Football Club(FC) team FC Goa (FCG) defeated Jamshedpur FC (JFC) 3-0 in the Kalinga
Super Cup 2025 final at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar (Odisha), securing their second title in the
tournament’s history.
• This victory makes FC Goa the first club to win the Super Cup twice, having previously clinched
the title in 2019.
• The tournament is organized by the New Delhi(Delhi) based All India Football Federation (AIFF)
and serves as India’s premier domestic knockout football competition.
• The win also marked FC Goa’s first title under head coach Manolo Márquez, bringing his tenure at
the club to a perfect close.
i.Spanish midfielder Borja Herrera scored a brace for FC Goa, netting goals in the 23rd and 51st minutes.
ii.Serbian forward Dejan Drazic added a third goal in the 71st minute, sealing the comprehensive win.
iii.Borja Herrera was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ for his outstanding performance.
iv.With this victory FC Goa qualifies for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League 2
(ACL2) Playoffs, marking their return to continental football after 4 years.

Indian Cricketer Rohit Sharma Announces Retirement from Test Cricket

On May 7, 2025, Indian cricketer Rohit Gurunath Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket,
with immediate effect. The 38-year-old, who had been leading the Indian Test team since February 2022,
made this decision following a series of underwhelming performances.
• He will continue representing India in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
About Rohit Sharma:
Test Career Highlights:
i.Debuted in 2013, scoring 177 against West Indies at Kolkata’s Eden
Gardens is the second-highest test debut score by an Indian.
ii.He played 67 tests, scoring 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57, with 12
centuries and 18 fifties. His highest score was 212 vs. South Africa
(2019).
iii.He captained India in 24 Test matches, securing 12 victories.
ODI Achievements and Records:
i.He holds the world record for the highest individual score in ODI with 264 runs against Sri Lanka in 2014
and three double centuries.
ii.He captained India to victory in the 2024 International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup and the
2025 ICC Champions Trophy, announcing his retirement from Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) after
winning the T20 World Cup 2024.
iii.He ranks 3rd in ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings as of May 2025, behind India’s Shubman Gill (1st) and
Pakistan’s Babar Azam (2nd).
Awards and Honors:
i.In 2015, he received the Arjuna Award, the second-highest sporting honour in India, for his outstanding
achievements in sports.
ii.In 2020, he was conferred with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (formerly Rajiv Gandhi Khel
Ratna Award), the highest sporting honour in India.
Note: Since 2018, Rohit Sharma was the brand ambassador of WWF India’s Rhino Conservation.
About International Cricket Council (ICC):
Chairman – Jay Shah (India)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Geoff Allardice

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Headquarters – Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Founded – 1909

China Clinches 14th Title at BWF Sudirman Cup 2025

In May 2025, the People’s Republic of China secured its 14th BWF (Badminton World
Federation) Sudirman Cup title and achieved a record fourth consecutive victory by defeating South
Korea 3-1 in the final of the 19th edition of the BWF Sudirman Cup (2025) mixed-team championship.
• The championship organized by the BWF, was held from 27 April to 4 May 2025 at the Fenghuang
Gymnasium in Xiamen, Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China.
• Japan secured the third place in the championship.
Highlights:
i.Mixed Doubles: Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping (China) defeated
Seo Seung-jae/Chae Yu-jung (South Korea).
ii.Women’s Singles: An Se-young (South Korea) beat Wang Zhiyi
(China) 21-17, 21-16.
iii.Men’s Singles: Shi Yuqi (China) overpowered Jeon Hyeok-jin
(South Korea) 21-5, 21-5.
vi.Women’s Doubles: Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning (China) sealed the title
with a 21-14, 21-18 win over Baek Ha-na/Lee So-hee (South Korea).
v.Men’s Doubles was not played as China secured victory after four matches.
India’s Performance:
The Indian team faced defeats against Denmark and Indonesia but managed a victory over England with a 3-
2 scoreline. Despite this win, India did not advance to the quarter-finals, finishing 9th among the 16
participating teams.
About Sudirman Cup:
i.The Sudirman Cup, established in 1989, is named in honor of Dick Sudirman, the founder and former
president of the Badminton Association of Indonesia.
ii.It is held every two years and is considered one of the premier mixed-team events in badminton,
alongside the Thomas Cup (men’s team) and the Uber Cup (women’s team).
iii.The only winners are China (14 titles), South Korea (4 titles), and Indonesia (1 title).
About Badminton World Federation (BWF):
President – Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen
Headquarters – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Established – 1934

Virat Kohli Retires from Test Cricket after 14-year Test Career
On May 12, 2025, the Renowned Indian Cricketer, Virat Kohli, announced his retirement from Test cricket,
bringing an end to a remarkable 14-year career in the longest format of the game with immediate effect.
• He will continue representing India in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and play for the Royal
Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Indian Premier League (IPL).
About Virat Kohli:
i.Virat Kohli, 36-year-old batter, played 123 tests, scoring 9230 runs including 30 centuries and 31 fifties.
ii.He made his test debut in Jamaica in 2011 against the West Indies.
iii.He also captained India in 68 Tests, the highest by any Indian and leading the team to 40 victories
between 2014 and 2022, and becoming the nation’s most successful Test Captain.
• His captaincy is statistically the most successful in Indian Test history, with a remarkable win
percentage of 58.82%.

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• Kohli also led India to their first-ever Test series victory on

Australian soil in the 2018/19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
• Kohli-led India also held the No.1 spot on the ICC (
International Cricket Council) Test Team Rankings for five
straight years from 2016 to 2021.
iv.His final appearance in the test format was at the test match of the
Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) tournament against Australia at the
Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Australia.
v.His highest score, an unbeaten 254, came against South Africa in 2019 at the Maharashtra Cricket
Association Stadium in Pune.
vi.He is India’s fourth highest run-getter in the test cricket format after Sachin Tendulkar (15,921), Rahul
Dravid (13265) and Sunil Gavaskar (10122).
Awards and honors:
i.In 2018, he was honoured with the ICC Test Player of the Year, for his overwhelming performance in the
format.
ii.He was awarded as ICC ODI Player of the Year award in 2012, 2017 and 2018.
iii.In 2017 and 2018, he was honoured as ICC Cricketer of the Year award.
iv.He was conferred with Arjuna award in 2012.
v.He was conferred with Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award in 2013.
vi.He was awarded Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, which is now changed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel
Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting honour in 2018.
vii.He was also awarded as Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World, one of the most prestigious
recognitions in cricket, in 2018.
About International Cricket Council (ICC):
Chairman – Jay Shah (India)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Geof Allardice
Headquarters – Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Founded – 1909

Brazil to host FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027

In May 2025, the International governing body for football, Federation Internationale de Football
Association (FIFA) has announced Brazil as the host country of the Women’s football world cup in 2027.
The decision was made at the 74th FIFA congress, held in Bangkok, Thailand.
• The event will take place from June 24 to July 25, 2027
• Brazil is the first country to host FIFA Women’s World Cup (WCC) in South America.
Key Points:
i.The 2027 edition of the FIFA WCC will expand to feature 32 national teams.
ii.FIFA has selected the 8 cities and their stadiums, Rio De Janeiro (Maracana Stadium), Belo Horizonte
(Mineirao Stadium), Brasilia (National Stadium), Fortaleza (Castelao Arena), Porto Alegre (Beira-Rio
Stadium), Recife (Pernambuco Arena), Salvador (Fonte Nova Arena) and Sao Paulo (Itaquera Arena).
• The 8 venues are among the 12 venues, hosted the FIFA Men’s World Cup
iii.Brazil was selected in a voting process, receiving 119 votes, defeating the joint bid from Belgium, the
Netherlands, and Germany, which received 78 votes.
iv.It marked the first time FIFA’s full Membership voted to decide the host nation for FIFA WCC, which will
be voted by FIFA council before.

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Ivan Zemlyanskii and Alua Nurman Crowned Champions at 2025 Asian Blitz Championship in
UAE
On May 11, 2025, Russian Grandmaster(GM) Ivan Zemlyanskii clinched the open title and Kazakhstan’s
Woman GM(WGM) Alua Nurman securing the women’s crown at the 2025 Asian Blitz Chess
Championship held at Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• The tournament was organized by the Al Ain Chess and
Mind Games Club under the Asian Chess Federation (ACF)
and the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
• Indian Grandmaster Murali Karthikeyan secured fourth
place in the open section and in the women’s category, IM
Padmini Rout also achieved a fourth-place at the 2025
Asian Individual Blitz Chess Championship.
Highlights of 2025 Asian Individual Blitz Chess Championship.:
Men’s Category:
i.Ivan Zemlyanskii emerged undefeated to win the Championship title, scoring 8 points out of 9 rounds. He
earned USD 2500 cash prize.
• He, played under the FIDE flag, surpassed 30 GMs in a field of 111 players from 25 countries.
• He concluded the event with a final-round draw against Indian GM Murali Karthikeyan.
ii.Sina Movahed of Iran, who scored 7.5 points, finished at the second place. He received USD 1500 as a cash
prize.
iii.International Master (IM) Rudik Makarian of Georgia scored 7 points and placed third. He received USD
1000 as a cash prize for third place.
Women’s Category:
i.WGM Alua Nurman clinched the title with 7.5 points defeating Valentina Gunina of Russia based on a
superior opponents’ average rating.
• Alua Nurman received USD 1500 as a cash prize, Valentina earned USD 1000 as a reward.
ii.IM Song Yuxin of China concluded at third place with 7 points, ahead of IM Padmini Rout of India and
Women Fide Master (WFM) Elnaz Kaliakhmet of Kazakhstan on tiebreaks.
• She received USD 500 as a cash prize.
Winners of 2025 Asian Blitz Chess Championship:
Men’s Category:

Rank Player Name Country Points Cash Prize (USD)

1 Ivan Zemlyanskii FIDE 8.0 2,500

2 Sina Movahed Iran 7.5 1,500

3 Rudik Makarian FIDE 7.0 1,000

Women’s Category

Rank Player Name Country Points Cash Prize (USD)

1 Alua Nurman Kazakhstan 7.5 1,500

2 Valentina Gunina FIDE 7.5 1,000

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3 Song Yuxin China 7.0 500

Note: The top 10 men in the Asian Blitz Chess Championship 2025 qualify for the 2025 FIDE world cup,
while the top two women earn spots in the 2025 FIDE Women’s world cup.
About International Chess Federation (FIDE):
President – Arkady Dvorkovich
Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland
Establishment – 1924
About Asian Chess Federation (ACF):
President – Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan
Headquarters – Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Established – 1951

India Wins 7 Medals at Archery World Cup 2025 Stage 2 in Shanghai; Deepika Kumari Claims
Bronze
The Archery World Cup 2025 Stage 2 was held from 6th May to 11th May 2025 in Shanghai, China,
where India clinched a total of 7 medals and secured the 2nd position in the overall medal tally.
• The Republic of Korea (South Korea) topped the overall
medal tally with a total of 7 medals (5 gold and 2 silver)
while India secured the 2nd position with 7 medals (2 gold,
1 silver, and 4 bronze).
• India sent a 23-member contingent of men’s and women’s
archers to compete in Stage 2 of the 2025 World Archery
Cup in Shanghai.
Top 3 medal winners at Archery World Cup 2025 Stage 2:

Gold Silver Bronze Total

Rank Country
Medal Medal Medal Medals

1 South Korea 5 3 0 7

2 India 2 1 4 7

3 Mexico 1 2 0 3
India’s Medal Winners at Archery World Cup 2025 Stage 2:
i.Madhura Dhamangaonkar: Clinched gold in the Women’s Individual Compound event, marking her first
individual World Cup gold.
ii.The Indian team comprising Ojas Deotale, Abhishek Verma, and Rishabh Yadav won the gold medal in
the Men’s Compound Team event after defeating Mexico in the final.
iii.Women’s Compound Team comprising Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Madhura Dhamangaonkar, and
Chikitha Taniparthi won silver in the Women’s Team Compound event.
iv.Deepika Kumari, secured bronze in the Women’s Individual Recurve event, defeating South Korea’s
Kang Chae-young.
• This marked her 12th individual and 31st overall World Cup medal.

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Indian Medalist:

Medal Type Winner Name Category

Women’s Individual
Gold Madhura Dhamangaonkar
Compound event

Men’s Compound Team (Ojas Deotale,

Gold Men’s Compound Team event
Abhishek Verma, and Rishabh Yadav)

Women’s Compound Team

(Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Women’s Team Compound
Silver
Madhura Dhamangaonkar, and event
Chikitha Taniparthi)

Women’s Individual Recurve

Bronze Deepika Kumari
event

Men’s Individual Recurve

Bronze Parth Salunkhe
event

Mixed Team Compound (Abhishek Verma

Bronze Mixed Team Compound event
and Madhura Dhamangaonkar)

Men’s Individual Compound

Bronze Rishabh Yadav
event
About Archery World Cup 2025:
i.The 2025 Archery World Cup, officially known as the Hyundai Archery World Cup is the 19th edition of
the annual international archery circuit organized by World Archery.
ii.The tournament is scheduled to run from 8 April to 19 October 2025 and comprises five events.
iii.It comprises four stages in a regular season and three stages in Olympic years, followed by a final.
iv.The stage 1 was held in Auburndale, Florida, USA from 8 to 13 April 2025, where India secured four
medals (1 Gold, 1 Silver, and 2 Bronze) and finished fourth in the overall medal tally.
v.The Stage 3 scheduled in Antalya, Turkey, from June 3 to 8, 2025, followed by Stage 4 in Madrid, Spain,
from July 8 to 11, 2025. The World Cup Final will be held in Nanjing, China, in October 2025.
Note: Recurve archery and compound archery both get their names from the types of bows used by archers.
About World Archery:
President – Ugur Erdener (Turkiye)
Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland
Founded – 1931

India’s Kynan Chenai and Sabeera Haris Win Bronze at ISSF Shotgun World Cup 2025
In May 2025, Indian shooters Kynan Chenai and Sabeera Haris secured a bronze medal in the Trap
Mixed Team event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shotgun World Cup 2025, held
from May 3 to 12, 2025 in Nicosia, Cyprus. This event was the third World Cup of the 2025 season.
• They defeated Turkey’s Tolga Tuncer and Pelin Kaya with a narrow score of 34-33 in the final
match.

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i.The Indian pair finished 4th among 34 teams in the qualification round with a total score of 142 out of 150.
ii.The second Indian team comprising Shardul Vihan and Kirti Gupta finished 17th with a score of 137.
iii.China secured the gold medal in the trap mixed team event by defeating Poland 42–39 in the final. Poland
earned the silver medal.
Overall Medal Tally :
i.Neutral Athletes topped the medal standings by winning 2 gold medals out of the 5 events conducted.
ii. China secured 2 medals – 1 gold and 1 silver.
iii. Spain and Italy were joint third with 1 gold medal each.
Note: The next ISSF World Cup for shotgun shooters is scheduled to take place from July 4 to 14, 2025,at the
Trap Concaverde shooting range in Lonato del Garda, Italy.

KIYG 2025: Maharashtra Tops with 158 Medals; 7th Edition Hosted by Bihar
The 7th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025, organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs &
Sports (MYAS) and Sports Authority of India (SAI), Government of India (GoI), was held from May 4 to May
15 2025 across five cities in Bihar (Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Begusarai) and New Delhi (Delhi).
• Maharashtra leads the medal tally with 58 gold, 47 silver,
and 53 bronze medals, totaling 158 medals followed
by Haryana with 117 medals (39 gold, 27 silver and
51 bronze) and Rajasthan in third place with 60 medals
(24 gold, 12 silver and 24 bronze).
• 28 sports disciplines in Khelo India Youth Games 2025.
Sepak takraw has been included for the first time. E-sports
have been included as a demonstration sport
Note: This marks the third consecutive victory for Maharashtra at KIYG, following their title wins in 2023
and 2024. Overall 5th title including 2019 & 2020.
KIYG 2025 Medal Tally:

Rank State/UT Gold Silver Bronze Total

1 Maharashtra 58 47 53 158

2 Haryana 39 27 51 117

3 Rajasthan 24 12 24 60

4 Karnataka 17 26 15 58

5 Delhi 16 20 32 68
Click here to view full list
About KIYG 2025:
i.KIYG 2025 was virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on May 4, 2025, at the
Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna, Bihar.
ii.Over 5,000 athletes from all 36 States and Union Territories (UTs), along with the Services team,
participated in the event, competing across 26 competitive sports and one demonstration sport, esports (not
included in the official medal tally).

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Logo:
Features orange and green (national colors) with the theme “Khel Ke Rang! Bihar Ke Sang!“, incorporates
elements like the Ashoka Chakra, Nalanda University, and the House Sparrow, symbolizing Bihar’s rich
cultural heritage and commitment to sports
Mascot:
The official mascot, Gajasimha, is a mythical creature combining the strength of a lion and the wisdom of an
elephant, inspired by ancient sculptures from Nalanda and Bodh Gaya
Key Performances:
i.Samuel Zadeng, a 17-year-old boxer from Mizoram, won the gold medal in the 70 kilogram (kg) boys’
boxing category, marking Mizoram’s first medal at KIYG 2025.
ii.Sairaj Pardeshi from Maharashtra set three national records in the 81kg weightlifting category, securing
a gold medal.
iii.The weightlifting events witnessed the setting of 13 youth national records, showcasing the emerging
talent in the country.
iv.In Athletics, Maharashtra secured 10 golds, including a steeplechase win by Khushi Yadav (Bihar).
v.Host state Bihar is ranked 15th in the medal tally with a total of 36 medals, including 7 Gold.
Note: The 2024 edition of KIYG was hosted by Tamil Nadu (TN), where Maharashtra topped the medal tally
with 57 gold medals.
ABOUT KHELO INDIA YOUTH GAMES (KIYG):
i.KIYG is an integral part of the Khelo India Programme, which was launched by GoI on 14th
October 2017 to promote sports culture at the grassroots level.
ii.Haryana topped the inaugural edition in 2018, then known as the Khelo India School Games.
iii.Since the inception of KIYG in 2018, only two states have clinched the overall championship
title, Haryana, with 2 titles (2018 and 2022), and Maharashtra, with 5 titles (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024, and
2025).
About Sports Authority of India (SAI):
SAI is an autonomous body functioning under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), Government
of India (GoI).
Director General (DG) – Sujata Chaturvedi
Headquarters – New Delhi (Delhi)
Formed – 1984

Tamil Nadu’s L.R. Srihari Becomes India’s 86th Chess GM

On 15 May 2025, 19-year-old L.R. Srihari from Tamil Nadu (TN) became India’s 86th chess
Grandmaster (GM) by securing his third GM norm at the Asian Individual Men’s Chess Championship
2025 which held from May 6 to 15, 2025 in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• He achieved the title during his match against Indian GM
Iniyan Paneerselvam.
Note: P Shyaamnikhil (TN) became India’s 85th GM on 12 May
2024 at the Dubai Police Masters Chess Tournament (Dubai).
About L.R. Srihari:
i.L.R. Srihari earned his first GM norm at the Budapest GM Round-
Robin held in August 2023 in Budapest, Hungary.
ii.He secured his second GM norm at the 2023 Qatar Masters in
October 2023 in Qatar.
iii.He crossed the minimum 2500 FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs) Elo rating at the 2024 Dubai
Open Chess Tournament.

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Note: To become a FIDE GM, a player must attain a minimum FIDE Elo rating of 2500 and secure three GM
norms in FIDE-recognized tournaments.
India’s Grandmaster Milestones:
i.First GM: Viswanathan Anand (1988), who later became India’s first World Chess Champion.
ii.First Woman GM: Koneru Humpy (2002), who earned the title at 15 years, then the youngest woman
GM globally.
Chess Titles:
• Grandmaster (GM): is the highest title a chess player can attain. FIDE rating of 2500 at one time
and three favorable results in tournaments (called norms) involving other Grandmasters,
including some from countries other than the applicant’s.
• International Master (IM): Requires a minimum rating of 2400 and three norms.
• FIDE Master (FM): Requires a minimum rating of 2300. No norms are required.
• Candidate Master (CM): Requires a minimum rating of 2200. No norms are required.
About International Chess Federation (FIDE – Fédération Internationale des Échecs):
President – Arkady Dvorkovich
Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland
Founded – 1924

Daneshvar Bardiya & IM Song Yuxin Win 2025 Asian Chess Championship in UAE
Grandmaster (GM) Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran won the Open category, and International Master
(IM) Song Yuxin of China claimed the Women’s title at the 2025 Asian Chess Championship, held from
May 6 to 16, 2025 in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• The championship featured participation from more
than 250 players representing 38 countries, competing
in nine-round Swiss format tournaments across both
the Open and Women’s categories.
• The championship was organized by the Asian Chess
Federation (ACF) and the International Chess
Federation (FIDE), in collaboration with the United
Arab Emirates (UAE) Chess Federation and the Al Ain
Chess and Mind Games Club.
Key Highlights of 2025 Asian Chess Championship:
Open Category:
i.GM Daneshvar Bardiya won gold with 7/9 points, edging India’s GM Nihal Sarin on tiebreaks despite
losing to him in the final round.
ii.GM Nihal Sarin took silver, while GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov (Uzbekistan) claimed bronze after edging out
five players tied at 6.5/9.
iii.Top 10 finishers in the Open category qualified for the FIDE World Cup 2025.
Women’s Category:
i.IM Song Yuxinemerged victorious in the women’s category, defeating Uzbekistan’s IM
Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova in 32 moves and finishing with 7/9.
ii.India’s IM Vantika Agrawal defeated leader Bat-Erdene Mungunzul (Mongolia) but missed the podium
on tiebreaks, finishing 4th.
iii.WGM Xeniya Balabayeva (Kazakhstan) earned bronze.
iv.Top two finishers in the women’s category qualified for the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025.

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2025 Asian Chess Championship – Winners:

Prize
Category Position Winner Country Score Money
(USD)

GM Daneshvar
1st Iran 7/9 10,000
Bardiya

Open 2nd GM Nihal Sarin India 7/9 8,000

GM Shamsiddin
3rd Uzbekistan 6.5/9 6,000
Vokhidov

1st IM Song Yuxin China 7/9 7,000

Bat-
2nd Mongolia 7/9 6,000
Women’s Erdene Mungunzul

WGM Xeniya
3rd Kazakhstan 7/9 5,000
Balabayeva
Note: The FIDE World Cup 2025 will be hosted by India from 31st October to 27th November 2025, while
the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 will be held in Georgia from 5th to 29th July 2025.
About Asian Chess Federation (ACF):
President – Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan
Headquarters – Al Ain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Established – 1951

FIDE WGP 2024-25 Leaderboard: Zhu Jiner, Goryachkina Finish Top Two
In May 2025, Grandmaster (GM) Zhu Jiner (China) topped the overall leaderboard of the International
Chess Federation (FIDE) Women’s Grand Prix (WGP) Series 2024–25 with a total of 352.5 points. This
achievement came after the conclusion of the sixth and final event of the series, the 2025 Grosslobming FIDE
WGP, held in Grosslobming, Austria, from May 5 to May 16, 2025.
• GM Aleksandra Goryachkina (Russia) has secured
the 2nd place in the leaderboard by scoring 308.34
points
• Zhu Jiner and Aleksandra Goryachkina have qualified for
the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament.
About 2025 Grosslobming FIDE WGP:
i.The Ukrainian GM Anna Muzychuk won the Austrian
leg with 6/9 points but fell short of qualifying for the Candidates
Tournament due to tiebreaks.
• Despite winning two of three WGP events (Cyprus and Austria), she ranked third
overall with 306.67 points, missing the second spot by 1.67 points
ii.Zhu Jiner and GM Tan Zhongyi (China) secured second and third positions, respectively, in the final leg.

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About FIDE WGP series 2024-2025:

i.FIDE WGP series 2024–2025 comprised six WGP tournaments conducted over two years (2024–2025)
across six international venues, spanning from August 14, 2024, to May 16, 2025.
• Tbilisi, Georgia (August 14-25, 2024)
• Shymkent, Kazakhstan (October 29 – November 9, 2024)
• Monaco (February 17-28, 2025)
• Nikosia, Cyprus (March 14-25, 2025)
• Pune, India (April 13-24, 2025)
• Grosslobming, Austria (May 5-16, 2025)
ii.The event featured a total of 20 players, who participated in three out of six WGP tournaments.
iii.Prize money: Each leg offered 120,000 Euro, with 18,000 Euro for the winner
iv.Top two players qualified for the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament
Top 5 Finishers of the FIDE WGP 2024-25:

Rank Player Country Points

1 Zhu Jiner China 352.5

2 Aleksandra Goriyachkina Russia 308.34

3 Anna Muzychuk Ukraine 306.67

4 Koneru Humpy India 279.17

5 Tan Zhongyi China 255

International Chess Federation (FIDE):
President – Arkady Dvorkovich
Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland
Founded – 20 July 1924

Doha Diamond League 2025: India’s Neeraj Chopra Finishes 2nd with 90.23m in Javelin Throw
On 16th May 2025, India’s Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra secured second place with a personal
best and national record throw of 90.23 metres (m) in the Doha Diamond League 2025 held at the Qatar
Sports Club in Doha, Qatar.
• Germany’s Julian Weber clinched the first position in the
men’s javelin throw event with a personal best of 91.06 m,
while Anderson Peters of Grenada, a two-time World
Champion, secured the third position with an 85.34 m
throw.
Key Highlights:
Indian Athletes’ Performance:
i.Kishore Jena secured the eighth position in the men’s javelin
throw event with a best attempt of 78.60 m
ii.Parul Chaudhary secured sixth place in the women’s 3000m steeplechase with 9:13.39, improving from
her previous mark of 9:15.31 set at the 2023 World Championships.
• With this she broke her national record and qualified for the 2025 World Athletics
Championships in Tokyo.

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iii.Gulveer Singh finished ninth in the men’s 5000m race with a time of 13:24.32.
Highlights from Track Events:
i.Women’s 100m: Jamaica’s Tia Clayton won with a world-leading time of 10.92 seconds. Her twin sister,
Tina Clayton, took silver, while Amy Hunt (Great Britain) secured bronze.
ii.Men’s 200m: Botswana’s Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo narrowly clinched victory with a time of
20.10 seconds, just 0.01 seconds ahead of USA’s Courtney Lindsey.
iii.Men’s 110m Hurdles: Jamaica’s Rasheed Broadbell won with a time of 13.14 seconds.
Neeraj Chopra’s Milestone Achievement:
i.Neeraj Chopra, the reigning World Champion (2023) and Asian Games 2023 gold medallist, became
the first Indian to breach the 90m mark in the javelin throw. With this Neeraj qualified for 2025 World
Athletics Championships
• His previous personal best was 89.94 m, recorded at the Sweden’s Stockholm Diamond League in
2022 where he finished second beyond Anderson Peters of Grenada
ii.Neeraj is now the 25th athlete globally and third in Asia to achieve a throw beyond 90m.
• The only Asian athletes ahead of him are Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan with a throw of 92.97 m and
Chao-Tsun Cheng of Chinese Taipei with 91.36 m.
Note: The event marked Chopra’s first competition under coach Jan Železný (Czech Republic), the world
record holder in javelin throw (98.48 m in 1996). He won the silver medal in the 1988 Olympics and the
gold medal at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympic Games.
About Doha Diamond League 2025
i.The Doha Diamond League 2025, organized by World Athletics (WA), was the third meeting of the 2025
Wanda Diamond League season.
ii.This prestigious competition featured 14 disciplines, including men’s 200m, 5000m, and javelin, as well as
women’s 100m, 3000m steeplechase, and pole vault.
iii.The 2025 season also introduced “Diamond+” events with double prize money: USD 20,000 for first place
at regular meets and USD 50,000 at finals, contributing to a record total prize pool of USD 9.24 million, the
highest in the history of the Diamond League.
About World Athletics:
President – Sebastian Coe
Headquarters – Monaco
Founded – 1912

Indian GM Praggnanandhaa Wins 1st GCT at Superbet Chess Classic Romania 2025
In May 2025, Indian Grandmaster (GM) Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa secured his maiden Grand Chess
Tour (GCT) title by winning the Superbet Chess Classic Romania 2025, held in Bucharest (Romania) from
May 7 to 16, 2025.
• Praggnanandhaa clinched the title via a three-way blitz
playoff against GMs Alireza Firouzja (France) and
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France), earning a prize of USD
77,667 and 10 GCT points.
• This win boosted Praggnanandhaa’s International Chess
Federation (FIDE) rating to 2758, retaining his World
No. 7 rank.
Note: In January 2025, Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian
chess player to win the 2025 Tata Steel Chess Masters title (the
Netherlands), since Vishwanathan Anand won it in 2006.

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Key Highlights:
i.The tournament featured 10 elite GMs from across the globe and followed a single round-robin classical
format, offering a total prize fund of USD 350,000.
ii.Praggnanandhaa’s journey to the title included a crucial win against GM Wesley So (United States of
America, USA) in the penultimate round, propelling him to the top of the leaderboard.
iii.In the final round, a draw against GM Levon Aronian (USA) using a risk-free French Defense, ensuring a
share of first place.
iv.Simultaneously, wins by GMs Firouzja and Vachier-Lagrave led to a three-way tie at 5.5 points each,
necessitating a blitz playoff.
v.The playoff followed a single round-robin format with a 5-minute base time and a 2-second increment was
held to break the three-way tie.
• Game 1: Firouzja vs. Praggnanandhaa – Draw
• Game 2: Vachier-Lagrave vs. Firouzja – Draw
• Game 3: Praggnanandhaa vs. Vachier-Lagrave – Praggnanandhaa won
Note: The third GCT event, the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia, will occur in Zagreb (Croatia) from 1st–
6th July 2025.

India Secures SAFF U-19 Championship Title 2025 By Defeating Bangladesh in AR

On May 18, 2025, the Indian men’s under-19 (U-19) football team clinched their 4th South Asian Football
Federation (SAFF) U-19 Championship(2025) title by defeating Bangladesh in the final was held at the
Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh (AR), India.
• The Indian U-19 football team, popularly known as the ‘Blue Colts’ and led by
captain Singamayum Shami, defeated Bangladesh 4–3 in a penalty shootout following a 1–1
draw in regulation time to win the title.
About the SAFF U-19 Championship 2025:
i.The 7th edition of the SAFF U-19 Championship (2025) was
organised by Dhaka (Bangladesh) based SAFF and hosted by New
Delhi (Delhi) based All India Football Federation (AIFF) in
collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh Football Association
(APFA).
ii.The tournament was held from May 9 to 18, 2025, at the Golden
Jubilee Stadium, Yupia, AR, featuring 6 teams (India, Bangladesh,
Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka).
iii.The format featured two groups comprising three teams each. Group A included Bangladesh, Bhutan, and
the Maldives, while Group B consisted of India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
Awards and Honors:
• Top Scorer: Danny Meitei Laishram (India) – 5 goals
• Best Goalkeeper: Suraj Singh Aheibam (India)
• Most Valuable Player: Mohammed Arbash (India)
• Fair Play Award: India
About South Asian Football Federation (SAFF):
President – Kazi Salahuddin (Bangladesh)
Headquarters – Dhaka, Bangladesh
Established – 1997
Member Nations – India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka

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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen Won F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2025 Title
In May 2025, Max Verstappen, a Belgian-Dutch driver of Red Bull, won the Formula 1 (F1) Emilia
Romagna Grand Prix (GP) 2025 held at Autodromo Internazionale
Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy.
• This marked his 2nd consecutive victory of the F1 2025
season after winning the Japanese GP title in April 2025
and his 4th consecutive win at Imola and the 59th win of
his F1 career.
• With this victory, the Red Bull team has also completed its
400th F1 race.
Top 3 Winners of Emilia Romagna GP 2025:

Rank Name of the Driver Team Country Points

1 Max Verstappen Red Bull The Netherlands 25

United Kingdom
2 Lando Norris McLaren 18
(UK)

3 Oscar Piastri McLaren Australia 15

Key Highlights of Emilia Romagna GP 2025:
i.Max Verstappen, who finished in 1st position at the GP with 25 points, emerged back on track with a
staggering lead of around 20 seconds (s) from McLaren’s championship leader Lando Norris, secured 2nd
position (18 points).
ii.Australian F1 driver of McLaren, Oscar Piastri, who was overtaken by his teammate Norris, thereby
Piastri secured 3rd position with 15 points.
iii.7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton recovered from 12th spot on the grid to finally finish in 4th
position (12 points), followed by Williams’ Alex Albon at 5th position in the race (10 points).
About Emilia Romagna GP 2025:
i.The latest edition of the Emilia Romagna GP, which took place over 63 laps with a 4.909-kilometer (km)
circuit length.
ii.It is officially known as the Formula 1 AWS Gran Premio de l Made in Italy e dell’Emilia-Romagna 2025.
About Federation Internationale de I’Automobile (FIA):
The F1 Grand Prix races are organised by the Fédération Internationale de I’Automobile (FIA).
President – Mohammed Ben Sulayem
Headquarters – Paris, France
Established – 1904

Italian Open Tennis 2025: Carlos Alcaraz won Men’s Singles & Jasmine Paolini won Women’s
Singles
The 2025 Italian Open Tennis, officially called the Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2025, took place from May 6
to May 18, 2025, on outdoor clay courts at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy.
• In Men’s singles, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz (World No.2) secured his maiden Italian Open title by
defeating Italy’s Jannik Sinner (World No.1) with a scoreline of 7–6(7–5), 6–1 in the final.
• Italy’s Jasmine Paolini (World No. 5) achieved a historic feat by winning both the women’s
singles and doubles titles at the 2025 Italian Open.

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About Italian Open Tennis 2025:

The 82nd edition of the Italian Open was held as an Association of
Tennis Professionals (ATP) 1000 event on the 2025 ATP Tour and as
a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 event on the 2025 WTA
Tour.
• The ATP Masters 1000 event has announced a prize
money total of Euro 8,055,385 for the 2025 edition. The
singles champion will earn Euro 985,030. The doubles
team that wins will split Euro 400,560.
Carlos Alcaraz won Men’s Singles Title:
i.This victory marks Carlos Alcaraz’s seventh ATP Masters 1000 title and his 19th career title.
ii.With this win, he became the third male player after Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to clinch all three
clay-court Masters 1000 titles (Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome).
Jasmine Paolini won Women’s Singles and Doubles Title:
Singles Final: Paolini defeated Coco Gauff (United States of America, USA) with a score of 6–4, 6–2,
becoming the first Italian woman to win the singles title since Raffaella Reggi in 1985.
Doubles Final: Paolini partnered Sara Errani (Italy) to win the doubles title
against Veronika Kudermetova (Russia) and Elise Mertens (Belgium) (6–4, 7–5).
• This victory made Paolini the first woman since Monica Seles in 1990 to win both singles and
doubles titles at the Italian Open in the same year.
• With this Paolini ascended to World No. 4 in the PIF WTA Rankings,
surpassing Iga Świątek (Poland), a four-time French Open champion
Marcelo Arévalo & Mate Pavić won Men’s Doubles Title:
i.Marcelo Arévalo (EI Salvador) and Mate Pavić (Croatia) won the men’s doubles tennis title at the 2025
Italian Open by defeating the French pair Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul with a score of 6–4, 6–7 (6–8),
[13–11] in the final.
ii.The victory marked their second Masters 1000 title of 2025, following their win at the Monte Carlo
Masters 2025.
Winners of Italian Open Tennis 2025:

Category Winners Runners

Men’s Singles Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) Jannik Sinner (Italy)

Coco Guaff (United States of

Women’s Singles Jasmine Paolini (Italy)
America, USA)

Marcelo Arévalo (EI Salvador) & Sadio Doumbia & Fabien Reboul
Men’s Doubles
Mate Pavić (Croatia) (France)

Jasmine Paolini & Sara Errani Veronika Kudermetova (Russia)

Women’s Doubles
(Italy) & Elise Mertens (Belgium)
About Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP):
The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) serves as the governing body for men’s professional tennis
and oversees both the ATP Tour and the ATP Challenger Tour.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Massimo Calvelli

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Headquarters – London, the United Kingdom (UK)

Founded – 1972

Pankaj Advani Clinches Third Consecutive CCI Billiards Classic Title 2025
In May 2025, Indian cue sports legend Pankaj Advani secured his third consecutive 2025 CCI Billiards
Classic title by defeating Dhruv Sitwala 5–2 in the final held at the Wilson Jones Billiards Hall in Mumbai
(Maharashtra).
• The 2025 CCI Billiards Classic was held from 25 April to 4 May 2025.
• Winner Pankaj Advani was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 2.5 lakh, while runner-up Dhruv Sitwala
received a cash prize of Rs. 1.5 lakh
i.This victory added to Pankaj Advani’s illustrious record of 28-time International Billiards and Snooker
Federation (IBFS) world championship titles across billiards, snooker, and pool.
ii.He has 36 national titles, with his latest at the Billiards and Snooker National Championships 2024.
iii.He has won 2 Gold Medals at the 2006 Asian Games (Doha, Qatar) and 2010 Asian Games (Guangzhou,
China).
iv.The Government of India (GoI) has honoured Pankaj Advani with several prestigious awards, including
the Arjuna Award (2004), the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (2006), the Padma Shri in the
Sports category (2009), and the Padma Bhushan in the Sports category (2018).

FIFA Lifts Suspension on Congo Republic Football Federation

In May 2025, the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), an international governing body
for football, lifted its suspension on the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT), Republic of
Congo (ROC).
• The suspension, enacted in February 2025, was due to third-party interference, particularly
involving a dispute between FECOFOOT and the sports ministry of ROC.
i.The suspension led to the postponement of Congo 2026 FIFA World Cup (WC) qualifiers against Tanzania
and Zambia, which were scheduled to be held in March 2025.
ii.The conditions to lift the suspension included the return of full control of FECOFOOT’s headquarters and
the association’s other facilities to the FECOFOOT Executive Committee.

Amity University Online Signed a MoU with Hockey India to Transform Lives of Athletes
In May 2025, Noida (Uttar Pradesh, UP)-based Amity University Online (AUO) has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with New Delhi(Delhi) based Hockey India, aimed at providing
comprehensive educational opportunities to hockey players at the international, national and state levels.
• The MoU was signed by Bhola Nath Singh, Secretary General, Hockey India and Ajit Chauhan,
Chairman of AUO, in the presence of Sekar J. Manoharan, Treasurer of Hockey India at Amity
University in Noida, UP.
• During the event, Women’s Hockey team captain Salima Tete and defender Jyoti Singh were
formally enrolled into AUO’s Sociology and Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Marketing programmes, respectively.
Key Points:
i.As per MoU, AUO will provide educational scholarship program designed specifically for athletes. Under
this program, AUO will offer athletes up to 100% scholarship through the Celebrating Heroes with Amity
Merit Program Scholarships (CHAMPS) initiative.
ii.Also, AUO will facilitate free access to a 3-month Certificate Course in Sports Psychology to improve their
mental health and performance.

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iii.The program will provide various graduate and undergraduate courses like: Bachelor of Commerce
(B.Com), MBA, Bachelor of Science (BSc.), among others.

KIBG 2025: Manipur Tops Medal Tally with 14 Medals

The Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) 2025, India’s first national-level beach sports event, was held
from 19–24 May 2025 in Diu, Union Territory (UT) of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
(DNHDD). Organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), Government of India (GoI), the
games aimed to promote beach sports and identify grassroots talent.
• Manipur secured the top spot with 14 medals (5 gold, 6
silver, and 3 bronze), followed by Maharashtra with 20
medals (5 gold, 5 silver and 10 bronze)
and Nagaland finished third with 13 medals (5 gold, 3
silver, and 5 bronze). Since all three states won five gold
medals each, the silver medal count was used to decide
their final rankings.
About Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) 2025:
i.Union Minister Dr. Mansukh
Mandaviya, MYAS inaugurated 1st edition of KIBG on 19 May 2025 at Ghoghla Beach, Diu. He also attended
the closing ceremony held on 24 May 2025 at the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Khukri Memorial, Diu.
ii.Over 842 athletes from 31 States and UTs of India participated, competing in six medal events namely
pencak silat, beach soccer, sepaktakraw (kick volleyball), beach kabaddi, beach volleyball and open water
swimming, and along with two demonstration sports, mallakhamb and tug of war.
Mascot:
The KIBG 2025 mascot, Pearl, a dolphin symbolizing marine biodiversity, was inspired by the aquatic life
of Nagoa Beach, Diu.
KIBG 2025 Medal Tally:

State/Union
Rank Gold Silver Bronze Total
Territory (UT)

1 Manipur 5 6 3 14

2 Maharashtra 5 5 10 20

3 Nagaland 5 3 5 13

4 Haryana 5 1 3 9

Jammu and
4 5 1 3 9
Kashmir (J&K)
Click here to view full list
Key Highlights:
i.Nagaland achieved its first-ever top-three finish at a Khelo India event, securing third place overall.
• A major highlight was the Nagaland Women’s Sepak Takraw Quad Regu Team, which clinched the
maiden KIBG gold with a 2-1 win over Haryana in a thrilling final.
ii.DNHDD as the host finished seventh in the medal tally with 4 gold and 1 silver medal, with all four golds
came in Pencak Silat.

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iii.Pencak Silat, an Indonesian martial art, emerged as the most influential sport at KIBG 2025, accounting
for 28 out of 46 gold medals awarded.
• Manipur, the overall champion, secured 4 of its 5 gold medals in Pencak Silat, which played a
major role in its top finish.
iv.Madhya Pradesh showcased strong talent in Mallakhamb, a demonstration sport, by winning 2 gold, 1
silver, and 1 bronze medal.
v.Open Water Swimming made its debut at the Games, featuring 5 kilometer (km) and 10 km events, where
coastal states Maharashtra and Karnataka performed well.
About Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS):
Union Minister – Mansukh Mandaviya (Constituency-Porbandar, Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS) – Raksha Khadse (Constituency- Raver, Maharashtra)

McLaren’s Lando Norris Wins His First F1 Monaco GP 2025

On May 25, 2025, Lando Norris, the United Kingdom (UK) Formula One (F1) driver representing the United
Kingdom (UK)-based McLaren, won the F1 Monaco Grand Prix (GP) 2025, held Circuit de
Monaco in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
• This victory marked his 1st Monaco GP and his second
win of the 2025 F1 season.
• This also marked McLaren’s first race victory at the
Monaco GP since 2008.
Key Highlights:
i.Norris converted his pole position into a win, despite a significant
lock-up at the first corner, Sainte Devote. He navigated through
Virtual Safety Car phases and adhered to the new mandatory two-
stop rule to maintain his lead.
ii.Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, representing Monaco, consistently challenged Norris throughout the race but
eventually finished in second place.
iii.Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate at McLaren, finished in third place, completing the podium and securing
a strong double-podium finish for the team.
iv.Red Bull’s Max Verstappen employed an alternate tyre strategy, leading the race until the penultimate lap
before finishing fourth after his second mandatory pit stop.
Note: The 2025 edition of the Monaco Grand Prix was marked by the introduction of a new regulation that
mandated two pit stops per driver, significantly influencing race strategies and outcomes.
Top 3 Positions in F1 Monaco Grand Prix (GP) 2025:

Rank Driver Brand Country

United Kingdom
1 Lando Norris McLaren
(UK)

2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari Monaco

3 Oscar Piastri McLaren UK

About F1 Monaco Grand Prix (GP) 2025:
i.The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, officially known as the Formula 1 TAG Heuer Grand Prix de Monaco 2025,
was a premier F1 motor race held as part of the 2025 Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)

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Formula One World Championship.

ii.It marked the 8th round of the 2025 F1 season and also represented the 71st running of the Monaco
Grand Prix as part of the official F1 World Championship calendar.
Note: The next race in the 2025 F1 season is the Spanish Grand Prix, scheduled for 1 June 2025 at the Circuit
de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain.

Tottenham Hotspur Clinches UEFA Europa Title after 17 years, defeated Manchester United
In May 2025, Tottenham Hotspur (also known as Spurs), a North London (England)-based Football club
defeated the Manchester (England) based football club, Manchester United (MANU) 1-0 in the Union of
European Football Associations (UEFA) Europa League final at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain.
• This win marks Tottenham’s first European title since 1984 and ensures their spot in the UEFA
Champions League next season which is scheduled to take place from 16 September 2025 to 30
May 2026.
i.Son Heung-min serves as the captain of Tottenham Hotspur and Bruno Fernandes serves as the captain
of MANU.
ii.Brennan Johnson’s 42nd minute goal played the key role in winning the title. He connected with a cross
from Pape Matar Sarr, and the ball deflected off Manchester United’s Luke Shaw into the net.
iii.Tottenham Hostpur finished the UEFA Europa League with 10 wins, three draws and two losses.

Malaysia Masters 2025: China’s Li Shifeng Clinches Men’s Singles Title; India’s Kidambi
Srikanth Finishes Runner-Up
The 2025 Malaysia Masters, officially titled the Perodua Malaysia Masters 2025 organised by Badminton
Association of Malaysia, was held from 20 to 25 May 2025 at the Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In
the men’s singles final, world no. 4 Li Shifeng of China defeated India’s Kidambi Srikanth, a former world
no. 1 currently ranked 65th, with a score of 21–11, 21–9.
• The 16th edition of Malaysia Masters was part of the
Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super
500 series and featured a total prize pool of USD
475,000
Note: This was Srikanth’s first final since the 2021 BWF World
Championships, where he won silver.
Key Highlights:
i.Women’s Singles: The women’s singles title was claimed
by Wang Zhiyi (China), who overcame her compatriot Han Yue in
a three-game match, finishing 13–21, 21–13, 21–18.
ii.Men’s Doubles: Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun (Malaysia) beat Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (Malaysia)
with 21–12, 15–21, 21–16.
iii.Women’s Doubles: Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning (China) triumphed over Tan Shing/Zhang Shu
Xian (China) with scores of 21–17, 21–18.
iv.Mixed Doubles: Feng Yan Zhe/Jiang Zhen Bang (China) defeated Huang Dong Ping/Wei Ya
Xin (China) with scores of 21–17, 14–21, 21–16.
About Badminton World Federation (BWF):
President – Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul (Thailand)
Headquarters – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Founded – 1934

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Neeraj Chopra Wins Silver at Janusz Kusociński Memorial 2025 in Poland

In May 2025, Neeraj Chopra, India’s two-time Olympic medallist in javelin throw, secured a silver medal in
the men’s javelin throw event at the 71st edition of the Janusz Kusociński Memorial(2025), held in
Chorzów, Poland.
• This marked his 22nd consecutive top-two finish in international competitions since June 2021.
i.Neeraj Chopra secured second place with a throw of 84.14 metres(m) on his sixth and final attempt in wet
and challenging conditions.
ii.Germany’s Julian Weber clinched the gold medal with a best effort of 86.12 m, while Anderson Peters of
Grenada secured third place with 83.24 m.
iv.The Janusz Kusociński Memorial is one of Europe’s longest-running annual athletics meets, classified as a
Silver-level event on the World Athletics Continental Tour.

Kozhikode Declared Official Flower, Bird, Animal, Tree, and Other Biodiversity Symbols
In May 2025, A.K. Saseendran, Minister of Forest and Wildlife Protection of Kerala, announced
that Kozhikode district in Kerala became the first district in the state to officially declare its emblematic
species across eight biodiversity categories under the 2024-25 Annual Plan of the District Panchayat,
following a participatory biodiversity survey.
• The initiative was led by Thiruvananthapuram
(Kerala) based Kerala State Biodiversity Board
(KSBB), an autonomous body under Kerala State
Environment Department (KSED), after receiving
nominations from the public through local-level
consultations led by Biodiversity Management
Committees (BMCs)
• The announcement was made in observance of the
International Day for Biological Diversity on 22nd May 2025.
Biodiversity Symbols of Kozhikode:
The officially designated species are:
i.District Flower: Athirani (Melastoma malabathricum)
ii.District Bird: Menipponman (Ceyx erithaca), also known as Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher
iii.District Butterfly: Malabar Rose (Pachliopta pandiyana)
iv.District Tree: Eeyakam (Hopea erosa)
v.District Heritage Tree: Eenthu (Cycas circinalis)
vi.District Aquatic Animal: Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata)
vii.District Fish: Pathala Poontharakan (Pangio bhujia)
viii.District Animal: Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata)
Key Highlights:
i.This is Kerala’s first people-driven biodiversity declaration, created through a participatory process. While
Kasaragod district (Kerala) had previously made a biodiversity declaration with expert support in 2023,
Kozhikode’s effort stands out for involving local people in studies and discussions.
ii.This initiative also shows Kerala’s commitment to protecting 25% of India’s plant species and
safeguarding unique wildlife.
About Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB):
KSBB was established in 2004 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the Biodiversity Rules, 2004, and
the Kerala State Biological Diversity Rules, 2008. Initially, KSBB functioned under the Kerala State Council
for Science, Technology, and Environment (KSCSTE), but after the formation of the Environment
Department in 2006, it was officially transferred under the new department.

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Chairman– Dr. Nadesapanicker Anil Kumar (botanist)

Headquarters – Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

India Tops Medal Tally at ISSF Junior World Cup 2025 in Suhl with 11 Medals
The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun 2025 (1st leg)
concluded in Suhl, Germany, from 19–27 May 2025. India emerged as the top performer with a total of 11
medals, comprising 3 gold, 4 silver, and 4 bronze, followed by China with 4 medals.
• This event witnessed participation from 638 shooters
representing 59 countries, with India has the largest
team of 57 shooters.
Note: The second leg (last leg) of ISSF Junior World Cup 2025
will be held in New Delhi (Delhi), India from 24 September–2
October 2025.
Highlights:
i.Tejaswani Sawant, representing India, secured the gold medal
in the women’s 25 metre (m) pistol event, defeating Alina
Nestsiarovich, who competed under the Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) category.
ii.Kanak Budhwar from India, won gold in the women’s 10 metre air pistol event, outperforming Anna
Dulce of Moldova.
iii.In the women’s 10 metre air rifle event, India’s Shambhavi Shravan Kshirsagar clinched gold, while
Ojasvi Thakur, also from India, secured the silver medal.
iv.Adriyan Karmakar of India earned two medals, Silver in the men’s 50 metre rifle prone event and
Bronze in the men’s 50 metre rifle 3 positions (3P) event.
Note: Shooters from Russia and Belarus participated under the AIN (Individual Neutral Athletes)
designation due to the ISSF’s ban on their national federations, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and
Belarus’ support for the action.
Top 3 Medal Winners at the ISSF Junior World Cup 2025 (1st leg):

Silver Bronze Total

Rank Country Gold Medal
Medal Medal Medals

1 India 3 4 4 11

2 China 3 – 1 4

3 Italy 2 2 4 8
Indian Medal Winners at the ISSF Junior World Cup 2025 (1st leg):

Name of the Player Event

Gold Medal

Kanak Budhwar Women’s 10m air pistol

Shambhavi Shravan Kshirsagar Women’s 10m air rifle

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Tejaswani Sawant Women’s 25m pistol

Silver Medal

Ojasvi Thakur Women’s 10m Air Rifle

Adriyan Karmakar Men’s 50m Rifle Prone

Khyaty Chaudhary and Naraen Pranav Vanitha

10m Air Rifle Mixed Team
Suresh

Raiza Dhillon Women’s Skeet

Bronze Medal

Adriyan Karmakar Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions

Naraen Pranav Vanitha Suresh Men’s 10m Air Rifle

Mukesh Nelavalli Men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol

Shambhavi Shravan Kshirsagar and Himanshu 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team
About ISSF Junior World Cup:
i.The ISSF Junior World Cup is an annual international shooting competition organised by the ISSF.
ii.The event features competitions in rifle, pistol, and shotgun categories for junior shooters across the
globe.
iii.The ISSF introduced the Junior World Cup in 2016 and as per ISSF rules revised in 2023, a shooter is
considered a junior until 31st December of the year in which they turn 21.
About International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF):
President – Luciano Rossi (Italy)
Headquarters – Munich, Germany
Established – 1907

PepsiCo Joins as Official Partner of Formula 1

In May 2025, New York, the United States of America (USA) based PepsiCo has entered into a partnership
agreement with London United Kingdom (UK) based Formula One (F1), the highest class of international
motorsport for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars, until 2030.
• The collaboration aims to enhance fan engagement through on-pack promotions, digital
experiences, and unique content.
i.Under the agreement, Heckmondwike (England) based Sting Energy, a beverage brand under PepsiCo, will
join F1 as its official Energy drink.
ii.Illinois (USA) based Gatorade, the world’s sports and isotonic drinks brand, will become the official
partner of F1 Sprint, bringing its legacy of fueling peak athletic performance.
iii.Texas (USA) based Doritos, wholly owned subsidiary of PepsiCo will become the official savoury snack
partner of F1.

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India to Host 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships After 44 Years

On May 28, 2025, Doha (Qatar) based Asian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) announced
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, will host the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships from April 1 to 10, 2026.
This marks India’s return as host of the prestigious continental event after a 44-year gap, the last being in
1982 in New Delhi (Delhi) during the Asian Games.
• The tournament will be organized by New Delhi based Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF)
under the aegis of the AWF.
i.India was awarded the hosting rights in 2024 by the AWF at its annual congress meeting held in Tashkent,
Uzbekistan.
ii.This tournament will be the first Asian Championships to be held under the revised weight categories,
introduced by the Lausanne (Switzerland) based International Weightlifting Federation (IWF).

OBITUARY
Former National Shooting Coach & Dronacharya Awardee Professor Sunny Thomas Passed Away
In April 2025, Professor Sunny Thomas, former National Rifle Shooting Coach of India and the
Dronacharya Awardee, passed away at the age of 83 in Uzhavoor, Kottayam district, Kerala. He was born in
1941 in Kottayam, Kerala.
• In 2001, Professor Sunny Thomas became the first shooting coach to be honoured with
the Dronacharya Award, India’s prestigious recognition for excellence in sports coaching.
About Professor Sunny Thomas:
i.Sunny Thomas’s association with shooting began in 1965, when he joined the Kottayam Rifle Club. He was
a five-time Kerala state champion and National Champion in 1976.
• He served as an English professor and shifted to coaching after retiring from academia in 1993.
ii.He served as India’s national shooting coach for 19 years, from 1993 to 2012.
iii.Under his tenure, Indian shooters won 4 Olympic medals, including India’s first-ever individual Olympic
gold medal – Abhinav Bindra – Gold (10m Air Rifle, Beijing 2008).
iv.Indian shooters also earned medals at 6 World Championships, 50+ World Cups, 6 Asian Games and 5
Commonwealth Games during his tenure.

Former Union Minister Girija Vyas Passed Away

In May 2025, veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister Dr. Girija Vyas passed away at the age of
79 in Ahmedabad (Gujarat). She was born in 1946 in Nathdwara, Rajsamand district, Rajasthan.
About Dr. Girija Vyas:
i.Dr. Girija Vyas began her political career in 1977 as the Udaipur District Congress Committee President.
ii.She served three terms as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Lok Sabha in 1991, 1998 and 2009.
iii.She held key positions in both State and Union Governments:
• State minister for Information and Broadcasting (1993–1996) under the P.V. Narasimha Rao
government.
• Union Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (2013–2014) under the Manmohan
Singh government.
iv.She also served as Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW) and President of
Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC).

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Yoga Guru & Padma Shri Awardee Swami Sivananda Passed Away
On May 4, 2025, renowned Yoga guru and Padma Shri Awardee Swami Sivananda Saraswati, passed away
at the age of 128 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
About Swami Sivananda:
i.Swami Sivananda Saraswati was born on August 8, 1897, in the Sylhet district of Bengal Presidency of
British India (present day-Bangladesh).
ii.He was brought up by Guru Omkaranand Goswami at his Ashram in Nabadwip (West Bengal), since
Swami’s parents’ demise at six years.
iii.He was imparted with practical and spiritual education, including
Yoga, without school education.
iv.For about 3 decades, he taught yoga on the banks of the river Ganga
in Varanasi, UP. In the last 50 years of his life, Swami Sivananda has
served 400 – 600 leprosy- affected beggars by meeting them in their
hutments.
v.He was the senior-most participant from the country at the yoga
demonstration on June 21, the World Yoga Day in 2019.
vi.In January 2025, Swami Sivananda Saraswati made headlines once again after it was revealed that he has
been attending the Maha Kumbh Mela for the past 100 years.
Awards and Recognition:
i.In 2019, he was honoured with Yoga Ratna Award in Bengaluru(Karnataka) and Basundhara Ratan
Award by Respect Age International for his contribution to society.
ii.In 2022 He was honoured with Padma Shri in the field of Yoga for his contribution and humanitarian
work. He was the oldest man to receive the Padma Shri award.

Padma Shri Awardee K V Rabiya Passed Away

In May 2025, Kerala’s pioneering literacy advocate and Padma Shri Awardee Kariveppil Rabiya passed
away at Tirurangadi in Kerala.
• She was celebrated for her unwavering commitment to adult literacy and women’s
empowerment, despite facing significant health challenges throughout her life.
About K V Rabiya:
i.Kariveppil Rabiya, born on 25 February 1966 was a differently abled social worker Malappuram, Kerala.
ii.At the young age of 17, while in her first year at college, her legs were crippled by polio.
iii.In June 1990, Rabiya, a prominent figure in Kerala’s literacy movement, launched an adult literacy
campaign in Tirurangadi in Malapuram, Kerala.
iv.In 1994, she founded Chalanam, an organization that drove social
transformation for thousands of people in her native Vellilakad
village and beyond.
v.Rabiya was celebrated as Kerala’s Aksharaputri (daughter of
letters) for her pivotal role in the State’s total literacy movement.
vi.Played a key role in making Malappuram India’s first e-literate
district through the Akshaya project
Awards and Honours:
i.She was honoured with the National Youth Award (1993) from the Ministry of Human Resource
Development (MoHRD), marking her first national recognition.
ii.She also received Kannagi Sthree Shakti Award (1999), United Nations
Development (UNDP) Award (2000) and Joseph Mundaserry Award (2010).

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iii. In 2022 Padma Shri , India’s fourth-highest civilian award, for her exceptional contribution to social
work and education.

Former F1 Driver & Le Mans Champion Jochen Richard Mass Passed Away
In May 2025, renowned German racing driver Jochen Richard Mass, former Formula One (F1) driver & Le
Mans Champion, passed away at the age of 78 in Cannes, France. He was born on 30th September 1946 in
Dorfen, Bavaria (Germany).
About Jachen Richard Mass:
i.He won the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) and the Spa 24 Hours race in 1972.
ii.He made his F1 debut with Team Surtees in 1973 and raced in 105 Grands Prix between 1974 and 1982,
securing his only victory at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix.
iii.In total, Mass made 105 F1 starts, securing 1 win and 7 podiums.
iv.He recorded 32 wins in the World Sportscar Championship, placing second in the all-time winners list
behind Jacky Ickx.
v.After several attempts, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1989 with the Sauber C9, partnered by
Manuel Reuter and Stanley Dickens.
vi.He drove for Surtees, McLaren, Automobil Technik Schmid (ATS), Arrows, and March, before retiring from
F1 in 1982 following a crash at the French Grand Prix.

Padma Shri Awardee Subbanna Ayyappan, Former DG of ICAR, Passed Away

In May 2025, Subbanna Ayyappan, a renowned Indian aquaculture scientist, and the first non-crop
specialist to lead the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) passed away.
• He was found dead in the Cauvery River near
Srirangapatna, Karnataka, on 10 May 2025. Born on 10
December 1955 in Mysuru, Karnataka, he had been
reported missing by his family on 7 May 2025.
• He played a pivotal role in
advancing aquaculture and sustainable agriculture,
driving India’s Blue Revolution to enhance fish production
and rural livelihoods.
About Subbanna Ayyappan:
i.In 1978, he joined ICAR as a scientist at Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Barrackpore
(West Bengal, WB).
ii.He served as Director of the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneswar (Odisha)
and held the position of Director at the Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai
(Maharashtra).
iii.He became the Director General (DG) of ICAR on January 1, 2010, serving until February 2016.
iv.He was the founding Chief Executive of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad
(Telangana) (2006–2008).
v.He was the chairman of the New Delhi (Delhi) based National Accreditation Board for Testing and
Calibration Laboratories (NABL).
vi.Secretary to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Government of India(GoI).
vii. Chancellor of Central Agricultural University, Manipur.
Awards and Honors:
i.In 2022, he was honored with Padma Shri, India’s 4th-highest civilian award for contributions to Science
and Engineering particularly in the field of aquaculture.

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ii.He was also recognized with Zahoor Qasim Gold Medal (1996–1997), Special ICAR Award (1997), and
Prof. H.P.C. Shetty Award for Excellence in Fisheries Research and Development (2002).

Former Indian Footballer DMK Afzal Passed Away

In May 2025, a former Indian Football player, Dost Mohammad Khan(DMK) Afzal passed away at the age
of 81 in Hyderabad, Telangana. He was born in 1943 in Hyderabad.
• DMK Afzal was part of the Gold-medal winning India team at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta,
Indonesia.
About DMK Afzal:
i.Afzal was an excellent midfielder of his time, has two appearances in the national team.
ii.He made his debut against the Republic of Korea in the group stage of the 1962 Asian Games.
iii.On his domestic front, Afzal won the Santosh Trophy with Andhra Pradesh(AP) in 1965.
iv.With his club, Andhra Police, he won the Durand Cup (1961), Rovers Cup (1962, joint winners), and the
DCM trophy (1965).
v.He later moved to Calcutta and won the Calcutta Football League (1966), IFA shield (1966), Rovers cup
(1967), Durand Cup (1967), Sait Nagjee Trophy (1968), Kerala FA Shield (1968) and the Bordoloi
Trophy(1968).

Argentina’s 1978 World Cup-Winning Defender, Luis Galván Passed Away

In May 2025, Argentina based football legend Luis Galván, a key member of Argentina’s 1978
FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup-winning squad, passed away at the age
of 77 in Cordoba, Argentina.
• He was born on 24 February 1948 in Fernández, Santiago del Estero, Argentina.
About Luis Galván:
i.Luis Galván began his professional football career with Talleres de Córdoba, a football club based in
Córdoba, Argentina, in 1970.
ii.He spent the majority of his career with the club, making a record 503 appearances across two spells
(1970-1982 and 1986-1987).
iii.He featured in every match of the 1978 FIFA World Cup, where Argentina defeated the Netherlands 3-1 in
the final to claim their first World Cup title.
iv.He represented Argentina again in 1982 World Cup, but the team was eliminated in the second round
after losses to Brazil (3-1) and Italy (2-1).
v.He earned 34 International Caps for Argentina between 1975 and 1983, including the 1975 Pan American
Games.

Uruguay’s Former President Jose Mujica Passed Away

On May 13, 2025, Jose Alberto Mujico Cordano, a former President of Uruguay and Guerilla fighter passed
away at the age of 89 in Montevideo, Uruguay. He was called by his nick name “Pepe” by the people of
Uruguay.
• He was the 40th President of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015, during which he implemented
progressive policies.
About Jose Mujica:
i.Jose Alberto Mujico Cordano was born on May 20, 1935, in Montevideo, Uruguay.
ii.In the late 1960s he joined the Marxist Tupamaros guerilla movement.
iii.He was imprisoned for 14 years during Uruguay’s military dictatorship from 1970s and 1980s..

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iv.After the return of democracy in Uruguay, he served as Minister of

Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries from 2005 to 2008.
Presidency (2010–2015)
Mujica served as President of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015. His tenure
was marked by progressive reforms, including the legalization of
abortion, same-sex marriage, and the regulation of marijuana sales.
He also promoted renewable energy initiatives and policies aimed at
reducing poverty and inequality.
Awards and Achievements:
i.He was awarded the Premio ALBA de los Pueblos award in 2016 by the Bolivarian Alliance for the
People of Our America (ALBA) for his contributions to Latin American integration and social justice.
ii.In 2014, he was conferred the Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest honour from Mexico on foreigners.
iii.He was awarded the Prize for Political Thought and Humanities by the Spanish Foundation, Manuel
Broseta in 2020.
About Uruguay:
President – Yamandu Orsi
Capital – Montevideo
Currency – Uruguayan Peso, UYU

Three Time Oscar Winning Filmmaker Robert Benton Passed Away

On May 11, 2025, the three-time Oscar-winner, Screenwriter and Director, Robert Douglas Benton has
passed away at the age of 92 at Manhattan in New York, the United States of America (USA). He was born on
September 29, 1932, in Texas, Benton, the USA.
• He received six Academy Award nominations throughout his distinguished career, winning three
times.
About Robert Douglas Benton:
i.Robert Douglas Benton began his career as art director at Esquire
magazine, where he helped start the magazine’s long standing
Dubious Achievement Award.
ii.He was the co-writer for the film Bonnie and Clyde
(1967), which revolutionized Hollywood with its bold storytelling
and earned him an Oscar nomination.
iii.He made his directorial debut with the film “The Late Show”
(1977).
iv.He was awarded the Academy Award for his film “Kramer vs Kramer” (1979) for the Best Director, Best
Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.
v.His film, “Places in the Heart” (1984), earned him an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
vi.His final directorial effort was Feast of Love in 2007 .
Awards and Recognitions:
i.He received the Ian McLellan Hunter Award by the Writers Guild of America in 1995.
ii.He received the Laurel Award for screenwriting in 2007.

National Award Winning-Makeup Artist Vikram Gaikwad Passed Away

In May 2025, the Celebrity-Makeup Artist, Vikram Gaikwad passed away at the age of 65 in Mumbai,
Maharashtra. He was born in Jalgaon, Maharashtra in 1960.

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• He received 3 National Awards for Best Makeup Artist for a Bengali Film, Moner Manush in 2010,
a Hindi Film “Dirty Picture” and a Marathi film “Balgandharva” in 2011, followed by a Bengali
Film “Jaatishwar” in 2014.
i.He began his illustrious career with the film Sardar and went on to become a transformative force in
makeup artistry for both Bollywood and regional cinema.
• His other notable works are such as 83, Uri: The Surgical Strike and Ponniyin Selvan.
ii.His work spans across Hindi, Marathi, and South Indian Films such as Shakuntala Devi, Tanhaji: The
Unsung Warrior, Sanju, Dangal, PK, 3 Idiots, Omkara, Katyar Kaljat Ghusali and O Kadhal Kanmani.
iii.He also received International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) for the films Dirty Picture in 2012,
Bhaag Milka Bhaag in 2014 and Tanu Weds Manu Returns in 2016.

Former Rajya Sabha MP Nepaldeb Bhattacharjee Passed Away

In May 2025, Nepaldeb Bhattacharjee, a senior leader of the Communist Party of India – Marxist(CPI(M))
and former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP), passed away at the age of 74 in Kolkata, West
Bengal(WB).
• He was born on 19 December 1950, in Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas district, WB.
i.Nepaldeb Bhattacharjee was a lifelong Marxist and served as the all-India General Secretary of the
Students’ Federation of India (SFI) from 1979 to 1986.
ii.He served as Rajya Sabha MP from 1981 to 1988 representing WB in the Upper House of Parliament.
iii.He also served in the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the trade union wing of CPI(M), and held the
position of District Secretary of CPI(M) for North 24 Parganas in 2015.
iv.He contested elections including the 2016 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election from Rajarhat-
Gopalpur and the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Dum Dum constituency but was unsuccessful.
v.Apart from his political career, he was a film enthusiast. In 2000, he directed a Bengali film titled “Chaka”,
featuring actor Mithun Chakraborty.

Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri Awardee – Dr. Saroj Ghose Passes Away
In May 2025, Dr. Saroj Ghose, Founding Director General of National Council of Science Museums (NSCM),
Ministry of Culture (MoC) and the Father of India’s Science Museum Movement, has passed away at the
age of 89 in Seattle, United States of America (USA).
• He envisioned and executed the development of a
decentralized model of science museums across India,
making science accessible, interactive and inspiring to
millions of people
About Saroj Ghose:
i.Saroj Ghose, born in 1 September 1935 at Calcutta (Present day
Kolkata)(West Bengal)(WB), India. Joined as a technical officer at
Kolkata(WB) based Birla Industrial & Technological
Museum (BITM) in 1958.
ii.In 1965, he became the Director of BITM and launched the “Mobile Science Museum”, a traveling
exhibition with a vision to bring science exhibitions to remote areas.
iii.Ghose became the founding Director General of NSCM in 1979.
• During his tenure from 1979 to 1997, he established several science centres, including the Nehru
Science Centre (New Delhi, Delhi) and the Science City (Kolkata, West Bengal).
iv.He served as the President of the Paris(France) based International Council of Museums (ICOM) from
1992 to 1998.

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Awards and Honours:

i.He was conferred the Padma Shri Award (1989) and the Padma Bhushan (2007) in the Field of Science
and Engineering by the Government of India (GOI) for his exceptional contributions to science education
and museology in India.
ii.The Association of Science Technology Centres, USA, awarded him the ASTC Fellowship in 1997.
About the National Council of Science Museums (NSCM):
Director General – A. D. Choudhury
Headquarters – Kolkata, West Bengal
Founded – 4 April 1978

Padma Vibhushan Awardee M.R. Srinivasan Passed Away

On May 20, 2025, the Former Chairman of Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Atomic Energy
Commission (AEC) of India, and key architect of India’s nuclear energy programme Malur Ramasamy
(M.R) Srinivasan has passed away at the age of 95 in Ooty, Tamil Nadu (TN).
About M.R. Srinivasan:
i.M.R. Srinivasan, born on January 5, 1930, in Bengaluru
(Karnataka), joined the Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Department of
Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1955.
ii.He closely worked with Dr. Homi Bhabha on India’s first nuclear
research reactor, Apsara, which achieved criticality in August 1956.
iii.In 1959, he was appointed as the Principal Project Engineer for
the construction of India’s first Atomic Power Station.
• In 1967, he assumed charge as Chief Project Engineer of the Madras Atomic Power Station
iv.In 1974, he became the Director of the Power Projects Engineering Division, DAE and he was promoted to
the Chairman of the Nuclear Power Board in 1984.
v.In 1987, he became the Chairman of the AEC, Secretary of the DAE and in the same year, he became the
Founder-Chairman of the Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited
(NPCIL).
• Under his leadership, 18 nuclear power units were developed, out of which seven are currently
operational, 7 are under construction and four are in the planning stage.
vi.Dr. Srinivasan made an impact outside of India as well. From 1990 to 1992, he worked as a senior advisor
for the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna(Austria).
vii.He contributed to worldwide nuclear safety as a founder member of the London, United Kingdom(UK)
based World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO).
Awards and Honours:
i.In 2015, He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, in recognition of his
invaluable contributions to the field of nuclear science and energy.
ii.He was conferred the Padma Bhushan award in 1990 and Padma Shri in 1984 to the field of nuclear
science and energy.

Noted Astrophysicist & Padma Awardee Dr. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar Passed Away
On May 20, 2025, Dr.Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, a renowned Indian astrophysicist and founder of the Pune
(Maharashtra) based Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), passed away at the
age of 87 in Pune(Maharashtra). He was born on 19th July 1938 in Kolhapur (Maharashtra).
• Dr. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar was honored with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian
award, in 1965 in the field of science and engineering and in 2004 received the Padma
Vibhushan,India’s second-highest civilian award, in the field of science and engineering.

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About Jayant Vishnu Narlikar:

i.He was internationally renowned for his alternative cosmological
theories that challenged the popular Big Bang model.
• In 1963, in collaboration with Sir Fred Hoyle, he developed
the Hoyle–Narlikar theory of gravity, which integrates
Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity with Mach’s principle.
ii.In 1972, he joined the Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Tata Institute of
Fundamental Research (TIFR), and later founded IUCAA in 1988, serving as its director until 2003.
iii.In 1981, he became the founding member of Mexico (the United States of America, USA) based World
Cultural Council(WCC).
iv.He served as the President of the Cosmology Commission of Paris(France) based International
Astronomical Union(IAU) from 1994 to 1997.
v.He authored over 30 books, including science fiction and non-fiction in both English and Marathi
languages.
Awards and Honors:
i.Kalinga Prize (1996): From the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) for popularizing science.
ii.Maharashtra Bhushan (2010): Highest civilian award by the Government of Maharashtra.
iii.Sahitya Akademi Award (2014): For his Marathi autobiography, Chaar Nagarantale Maze Vishwa (A
Tale of Four Cities).
iv.Astronomical Society of India (ASI) Govind Swarup Lifetime Achievement Award (2023): For
institutional-building and mentorship in the field of astronomy and astrophysics.
About Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA):
Director- Professor Raghunathan Srianand
Headquarters – Pune, Maharashtra
Established – 1988

SAD Leader and Former Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa Passed Away
In May 2025, Veteran Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Union Minister, Sukhdev Singh
Dhindsa, passed away at the age of 89 in Mohali, Punjab. He was born on April 9, 1936, in Ubhawal village,
near Sangrur, Punjab.
He was conferred with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, in 2019 for his
contributions in the field of Public Affairs; however, he returned the honour in 2020 in solidarity
with the Kisan Andolan (farmers’ protest).
About Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa:
i.He began his political journey in 1977, when he was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly
(MLA) from Sunam(Punjab). He held portfolios including Sports, Transport, and Education in Parkash Singh
Badal’s government.
ii.He also served as an MLA in 1980 and1985. In 1997, he was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Punjab State
Planning Commission and later Chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Board.
iii.He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1999 and served as Union Cabinet Minister for Sports, Chemicals
and Fertilisers in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government from 2000 to 2004.
iv.He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Sangrur in 2004, and re-elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2010 and
2016, serving until 2022.

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BOOKS & AUTHORS

NAI Launches Book Titled “Ramanujan: Journey of a Great Mathematician”
In April 2025, New Delhi (Delhi) based National Archives of India (NAI), in collaboration with New Delhi-
based Vani Prakashan Group, launched the book “Ramanujan: Journey of a Great Mathematician” at Dr.
Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi (Delhi).
• Authored by Arun Singhal and Devendra Kumar Sharma, the book delves into the life and
contributions of Srinivasa Ramanujan, one of India’s most celebrated mathematicians
i.The publication offers a comprehensive account of Ramanujan’s journey from his early life in Erode, Tamil
Nadu (TN), to his groundbreaking work in mathematics.
ii.It highlights his significant contributions to number theory, infinite series, and continued fractions,
achieved despite limited formal training.
iii.It includes original documents and letters, notably correspondence with British mathematician G.H.
Hardy, who recognized Ramanujan’s genius and facilitated his work’s global recognition.

Memoir titled ‘The Undying Light’ by Gopalkrishna Gandhi Released

In April 2025, renowned author and former Governor of West Bengal(WB), Gopalkrishna Gandhi released
his memoir titled “The Undying Light: A Personal History of Independent India.” The book was
published by New Delhi (Delhi)-based Aleph Book Company, spans 624 pages and is available in English in
hardcover format.
i.The memoir starts with a deeply personal recollection of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, witnessed by
the author when he was just three years old. From this intimate moment, the narrative broadens into an
insightful study of India’s political history post-1947, blending personal anecdotes with key historical
events.
ii.It provides a unique insider view on India’s political and social evolution, making it a valuable resource for
students and aspirants preparing for competitive examinations.
iii.Gopalkrishna Devadas Gandhi is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and C. Rajagopalachari, India’s last
Governor-General. He served as the Governor of West Bengal(WB) from 14 December 2004 to 14 December
2009.

Kaunain Sheriff M’s Book “The Johnson & Johnson Files: The Indian Secrets of a Global
Giant” Released
In May 2025, Kaunain Sheriff M, National Health Editor at The Indian Express, has released his book “The
Johnson & Johnson Files: The Indian Secrets of a Global Giant”, a comprehensive investigation into one
of India’s significant medical device controversies. The book was published by New Delhi based Juggernaut
Books.
• The book delves into the Articular Surface Replacement (ASR) hip implant scandal involving the
United States of America (USA) based pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson (J&J).
i.In 2003, J&J’s subsidiary, DePuy Orthopaedics, introduced the ASR hip implants, marketed for their
durability.
• By 2010, the implants were globally recalled for high failure and metal toxicity, but about 4,700
Indian patients had already received them, unaware of risks.
ii.Sheriff’s book builds upon investigative reports published by The Indian Express in 2018-2019,
uncovering how corporate negligence and regulatory oversights compromised patient safety.
iii.The narrative emphasizes the long battle of Indian patients for justice and compensation, in contrast to
the USD 2.5 billion settlement Johnson & Johnson provided in the USA.

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S P Sharma’s Book “India@2047: Leading the Global Economic Order” Released

In May 2025, the Chief Economist at New Economic Order Economists and Chief Economist of the PHD
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Shyam Prakash Sharma released his book, “India@2047: Leading
the Global Economic Order” in a launch event at Juniper Hall, India Habitat Centre in New Delhi, Delhi. The
book was published by New Delhi based AF Press, an imprint of Academic Foundation.
• The book was launched with an aim to envision India’s growth to become Global Economic
Leadership by its 100th year of independence.
Key Points:
i.The book identifies key enablers of the global economic leadership transformation, including government
initiatives such as Make in India, Pradhan Mantri (PM) Gati Shakti, and record- breaking Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI), which has crossed USD 1 trillion.
ii.It also highlights, India’s robust macroeconomic fundamentals like rising tax revenues, strong foreign
exchange reserves and a stable debt-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio as signs of a maturing and
stable economy.
iii.The book comprises seven chapters, assessing India’s economic journey through the lens of reforms,
digital innovation, sustainability and global integration.
iv.It also outlines India’s evolving role in global forums like Group of 20 nations (G-20), BRICS (Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic
Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

FM Nirmala Sitharaman Reviews the Book “The Tamils: A Portrait of Community” by Nirmala
Lakshman
In May 2025, the book titled “The Tamils: A Portrait of Community”, written by Nirmala Lakshman was
reviewed in The Book Review, an India-based peer-reviewed academic journal.The book was published by
New Delhi(Delhi) based Aleph Book Company.
• The review, penned by Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance(MoF),
commended the book for its insightful exploration of justice and fairness as central themes in
Tamil culture, highlighting historical anecdotes such as King Manuneedhi Cholan’s legendary act
of justice.
i.The book offers a comprehensive narrative of Tamil history and culture, tracing the community’s journey
from the Stone Age through the Sangam era and into the modern day.
ii.Nirmala Lakshman, is a Publisher and Chairperson of THE HINDU Group of Publications.
iii.Earlier she was the Joint Editor of the paper, and she founded and edited ‘The Hindu Literary Review’,
conceptualized and created ‘Young World’, India’s only Children’s newspaper supplement.

Vice President Releases Haryana Governor’s Book “Janta Ki Kahani-in Meri Aatamkatha”
In May 2025, the Vice President (VP) of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar released the book, “Janta Ki Kahani-in
Meri Aatamkatha”, an autobiography written by Haryana Governor, Bandaru Dattatraya in an event
organized at Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The book reflects Bandaru Dattatraya’s political and social journey, emphasizing his grassroots-
level connection with the public and his commitment to the upliftment of the underprivileged. It
also sheds light on key historical and political events witnessed by the author over the decades.
About the Author:
• Bandaru Dattatraya, born on 12 June 1947 in Hyderabad, has serving as Governor of Haryana
since July 2021.

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• A senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, he was Union Minister of State(MoS) for Labour
(1999–2004) under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and a four-time Lok Sabha member from
Secunderabad(Telangana).
• His career spans decades of political and social work, marked by humility and public welfare
initiatives.

Puja Pujara writes a memoir titled “The Diary of a Cricketer’s Wife”

Puja Pujara, the wife of renowned Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara, has written the memoir “The Diary
of a Cricketer’s Wife: A Very Unusual Memoir”. It is the first time a cricketer’s spouse has written a
memoir on the cricketer
• The memoir is co-authored by Puja Pujara and Namita Kala, and was published by Gurgaon,
Haryana based HarperCollins Publishers India Private Limited. It was released in April 2025.
i.The book offers the readers a glimpse into Puja’s life as a cricketer’s spouse.
ii.The book, in addition to bringing a perspective of being a cricketer’s wife, it also offers a glimpse into
Pujara’s life, from playing street cricket to becoming one of the greatest cricketers in India.
iii.Puja Pujara has shared the resilient path of Pujara’s cricketing career and her experiences alongside him.

Australian Cricket Captain Patrick Cummins Released New Book ‘Tested: The Remarkable
Power of Resolve’
In 2025, Australian Cricket Captain Patrick James Cummins launched his book ‘Tested: The Remarkable
Power of Resolve’, which explores leadership and decision-making through discussions with 11 experts
from different fields.
• The book was published by HarperCollins Publishers LLC, a British-American publishing
company.
i.In this book, Pat Cummins explores the themes of challenge, crisis, and opportunity by engaging in
conversations with renowned personalities like former Australian Prime Minister(PM) Julia Gillard and
cricket legend Dennis Lillee, etc., offering insights beyond his cricketing career.
ii.He also shares his own journey, reflecting on the challenges and responsibilities of becoming Australia’s
47th Test captain at the age of 28.
iii.Patrick James Cummins, the Captain of the Australian Men’s Test Cricket Team, has led Australia to major
victories, including the 2023 International Cricket Council – One Day International (ICC ODI) World Cup, the
2023 Ashes, and the 2025 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and was named ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2024.

‘Test Cricket: A History’ by Tim Wigmore’s Book Chronicles 150 Years of Test Cricket
Test cricket is set to celebrate its 150th anniversary in March 2026, an occasion marked by the release of
‘Test Cricket: A History’ by Tim Wigmore, published by London, United Kingdom(UK) based Quercus.
• The book offers a detailed narrative tracing the evolution of Test cricket since 1877, covering key
moments, players, and events that have shaped this traditional and longest format of the sport
across generations and geographies.
i.The book highlights Test cricket both on the field and its broader social impact worldwide, featuring
exclusive interviews with legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Pat Cummins, Michael Holding,
Muthiah Muralidaran, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Chappell, Dale Steyn, and Rahul Dravid.
ii.The book spans 35 chapters, weaving together key moments, iconic players, and pivotal events that have
defined the longest and most traditional format of the sport.
Note: Tim Wigmore, the author of Crickonomics and Cricket 2.0: Inside the T20 Revolution, received the
Wisden Book of the Year and Daily Telegraph Cricket Book of the Year awards in 2020.

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IMPORTANT DAYS
Ayushman Bharat Diwas 2025 – April 30
Ayushman Bharat Diwas is annually observed across India on 30th April as part of Gram Swaraj Abhiyan
to raise awareness about the objectives of Ayushman Bharat, a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India(GoI).
• The objective of this day is to raise awareness about the significance of maintaining good health
and to inform citizens about the benefits available under the government’s free healthcare
initiatives.
About Ayushman Bharat scheme:
i.Ayushman Bharat was launched as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017, to achieve the
mission of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
ii.Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi launched the scheme in Ranchi, Jharkhand on 23rd September 2018.
iii.The scheme aims to revolutionize the healthcare system at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels
iv.The scheme consists of two interrelated components:
• Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs):
i.In 2018, the Government of India announced the creation of 1,50,000 HWCs by transforming the existing
Sub Centres and Primary centres.
• The aim of HWCs is to deliver Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) bringing healthcare
closer to the homes of people.
• Maternal and Child health services, non-communicable diseases, including free essential drugs
and diagnostic services are covered.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY):
i.Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), fully funded by the government, was launched under the
Ayushman Bharat scheme.
ii.Eligible senior citizens aged 70 and above will receive health coverage, regardless of their income.
iii.Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is the largest health assurance scheme in the world, which aims at providing a
health cover of Rs.5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 12
crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 55 crore beneficiaries) that form the bottom 40% of the
population.
iv.PM-JAY provides cashless access to health care services for the beneficiary at the point of service (any
empaneled public or private hospital).
• It covers up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days of post-hospitalization expenses such as
diagnostics and medicines.
Note:PM-JAY was earlier known as the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) before being
rechristened. It absorbed the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) which had been launched in 2008.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission(ABDM):
i.The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) aims to support the integrated digital health infrastructure
of the country.
ii.The four building blocks of ABDM are:
• Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) number, a 14-digit unique identifier
• ABHA Mobile Application, Personal Health Record (PHR)
• Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR)
• Health Facility Registry (HFR)

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Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM):

The PM-ABHIM is a comprehensive initiative launched to strengthen the country’s public health
infrastructure and enhance its capacity to manage future health emergencies.
• It seeks to fill critical gaps in health infrastructure, surveillance, and health research across both
urban and rural areas, ensuring communities are self-reliant in managing health crises.
About Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoHFW):
Union Minister – Jagat Prakash Nadda (Rajya Sabha – Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS) – Prataprao Jadhav (Buldhana, Maharashtra), Anupriya Patel – (Mirzapur, Uttar
Pradesh)

International Jazz Day 2025- April 30

The United Nations (UN)’s International Jazz Day is observed annually on 30 April to highlight the role of
jazz in uniting people worldwide.
• This International Day brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and
jazz enthusiasts all over the world to celebrate and learn about the art of jazz, its roots, its future
and its impact.
Background:
i.In November 2011 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General
Conference proclaimed 30 April as “International Jazz Day”.
ii. The inaugural celebration took place on 30 April 2012.
Significance:
i.International Jazz Day aims to raise awareness of jazz’s role in promoting peace, unity, and dialogue among
cultures.
ii.It also serves as an educational tool, encouraging the study and appreciation of jazz’s rich heritage and its
impact on society.
2025 Events:
i.The 2025 edition of International Jazz Day, organized by UNESCO and Washington, D.C. (the United
States of America, USA) based Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, was celebrated on 30 April 2025 in more
than 190 countries.
ii.The Global Host City for this year’s celebration is Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates(UAE), recognized as
a UNESCO Creative City of Music.
iii.In Abu Dhabi, a five-week series of jazz performances, educational programs, and community events are
taking place across the city.
iv.The celebrations culminate in the International Jazz Day 2025 All-Star Global Concert on 30 April at the
Etihad Arena, the region’s largest indoor entertainment venue in Abu Dhabi.
v.The concert features an extraordinary lineup of renowned jazz artists from around the world,
including Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kurt Elling, Marcus Miller, Arturo Sandoval,
and Dianne Reeves, among others
Note: In 2024 , International Jazz Day celebration was hosted in Tangier, Morocco.
About Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM):
i.Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) is celebrated every April, culminating in International Jazz Day on 30
April.
ii.Established in 2001 by the Washington, D.C. based Smithsonian National Museum of American
History, JAM honors jazz as an American art form that has significantly influenced music worldwide.
iii.Throughout the month, various events and programs are organized to celebrate jazz musicians and
educate the public about jazz’s history and cultural significance.

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World Immunization Week 2025 – 24 to 30 April

World Immunization Week (WIW) was observed annually across the globe in the last week of April, led
by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness about the critical role of vaccines in preventing
diseases and saving lives.
• World Immunization Week 2025 was observed from April 24 to 30, 2025
2025 Theme:
The theme for WIW 2025 is “Immunization for All is Humanly Possible.”
• It emphasizes the collective responsibility to ensure equitable access to vaccines for individuals of
all ages, regardless of geographic or socioeconomic barriers.
Background:
i.Initiated in 2003 in the Region of the Americas, WIW expanded to all six WHO regions by 2012, engaging
over 180 countries, territories, and areas.
ii.In May 2012, the 65th World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted resolution WHA65.18, urging Member
States to designate the last week of April as WIW.
Significance of Immunization
i.Immunization plays a vital role in public health by safeguarding individuals and communities against
infectious diseases.
ii.It works by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies, thereby preventing severe illnesses,
reducing complications, and contributing to the control or even eradication of certain diseases.
Achievements Over the Decades
i.Since 1974, vaccines have saved approximately 154 million lives, equating to over 3 million lives annually
or six lives every minute.
ii.The measles vaccine alone accounts for 60% of these lives saved.
iii.Vaccination has contributed to a 40% reduction in infant mortality, allowing more children to reach their
first birthday and beyond.
iv.Recent advancements have led to the development and deployment of vaccines against diseases like
malaria, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), cholera, dengue, meningitis, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV),
Ebola, and mpox (monkey pox).
Campaign Objectives for 2025:
The 2025 WIW campaign focuses on:
• Demonstrating that reducing disease and increasing life expectancy is achievable through
community-wide immunization efforts.
• Encouraging governments to strengthen immunization programs at both local and national levels
to fulfill the promise of universal vaccine access.
Immunization Agenda 2030:
The year 2025 marks the midpoint of the Immunization Agenda 2030, a global strategy aiming for 90%
global vaccine coverage and a 50% reduction in zero-dose children.
2025 Events:
On April 24, 2025, coinciding with WIW, Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, Minister of Health and
Family Welfare (MoH&FW), virtually launched the National Zero Measles-Rubella Elimination
Campaign 2025-26 to eliminate measles and rubella by 2026 through intensified vaccination efforts.
Highlights:
i.Vaccination Coverage: Under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), India administers two
free Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine doses at 9–12 months and 16–24 months.
ii.Coverage Statistics (2024-25): First-dose MR vaccination coverage stands at 93.7%, while the second-
dose coverage is at 92.2%.

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iii.Disease Reduction: In 2024, India recorded a 73% decline in measles cases and a 17% reduction in
rubella cases compared to 2023.
• 332 districts have reported zero measles cases and 487 districts have reported zero rubella cases
between January 2025 and March 2025.
iv.Award: India received the Measles and Rubella Champion Award (2024) from the Measles and Rubella
Partnership (M&RP) for exceptional disease control.
Note: India has set a goal to eliminate Measles and Rubella by 2026.
Role of UIP and U-WIN Platform:
i.UIP: World’s largest vaccination program, covering 2.9 crore pregnant women and 2.6 crore
newborns annually against 12 diseases, including polio, diphtheria, and hepatitis B.
ii.Universal Immunization WIN (U-WIN) Digital Platform: Launched to digitize vaccination records,
generate certificates, and enable appointment bookings nationwide.
About World Health Organisation (WHO):
Director General (DG) – Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Established – 1948

International workers’ day 2025 – May 1

International Workers’ Day, also known as International Labour Day, is observed annually on May 1st to
honor the contributions of workers worldwide and to promote workers’ rights.
• The day serves as a reminder of the historical struggles and achievements of the labor movement.
It highlights the ongoing efforts to improve working conditions, advocate for fair wages, and
ensure the rights of workers are upheld globally.
• In India, this day is also referred to as May Day, Antar Rashtriya Shramik Divas, or Kamgar
Din.
Background:
i.The origins of International Workers’ Day trace back to the 1886 Haymarket Affair in Chicago, United
States. On May 4, 1886, a peaceful rally advocating for an eight-hour workday turned violent when a bomb
was thrown at the police, leading to multiple casualties.
• This event became a pivotal moment in labor history, symbolizing the struggle for workers’
rights.
ii.In 1889, the Second International, an organization of socialist and labor parties, declared May 1st as
International Workers’ Day to commemorate the Haymarket Affair and to promote labor rights globally.
Observance in India:
i.In India, International Workers’ Day was first celebrated on May 1, 1923, in Madras (now Chennai, Tamil
Nadu, TN).
ii.The event was organized by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan, led by Comrade Malayapuram
Singaravelu Chettiar. Two significant meetings were held to honor the occasion, marking the beginning of
the labor movement in India
Eight-Hour Day Movement:
i.The eight-hour day movement is a social movement aimed at regulating the length of the working day to
prevent the abuse of labor time.
ii.The International Labour Organization (ILO), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, convened in
Washington, D.C., USA, over a century ago, placing the eight-hour workday at the forefront of its agenda.
iii. This led to the adoption of the Hours of Work (Industry) Convention in 1919, establishing the
standard for working hours globally.

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Labour laws in India:

To streamline and simplify the complex web of existing labour laws, the Government of India has
amalgamated 29 central labour laws into four comprehensive codes.
1.Code on Wages, 2019: To regulate wage and bonus payments in all employment sectors.
2.Industrial Relations Code, 2020: To consolidate laws relating to trade unions, conditions of
employment, and industrial disputes.
3.Code on Social Security, 2020: To extend social security benefits to all employees and workers, including
those in the unorganized sector.
4.Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020: To regulate the health and safety
conditions of workers in various establishments.
2025 Events:
DoSJE-UNDP Agreement signed LoA to to Empower Wastepickers:
On the occasion of Labour Day 2025, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE), the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), Government of India(GoI), entered into a Letter of
Agreement (LoA) with , New York, the United States of America(USA) based United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) to improve access to finance, relevant technologies, and ensure a safe and sustainable
work environment for waste pickers across India.
• The LoA was formally exchanged between Dr. Angela Lusigi, Resident Representative of UNDP in
India, and Amit Yadav, Secretary, DoSJE in the presence of Smt. Yogita Swaroop, Senior Economic
Advisor at DoSJE, and P.K. Singh, Managing Director of the National Safai Karamcharis Finance
and Development Corporation (NSKFDC).
i.Under this agreement, the UNDP has committed to providing crucial financial assistance for the
establishment of State Project Management Units (PMUs) across various states under the National Action for
Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme.
ii.These PMUs are designed to streamline coordination between central authorities and state governments,
ensuring more effective and timely implementation of the scheme’s objectives.
About National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE):
The NAMASTE is a Central Sector Scheme launched in August 2022. It is a collaborative initiative by the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
(MoHUA).
• The scheme aims to eliminate hazardous manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks, ensuring
the safety and dignity of sanitation workers in urban India.
Odisha CM Mohan Majhi launches ‘Odisha Shramik Sathi’ app:
On May 1, 2025, Odisha Chief Minister(CM) Mohan Charan Majhi launched the ‘Odisha Shramik
Sathi’ mobile application(app) during a state-level Labour Day celebration in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• This app empowers construction workers in Odisha to access essential welfare services from the
comfort of their homes.
• He also announced a Rs.100 hike in the average daily minimum wage, enhancing the livelihood
security of labourers.
About International Labour Organization(ILO):
Director-General(DG) – Gilbert F. Houngbo
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Established – 1919

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World Tuna Day 2025 – May 2

The United Nations (UN’s) World Tuna Day is observed globally on 2nd May every year to emphasize
tuna’s ecological and economic importance, advocate for sustainable fishing practices, and address the
threats posed by overfishing to marine biodiversity.
Background:
i.On 7th December 2016, the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/71/124, officially designating 2nd May as World Tuna Day.
ii.The proposal was led by Pacific Island nations, including Fiji, Kiribati, and Samoa, where tuna fisheries
contribute significantly to livelihoods and GDP.
iii.The first World Tuna Day was observed on 2nd May 2017.
About Tuna:
Tuna belongs to the Scombridae family and the Thunnini tribe, comprising 15 species across 5 genera:
Thunnus, Euthynnus, Allothunnus, Auxis, and Katsuwonus.
Key Features:
i.Global Distribution: Found in equatorial and subpolar oceans, tuna is highly migratory, traversing vast
marine territories.
ii.Ecological Role: As apex predators, tuna regulate marine food chains, ensuring ecosystem balance.
iii.Nutritional Value: Tuna is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, proteins, vitamin B12, and minerals, which
support global food security.
iv.Economic Impact: Commercially, tuna generates over USD 42 billion annually, with Pacific nations
relying heavily on tuna exports.
Challenges Facing Tuna Populations
i.Overfishing, driven by high demand and overcapacity of fishing fleets, has led to the depletion of tuna
stocks.
ii.According to the UN, among the seven principal tuna species, approximately 33.3% of stocks are
estimated to be fished at biologically unsustainable levels.
Why Sustainable Tuna Fishing Matters?
i.Food Security: Over 7 million metric tons of tuna are caught yearly, feeding millions globally.
ii.Livelihoods: Directly employs over 43,000 people in Pacific Island nations.
iii.Biodiversity: Protects endangered species like sharks and sea turtles from bycatch.
Sustainable Tuna Fishing by 2027: FAO’s Global Initiative
The Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) of the UN, headquartered in Rome, Italy, launched
the ‘Common Oceans Tuna Project’ to ensure all major tuna stocks are fished sustainably by 2027.
Common Oceans Tuna Project (2022–2027):
i.The project, formally titled “Sustainable Management of Tuna Fisheries and Biodiversity Conservation in
the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ Tuna Project)”, is an extension of efforts from 2014 to 2019.
ii.It aims to promote responsible fishing practices to reduce bycatch and illegal fishing, and strengthen
regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs).
iii.The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by FAO and managed by
the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), headquartered in Victoria, Seychelles.
Progress as of 2024:
i.Of 23 major tuna stocks, only 2 stocks remain overfished, down from 13 stocks in 2014.
ii.Species like skipjack tuna (70% of global catch) are now harvested within sustainable limits.
About Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO):
Director General (DG) – QU Dongyu (China)
Headquarters – Rome, Italy
Founded – 1945

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World Press Freedom Day 2025 – May 3

The United Nation(UN’s) World Press Freedom Day or World Press Day is annually observed across the
globe on May 3 emphasizing the significance of press freedom and the safety of journalists globally.
• This annual event, led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO), serves as a reminder to governments of their duty to uphold the right to freedom of
expression, as enshrined in Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• May 3, 2025, marks the observance of 32nd anniversary of World Press Freedom Day.
2025 Theme:
The theme for World Press Freedom Day 2025 is “Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of
Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media”
• It highlights how Artificial Intelligence (AI) transforms journalism, affects media ethics, and
challenges press freedom.
Background:
i.In 1991, UNESCO’s 26th General Conference recommended observing the day on May 3.
ii.In 1993, The UN General Assembly (UNGA) formally proclaimed May 3 as World Press Freedom Day.
iii.The first World Press Freedom Day was observed on May 3, 1994.
Note: The date, May 3, was chosen to commemorate the Windhoek Declaration adopted in 1991, which
advocated for an independent African press during a seminar in Windhoek, Namibia (April 29–May 3, 1991).
Significance:
1.Support Journalists: Address threats like censorship, violence, and legal harassment.
2.Honor Fallen Journalists: In 2024, 82 journalists were killed globally, up from 74 in 2023.
3.Promote Media Pluralism: Reinforce the 1994 Santiago Declaration (adopted in Santiago, Chile)
on cultural, linguistic, and gender diversity in media.
UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2025:
i.In 2025, UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize have been named to La Prensa,
a Managua (Nicaragua)-based newspaper, recognized for resilience amid repression.
• La Prensa has faced numerous challenges, including censorship, asset confiscation (2021), and
the imprisonment of its journalists. Despite these obstacles, the newspaper has continued its
commitment to independent journalism.
ii.The award ceremony is scheduled to be held on 7 May 2025 in Brussels, Belgium, alongside the World
Conference on Press Freedom.
iii.The award carries a monetary prize of USD 25,000.
About UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize :
i.The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize honors individuals or organizations that have
made significant contributions to the defense of press freedom, especially under dangerous circumstances.
ii.Named after Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist assassinated in 1986 in front of his
newspaper’s offices, EI Espectador, in Bogota (Colombia).
iii.It was established in 1997 by UNESCO’s Executive Board and is formally conferred by UNESCO each year
on World Press Freedom Day(May 3).
iv.The sponsors of the Prize include the Guillermo Cano Isaza Foundation (Colombia), Helsingin Sanomat
Foundation (Finland), Namibia Media Trust, Democracy & Media Foundation Stichting Democratie & Media
(The Netherlands), and the Thomson Reuters Foundation (The United Kingdom, UK).
2025 Events:
UNESCO will host a global event on 7 May 2025 at Bozar, Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels, Belgium, to
explore the profound impact of AI on journalism, media, and human rights.

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WPFI 2025: Norway Tops; India Climbs to 151st Rank

On May 2, 2025, Paris (France) based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released the World Press
Freedom Index (WPFI) 2025, evaluating press freedom across 180 countries. The average score of all
assessed countries drops to 54.7, categorizing the global situation as “difficult” for the first time.
• Norway topped the index with a score of 92.31 for the 9th consecutive year followed by Estonia
(2nd) and the Netherlands (3rd).
• India improved its position to 151st, up from 159th in 2024. Despite this progress, India remains
in the “very serious” category, indicating ongoing challenges to media freedom.
Highlights:
i.The 2025 index underscores a global trend of declining press freedom, with economic fragility identified as
a leading threat. RSF emphasizes that financial independence is crucial for ensuring free and trustworthy
journalism.
ii.The countries among the top 10 are Denmark (6th), Ireland (7th), Portugal (8th), Switzerland (9th) and
Czechia (10th)
iii.India’s score stands at 32.96 with particularly low ratings in the political (24.30) and economic (28.46)
indicators.
iv.Within South Asia, India’s press freedom ranking is lower than several neighboring countries like Nepal
(90th), Maldives (104th), Sri Lanka (139th) and Bangladesh (149th).
v.However, India ranks higher than Bhutan (152nd), Pakistan (158th), Myanmar (169th), Afghanistan
(175th), and China (178th).
vi.The bottom five countries are: Iran ranked 176th with a global score of 16.22; Syria(15.82) at 177th;
China(14.8) at 178th; North Korea(12.64) at 179th; and Eritrea(11.32) in last place at 180th .
Top 5 in WPFI 2025:

Rank Country Global Score

1 Norway 92.31

2 Estonia 89.46

3 The Netherlands 88.64

4 Sweden 88.13

5 Finland 87.18

151 India 32.96

About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director-General (DG) – Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters – Paris, France
Established – 1945

International Leopard Day 2025 – May 3

International Leopard Day is celebrated every year on May 3 worldwide to raise awareness about
protecting leopards (Panthera pardus), one of the most adaptable big cats, and to encourage peaceful
coexistence between humans and leopards.

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About Leopards (Panthera pardus):

i.Taxonomy and Distribution: Leopards belong to the genus Panthera, which also includes lions, tigers,
jaguars, and snow leopards. They are found across sub-Saharan Africa, northeast Africa, Central Asia, India,
and China.
ii.Habitat and Adaptability: Leopards are known for their adaptability, occupying the widest range of
habitats among Old World cats. They thrive in various environments, including forests, grasslands,
mountains, and even urban areas.
iii.Physical Characteristics: Each leopard has a unique pattern of spots known as rosettes, similar to
human fingerprints. They are predominantly nocturnal, hunting under the cover of darkness.
Conservation Status:
i.Leopards are listed as “Vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List
of Threatened Species.
• This classification is based on criteria A2cd, indicating a significant population decline due to
habitat loss, prey depletion, and exploitation
ii.Despite their adaptability, leopards have lost approximately 75% of their historical distribution range.
Leopard Population in India
i.As per the “Status of Leopards in India, 2022” report released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority
(NTCA), India’s leopard population is estimated at 13,874 individuals.
ii.Madhya Pradesh (MP) has the largest leopard population in India, followed
by Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Conservation Efforts in India
i.In rural Maharashtra, initiatives have been undertaken to educate locals about peaceful coexistence with
leopards.
ii.The Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre in Junnar, Maharashtra, managed by New Delhi(Delhi) based
Wildlife SOS in collaboration with the Maharashtra Forest Department, has been instrumental in rescuing
and rehabilitating leopards.
Threats to Leopard Survival:
i.Habitat Destruction: Urbanization, deforestation, and agricultural expansion have led to significant
habitat loss and fragmentation, posing a severe threat to leopard populations.
ii.Prey Depletion: Overhunting and habitat degradation have resulted in the decline of prey species,
affecting the food availability for leopards.
iii.Poaching and Illegal Trade: Leopards are targeted for their skins, bones, and other body parts, which
are in demand in illegal wildlife trade markets.
Related Observance:
To enhance global awareness and conservation efforts for the critically endangered Arabian leopard, the
United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted Resolution 77/295 on June 12, 2023, officially
designating February 10 as the International Day of the Arabian Leopard.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA):
i.The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment,
Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India (GoI).
ii.It was established in 2006 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 to strengthen and oversee tiger
conservation efforts across India.
Chairperson – Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, MoEFCC
Headquarters – New Delhi (Delhi)

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World Laughter Day 2025 – May 4

World Laughter Day (WLD) is annually observed across the globe on the first Sunday of May to highlight
the importance of laughter in promoting health, peace, and emotional well-being by uniting people from all
walks of life to spread joy and positivity.
• WLD 2025 falls on 4 May 2025.
• WLD 2024 was observed on 5 May 2024;
• WLD 2026 will be observed on 3 May 2026.
Theme:
The theme of WLD 2025 is “Laugh for Health, Peace and Happiness”
• The theme highlights how laughter can improve health, bring people together in peace, and create
happiness in communities around the world.
Background:
i.In 1998, WLD was initiated by a physician from Mumbai (Maharashtra) Dr. Madan Kataria, the founder of
the Laughter Yoga Movement, which encourages laughter as a form of exercise.
ii.The first World Laughter Day celebration was held in Mumbai (Maharashtra) on 11th January 1998, with
over 12,000 participants from various countries. Since then, the event has grown into a global movement,
observed in over 100 countries.
iii.The first World Laughter Day event held outside India, titled “HAPPY-DEMIC,” took place on January 9,
2000, in Copenhagen, Denmark, where over 10,000 people gathered at Town Hall Square, earning a place in
the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest-ever laughter session.
Note: Rajendra Kumar set a world record for the ‘longest laughter’ lasting 3 hours, 47 minutes, and 54
seconds on January 21, 2022, which was recognized by The Golden Book of World Records, Harvard World
Records (London), and the International World Records Book.
Significance:
i.WLD highlights laughter’s role in strengthening the body’s defenses.
ii.The day raises awareness of laughter’s healing benefits, such as reducing stress, lowering blood pressure,
and boosting immune function, through global laughter yoga sessions and community events.
iii.WLD uses the power of shared laughter to promote a sense of unity, friendship, and understanding
among people around the world.
iv.Practicing Laughter Yoga releases “feel-good” hormones, known as a joy cocktail that boost positive
emotions like love, kindness, and happiness, while reducing negative feelings like fear, anger, and hatred.
Health Benefits of Laughter:
i.Boosts the immune system and improves overall health.
ii.Reduces levels of stress hormones like cortisol.
iii.Releases endorphins, the “feel-good” hormones in the brain.
iv.Enhances blood circulation and supports heart health.
v.Strengthens emotional bonds and improves mood.

International Firefighters’ Day 2025 – May 4

International Firefighters’ Day (IFFD) is annually observed across the globe on May 4, to honour the
courageous fighters, who risked their lives to protect communities and the environment.
• It is also a time to honour firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty and express
gratitude to both present and former firefighters.
• St. Florian’s day is also celebrated on May 4.
IFFD Symbol:
i.Pieces of Red-Blue ribbons pinned together at the top, are linked to colours, red and blue, symbolizing the
main elements in the work of the firefighters.

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• Red colour symbolizes ‘fire’; Blue represents ‘water’.

• Blue ribbon over red ribbon, which signifies Water over Fire.
ii.These colours are internationally recognized as representing emergency service.
Background:
i.IFFD was initiated to honour the loss of lives of 5 firefighters in a wildfire that occurred in Lindon,
Australia in 1998.
• The 5 firefighters were Garry Vredeveldt, Chris Evans, Stuart Davidson, Jason Thomas, and
Matthew Armstrong of Geelong West, Australia.
ii.On 4th January 1999, JJ Edmondson, a volunteer Lieutenant and firefighter in Australia, sent an IFFD
proposal to promote the need for IFFD on May4.
iii.The first IFFD was celebrated on May 4, 1999.
Significance of the date:
i.May 4 is linked to the feast day of St Florian, the patron saint of all firefighters.
ii.He was the first known commander of one firefighting squad in the Roman Empire.
iii.He lost his life, protecting the ideals shared by firefighters globally.
Note: Firefighters in European countries celebrate 4th of May as a ‘Day of Fire Service’ as well as Florian’s
day.
Sound–Off event:
i.Sound-Off, an international event, sounding fire sirens for 30 seconds at local noon time, followed by a
minute of silence, started in 2002 for IFFD.
ii.It was conducted to show respect for the dedication, commitment and sacrifices of firefighters worldwide.
iii.Following its success, the sound-off tradition has evolved into an annual event held on the 1st Sunday of
May.
• The Sound-off event of 2025 was celebrated on May 4.
Related Observance:
National Fire Service Day is observed annually on April 14 in India to honor the bravery and sacrifices of
firefighters, commemorating the tragic events of the 1944 Bombay Dock Explosion.

World Portuguese Language Day 2025 – May 5

World Portuguese Language Day, celebrated annually on May 5, is a global initiative to promote the
Portuguese language, its cultural diversity, and the shared heritage of Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking)
countries.
History:
i.The origins of this observance date back to 2005, when the Community of Portuguese-Speaking
Countries (CPLP), an intergovernmental organization founded to promote cooperation among nations with
Portuguese as an official language, began marking 5th May as a day dedicated to the Portuguese language
and Lusophone culture.
ii.The first formal celebration took place in 2006 at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization(UNESCO) Headquarters in Paris, France, marking a step toward international recognition.
iii.On 20th July 2009, the CPLP Council of Ministers officially established 5th May as the Day of the
Portuguese Language and Culture, highlighting the importance of linguistic and cultural unity across its
member states.
iv.A major milestone came in 2019, when the 40th session of UNESCO’s General Conference proclaimed 5th
May as World Portuguese Language Day, extending its recognition on a global scale.
v.The first official celebration under UNESCO’s designation took place on 5th May 2020.

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About Portuguese:
Portuguese is a Romance language that evolved from Vulgar Latin, introduced to the Iberian Peninsula by
Roman settlers and soldiers around 218 Before the Common Era(BCE).
• Specifically, it developed in the western region of the peninsula.
Official status:
i.Portuguese is the official language of nine countries across four continents: Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde,
Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste.
ii.In addition, Portuguese also holds official status in the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of
China, reflecting its historical and global significance.
iii.Portuguese is among the ten official languages of UNESCO’s General Conference, alongside Arabic,
Chinese, English, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Russian, and Spanish.
Key points:
i.As of March 2024, Portuguese ranks as the 8th most spoken language in the world, with approximately
over 265 million people.
ii.Beyond Portugal, the language has significant global reach, serving as the official language in several
countries across South America, Africa, and Asia, further amplifying its cultural and linguistic influence on
the international stage.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO):
Director-General(DG) – Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters – Paris, France
Established – 1945

International Day of the Midwife 2025 – May 5

The International Day of the Midwife (IDM) is an annual global observance held on 5 May to honor the
vital contributions of midwives in ensuring maternal and newborn health.
• The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of midwifery in ensuring safe childbirth.
• The IDM celebration was led by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM).
Theme:
The theme of IDM 2025 is : “Midwives: Critical in Every Crisis”.
• This theme recognizes the crucial role midwives play in delivering maternal and newborn health
services, especially in vulnerable situations like natural disasters and conflicts.
Background:
i.The International Day of the Midwife (IDM) was proposed at the 1987 ICM conference in the Netherlands.
ii.First IDM was celebrated on 5 May 1991.
Who are Midwives?
Midwives are trained healthcare professionals specializing in obstetric and gynecological services. Their
responsibilities include:
• Providing primary care, prenatal, and obstetric services
• Conducting routine gynecological care, such as annual exams and contraception
• Offering antenatal and postnatal care
• Ensuring safe childbirth and managing complications
• Supporting breastfeeding and newborn nutrition
• Providing contraception and comprehensive abortion care
Global Shortage of Midwives:
i.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 2.2 million midwives
worldwide. However, there is an estimated shortage of 0.31 million midwives projected by 2030.

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ii.This shortage is most acute in regions such as Africa, South-East Asia, and parts of Latin America.
Investing in midwifery is crucial for achieving universal health coverage and strengthening health systems
globally.
Gender Dynamics:
i.Globally, women constitute 67% of the health and social care workforce, a significant contrast to their
41% representation across all employment sectors.
ii.Furthermore, over 80% of the world’s nurses are employed in countries that collectively account for only
50% of the global population.
• This indicates an unequal distribution of nursing resources across regions. In addition, 1 out of
every 8 nurses is working in a country different from where they were born or received their
professional training.
Policy Initiatives:
i.The WHO, guided by the World Health Assembly resolution WHA74.15 (2021), has outlined the Global
Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery (SDNM) 2021–2025.
• This framework focuses on four key areas: Education, Jobs, Leadership and Service Delivery:
ii.The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in partnership with ICM, the United Nations Children’s
Fund (UNICEF), WHO, and other global partners and donors, launched the Global Midwifery Acceleration
Roadmap at the World Health Summit in October 2024.
2025 Events:
In alignment with the IDM 2025 theme, the WHO hosted a webinar titled “Midwives in Emergencies” on 5
May 2025.
• This event focused on midwifery models of care in conflict-affected areas, emphasizing the critical
contributions of midwives in delivering maternal and newborn health services during crises
About International Confederation of Midwives (ICM):
The International Midwives’ Union (IMU), the forerunner of the ICM was founded in 1922 in Belgium. In
1954, the IMU changed its name to the ICM with its head office in London, United Kingdom (UK).
President- Sandra Oyarzo Torres
Headquarters– The Hague, The Netherlands(since 1999)

World Hand Hygiene Day 2025 – May 5

World Hand Hygiene Day (WHHD) is a global initiative led by the World Health
Organization (WHO) celebrated annually on May 5 to raise awareness about the importance of
understanding and practicing proper hand hygiene at the right moments to help prevent a wide range of
infectious diseases.
2025 Theme:
The theme for WHHD 2025 is “It might be gloves. It’s always hand hygiene”.
• This year’s focus underscores the critical importance of proper hand hygiene practices in
healthcare settings, emphasizing that wearing gloves does not replace the need for hand hygiene.
Background:
i.The WHHD aligns with the’ SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands’ campaign, which aims to reduce healthcare-
associated infections (HAIs) by promoting evidence-based hand hygiene practices globally.
ii.This campaign originated from the WHO First Global Patient Safety Challenge: Clean Care is Safer
Care in 2009.
• The 2025 campaign marks the 17th anniversary of this global initiative, reinforcing nearly two
decades of efforts to improve hand hygiene standards in healthcare settings worldwide.
iii.Over the years, it evolved into the WHO Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Hub & Task Force, which
coordinates global efforts to strengthen IPC practices.

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2025 Campaign Objectives:

1.Promote WHO’s 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene: Ensure healthcare workers follow the WHO 5
Moments technique (before patient contact, after exposure to bodily fluids, etc.) and use gloves only when
necessary.
2.Strengthen IPC Programs: Incorporate hand hygiene into national IPC strategies and facility-
level Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
3.Reduce Waste Through Education: Raise awareness about the environmental costs of unnecessary
glove use, aligning with global sustainability goals
Key Focus Areas for 2025:
1.Integration of Hand Hygiene into National Policies
The 2025 campaign coincides with the WHO Global Action Plan and Monitoring Framework 2024–2030,
urging countries to adopt IPC strategies.
• By 2026, hand hygiene compliance monitoring must be established as a national indicator in all
reference hospitals, a target currently met by 68% of countries.
2.Environmental Impact of Glove Misuse
Overuse of medical gloves contributes to healthcare waste, with an average university hospital
generating 1,634 tons of waste annually—a figure rising by 2–3% yearly post-COVID-19.
3.Universal Access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
The WHO Framework for Action 2024–2030 links WASH and waste management to climate resilience,
advocating for their integration into healthcare planning and financing
Impact of Hand Hygiene on Healthcare:
i.Hand hygiene is a fundamental practice in preventing HAIs
ii.Following proper hand hygiene practices, as outlined in the WHO’s ‘5 Moments for Hand Hygiene’, is
crucial not only for patient safety but also for protecting healthcare workers.
iii.Effective hand hygiene can prevent 50–70% of HAIs, including severe infections such as sepsis, which
leads to 11 million deaths annually worldwide.
Points to Note:
i.According to the Global Report on Infection Prevention and Control 2024 from the World Health
Organization (WHO), 17 out of 20 countries (85%) in the Region of the Americas that participated in a
2023–2024 global survey have an active national infection prevention and control (IPC) program.
• With respect to hand hygiene compliance, 15 countries (75%) have designated it as a key national
indicator, an increase from 62.5% in the 2021–2022 period.
ii.On average, seven out of every 100 patients in high-income countries and 15 in low- and middle-income
countries will acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection during their stay in acute care hospitals.
iii.Globally, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and WHO estimate that,
by 2050, these infections could cause nearly 3.5 million deaths annually, 4.4 times more than deaths from
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/ Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)and sexually
transmitted diseases combined in 2021.
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Director-General (DG) – Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Established – April 7, 1948

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African World Heritage Day 2025 – May 5

African World Heritage Day (AWHD) is annually observed across the globe on 5 May to promote awareness
about Africa’s unique cultural and natural heritage and to advocate for its protection, preservation, and
transmission to future generations.
• AWHD is observed under the leadership of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation (UNESCO), in partnership with the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) and other
collaborating organisations.
• 5th May 2025 marks the 10th observance of AWHD.
Significance:
i.To raise global awareness about the rich and diverse heritage of Africa that spans across language,
tradition, architecture, ecology, and spirituality.
ii.To involve African youth and communities in protecting their intangible and tangible heritage, and to
foster a sense of ownership and identity.
Background:
i.African World Heritage Day was officially proclaimed on 19th November 2015 during the 38th session of
the General Conference of UNESCO.
ii.The resolution was passed to coincide with the 10th anniversary (2006–2016) of UNESCO’s establishment
of the AWHF.
iii.The first ever AWHD was observed on 5th May 2016, to recognize the underrepresentation of Africa on
the World Heritage List(WHL) and to address the vulnerability of African heritage sites.
About Africa:
i.Africa ranks as the world’s second-largest continent both in terms of land area and population.
ii.It encompasses 54 fully recognized sovereign states, along with two territories, Western Sahara and
Somaliland, that are self-governing but lack widespread international recognition.
iii.As of 2025, UNESCO has listed 147 World Heritage Sites in Africa. However, nearly 39% of these are listed
as ‘in danger’, mainly due to conflicts, climate change, and lack of funding.
2025 Events:
i.UNESCO, in collaboration with the Government of Kenya and the African World Heritage Fund, organized
the International Conference on Cultural Heritage in Africa: A Dialogue on the Concept of
Authenticity in Nairobi, Kenya from May 6 to 9, 2025.
ii.This conference brought together heritage experts, government officials, local communities Non-
Governmental Organization(NGOs) and academics to discuss strategies for safeguarding Africa’s heritage.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director-General (DG) – Audrey Azoulay
Established – 1945
Headquarters – Paris, France

World Cartoonist Day 2025 – May 5

World Cartoonist Day is observed globally on May 5 to honor the contributions of cartoonists in shaping
societal perspectives through art, humor, and social commentary.
• This day celebrates the legacy of iconic cartoonists and their role in entertainment and
commentary for over a century.
Background:
i.The day traces its roots to 5th May 1895, when Richard Felton Outcault’s comic strip Hogan’s
Alley (later The Yellow Kid) debuted in the New York World newspaper. This marked the first commercially
successful cartoon in history.
ii.In 1946, the National Cartoonists Society (NCS) was established in Winter Park, Florida, the United States

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of America (USA) by cartoonists like Gus Edson and Clarence D. Russell, who entertained soldiers during
World War II (1939–1945).
iii.The National Cartoonists Day, initiated in 1999 by co-chairpersons Polly Keener and Ken Alvine, was
inspired by Richard Outcault’s full-colour cartoon Hogan’s Alley.
Iconic Cartoon Characters:
Some globally recognised cartoon characters include:
• Mickey Mouse: A symbol of Walt Disney’s legacy.
• Tom and Jerry: A classic American series.
• Bugs Bunny: A Warner Brothers creation for Looney Tunes.
• SpongeBob SquarePants: A popular animated character.
Contributions of Indian Cartoonists
i.R.K. Laxman:
• Created ‘The Common Man’ and comic strip ‘You Said It’.
• Honored with Padma Bhushan (1973) and Padma Vibhushan (2005), both in the field of Arts.
ii.Keshav Shankar Pillai (Shankar):
• Pioneered political cartoons in India, contributing to publications like Shankar’s Weekly.
iii.Mario Miranda:
• Known for illustrations in The Times of India and The Illustrated Weekly of India.
• Awarded Padma Shri (1988) in the field of Literature and Education and Padma
Bhushan(2002) in the field of Arts.
iv.Pran Kumar Sharma:
• Created Chacha Chaudhary, one of India’s most iconic comic characters.
Technological Evolution in Cartooning:
i.Shift from 2 Dimension(D) to 3D:Early cartoons relied on hand-drawn frames. Today, software like
Adobe Animate and Blender enable advanced 3D animations.
ii.Impact: Enhanced visual storytelling in films (e.g., Pikachu in Pokémon) and improved accessibility via
digital platforms.
About National Cartoonists Society (NCS):
President – Karen Evans
Headquarters – Florida, the United States of America(USA)
Founded – 1946

International No Diet Day 2025 – May 6

International No Diet Day (INDD) was observed on 6th May globally to promote body acceptance, challenge
diet culture, and raise awareness about the dangers of weight discrimination and fatphobia.
• This annual observance encourages individuals to embrace their bodies, irrespective of shape or
size, and to foster a healthier relationship with food and self-image.
Symbol:
INDD is symbolized by a light blue ribbon, representing body acceptance, eating disorder awareness, and
the ongoing fight against diet culture.
Origin of INDD:
i. INDD was founded in 1992 by Mary Evans Young, a British feminist and director of Diet Breakersto raise
awareness about the dangers of dieting and to promote self-acceptance.
ii.The first No Diet Day was observed on May 5, 1992.
• Mary Evans Young organized a picnic in London’s Hyde Park, the United Kingdom (UK), attended
by a small group of women aged 21 to 76. They wore stickers reading “Ditch That Diet” to
symbolize freedom from restrictive eating.

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iii. However, in 1993, the date of INDD was shifted to May 6 to avoid overlapping with Cinco de Mayo
celebrations, ensuring the movement could stand out with its own unique identity.
iv.Initially observed in the United Kingdom (UK), the movement soon gained global momentum. Today,
International No Diet Day is recognized in countries across the world, particularly in the United States (US),
Canada, Australia, and several regions of Europe and Asia, encouraging people everywhere to reject harmful
beauty standards and embrace body positivity.
Goals of INDD:
INDD aims to promote a healthier, more inclusive perspective on body image and nutrition. The key goals of
INDD include:
• Promoting body acceptance and diversity across all shapes, sizes, and identities.
• Raising awareness about the physical and psychological risks associated with restrictive dieting.
• Encouraging a positive and balanced relationship with food and body image.
• Challenging fatphobia and weight-based discrimination in society and media.
• Debunking harmful diet myths while advocating for intuitive eating and self-care.

World Asthma Day 2025 – May 6

World Asthma Day(WAD) is annually observed across the globe on the first Tuesday of May, is a global
initiative led by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to raise asthma awareness and improve care.
Key Dates:
The WAD 2025 was observed on May 6, 2025
• WAD 2024 was observed on May 7, 2024
• WAD 2026 will be observed on May 5, 2026
2025 Theme:
The theme for WAD 2025 is “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL.”
• It highlights the necessity of ensuring that individuals with asthma have access to essential
inhaled medications, crucial for both controlling the disease and managing attacks.
Background:
i.World Asthma Day was first observed in 1998 during the inaugural World Asthma Meeting in Barcelona,
Spain, with participation from over 35 countries.
ii.The day is strategically placed in May, aligning with seasons (spring/fall) when asthma symptoms often
exacerbate due to environmental factors and is also recognized as World Allergy and Asthma Awareness
Month.
What is Asthma?
i.Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease and one of the most common chronic Non-Communicable Diseases
(NCDs), affecting around 1% to 29% of the global population.
• It is characterized by inflammation of the airways, causing symptoms such as breathlessness,
wheezing, and chest tightness.
ii.Causes and Risk Factors: Factors include genetics, allergies, urbanization, early life exposures (like
tobacco smoke and air pollution), and obesity.
iii.Treatment and Management: Inhalers are primary in asthma management, delivering medication
directly to the lungs. Types are
• Bronchodilators (e.g., salbutamol) for quick symptom relief.
• Corticosteroids (e.g., beclometasone) to control inflammation.
Challenges in Asthma Care:
i.Under-Diagnosis: Prevalent in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) due to limited healthcare
infrastructure.
ii.Under-Treatment: Leads to sleep disturbances, fatigue, and reduced productivity.

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ii.Economic Barriers: High costs of inhalers restrict access even in wealthy nations.
Global Initiatives and Reports:
i.To mark WAD 2025, the Global Asthma Network (GAN) released the Global Asthma Report 2025: Patient
Stories, highlighting real-life challenges faced by asthma patients worldwide.
ii.Asthma inhalers are listed in the World Health Organization (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines and
classified as “Best Buys” for NCDs.
iii.The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) launched a campaign urging global leaders to
invest in solutions that make inhaled treatments accessible to all.
Key statistics:
i.Global Impact: Over 260 million people suffer from asthma, resulting in 450,000+ preventable deaths
annually.
ii.Mortality Disparity: 96% of asthma deaths occur in LMICs due to limited access to Inhaled
Corticosteroids (ICS).
iii.High-Income Countries: High treatment costs lead to poorly managed asthma and preventable deaths.
Upcoming UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs:
The 4th United Nations (UN) High-Level Meeting on NCDs (September 2025) will be held at the United
Nations Headquarters in New York, the United States of America(USA).
It will focus on:
• Reducing premature NCD deaths by one-third by 2030.
• Prioritizing equitable access to asthma medicines in national health policies.
About Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA):
Managing Director (MD) & Chair – Arzu Yorgancioglu(Turkey)
Headquarters – Wisconsin, the United States of America (USA)
Launched – 1993

Border Roads Organisation Raising Day 2025 – 7 May

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) annually celebrates its Raising Day on 7 May to commemorate the
establishment of the BRO in 1960. This day serves to honour the dedicated service of BRO personnel and to
reaffirm the organisation’s commitment towards the development and maintenance of strategic road and
bridge infrastructure in India’s border areas.
• 7th May 2025 marks the 66th Raising Day of BRO.
Significance:
i.The BRO, a statutory body under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) since 2015, plays a pivotal role in
enhancing strategic border connectivity by developing and maintaining road infrastructure across 19 Indian
states and 3 Union Territories (UTs), including the Andaman & Nicobar(A&N) Islands.
ii.BRO Raising Day is also a platform to showcase and celebrate BRO’s key infrastructure milestones such as
roads, bridges, tunnels, and airfields—executed across India and in neighbouring countries, reflecting its
vital role in defence preparedness and diplomacy.
Note: In 2021, BRO received a Guinness World Record for constructing the “highest altitude road” at Umling
La, UT of Ladakh
Background:
i.BRO was established on 7th May 1960 with the primary objective of securing India’s borders and
developing critical infrastructure in the remote and strategic regions of northern and northeastern states of
India.
ii.Earlier, on 14th March 1960, the Union Cabinet approved the formation of the Border Roads Development
Board (BRDB), with the Prime Minister (PM) of India as its Chairman, to oversee and coordinate road
development projects to meet both defence and development needs.

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iii.In 1985, the BRDB was re-constituted and placed under the chairmanship of the Defence Minister,
aligning it more closely with national security priorities.
Key Infrastructure Projects:
i.Established in 1960 with just two projects, Project Tusker (now Vartak) in the East and Project
Beacon in the North
ii.In over 6 decades, it has executed over 62,214 kilometre(km) of roads, constructed 1,005 bridges, built 7
tunnels, and developed 21 airfields across India.
iii.It completed a total of 125 infrastructure projects worth Rs.3,611 crore in the Financial Year 2023-24
(FY24)
iv.The BRO has completed the construction of the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh(AR). Constructed at an
elevation of approximately 13,000 feet, the Sela Tunnel is recognized as the world’s longest twin-lane tunnel
at this altitude.
• It is also constructing the 4.10 km-long Shinkun La Tunnel, which will establish an all-weather
link between Lahaul Valley in Himachal Pradesh(HP) and Zanskar Valley in the Union Territory of
Ladakh. Upon completion, it will become the world’s highest tunnel at an altitude of 15,800 feet,
surpassing the Mila Tunnel(15,590 feet) in China.
v.Its operations also extend to friendly neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar,
Tajikistan, and Sri Lanka, contributing significantly to regional cooperation and India’s strategic outreach.
About Border Roads Organisation (BRO):
Director General (DG) – Lieutenant General Raghu Srinivasan
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1960
Motto – Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam (Everything is achievable through hard work)

World Athletics Day 2025 – May 7

World Athletics Day is annually celebrated across the globe on May 7, to raise awareness among children
and young people, about the importance of fitness and encourage them to play sports, especially athletics.
The day emphasizes, significance of sports and its beneficial effects on mental and physical health.
• The annual observance is led by the World Athletics Organization, formerly the International
Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) (2001-2019), and the International Amateur Athletic
Federation (1912 – 2001).
Background:
i.IAAF, the international governing body for the sport of track and field athletics, introduced World Athletics
Day as a social responsibility titled “Athletics for a Better World”.
ii.IAAF was established on July 17, 1912, in Stockholm, Sweden.
iii.The first ever World Athletics Day was celebrated on 15th May 1996, which witnessed the participation
of 50 nations.
• It was initiated by Primo Nebiolo, the then-president of IAAF.
Significance:
i.The day emphasizes the value of sporting events as a universally accessible activity, regardless of the
result.
ii.It also emphasizes the importance of participating in sports, including school sports, road running, and
social duty.
iii.It also encourages the people to be conscious of the environment and how it affects people’s physical
capabilities.

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Kids Athletics Day:

Kids Athletics Day is annually observed across the globe on May 7 to encourage kids to play sports,
especially athletics from an early age.
• Kids’ Athletics Day is an important feature of the World Kids’ Athletics Programme, a free and
exciting programme to inspire children and young people across the world.
Background of Kids Athletics:
i.Kids Athletics, created in 2002, is one of the biggest grassroot development programmes in the world of
sport.
ii.The programme has been implemented by more than 150 Member Federations and has reached a
cumulative audience of more than 13 million children and young people.
iii.Kids’ Athletics, developed by coaches, teachers,and young people around the world, offers uniquely fun,
inspiring and quality experience for children aged between 4 and 14.
About World Athletics:
President – Sebastian Coe
Headquarters – Monaco
Establishment – 1912

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2025 – May 8

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is annually observed across the globe on May 8 to honor the
principles and humanitarian efforts of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
• The movement operates under seven core principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality,
independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
2025 Theme:
The theme for World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2025 is “Keeping Humanity Alive”.
• It underscores the urgent need to uphold humanitarian values amid rising global challenges like
inequality, conflicts, and health emergencies.
Why May 8?
The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant (8 May 1828 – 30 October 1910), who
was the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the first laureate of the Nobel
Peace Prize in 1901.
Background:
i.The history of this day traces back to 1859, when Henry Dunant witnessed the suffering of wounded
soldiers at the Battle of Solferino in Italy.
• This idea led to the formation of ICRC in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland.
ii.During the 14th International Conference of the Red Cross (1938) in London, England, delegates
proposed 8 May as International Red Cross Day.
iii.In 1946, the League of Red Cross Societies (LORCS) advocated for uniform global observance.
iv.The first International Red Cross Day was celebrated on 8 May 1948.
• The day was renamed World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day in 1984 to reflect the inclusion of
Red Crescent Societies.
What is the Red Cross?
The Red Cross is a non-governmental humanitarian organization that provides assistance to individuals
affected by wars, disasters, famines, pandemics, and emergencies. It offers help without discrimination of
race, religion, color, or nationality.
Key Organizations under the Red Cross Movement:
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement comprises three main components:
i.International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Geneva (Switzerland)

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ii.International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Geneva (Switzerland)
iii.192 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (e.g., Indian Red Cross Society)
About International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC):
i.The IFRC was founded in 1919 in Paris, France, as LORCS.
ii.It was initiated by Henry Davison, then President of the American Red Cross War Committee.
iii.In 1983, it was renamed as the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
iv.In 1991, it officially became the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
v.Today, IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian network, supporting 192 National Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies.
• The IFRC secretariat coordinates actions in over 191 countries, bringing together over 16 million
volunteers globally.
Red Cross in India:
i.The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) was established in 1920 and headquartered in New Delhi (Delhi).
ii.It operates across India in disaster relief, healthcare services, blood donation campaigns, and social
welfare programs.
iii.The President of India serves as the President of the Indian Red Cross Society.
About International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC):
President – Kate Forbes
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Founded – 1919

World Thalassaemia Day 2025 – May 8

International Thalassaemia Day (ITD), also known as World Thalassaemia Day, is annually observed
across the globe on May 8 to raise awareness about Thalassaemia, an inherited blood disorder, which
causes the body to have less haemoglobin.
• The day also celebrates the global thalassaemia community, advocates for equitable healthcare
access for and acknowledges the challenges, needs, and rights of individuals with the condition.
• The observance is led by the Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF)
Theme and Slogan:
i.The theme of ITD 2025 is “Together for Thalassaemia: Uniting Communities, Prioritizing Patients”.
• The 2025 theme focuses on the necessity of shifting towards a more people-centered, holistic, and
inclusive approach to care, placing the patient at the core of all efforts.
ii.The slogans of the (ITD 2025) are “WeAre1” and “PatientsFirst”.
Background:
i.Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF) initiated to observe 8th May as ITD.
iii.Panos Englezos, president and founder of the Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF), established
the inaugural World Thalassaemia Day on May 8, 1994.
• The day was established in the memory of George Englezos, the son of Pan Englezos, who died of
thalassaemia.
About Thalassaemia:
i.Thalassaemia is a genetic blood disorder that affects the haemoglobin, crucial for oxygen supply via red
blood cells.
ii.Individuals may experience anemia, characterized by fatigue, breathlessness and paleness.
iii.Thalassaemia is passed from parents to children through the mutated haemoglobin genes.
Types of Thalassaemia:
i.Alpha thalassaemia: It is caused by a mutation (or change) in the gene (or instructions) that controls how
much alpha globin should make.

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ii.Beta thalassaemia: It occurs when similar gene defects affect the production of the beta-globin protein.
Beta thalassaemia is the severe one.
Other Associated Health Issues:
Thalassaemia damages the heart, liver, lungs, and endocrine organs due to anaemia and iron accumulation.
• In addition to this, the patient may face mental and societal problems.
About Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF):
President – Panos Englezos
Headquarters – Nicosia, Cyprus
Establishment – 1986

Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second
World War 2025 – 8-9 May
The United Nations (UN)’s Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives
during the Second World War is annually observed across the globe on 8th and 9th of May to honour all
victims of the Second World War (WWII) (1939–1945) including around 40 million civilians and 20 million
soldiers.
• The day aims to promote global peace & security and encourage reconciliation & dialogue among
countries that were once at war.
• 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War (WWII).
Significance of the Day:
i.Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) is observed on 8th May, marking Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender
in 1945.
ii.Victory Day, observed on 9th May in Russia and Eastern Europe, recognizes the same event due to time
zone differences.
iii.On 8 May 1945, the Allied countries, including the United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA),
and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), accepted the complete surrender of Nazi Germany, which
marked the end of World War II in Europe.
Background:
i.On 22 November 2004, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/59/26 and
proclaimed 8-9 May as Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the
Second World War.
ii.The resolution encourages UN Member States, organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
and individuals to observe one or both days annually to pay tribute to all victims of WWII.
iii.The first observance of the day was held in 2005, marking the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII and
the 60th anniversary of the UN.
Resolution and Commemoration:
i.The UNGA also passed resolution A/RES/64/257 on 2 March 2010 and resolution A/RES/69/267 (2015),
reiterating the importance of commemorating WWII victims and promoting human rights, democracy, and
reconciliation.
ii.A special ceremonial meeting to mark the 80th anniversary of the Second World War was held on 7 May
2025, as noted in UN resolution A/RES/79/272.
Historical Context of World War II:
i.The WWII began on 1st September 1939 with Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland and ended on 2nd
September 1945 with Japan’s surrender.
ii.It involved the Allies (UK, USSR, USA) and the Axis (Germany, Italy, Japan), causing widespread
destruction across Europe, Asia, Russia and North Africa.
iii.There were two surrender signings by Germany to end WWII:

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• The first signing took place on 7 May 1945 in Reims, France, where German Colonel General
Alfred Jodl signed the surrender on all battlefronts.
• The second signing happened on 8 May 1945 in Berlin, Germany, by German Field Marshal
Wilhelm Keitel, as requested by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.
iv.In 15 August 1945, Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day) marks the day when Imperial Japan surrendered
during WWII after the USA dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which
led to the end of World War II.
About United Nations (UN):
Secretary-General – António Guterres
Headquarters – New York, the United States of America (USA)
Established – 1945
Member States – 193

World Migratory Bird Day 2025 – May 10

World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2025 is a global campaign supported by the United Nations (UN),
observed biannually on the second Saturday of May and October, to raise awareness about challenges
faced by migratory birds and encourage action to conserve their habitats.
WMBD 2025 falls on 10th May 2025 and 11th October 2025.
• WMBD 2024 was observed on 11th May 2024 and 12th October 2024.
• WMBD 2026 will be observed on 9th May 2026 and 10th October 2026.
Theme:
The theme of WMBD 2025 is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities”, focusing
on the need for healthy coexistence between humans and migratory birds.
Background:
i.The initiative began in the United States of America(USA) in 1993 as International Migratory Bird Day
(IMBD), established by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, Washington, D.C., the USA.
ii.WMBD is organized through a partnership among the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory
Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and
Environment for the Americas (EFTA).
iii.To mark AEWA’s 10th anniversary in 2005, Migratory Waterbird Days were held across Africa, Europe,
and parts of Asia, focusing on the conservation of migratory waterbirds.
iv.The first official WMBD was celebrated on April 8–9, 2006, at the ‘Ol Ari Nyiro’ wildlife reserve in
Laikipia, Kenya, hosted by conservationist Kuki Gallmann.
v.In 2023, the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) joined the WMBD collaboration,
enhancing efforts to protect migratory birds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
Why May and October?
WMBD is celebrated in May and October to correspond with the migratory patterns of birds:
i.May Observance: In countries like the United States of America (USA) and Canada, WMBD is observed on
the second Saturday of May, coinciding with the spring migration when birds travel to their breeding
grounds in the Northern Hemisphere.
ii.October Observance: In nations such as Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, the day is
celebrated on the second Saturday of October, aligning with the autumn migration as birds return to their
wintering areas in the Southern Hemisphere.
Importance of Insects for Migratory Birds:
i.Insects serve as an essential energy source for birds during their long migrations.
ii.Peak insect abundance aligns with bird migration, aiding in replenishing energy reserves for breeding or
return journeys.

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Key Threats to Migratory Birds:

According to the State of the Birds 2025 report by the U.S. Committee of the North American Bird
Conservation Initiative (NABCI):
i.49% of global bird species are declining.
ii.Nearly 1 in 8 species is at risk of extinction.
iii.Over 1 billion birds die yearly from building collisions in the USA.
iv.186,000 birds are killed annually in Korea due to transparent noise barriers.
v.In Canada, cats are estimated to kill 100 to 350 million birds per year.
vi.Urban-related causes such as collisions, artificial lighting, and free-roaming cats lead to millions of bird
deaths annually in countries like the USA, Germany, Republic of Korea, Canada, and Australia.
2025 Poster:
The 2025 WMBD poster, illustrated by Annamaria Savarino Drago of Mexico, highlights birds that rely on
safe urban spaces, and subtly showcases various ways individuals and communities can help create bird-
friendly cities and communities, inviting viewers to look closely and discover these actions within the
artwork.

International Argania Day 2025 – May 10

The United Nations (UN’s) International Day of Argania is annually observed across the globe on May
10 to create awareness and promote the major role of the Argan tree (Argania Spinosa), a native species of
the sub-Saharan region of Morocco, which grows in arid and semi-arid areas.
• The day highlights Morocco’s dedication to elevate the Argan tree as a symbol of heritage and a
source of resilient and sustainable development.
• 10th May 2025 marks the observance of 5th International Day of Argania.
Theme:
The theme of International Day of Argania 2025 is “The Argan Tree Conservation”.
• The 2025 theme aims to highlight the role of the Argania tree in strengthening sustainable
development and environmental conservation efforts.
Background:
i.In 2021, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution A/RES/75/262 and
proclaimed the 10th May of every year as the International Day of Argania.
ii.The resolution, submitted by Morocco, was co-sponsored by 113 member states of the United Nations
and adopted by consensus.
iii.The first ever International Day of Argania was celebrated on 10 May 2021.
Key Objectives:
i.To promote a greater understanding of the Argan ecosystem and species response to climate change and
its potential contributions to mitigation and adaptation.
ii.To highlight the importance of its preservation, this serves as a cornerstone for cultivating sustainable
practices that enhance the long-term well-being of both the environment and communities dependent on
the argan tree.
iii.To promote the adaptation of biodiversity preservation and climate change mitigation policies that
integrate the protection of the argan tree.
iv.To Strengthen international partnerships and promote cooperation to support initiatives for the
conservation of the argan forest.
About Argan Tree:
i.The Argan tree is the defining species of a woodland ecosystem, also known as Arganeraie, which is rich in
endemic flora.
• It is resilient to harsh environments under water scarcity, risk of erosion and poor soils.

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ii.The Argan tree woodlands provide forest products, fruit and fodder, constituting a vital fodder reserve for
all herds, even in periods of drought.
• The leaves and the fruits are edible, and the trees are also used as fuel wood for cooking and
heating.
• The world-renowned argan oil is extracted from seeds and has multiple applications, especially in
traditional and complementary medicine and in the culinary and cosmetic industries.
iii.The sustainable argan production sector contributes to the economic empowerment and financial
inclusion of local communities, especially rural areas.
iv.The argan tree withstands temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius(°C) .
v.In 2014, UNESCO inscribed “Argan, practices and know-how concerning the argan tree” on
the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Note: Argan oil is one of the rarest oils in the world and is hailed as “liquid gold” of Morocco. It takes about
150 kilograms (kg) of fruit to produce 3 litres of argan oil.

National Technology Day 2025 – May 11

National Technology Day, celebrated every year on May 11. The celebrations will be organised by
Technology Development Board (TDB) on 11th May 2025, featuring participation from scientists,
technocrats, industry leaders, academic institutions, policymakers, and startup founders.
• The event aims to accelerate India’s innovation ecosystem through deep-tech, precision
engineering, and transformative research and development (R&D).
• 11 May 2025 marks the 27th edition of National Technology Day, commemorating 1998
Pokhran nuclear tests.
2025 Theme:
The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST),
Ministry of Science and Technology(MoS&T) unveiled the official theme for National Technology Day 2025
as “YANTRA – Yugantar for Advancing New Technology, Research & Acceleration”.
About the Theme – “YANTRA”
• The term YANTRA, rooted in India’s scientific and cultural legacy, symbolises mechanical
innovation, systematic synergy, and scalable technological solutions.
• The word Yugantar, meaning epochal shift, reflects India’s transition from technology adoption to
becoming a global leader in technology development.
Background:
i.Marks the historic achievements of May 11, 1998, when India conducted the Operation Shakti
(Pokhran-II) nuclear tests and the maiden flight of the indigenous Hansa-3 aircraft.
ii.In recognition of these milestones, former Prime Minister(PM) of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared May
11 as National Technology Day in 1999. The TDB organizes events, awards, and competitions to promote
scientific excellence and technological innovation.
iii.The Council for Technology organised the first-ever National Technology Day on 11 May 1999.
About Operation Shakti (Pokhran-II) – 1998
Operation Shakti, also known as Pokhran-II, was a series of 5 underground nuclear tests conducted by
India at the Pokhran Test Range, Rajasthan on 11th and 13th May 1998. It was India’s second nuclear test
after Pokhran-I in 1974 (Smiling Buddha).
i.11th May 1998: India detonated 3 nuclear devices, including
• a 45 kiloton (kt) thermonuclear device
• a 15 kt fission device
• a 0.2 kt sub-kiloton device
ii.13th May 1998: India detonated 2 more sub-kiloton devices (0.5 kt & 0.3 kt).

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These tests made India the 6th country in the world to possess nuclear weapon technology.
• The mission was coordinated by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, then Scientific Adviser to the PM and
Head of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and Dr. R. Chidambaram,
former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).
Introduction of Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) – in 2024
The Government of India(GoI) introduced the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) to honour exceptional
contributions in Science, Technology, and Innovation.
i.The awards are presented in 4 categories:
1. Vigyan Ratna (VR)
2. Vigyan Shri (VS)
3. Vigyan Yuva: Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB)
4. Vigyan Team (VT)
ii.The awards cover 13 domains including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, among others.

International Day of Vesak or Buddha Purnima 2025 – May 12

The United Nations (UN’s) International Day of Vesak, also known as Buddha Purnima, is observed
annually worldwide on the Full Moon day in May to promote Lord Buddha’s teachings and foster global
cultural harmony.
• The day commemorating the birth (623 B.C.), enlightenment, and passing
(Parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha.
• In 2025, the day marked the 2,587th birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha.
Note: International Day of Vesak is observed each year at UN Headquarters and various UN offices
worldwide, in coordination with relevant UN bodies and permanent missions.
Key Dates:
In 2025, International Day of Vesak was observed on May 12, 2025
• In 2024, International Day of Vesak was observed on May 23, 2024
• In 2026, International Day of Vesak will be observed on May 1, 2026
Historical Significance of Vesak:
i.Birth of Buddha: Prince Siddhartha Gautama, later known as Buddha, was born in 623 Before Christ(B.C.)
in Lumbini, present-day Nepal.
ii.Enlightenment: At the age of 35, he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, Bihar,
India.
iii.Parinirvana: Buddha passed away at the age of 80 in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh (UP), India.
Background:
i.On 15 December 1999, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/54/115,
officially recognizing the International Day of Vesak, observed annually on the Full Moon day in May.
• The resolution was co-sponsored by 34 countries, including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia,
and Sri Lanka.
ii.The first International Day of Vesak was observed in 2000.
About Gautama Buddha:
i.Siddhartha Gautama, known as Lord Buddha, was born in the Lumbini Gardens, located in present-day
Rupandehi District, Nepal.
ii.He renounced worldly life at the age of 29, attained enlightenment at 35, and passed away at the age of 80,
after spreading his teachings for 45 years.
iii.Bodh Gaya, the sacred site where he attained supreme enlightenment.
iv.His first sermon was delivered at the Deer Park in Sarnath, near Varanasi, UP.
v.Buddha’s teachings focus on compassion, peace, and universal goodwill.

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2025 Events:
The International Day of Vesak 2025 celebration was hosted by Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh
City in Vietnam.
• The celebrations marked the 20th UN Day of Vesak, hosted by Vietnam for the fourth time.
• The 2025 celebrations themed “Solidarity and Tolerance for Human Dignity; Buddhist
Wisdom for World Peace and Sustainable Development,” convey a powerful message amid
global uncertainties.
Key People: Over 2,700 delegates, including more than 1,350 international participants from 85 countries,
attended the event held from May 6–8, 2025 at Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
• The event was attended by dignitaries including H.E. Luong Cuong, President of Vietnam; H.E.
Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, President of Sri Lanka; and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ministry of
Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) & Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), the Government of
India(GoI).
India’s Contribution: Exhibition of Sacred Relics:
As part of the 2025 International Day of Vesak celebrations, India, for the first time, showcased the sacred
Buddha relics from Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh (UP) in Vietnam, aiming to strengthen people-to-people
ties and honour the spiritual legacy of Lord Buddha.
• The relics were exhibited in Ho Chi Minh City from May 2–7, 2025, and then traveled to Tay Ninh,
Hanoi, and Ha Nam, remaining in Vietnam until May 21, 2025.
• The exhibition was organized by the Ministry of Culture (MoC), Government of India (GoI);
the National Museum of India; and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).
MoU signed by IBC and VBS:
During the event, the Secretary General (SG) of IBC, Ven. Shartse Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden, and
the President of the National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), Most Ven. Dr. Thich Thien Nhon signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation and advance shared ideals of compassion,
wisdom, and peace as enshrined in the teachings of the Buddha.
Other highlights of the celebrations:
i.Vietnamese artist Vu Khac Diep (Master Thien Hai) showcased a unique artwork of Lord
Buddha created using melted gold powder at the inauguration ceremony.
ii.India’s ancient heritage was presented, highlighting India’s 2,000-year-old cultural traditions.
About International Buddhist Confederation (IBC):
The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), established in 2012 under the patronage of the supreme
Buddhist religious hierarchy, is a global Buddhist umbrella organization that provides a common platform
for Buddhists worldwide.
• It was founded by the late Venerable Lama Lobzang and currently includes over 320 member
organizations, both monastic and lay, spanning 39 countries.
• In 2025, the late Venerable Lama Lobzang was posthumously honoured with the Padma
Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, in the category of ‘Others (Spiritualism)’ for his
significant contributions to Buddhism and global spiritual unity.
Secretary General (SG) – Shartse Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden
Headquarters – New Delhi (Delhi)

International Day of Plant Health 2025 – May 12

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) is observed globally on 12 May to raise
awareness about the critical role of plant health in securing food security, supporting biodiversity, and
promoting sustainable economic development.

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• This international observance emphasizes the growing need to protect plants against threats like
pests, diseases, and climate-related impacts.
• 12th May 2025 marks the observance of the 4th IDPH.
Theme:
The theme for IDPH 2025 is “The Importance of Plant Health in One Health”. It underlines the
interconnectedness of plant, animal, and human health, emphasizing that healthy plants are essential for a
sustainable environment, nutritious food supply, and a stable economy.
Objectives of IDPH 2025:
i.Raise awareness about plant health’s role in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 (Zero
Hunger).
ii.Minimize pest spread through trade and travel by enforcing International Plant Health Standards.
iii.Strengthen monitoring systems for early pest detection.
iv.Promote sustainable pest management to protect the environment.
v.Encourage investment in research, innovation, and capacity-building for plant health.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) officially adopted the observance of IDPH through the
resolution A/RES/76/256 in March 2022. The resolution was co-sponsored by Bolivia, Finland, Pakistan,
Philippines, Tanzania, and Zambia.
ii.The 1st ever International Day of Plant Health was observed on 12 May 2022.
iii.It recognizes that healthy plants form the foundation for life on Earth, ecosystem stability, and
agricultural productivity—which are crucial to meet the needs of a growing global population projected by
2050.
iv.Each year, the Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) and International Plant Protection
Convention (IPPC) organize events and campaigns to mark the day, encouraging stakeholders worldwide to
take action in protecting plant health.
Significance of Plant Health:
• Plants contribute to 80% of human food and 98% of oxygen.
• Up to 40% of global food crops are lost annually due to plant pests and diseases, costing the world
economy over USD 220 billion (Food and Agriculture Organization,FAO, 2021).
• Invasive insects cause additional losses of at least USD 70 billion annually.
• Climate change and increased international trade accelerate the spread of pests, threatening food
security.
2025 Events:
i.In observance of IDPH 2025, a high-level ministerial conference was held on 12–13 May 2025 in Bari, Italy,
to address the rising threats posed by Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases (TPPDs).
ii.The event was hosted by Paris (France) based International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean
Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) in collaboration with the FAO and the Near East Plant Protection Organization
(NEPPO).
iii.This regional event was attended by ministers from the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region.
About Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO):
Director-General(DG)- Dr. Qu Dongyu
Headquarters– Rome, Italy
Established– 1945

International Nurses Day 2025 – May 12

International Nurses Day (IND) is observed globally every year on May 12 to acknowledge and celebrate
the vital contributions of nurses in delivering healthcare services worldwide.

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• This date commemorates the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), renowned
as the founder of modern nursing.
• The International Council of Nurses (ICN), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, has been
celebrating this day since 1965.
2025 Theme:
The theme for International Nurses Day 2025 is “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens
economies.”
• This theme emphasizes the critical role of nurses’ health and well-being in bolstering healthcare
systems and, by extension, national economies.
Background:
i.In 1953, Dorothy Sutherland, an official at the United States of America (USA) Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare, proposed a “Nurses Day” to then President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
ii.Since 1965, ICN has been celebrating International Nurses Day (IND) annually.
iii.In 1974, ICN officially designated May 12 as IND to honor Florence Nightingale’s birth.
About Florence Nightingale:
i.Born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy, she earned the title “Lady with the Lamp” for her work during
the Crimean War (1853–1856).
ii.Founded the Nightingale Training School for Nurses in London, United Kingdom (UK), in 1860, the world’s
first professional nursing school.
iii.Advised the British Red Cross and became the first woman to receive the Order of Merit in 1907.
iv.She died on August 13, 1910, in London, the United Kingdom(UK).
v.The Florence Nightingale Medal, established by the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) in 1912, honors exceptional nursing contributions.
State of the World’s Nursing 2025 Report:
On May 12, 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) and ICN released the State of the World’s Nursing
2025 (SoWN) report, offering detailed insights into the global nursing workforce based on data from 194
countries.
• The report introduces new indicators focusing on key areas like education capacity, advanced
practice nursing, and remuneration. It also adds five policy priorities to the existing 12 from the
Global Strategic Directions (2021–2025), along with regional data from all WHO zones.
1.Workforce Growth and Shortages
i.Global nursing workforce: 29.8 million (2023), up from 27.9 million (2018).
ii.Current shortage: 5.9 million nurses (down from 6.2 million in 2020).
iii.Projected requirement by 2030: 30 million additional nurses to meet healthcare demands.
iv.The WHO’s 2025 report urges prompt and continuous investment in the nursing sector to strengthen
healthcare systems and ensure they are equipped to address both present and future health challenges.
2.Distribution Inequities:
i.About 78% of nurses are concentrated in countries representing only 49% of the global population,
highlighting significant regional disparities.
ii.Low-income countries face challenges in hiring and retaining nurses due to limited investments.
3.Workforce Demographics: Approximately 33% of nurses are under 35 years old, while 19% are
expected to retire within the next decade.
4.Gender Representation: Women constitute 85% of the global nursing workforce.
5.Mental Health Support: Only 42% of countries have provisions for nurses’ mental health support,
underscoring the need for enhanced well-being initiatives.
Global Policy Priorities (2026–2030):
The report outlines several policy priorities to strengthen the nursing workforce:

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i.Expand nursing jobs in underserved regions.

ii.Improve education systems and align qualifications with roles.
iii.Enhance working conditions, pay equity, and mental health support.
iv.Develop advanced practice nursing roles (available in 62% of countries).
v.Promote gender equity and protect nurses in conflict zones.
vi.Invest in digital technologies and climate-responsive care training.
ICN Congress 2025:
ICN will host the 30th ICN Congress in Helsinki, Finland, from June 9 to 13, 2025.
• The theme for the congress is “Nursing Power to Change the World,” focusing on the
transformative role of nurses in global healthcare.
About International Council of Nurses (ICN):
President – Pamela F. Cipriano
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Founded – 1899

8th UN Global Road Safety Week 2025 – (12–18) May

The United Nations(UN) Global Road Safety Week (UNGRSW) is a biennial campaign organized by Geneva
(Switzerland) based World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness about road safety and advocate
for measures to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries.
• The 8th UNGRSW is being observed from May 12 to 18, 2025.
• The 7th UNGRSW was observed from May 15–21, 2023.
Theme:
i.The theme of UNGRSW 2025 is #MakeWalkingSafe and #MakeCyclingSafe, which highlights the need for
safer infrastructure and policies that protect pedestrians and cyclists.
ii.The 2025 campaign aims to mobilize communities, civil society organizations, and policymakers to take
action for making urban streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. It supports measures that help shift to
healthier, sustainable, and equitable modes of transport.
Background:
i.In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted Resolution 60/5, which mandated the
World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Regional Commissions to organize periodic road safety
weeks.
ii.The first UN Global Road Safety Week was held from April 23 to 29, 2007.
• The week has been observed every two years once since 2013.
Key Interventions:
The campaign emphasizes the following evidence-based measures:
i.Safe road infrastructure: Dedicated lanes for walking and cycling, sidewalks, pedestrian crosswalks, and
adequate lighting.
ii. Safe vehicles: Use of emergency braking systems, pedestrian/cyclist detection systems, and crash-
protective design.
iii. Safe speeds: Urban speed limits set to 30 km/h (20 mph) with strict enforcement.
iv. Safe driving behaviour: Avoiding speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and
distractions, supported by strong legal frameworks.
v. Emergency care: Timely and life-saving medical response systems.
Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030:
i.Walking and cycling are integral components of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety
2021–2030, which emphasizes the development of multimodal transport systems that are safe, inclusive,
and sustainable.

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• The plan advocates for road infrastructure that supports various modes of transportation,
including walking, cycling, and public transit, to enhance safety and accessibility for all road
users, especially the most vulnerable.
ii.This approach aligns with the Stockholm Declaration, promoting policies that encourage walking,
cycling, and public transport as inherently healthy and environmentally sound modes of transport.
iii.By integrating walking and cycling into transport planning, the Global Plan aims to reduce road traffic
deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs).
Key facts:
i.According to the WHO, Road traffic injuries remain one of the most significant public health challenges
globally, claiming the lives of nearly 1.2 million people and injuring up to 50 million others each year.
ii.According to the World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Road Safety (GSRRS) 2023,
pedestrians and cyclists account for more than one in four road traffic deaths globally. The African region
faces a particularly severe impact, contributing to nearly a quarter of all global road fatalities.
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Director-General(DG) – Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Established– 1948

International Day of Families 2025 – May 15

The United Nations (UN’s) International Day of Families (IDF) is observed annually across the globe on May
15 to highlight the role of families in societal development and aims to address the various social, economic,
and demographic challenges impacting them globally.
• 2025 marks the 31st anniversary of the International Year of the Family (IYF), observed in 1994.
Symbol:
The International Day of Families is represented by a symbol featuring a solid green circle encompassing a
red image of a heart beneath a roof, symbolizing the home.
2025 Theme:
The theme for IDF 2025 is “Family-Oriented Policies for Sustainable Development: Towards the
Second World Summit for Social Development.”
• It highlights the need to include family-focused policies in national plans to address global issues
like climate change, urban growth, technology changes, and population shifts.
Background:
i.In 1989, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 1994 as the International Year of the
Family via Resolution 44/82.
ii.In 1993, the UNGA adopted Resolution A/RES/47/237, designating May 15 as the annual International
Day of Families.
• The International Day of Families is observed annually under the guidance of the United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), with its Division for Inclusive Social
Development (DISD) taking the lead in coordinating and organizing the global observance.
iii.The 1st International Day of Families was observed on May 15, 1994.
Objectives of IDF 2025:
The 2025 IDF observance aims to:
i.Highlight the importance of family policy focus in the upcoming Second World Summit for Social
Development.
ii.Present an analysis of family policies and issues in National Voluntary Reviews (VNRs) 2020–2024.

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iii.Review major initiatives undertaken as part of the preparations for and observance of the 30th
anniversary of the International Year of the Family (IYF+30).
iv.Showcase good practices in family policymaking at regional and national levels.
v.Recommend family-oriented policies for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development.
Second World Summit for Social Development:
The Second World Summit for Social Development is scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar, from
November 4 to 6, 2025.
• This summit aims to address persistent gaps in social development, recommit to the goals
outlined in the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, and accelerate progress
towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Research Paper on Family Policies (2020–2024):
A key highlight of IDF 2025 is the launch of a research paper analyzing Family-oriented Priorities, Policies
and Programmes in the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as reported
in VNRs of 2020 to 2024. The paper will:
• Evaluate how family policies contribute to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets.
• Identify gaps in policy implementation.
• Provide data-driven recommendations for resilient family systems.
Global Relevance of Family Policies:
Families are central to achieving SDGs due to their role in:
i.Education: 80% of family farms in developing countries rely on intergenerational knowledge transfer.
ii.Climate Resilience: Low-income families face heightened climate risks, contributing to 68% of
women and 57% of men with mental health challenges being parents.
iii.Economic Stability: During crises like COVID-19, 1 in 4 families with children experienced food
insecurity.
About United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA):
Under-Secretary-General – Li Junhua
Headquarters – New York, the United States of America(USA)
Founded – 1948

International Day of Living Together in Peace 2025 – May 16

The United Nations (UN’s) International Day of Living Together in Peace, observed annually on 16 May,
emphasizes global efforts to foster peace, tolerance, and solidarity.
Significance:
i.The Day serves as a reminder of the global commitment to promote reconciliation, ensure sustainable
development, and foster coexistence among diverse cultures and communities.
ii.It encourages people to accept differences, and to listen to, recognize, respect, and appreciate others,
thereby living together in a peaceful and united way.
Background:
i.Established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) through Resolution 72/130 in 2017, this
day highlights the importance of unity in diversity, mutual respect, and sustainable development.
ii.The inaugural International Day of Living Together in Peace was celebrated on May 16, 2018.
UN Initiatives for Peace:
i.After the Second World War(WW-II), the United Nations (UN) was established in 1945 to prevent future
conflicts and promote peace.
ii.In 1997, the UNGA declared the year 2000 as the “International Year for a Culture of Peace” through
Resolution 52/15.

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iii. In 1998, the decade 2001–2010 was proclaimed as the “International Decade for a Culture of Peace and
Non-Violence for Children of the World”.
iv.In 1999, the UNGA adopted Resolution 53/243, endorsing the Declaration and Programme of Action on a
Culture of Peace, based on the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
principle: “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be
constructed.”
About the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA):
Secretary General – António Guterres
Headquarters – New York, the United States of America(USA)
Established – 1945

International Day of Light 2025 – May 16

The International Day of Light (IDL), observed annually on May 16, is a United Nations (UN) initiative to
highlight the crucial role of light-based technologies in science, culture, and sustainable development.
• The day also marks the anniversary of Theodore Maiman’s first successful laser operation
in 1960.
• The 2025 observance marks the 8th edition of IDL, highlighting the pivotal role of light-based
technologies in various facets of life.
Theme for 2025:
The theme for IDL 2025 is “Light, Innovation, Society”, emphasizing the integral role of light in driving
innovation and its impact on societal development.
Note: The IDL celebration was led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) under its International Basic Science Programme (IBSP).
Background:
i.The IDL traces its origins to the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015),
proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 20, 2013.
ii.Following its success, UNESCO’s Executive Board adopted a resolution on September 19, 2016, during its
200th session in Paris, France, to establish an annual observance.
iii.The proposal, introduced by Ghana, Mexico, New Zealand, and the Russian Federation, was supported by
15 additional countries.
iv.The first IDL was officially celebrated on May 16, 2018, with an inauguration ceremony at UNESCO’s
headquarters in Paris(France), featuring Nobel laureates, scientists, and industry leaders.
About Light:
Light possesses properties such as amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and wave speed. It travels at
approximately 186,282.4 miles per second(mi/s) in a vacuum and takes about eight minutes and seventeen
seconds to reach Earth from the Sun.
Key Milestones:
• 1802: Invention of the electric arc lamp by Humphry Davy.
• 1879: Patent of the first commercially successful light bulb by Thomas Edison and Joseph Swan.
• 2014: Development of the blue LED by Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano, and Shuji Nakamura.
• 21st Century: Advancements in wireless lighting, enabling control via AI voice commands and
smartphones.
2025 Events:
i.In alignment with the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology 2025(IYQ 2025), UNESCO is
launching a global initiative titled “Quantum Light: A Visual Odyssey”, inviting visual works inspired by
the intersection of light and quantum science.
ii.Additionally, the EU GREEN Light Festival is organizing events across Europe, including exhibitions,

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workshops, and seminars, to showcase the transformative power of light in promoting sustainability and
innovation.

National Dengue Day 2025 – May 16

National Dengue Day is observed every year on May 16 across India to raise awareness about dengue
fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease, and to promote its prevention and control measures.
• This annual initiative is led by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), aiming to
mitigate the impact of dengue, especially during the monsoon season.
2025 Theme:
The 2025 theme for National Dengue Day is “Act Early, Prevent Dengue: Clean Surroundings, Healthy
Living.”
• The theme underscores the importance of early action, cleanliness, and community
involvement to curb dengue transmission.
Note: There is no officially declared theme for National Dengue Day 2025, but the above theme is widely
mentioned in news sites.
Background:
i.National Dengue Day was initiated in 2010 by MoHFW, in response to the increasing threat of dengue
fever across India.
ii.Anti-Dengue Month is observed in July to reinforce community efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding
sites.
What is Dengue?
i.Dengue is a viral infection transmitted through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito(female), active
primarily during daytime.
ii.Symptoms: High fever, severe headache, joint/muscle pain, skin rashes, and mild bleeding.
iii.Severity: Can progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, causing internal
bleeding, organ failure, or death, especially in vulnerable groups.
iv.Serotypes: Four strains (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4). Infection with one strain provides
immunity only to that type, with subsequent infections increasing severe dengue risk.
Dengue Vaccines:
i.Dengvaxia® (CYD-TDV): Developed by Sanofi Pasteur, this vaccine was first licensed in December 2015 in
Mexico for individuals aged 9-45 living in endemic areas.
ii.Qdenga® (TAK-003): Developed by Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, this live-attenuated
vaccine received World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification in May 2024.
• It is recommended for children aged 6-16 years in settings with high dengue transmission
intensity. The vaccine offers protection against all four dengue virus serotypes.
Global Dengue Scenario:
i.As of April 30, 2024, WHO reported over 7.6 million dengue cases globally, including more than 3,000
deaths.
ii.The Region of the Americas experienced a significant surge, with cases exceeding 7 million, surpassing the
annual high of 4.6 million in 2023.
iii.In response to the escalating crisis, the WHO launched a global strategic plan in October 2024 to combat
rising dengue cases and other Aedes-borne diseases.
Dengue in India:
As per the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) under MoHFW, India
reported 2,33,400 dengue cases and 236 deaths in 2024.
• Most Affected States: Karnataka, West Bengal (WB), Maharashtra.

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• Emerging Trends: Rising cases in Kerala and Tamil Nadu (TN), while some regions show decline
compared to 2023.
India’s Dengue Prevention Program:
India’s dengue prevention programme is implemented by NCVBDC under the National Vector Borne Disease
Control Programme (NVBDCP), and adopts a comprehensive strategy involving surveillance, vector control,
and community participation.
i.Establishment of 805 Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals (SSHs) and 17 Apex Referral Laboratories.
ii.Provision of diagnostic kits (IgM MAC ELISA) through the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune
(Maharashtra).
iii.Issuance of technical guidelines for clinical management and vector control.
iv.Community awareness programs to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.
v.Periodic monitoring and advisories for outbreak prevention.
Related Observance:
ASEAN Dengue Day is observed annually on June 15 by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) to raise awareness about dengue prevention.
• Initiated in 2010 during the 10th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting in Singapore.
About National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC):
It is the central nodal agency under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoHFW). It is responsible for
the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases across the country.
Director – Dr. Tanu Jain
Headquarters – New Delhi (Delhi)

Endangered Species Day 2025 – May 16

Endangered Species Day(ESD) is observed annually across the globe on the third Friday of May to raise
awareness about the threats faced by vulnerable species and promote global conservation efforts.
• In 2025, it falls on May 16, with the theme “celebrate saving species”. The day emphasizes
education, advocacy, and collective action to protect biodiversity and restore ecosystems.
• ESD 2025 marks the 20th annual observance of the day.
• ESD 2024 was observed on 17 May 2024 and ESD 2026 will be observed on 15 May 2026.
Background:
• Established in 2006 by David Robinson and the Endangered Species Coalition to highlight the
plight of endangered species. The United States America(USA) Senate later endorsed it as a
national observance
• The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 in the USA remains a cornerstone for species
protection, credited with saving species like the gray wolf and bald eagle
• Since 2013, the day has been celebrated internationally, with events in countries such as
Australia, Canada, and Kenya
Key facts:
• Endangered Species is a plant or animal that could disappear from the wildlife ecosystem. It is
due to various factors like loss of habitat, invasive species and climate change.
• Most Endangered species: As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),
Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Lion, Snow Leopard, One-Horned Rhinoceros, Indian Bison are some of the
endangered species in India.
• The IUCN Red List is a globally recognized report that assesses the extinction risk of various
species. As of 2025, the Red List includes 169,420 species, with over 47,000 facing
extinction, according to the IUCN. This list is a crucial tool for conservation efforts, helping
identify species in need of protection and informing conservation policies.

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About International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Bruno Oberle
Headquarters – Gland, Switzerland
Founded – 1948

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2025 – May 17

The United Nations (UN’s) World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is observed
every year on May 17 across the globe to raise awareness about the transformative power of the Internet
and other Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in enhancing quality of life and narrowing
the digital divide.
• In 2025, the day gains special significance as it marks the 160th anniversary of the Geneva
(Switzerland)-based International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
2025 Theme:
The theme for WTISD 2025 is “Gender Equality in Digital Transformation”, focusing on closing digital
gender gaps in access, skills, leadership, and affordability.
Background:
i.17 May was designated as World Telecommunication Day in 1969 to commemorate the founding of ITU
on 17 May 1865, when the First International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris (France).
ii.In November 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) urged the UN General Assembly
(UNGA) to declare 17 May as WISD. The UNGA adopted this in March 2006.
iii.In November 2006, the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya, Turkey, decided to combine both
observances into WTISD, celebrated annually on 17 May.
Global Digital Gender Divide:
According to the ITU’s Facts and Figures 2024:
i.70% of men versus 65% of women globally use the internet, leaving 189 million more men online than
women.
ii.In Least Developed Countries (LDCs), only 29% of women use the internet compared to 41% of men,
widening the gap.
iii.The Asia-Pacific region reports 68% male and 64% female internet usage.
iv.Women remain underrepresented in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics) fields (less than 30% globally) and tech leadership roles.
Note: Currently, over 2.6 billion people remain unconnected to the internet, with the majority being women
and girls.
Link to Beijing+30 and Digital Inclusion:
The 2025 WTISD coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
(BPFA), a landmark agreement for women’s rights. The Beijing+30 Action Agenda includes targeted
measures to:
• Expand digital infrastructure in rural and marginalized areas.
• Promote gender-responsive policies in tech education and employment.
• Increase funding for women-led tech startups.
2025 Event:
To commemorate its 160th anniversary, ITU organized a special light show titled “160 Years of
Technology for Humanity” at the Place des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, on 17 May 2025.
• The event symbolizes ITU’s legacy in fostering global connectivity since 1865 and its commitment
to a gender-inclusive digital future.

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Telecommunication in India:
India’s telecommunications journey began in 1851 with the establishment of the first operational landlines
near Kolkata, West Bengal(WB) by the British.
• Formal telephone services were introduced in 1881, and by 1883, these services were integrated
with the postal system, laying the foundation for a unified communication network in the country.
• As of March 2025, India’s telecom subscriber base has surpassed 1.2 billion, reflecting robust
growth across both wireless and broadband segments.
About International Telecommunication Union (ITU):
Secretary General (SG) – Doreen Bogdan Martin
Headquarters – Geneva (Switzerland)
Established – 1865
Member States – 194

World Hypertension Day 2025 – May 17

The World Health Organisation (WHO) annually observes World Hypertension Day (WHD) on 17 May to
raise awareness about hypertension (high Blood Pressure, BP), a leading cause of preventable deaths
globally.
• WHD emphasises the serious medical complications of hypertension and provides guidance on
prevention, detection, and management.
• The year 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of WHD
Theme:
The theme for WHD 2025 is “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live
Longer”, highlights the need for precise monitoring and effective management to improve health outcomes.
Background:
i.In 2005, WHD was initiated by the World Hypertension League (WHL), a Non-Profit Organization(NPO)
focused on the global prevention and control of hypertension.
ii.The first WHD was celebrated on 14th May 2005. Since 2006, May 17 has been marked every year as
WHD.
What is Hypertension?
i.Hypertension is often termed the “silent killer” due to its asymptomatic nature, leading many individuals to
remain unaware of their condition until severe health issues arise.
ii.Mechanism: Blood pumped by the heart exerts pressure on the walls of the arteries; when this pressure
increases, the heart is forced to work harder to maintain circulation.
iii.Hypertension, or high BP, refers to a condition in which the BP consistently exceeds 140/90 millimeters
of mercury (mmHg), placing extra strain on the heart and blood vessels.
iv.If left uncontrolled, it can lead to severe complications including: Heart attacks & strokes, Heart failure,
Kidney damage, Aneurysms & Cognitive decline and dementia.
Causes of Hypertension:
i.Common risk factors include a Sedentary lifestyle, Unhealthy diet (especially high salt intake), Obesity,
Smoking and alcohol use, Chronic stress, Family history of hypertension and ageing.
ii.Hypertension can be classified into two types:
• Primary (Essential) Hypertension – Develops gradually over time with no identifiable cause.
• Secondary Hypertension – Caused by underlying conditions like kidney disease, hormonal
disorders, or side effects from certain medications.
Key Facts:
i.Among adults with hypertension, 50% are unaware of their condition, and nearly 1 in 6 do not have their
blood pressure under control.

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ii.The South-East Asia Region (SEAR) has prioritized the prevention and control of hypertension through
the SEAHEARTS initiative—“Accelerating Prevention and Control of Cardiovascular Diseases in the South-
East Asia Region”—endorsed by the Seventy-sixth Regional Committee in 2023.
iii.It is estimated that more than 294 million people live with hypertension in the SEAR, with over 24
million individuals receiving treatment within public health facilities.
iv.Hypertension affects an estimated 1.28 billion adults globally, with many unaware of their condition. This
leads to an estimated 10.8 million deaths annually, making it a major cause of premature mortality
worldwide.
WHL 2025 Excellence Award:
i.On WHD 2025, the WHL recognized the WHL 2025 Excellence Award Winners for their outstanding
contributions to global hypertension prevention, research, and control.
ii.In 2025, key individual and organizational awards recognizing outstanding contributions to hypertension
research and population control were announced.
iii. Indian Recognitions :Prof. (Dr.) Dorairaj Prabhakaran has been honored with the Daniel Lackland
Excellence Award by the World Hypertension League (WHL) for his Collaboration and Advocacy for
Population Hypertension Risk Reduction.
• Dr. D.Prabhakaran serves as the Executive Director(ED) of the Centre for Chronic Disease Control
(CCDC) in New Delhi, Delhi.
• He is also a Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in London, England
and Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and a Visiting Scientist at the Harvard School of Public
Health in Massachusetts, the United States of America(USA).
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Director General (DG) – Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Established – 1948

International Day Against Homophobia,Transphobia and Biphobia 2025 – May 17

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) is observed annually
across the world on May 17 to raise awareness about the discrimination and violence faced by individuals
based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics.
• The day commemorates the World Health Organization’s (WHO) decision on May 17, 1990, to
declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.
• In 2025, the day marks its 21st anniversary, emphasizing cross-movement solidarity to combat
discrimination against the LGBTQI+ community.
Theme:
i.The theme of IDAHOBIT 2025 is “The Power of Communities”, emphasizing the strength and resilience
that emerge from collective solidarity within LGBTQIA+ communities.
ii.This theme highlights the importance of community support in combating discrimination and promoting
inclusivity.
Background:
i.Inception: The concept of IDAHOBIT was initiated in 2004 by Louis-Georges Tin, a French academic and
activist, to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTQIA+ individuals.
ii.First Observance: The first International Day Against Homophobia was observed on May 17, 2005.
iii.Evolution of the Acronym:
• 2009: Transphobia was added, changing the acronym to IDAHOT
• 2015: Biphobia was included, resulting in the current acronym IDAHOBIT.

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Significance:
i.IDAHOBIT serves as a platform to advocate for the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals and to promote policies
that ensure equality and non-discrimination. It is observed in over 130 countries, including those where
same-sex relationships are criminalized.
Global LGBTQI+ Rights: Key Facts
i.Marriage Equality:As of May 2025, 38 countries have legalized same-sex marriage, reflecting a significant
global shift toward marriage equality.
• Netherlands (2001): First country to legalize same-sex marriage.
• Taiwan, Nepal & Thailand: Only Asian nations with national recognition (as of May 2025).
• South Africa: Sole African country with legal same-sex marriage.
ii.Transgender Rights:
• France (2009): First to remove transgender identity from mental illness lists.
iii.Discrimination:
• 72 countries criminalize same-sex relationships (UN 2024 data).
• 1 in 3 LGBTQI+ individuals face violence globally.
Global Initiatives:
i.United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): Supports rights-based policies and education programs for
LGBTQI+ communities.
ii.WHO: Advocates for depathologizing gender diversity in healthcare systems.
2025 Events:
On May 17, 2025, the United Nations(UN) hosted a webinar titled “LGBTQI+ Rights in Conflict Zones” to
commemorate the IDAHOBIT. This event aims to shed light on the unique challenges faced by LGBTQI+
individuals in areas affected by armed conflict and political instability.
About the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA):
It is formerly known as the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, is the United Nations’ sexual and
reproductive health agency.
Executive Director(ED) – Dr. Natalia Kanem
Established – 1969
Headquarters – New York City, the United States of America(USA)

International Museum Day 2025 – May 18

International Museum Day (IMD) is annually observed across the globe on May 18 by the International
Council of Museums (ICOM) to highlight the pivotal role of museums in fostering cultural exchange and
promoting mutual understanding, cooperation, and peace among peoples.
2025 Theme:
i.The theme for IMD 2025 is “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities.”
• The theme focuses on how museums can adapt to social, technological, and environmental
shifts while preserving heritage.
The 2025 theme supports:
• SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Museums
generate employment and empower communities through education.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): By fostering creativity and embracing
technological advancements, museums drive innovation and enhance accessibility.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Museums act as cultural hubs promoting inclusion
and heritage preservation.

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Background:
i.IMD was officially established in 1977 through a resolution adopted during the ICOM General Assembly in
Moscow, Russia.
• It aims to unify museums globally and highlight their contributions to societal development.
ii.Since its inception in 1977, ICOM has organized IMD annually, serving as a significant occasion for the
global museum community.
iii.The practice of selecting an annual theme for IMD began in 1992, while the concept of an international
poster was introduced by ICOM in 1997.
Note: In 2024, over 37,000 museums across 158 countries and territories joined the IMD event.
Crusade for Museums (1951):
Preceding IMD, ICOM organized the Crusade for Museums meeting in 1951, centered on “Museums and
Education”.
• This event laid the groundwork for IMD by emphasizing museum accessibility and public
engagement.
2025 IMD Poster Design:
The 2025 IMD poster is designed by TheLoveTriangle, an interdisciplinary scenography and exhibition
design collective known for creating immersive spatial narratives. Their work aims to provoke dialogue and
inspire action on museums’ evolving roles.
27th ICOM General Conference:
The 2025 IMD theme aligns with the forthcoming 27th ICOM General Conference scheduled in Dubai,
United Arab Emirates (UAE), in November 2025, focusing on safeguarding intangible heritage, engaging
youth, and embracing technological advancements.
India’s Museum Development Initiatives:
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture (MoC), Government of India (GoI),
announced free entry to all its 3,698 protected monuments and 52 site museums on 18th May 2025, to
encourage public engagement with the nation’s rich cultural heritage.
Notable Developments:
1.Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site Museum, New Delhi (Delhi):
Inaugurated on 29th July 2024, this is India’s first Underground Museum at a UNESCO (United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site.
• Features artefacts from the Mughal era, offering immersive historical insights.
2. Archaeological Experiential Museum, Vadnagar, Gujarat:
Costing Rs. 212.10 crore, this 13,500 square meter (sq. m) museum near an 800 BC settlement site will
showcase nine galleries on regional heritage, arts, and crafts.
3.Virtual Experiential Museum, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP):
Located at the Man Mahan Observatory, this museum uses Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality
(VR) to recreate historical narratives of Varanasi.
4.Yuga Yugeen Bharat Rashtriya Sangrahalaya, New Delhi:
The world’s largest museum (1,55,000 sq m) is under development at North and South Blocks, Raisina Hill.
• India is collaborating with France Museums Development, the designated operator for the
government of the French Republic, for its development.
Note: 26 ASI-managed sites are on UNESCO’s World Heritage List(WHL), including the Sarnath Museum
(1910), India’s oldest archaeological museum.
About International Council of Museums (ICOM):
President – Emma Nardi (Italy)
Director General (DG) (interim) – Medea Sógor Ekner

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Headquarters – Paris, France

Founded – 1946

World AIDS Vaccine Day 2025 – May 18

World AIDS Vaccine Day (WAVD), also known as HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD), is annually observed
across the globe on 18th May to raise awareness about the urgent and ongoing need for a vaccine to
prevent Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
• The day also commemorates the unwavering efforts of researchers, volunteers, healthcare
workers, and community advocates committed to developing a safe and effective HIV vaccine.
• 18th May 2025 marks the 28th observance of the WAVD.
Awareness Ribbon:
The red ribbon represents global support and awareness for those affected by HIV and AIDS, symbolizing
unity and the commitment to stop new HIV infections by 2030.
Background:
i.The day 18th May commemorates the 1997 speech by former United States of America (USA)
President Bill Clinton at Morgan State University at Maryland in the United States of America(USA), where
he highlighted the urgent need for a preventive HIV vaccine.
ii.The first WAVD was observed on 18th May 1998 to mark the anniversary of Clinton’s speech.
About HIV and AIDS:
i.HIV is a virus that attacks and weakens the human immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (a type of
white blood cell), which help the immune system fight infections.
ii.If left untreated, HIV typically progresses to AIDS, the most advanced stage of the infection, within 8 to 10
years.
iii.Causes: HIV spreads through specific body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, pre-
seminal fluid, and breast milk.
iv.Symptoms:
• Early Stage (Acute HIV): Fever, headache, rash, sore throat, muscle and joint pain.
• Chronic Stage: May be asymptomatic for years but the virus continues to damage the immune
system.
• AIDS Stage: Rapid weight loss, recurring fever, prolonged swelling of lymph glands, pneumonia,
skin rashes, and neurological disorders.
v.Treatment:
• Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), the primary treatment for HIV, lowers the virus to undetectable
levels, improves health outcomes, reduces transmission risk, and enables people with HIV to live
longer.
• Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent HIV, but scientists worldwide, supported by the National
Institutes of Health (NIH), are actively working to develop one.
• Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), now in clinical trials, have shown safety and long-
lasting effects, with some able to lower HIV levels.
About Advanced HIV Disease (AHD):
i.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Advanced HIV Disease (AHD) is defined in individuals
aged 5 years and above as having a CD4 cell count below 200 cells per cubic millimeter (cells/mm³) or being
in clinical stage 3 or 4 of HIV.
ii.All children with HIV infection are considered to have AHD by default due to their high risk of rapid
progression.
iii.Global health agencies such as WHO and UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) have
identified AHD as a major barrier to ending the HIV epidemic by 2030.

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Discovery of HIV:
i.In 1983, French scientists Luc Montagnier and Françoise Barré-Sinoussi at the Pasteur Institute in Paris
(France) isolated a virus from a patient with lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes) and named it LAV
(Lymphadenopathy-Associated Virus).
ii.In 1986, the virus was officially renamed as HIV by the International Committee on the Taxonomy of
Viruses (ICTV).
iii.In 2008, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was jointly awarded to Luc Montagnier and Françoise
Barré-Sinoussi for identifying Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV) as the virus responsible for AIDS,
and shared with Harald zur Hausen for discovering that Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV) cause cervical
cancer.
Keyfacts:
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as per the latest data available for 2023 (reported as of
22 July 2024), an estimated 39.9 million people were living with HIV globally.
During the same year, approximately 1.3 million individuals acquired HIV, while around 6.3 lakh (630,000)
people died due to HIV-related causes.

International Day for Women in Maritime 2025 – May 18

The International Day for Women in Maritime (IDWIM) is annually observed across the globe on May
18 to celebrate and honour the contributions of women in the marine industry and promote women’s
recruitment, retention, and sustained employment in the future.
• The annual event of IDWIM is initiated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), a
specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), responsible for regulating maritime transport.
Purpose of the Day:
i.To highlight women’s participation in the maritime sector and emphasize the efforts to include a greater
number of women.
ii.By raising the profile of women in maritime, IMO is strengthening its commitment to the UN Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG) 5 (Gender equality)
• It also addresses gender imbalances in the maritime workforce.
Note:
• Women constitute less than 20% of the maritime workforce onshore, with significantly lower
participation at sea
• Women constitute 1.2% of the global seafarer workforce.
Background:
i.In 2021, the IMO assembly at its 32nd session, adopted the resolution (A.1170(32)), proclaiming May 18
every year as the International Day for Women in Maritime.
ii.The first ever International Day for Women in Maritime was observed on May 18, 2022.
2025 Events:
Symposium:
On May 16, 2025, IMO hosted a symposium, focusing on the theme “An Ocean of Opportunities for
Women” in London, United Kingdom (UK), aligning with the 2025 World Maritime Day theme “Our Ocean,
Our Obligation, Our Opportunity”.
IMO Gender Equality Award 2025:
i.Karin Orsel, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Netherlands-based MF Shipping Group
received the IMO gender equality award for her significant contributions to achieving gender equality in the
maritime sector.
ii.She was nominated by the award of Kingdom of the Netherlands.

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About the award:

i.The IMO gender equality award was established to recognize individuals, irrespective of their gender, who
have made significant contributions to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women in the
marine sector.
ii.The IMO council, at its 128th session held in November 2022, approved the establishment of the IMO
gender equality award.
iii.The Award is in the form of a medal, accompanied by a certificate, citing the contribution of the winner to
improve gender equality in the maritime sector.
International Day for Women in Maritime in India:
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Unveils ‘Sagar Mein Samman’:
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), unveiled the
‘Sagar Mein Samman’ (SMS), a policy initiative of the Government of India (GOI), to increase women
participation in the maritime sector.
• The event was organized by Directorate General of Shipping, in collaboration with “Sagar Mein
Samman” (SMS), Maritime Union of India, National Maritime Day Committee in Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
• The event focused on the theme “Women in Maritime: Leading Transformation and
Sustainability”
Key Points:
i.Minister’s Address: Shri Sonowal emphasized the importance of recruitment, retention, and career
advancement for women in the maritime sector, aligned with the IMO’s 2025 World Maritime Day theme,
“Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity.”
ii.Growth in Women Participation:
• Aligned with the Maritime India Vision 2030, the initiative sets an ambitious target of
achieving 12% female representation in technical maritime roles by 2030
• 649% increase in women seafarers: From 341 in 2014 to 2,557 in 2024
• 739% surge in registered women seafarers: From 1,699 in 2015 to 14,255 in 2024
• 2,989 women received financial assistance since 2014
• Women seeking assistance increased from 45 (2014-15) to 732 (2024-25)
About International Maritime Organization (IMO):
Secretary-General – Arsenio Dominguez (Panama)
Headquarters – London, United Kingdom
Established – 1948 (in force from 1958)

World Fair Play Day 2025- May 19

The first-ever United Nations (UN’s) World Fair Play Day was observed on 19 May 2025 to promote
sportsmanship rooted in the spirit of friendship, solidarity, tolerance, inclusion, and non-discrimination. The
day is observed globally to uphold the values of honesty, respect, and fairness in all sporting events. It
encourages athletes, teams, coaches, and spectators to prioritize integrity over the pursuit of victory,
thereby honoring the true essence of sporting competition.
About Fair Play:
i.Fair play refers to a set of guiding principles that promote ethical conduct, respect, and integrity in both
sports and everyday life. It goes beyond simply following the rules, it encourages a spirit of honesty,
cooperation, and equality among all participants.
ii.It is recognized as a fundamental element in promoting social cohesion and peace, and it aligns with global
efforts to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of health,
education, gender equality, reduced inequalities, and peaceful societies.

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Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA), during its 78th session, adopted Resolution A/RES/78/310
on 1 July 2024, officially designating 19 May as World Fair Play Day.
ii.The initiative to recognize World Fair Play Day was spearheaded by Hungary and garnered co-
sponsorship from 92 Member States.
iii.The resolution acknowledges the spirit of fair play inherent in the Olympic ideal and emphasizes the
importance of sports, including for persons with disabilities, in promoting peace, development, and
community cohesion.
History:
i.Prior to its UN recognition, the concept of World Fair Play Day was championed by Panathlon Wallonie-
Bruxelles in Brussels (Belgium), which, since 2013, organized a week of fair play activities in September,
including the “Relay du Fair-Play”.
ii.The first global celebration occurred on 7 September 2020 in Brussels City Hall in Brussels, organized by
the International Committee for Fair Play (CIFP).
iii.Since then, Brussels has annually hosted the official ceremony, supported by local authorities.
2025 Events:
In conjunction with World Fair Play Day, the 30th European Fair Play Congress and the General
Assembly of the European Fair Play Movement (EFPM) were held from 16 May to 20 May 2025 at
the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, Greece.
International Committee for Fair Play (CIFP) Awards 2025:
• The award honored individuals who exemplified the values of honesty, respect, and integrity in
sports.
• Awardees
1.Victoria Pazos, The Paraguayan umpire received the World Fair Play Diploma in the “Jean Borotra –
Career of Fair Play” category.
2.Sander Skotheim: The Norwegian decathlete was honored with the International Fair Play Award as part
of the World Athletics Awards 2024.
About International Committee for Fair Play (CIFP):
President – Dr Jenö Kamuti
Headquarters – Paris, France
Established -1963

World Bee Day 2025 – May 20

The United Nations (UN) observes World Bee Day annually on May 20 to raise awareness about the
importance of bees and other pollinators in supporting biodiversity, food security, and sustainable
development.
• The 2025 World Bee Day theme, “Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all”, underscores the
indispensable role of bees and other pollinators in sustaining agrifood systems and ecosystem
health.
Background:
i.The proposal to observe World Bee Day was initiated by the Republic of Slovenia, with the support of
Apimondia (International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations), at the Rome(Italy) basedFood and
Agriculture Organization(FAO) Regional Conference for Europe in 2016.
ii.The proposal was submitted for consideration at the 40th Session of the FAO Conference in 2017.
iii. On 20 December 2017, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution
A/RES/72/211, officially proclaiming 20 May of each year as World Bee Day.

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• The date, May 20 marks the birth anniversary of Anton Janša, an 18th-century Slovenian
innovator renowned for pioneering modern apiculture techniques.
iv.The first World Bee Day was celebrated on 20 May 2018.
About Pollinators:
i.Pollinators are organisms that help in the transfer of pollen from the male part of a flower (anther) to the
female part (stigma), enabling fertilization and seed production.
ii.Types of Pollinators:
• Insects: Honeybees, bumblebees, butterflies, moths, beetles
• Birds: Hummingbirds, sunbirds
• Mammals: Bats, monkeys, some rodents
• Wind & Water: Also act as abiotic pollinators
iii.Pollinators support biodiversity, promote plant propagation, and maintain ecological balance.
• According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), nearly 75% of the world’s food crops
depend, at least in part, on pollination
iv.Threats to Pollinators
• Habitat Loss: Urbanization and intensive farming reduce pollinator-friendly spaces.
• Climate Change: Alters flowering cycles, disrupting pollination timing
• Pesticides: Chemicals like neonicotinoids harm bee populations.
• Pollution: Air and water contaminants further stress ecosystems.
About Apiculture:
i.Apiculture is the scientific method of rearing and managing honeybees for the production of honey,
beeswax, royal jelly, propolis, and other bee products.
ii.Apiculture plays a vital role in income generation, especially in rural areas, by providing employment
opportunities through beekeeping and honey processing.
iii. Major Bee Species in India:
• Apis cerana indica (Indian honey bee)
• Apis dorsata (Rock bee)
• Apis florea (Little bee)
• Apis mellifera (European/Western honey bee – introduced species used for commercial
beekeeping)
Indian Government Support:
The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), launched in 2020 under the Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers’ Welfare(MoA&FW), promotes apiculture by providing training, financial assistance, and
infrastructure support.
• In Gujarat, over 11,300 farmers have benefitted from a financial package of Rs.8.76 crore for
setting up bee colonies, hives, and honey extraction units.
i.Production:From 76,150 metric tonnes(MT) in 2013-14 to 1,20,000 metric tonnes(MT) in 2019-20,
marking a 57.58% increase.Press Information Bureau
ii.Export Growth: Honey exports rose from 28,378.42 MT in 2013-14 to 59,536.74 MT in 2019-20, a
109.80% increase.
iii.Laboratory Establishments: Two world-class honey testing labs have been set up at National Dairy
Development Board (NDDB), Anand, Gujarat, and Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR),
Bengaluru, Karnataka.
About Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that leads international efforts to defeat hunger,
improve food security, and promote sustainable agriculture.
Director-General(DG) – Qu Dongyu

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Headquarters – Rome, Italy

Established on – 16 October 1945

World Metrology Day 2025 – May 20

World Metrology Day (WMD) is annually observed across the globe on 20 May to raise awareness about the
importance of metrology, the science of measurement, and its impact on daily life, science, trade, innovation,
and environmental sustainability.
• The year 2025 marks the 26th observance of WMD.
• Metrology is the science of measurement that forms the foundation of many everyday activities.
Theme:
The theme of WMD 2025 is “Measurements for all times, for all people”, underscores the vital role of
measurements in shaping the past, present, and future across various sectors, including health, safety,
energy, trade, climate change, and more.
Significance:
i.The 2025 edition holds special importance as it marks the 150th anniversary of the Metre Convention,
signed in Paris, France on 20th May 1875, which laid the foundation for the global metric system.
ii.The Metre Convention is an international treaty that established a unified metric system for
measurements of length and weight, aimed at promoting fairness in trade and ensuring consistency in
scientific research, industrial development, and global commerce.
Background:
i.WMD was established in 1999 by the International Committee for Weights and Measures (Comité
international des poids et mesures) (CIPM) during its 21st General Conference on Weights and Measures
(CGPM) to commemorate the Metre Convention.
ii.WMD is jointly organised by Paris (France) based International Organization of Legal Metrology
Organisation (Internationale de Métrologie Légale) (OIML) and Sèvres (France) based International Bureau
of Weights and Measures (Bureau International des Poids et Mesures) (BIPM)
iii.The first WMD was observed on 20 May 2000.
UNESCO Proclamation:
In November 2023, during its 42nd General Conference, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO), through resolution 42 C/Resolution 21, officially proclaimed 20th May as
WMD, with observance beginning in 2024.
• The Republic of Kazakhstan initiated and backed the proposal to officially recognise the
celebration of WMD.
2025 Event:
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Metre Convention, UNESCO in collaboration with the
BIPM, organised a symposium in Paris under the theme, “150 years of the Metre Convention: Science,
Innovation and Global Impact” in Paris (France).
Importance of Metrology:
i.Metrology supports critical sectors such as:
• Health – accurate dosage and medical diagnostics
• Environment – monitoring pollution and climate change
• Trade and Manufacturing – consistency in product measurements
• Technology – innovation in renewable energy, AI (Artificial Intelligence), and
telecommunications.
ii.From Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation and construction safety to food processing and green
hydrogen verification, accurate measurement systems are essential.

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iii.Institutions like the National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA) ensure reliability in
measurements supporting national and global objectives.
Note: In India, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in New Delhi(Delhi) acts as the premier authority for
metrology, responsible for maintaining the precision and traceability of measurements across diverse
industries and sectors.

International Tea Day 2025 – May 21

Every year on May 21, the United Nations (UN)’s International International Tea Day(ITD) is celebrated to
recognise the cultural, economic, and social significance of tea across the world.
• This day offers an opportunity to promote sustainable production and fair trade, whilst
honouring millions of livelihoods dependent on this ancient beverage.
• 21st May 2025 marks the observance of the 6th ITD.
Background:
i.International Tea Day (ITD) was first observed on 15th December 2005 in New Delhi, India, initiated by a
group of tea workers.
ii.Over the years, this grassroots initiative gained momentum and was celebrated annually on December 15
in several tea-producing countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, Kenya,
Malawi, Malaysia, Uganda, India, and Tanzania.
iii.The Government of India(GoI) proposed the idea of a globally recognized International Tea Day during a
meeting of the FAO Intergovernmental Group (IGG) on Tea in October 2015.
iv.Acknowledging tea’s cultural significance and socio-economic value, the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) adopted the proposal and officially declared May 21 as International Tea
Day in December 2019.
v.The first UN-recognized International Tea Day was celebrated on 21st May 2020, marking a shift from
the earlier December observance to a more globally unified celebration
About Tea:
i.Derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, tea is the world’s most consumed drink after water.
ii.As a cash crop, it supports an estimated 13 million people worldwide and contributes to rural
development, poverty reduction, and food security.
Origin:
i.Legend credits Emperor Shen Nung of China (circa 2737 BC) with discovering tea when leaves blew into
his boiling water, creating the first cup of tea.
ii.To break China’s monopoly, the British introduced commercial cultivation in India in 1824, giving rise to
famed regions like West Bengal(Darjeeling), Tamil Nadu,TN(Nilgiri) and Assam.
2025 Event:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquartered in Rome (Italy) hosted a
joint observance of World Bee Day and International Tea Day on 21 May 2025 at the FAO Atrium.
• The event titled “Tea for Better Lives”was inaugurated by FAO Director-General(DG) Mr Qu
Dongyu.
Keyfacts:
• According to the FAO, global tea production reached 6.5 million metric tons(MT) in 2021,
with China accounting for nearly half of that output. India, Kenya, and Sri Lanka followed as
major producers.
• As per the Tea Board of India, India became the world’s second-largest tea exporter in 2024,
surpassing Sri Lanka, with record exports of 255 million kilograms, a 10% rise from 2023.
However, Kenya continued to lead globally, exporting over 500 million kilograms of tea.

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• Also, India is the largest consumer of tea in Volume in the world. India consumes around 30% of
global tea output.
• The top three tea-producing states in India are: Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 2025 – May 21
The United Nations (UN’s) World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, or World
Day for Cultural Diversity, is annually observed on May 21 worldwide to highlight the importance of
cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue, and sustainable development.
• The day of celebration is annually led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), which is based in Paris (France).
Background:
i.In November 2001, UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, recognizing cultural
diversity as the “common heritage of humanity” and highlighting its role in development.
ii.On December 20, 2002, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed Resolution A/RES/57/249,
proclaiming May 21 as the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
iii.The first World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development observance took place on May
21, 2003.
Culture and Sustainable Development:
i.In 2015, the UNGA’s Second Committee adopted resolution A/C.2/70/L.59, formally acknowledging
culture’s critical role in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
ii.On October 20, 2005, UNESCO adopted the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of
Cultural Expressions, aiming to:
• Building sustainable governance systems for culture.
• Ensuring balanced global exchange of cultural goods and services.
• Enhancing mobility for artists and cultural professionals.
• Integrating culture into development frameworks.
• Protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Global Impact and Economic Contributions
i.89% of global conflicts occur in countries with low intercultural dialogue, underscoring the urgency to
prioritize cultural cooperation.
ii.The cultural and creative sector supports 48 million jobs worldwide (6.2% of global employment),
contributing 3.1% to global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
iii.Women hold nearly half (50%) of these jobs, and the sector is the largest employer of youth under 30
years.
MONDIACULT 2022 and the Declaration for Culture:
In September 2022, representatives from 150 nations convened in Mexico City (Mexico) for MONDIACULT
2022, the largest global cultural conference in 40 years. The outcome was the historic Declaration for
Culture, which:
• Declared culture a “global public good”.
• Called for its inclusion as a standalone goal in the post-2030 development agenda.
• Highlighted cultural rights as essential for equitable progress.
Keyfacts:
i.According to UNESCO, 89% of current global conflicts occur in countries with low capacities for
intercultural dialogue.
ii.The cultural and creative sector is a significant engine of global development. This sector accounts for
over 48 million jobs worldwide, representing 6.2% of all employment and contributing 3.1% to the global
Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

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iii.Nearly 50% of these jobs are held by women, and the sector provides substantial employment
opportunities for young people under the age of 30, making it a vital area for youth engagement and gender
equality.
Upcoming Events:
i.MONDIACULT 2025:
The World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development – MONDIACULT 2025 is
scheduled from September 29 to October 1, 2025, in Barcelona, Spain.
ii.20th Anniversary of the 2005 Convention:
The 10th session of the Conference of Parties to the 2005 Convention will be held in Paris (France) from
June 18 to 20, 2025, marking its 20th anniversary. Key agendas include:
• Electing 12 new members to the Intergovernmental Committee.
• Hosting a Civil Society Forum on June 17, 2025, to strengthen collaboration with civil society
stakeholders.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director-General (DG) – Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters – Paris, France
Established – 1945
Member Nations – 194

National Anti-Terrorism Day 2025 – May 21

National Anti-Terrorism Day is annually observed across India on 21 May to mark the death
anniversary of former Prime Minister (PM) Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated in 1991 by a suicide
bomber associated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sriperumbudur, a village near
Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN).
• The day aims to raise awareness among people about the impact of terrorism on human lives and
society, and to promote unity and peace across the nation.
• 21 May 2025 marks the 34th death anniversary of the 6th PM of India, Rajiv Gandhi (1984 –
1989)
Significance:
i.The day educates the youth and the wider public about the dangerous effects of terrorism.
ii.It reaffirms India’s commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms, both domestic and international.
iii.It promotes tolerance, unity, and mutual respect, which are essential to maintaining a peaceful society.
Background:
In 1992, the Government of India (GoI) established 21 May as National Anti-Terrorism Day to honour the
memory of Rajiv Gandhi, with observances coordinated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
About Rajiv Gandhi:
i.Rajiv Gandhi was born on 20 August 1944 in Bombay (now Mumbai, Maharashtra).
ii.He became the youngest Indian Prime Minister (PM) at age 40 in 1984, assuming office after the
assassination of his mother, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
iii.Rajiv Gandhi, widely recognized as the ‘Father of India’s Information Technology (IT) and Telecom
Revolution,’ played a key role in modernizing the country’s telecommunications infrastructure, which laid
the foundation for the booming IT and software industry.
• During his tenure, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) was established in August
1984 to advance cutting-edge telecom technology tailored to India’s needs.
iv.In 1991, GoI awarded him the Bharat Ratna for his contribution to India’s development.

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Legal Framework Against Terrorism:

i.Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA): Empowers agencies to designate
individuals/organizations as terrorists.
ii.National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008: Establishes the NIA for cross-state terror investigations.
iii.Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA): Targets terror financing networks.
Note: On 7th May 2025, Operation Sindoor, a military strike, targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan
and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the Pahalgam attack (in Jammu and Kashmir, J&K) on 22nd
April 2025, which killed 26 civilians.
Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025:
i.GTI 2025 was released by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), a Sydney (Australia)-based think
tank. The report ranks 163 countries on the basis of the impact of terrorism, using various indicators such
as the number of attacks, fatalities, injuries, and property damage. India has been placed at the 14th
rank with a score of 6.41, indicating a moderate but persistent impact of terrorism.
• Burkina Faso (a country in West Africa) has been ranked 1st with a score of 8.581, emerging as
the most impacted country by terrorism in 2025.
• Pakistan ranked 2nd for the first time, recording over 1,000 terrorist attacks in a single year,
with a 45% increase in terror incidents compared to the previous year.
• The Islamic State (IS) has been labelled as the world’s deadliest terrorist group in 2025.
Top 5 Most Affected Countries in GTI 2025 report:

Rank Country Score

1 Burkina Faso 8.581

2 Pakistan 8.374

3 Syria 8.006

4 Mali 7.907

5 Niger 7.776

14 India 6.41

International Day for Biological Diversity 2025 – May 22

The United Nations (UN’s) International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) is observed globally
on May 22 every year to raise awareness about biodiversity conservation and its critical role in sustaining
life on Earth.
• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) oversees the observance of the IDB and acts as the
UN’s key framework for safeguarding global biodiversity.
2025 Theme:
The theme for IDB 2025 is “Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development.”
• It emphasizes aligning global efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
(SDGs) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) first designated 29 December as IDB in 1995 through
resolution A/RES/49/119.

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ii.However, in 2001, the UNGA, through resolution A/RES/55/201, shifted the date of IDB to May 22.
iii.The inaugural IDB was observed on May 22, 2002.
Why 22 May?
i.This date commemorates the adoption of the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at
the Nairobi Conference in 1992.
ii.The CBD was later opened for signing at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED), also known as the Rio Earth Summit, on 5 June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity encompasses the variety of all life forms on Earth, including different plants, animals,
microorganisms, the genetic information they contain, and the ecosystems they form.
i.Biodiversity provides essential services:
• Food Security: Over 80% of the human diet is plant-based, and fish provide 20% of animal
protein to about 3 billion people.
• Health: Approximately 80% of people in rural areas of developing countries rely on traditional
plant-based medicines.
• Ecosystem Services: Biodiversity supports vital ecosystem functions like pollination, water
purification, and climate regulation.
ii.Threats:
• Habitat Destruction: Deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion.
• Pollution: Contamination of air, water, and soil.
• Climate Change: Altering habitats and species distributions.
• Overexploitation: Unsustainable hunting, fishing, and harvesting.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD):
i.The CBD is the first global treaty to address conservation, sustainable use of biological resources,
and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources.
ii.Ratified by 196 nations, it serves as a legal framework for biodiversity governance
iii.The Conference of the Parties (COP), the CBD’s governing body, meets biennially to review progress and
set priorities.
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF):
Adopted in December 2022 at COP15 in Montreal, Canada, the KMGBF aims to:
• Halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
• Achieve a world living in harmony with nature by 2050.
• Implement 23 action targets by 2030, including restoring 20% of degraded ecosystems and
reducing invasive species by 50%.
Focus of IDB 2025 Campaign:
i.Synergies Between SDGs and KMGBF: Highlighting interconnected goals like poverty reduction (SDG 1),
climate action (SDG 13), and life on land/water (SDGs 14–15)
ii.Accelerated Implementation: With five years remaining until the 2030 deadlines, the campaign urges
nations to finalize National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) aligned with KMGBF.
India’s Updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP):
i.India’s NBSAP, updated to reflect KMGBF targets, outlines 23 national biodiversity goals for 2030,
including habitat restoration and species protection.
ii.The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) coordinates the implementation of
the NBSAP, adopting a ‘Whole-of-Government’ and ‘Whole-of-Society’ approach to ensure inclusive
participation.
iii.India plans to invest Rs. 81,664 crore annually from 2025–2030 for biodiversity conservation,
emphasizing community involvement and sustainable practices

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International Day to End Obstetric Fistula 2025 – May 23

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day to End Obstetric Fistula is annually observed across the
globe on 23rd May to raise awareness about obstetric fistula, a preventable and treatable childbirth injury
affecting both mothers and their babies.
• The day aims to encourage action to stop, treat, and end obstetric fistula, and to gather support
for the many women and girls, mainly in poor areas
Theme:
The theme of International Day to End Obstetric Fistula 2025 is “Her Health, Her Right: Shaping a Future
Without Fistula”, emphasises the urgent need to uphold every woman’s sexual and reproductive health
rights and eliminate this preventable condition by 2030.
Background:
i.The International Day to End Obstetric Fistula was established by the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) through resolution A/RES/67/147, adopted on 20 December 2012.
ii.The resolution highlighted the main causes include poverty, malnutrition, limited access to healthcare,
early childbirth, child marriage, violence against girls, and gender inequality, stressing that poverty is the
biggest risk factor.
iii.The first International Day to End Obstetric Fistula was observed on 23rd May 2013.
About Obstetric Fistula:
i.Obstetric Fistula is a severe childbirth-related injury caused by prolonged, obstructed labour without
timely and adequate medical intervention.
ii.It leads to the formation of a hole (fistula) between the birth canal and the bladder and/or rectum,
resulting in chronic incontinence of urine or faeces.
iii.This condition often results in Severe physical and psychological trauma, Social stigma and isolation and
Chronic health issues and infertility.
Prevention and Treatment:
Requires access to skilled birth attendants, emergency obstetric care, and family planning.
Global Initiatives:
i.The New York City (United States of America, USA) based United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)’s
‘Campaign to End Fistula’, operating across 55 countries since 2003, focuses on prevention, treatment, and
social reintegration, and has supported 150,000 surgical repairs.
ii.The London (United Kingdom, UK) based International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
Fistula Surgery Training Initiative trains surgeons in regions affected by obstetric fistula to help close the
treatment gap.
iii.The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to eliminate obstetric fistula by 2030 by improving and
strengthening healthcare systems.
iv.In 2018, the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) passed a resolution aiming to eliminate obstetric
fistula by the year 2030.
Key Facts:
i.In 90% of obstetric fistula cases, the baby does not survive.
ii.Over 50,000 to 100,000 new cases develop globally each year.
iii.In the last 20 years, UNFPA has helped carry out 140,000 surgeries to repair obstetric fistula.
iv.From 2018 to 2023, over 12,000 women and girls were supported with services to help them return to
normal life and reintegrate into society.
v.An estimated 2 million women in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Arab region, and Latin America are living
with untreated obstetric fistula.

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About United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA):

i.The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), established in 1969 and formerly known as the United
Nations Fund for Population Activities, is a UN agency dedicated to improving reproductive and maternal
health worldwide.
ii.In 1987, the agency was renamed the United Nations Population Fund, while retaining the abbreviation
UNFPA.
Executive Director (ED)– Dr. Natalia Kanem
Headquarters– New York, United States of America (USA)

World Turtle Day 2025 – May 23

World Turtle Day is observed globally every year on May 23 to raise awareness about protecting turtles,
tortoises, and their habitats while promoting human action for their survival.
• May 23, 2025, marked the 25th anniversary of World Turtle Day
Theme:
The theme of World Turtle Day is “Dancing Turtles Rock!“, encourages worldwide participation to raise
awareness about the conservation needs of turtles and tortoises.
Background:
i.World Turtle Day was first launched in 2000 by California, United States of America (USA) based American
Tortoise Rescue (ATR), a non-profit organization dedicated to turtle and tortoise conservation.
ii.World Turtle Day has been observed annually on 23rd May since the year 2000.
Note: ATR, founded in 1990 by Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson, began with rescuing two Russian
tortoises named Peggy Sue.
About Turtles and Their Classification:
i.Turtles, including tortoises and terrapins, belong to the Testudines order of reptiles, commonly referred
to as chelonians.
ii.These species are four-legged vertebrates, cold-blooded, and have scaly skin covered by a protective shell.
Habitat:
• Tortoises live exclusively on land.
• Turtles primarily inhabit freshwater or saltwater ecosystems.
Taxonomic Classification:
i.As per the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), the Testudines order is divided into two
suborders:
• Cryptodira – species retract heads straight back into the shell.
• Pleurodira – species fold heads sideways into the shell.
iiThese suborders comprise 13 families, 75 genera, and over 300 species globally.
Ecological Significance:
Turtles play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance through:
• Nutrient cycling in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
• Controlling predator populations, preserving biodiversity.
• Consuming decaying organic matter, aiding in water purification.
• Regulating algae growth, maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems.
• Supporting wildlife by influencing prey-predator dynamics.
India’s Conservation Efforts:
i.On the occasion of World Turtle Day 2025, the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Uttar Pradesh (UP) unveiled
a long-term plan to combat illegal turtle trafficking, restore habitats, and promote scientific conservation.
ii.India hosts 30 freshwater turtle species, with 26 under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

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iii.A Turtle Conservation and Research Centre, with an allocation of Rs. 5 crore, is being developed along a
28.2 km stretch of the River Mala inside PTR, funded by Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management
and Planning Authority (CAMPA) of Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEFCC),
Government of India (GoI).
Note: UP ranks 3rd in turtle diversity in India after Assam and West Bengal (WB), with 15 identified
species. Of these, 13 species are found in PTR’s rivers, lakes, Sharda Sagar Dam, and other water bodies.
Turtle Trafficking in India:
i.According to New Delhi (Delhi) based TRAFFIC India (a global wildlife trade monitoring
network), UP and WB are India’s major turtle trafficking hubs.
ii.Between 2009 and 2019, 111,310 tortoises and freshwater turtles were rescued across 19 states and 2
Union Territories (UTs), averaging over 11,000 rescues annually.
iii.From 2018 to 2023, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) seized 68,538 turtles during nationwide
operations.
iv.In 2025, Rushikulya Beach, located in Odisha, witnessed a record-breaking mass nesting of Olive Ridley
turtles, with over 700,000 turtles arriving for nesting.
• Olive Ridley turtles are listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
About Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB):
i.The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) was initially established in 2007 as the Tiger and Other
Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau, and was later renamed as WCCB in the same year.
ii.It became operational in 2008 and functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change (MoEFCC), Government of India (GoI).
Minister Responsible – Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav, MoEFCC
Headquarters – New Delhi (Delhi)

International Day of the Markhor May 2025 – May 24

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of the Markhor is observed annually across the globe
on 24th May to raise global awareness about the ecological significance and conservation needs of
the markhor (Capra falconeri), a wild goat species found in the mountainous regions of Central and South
Asia including Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
• 24th May 2025 marks the 2nd observance of the International Day of the Markhor.
Note: The Markhor, known for its broad hooves and striking spiral horns, is the world’s largest wild goat
species and has been recognised as the national animal of Pakistan since 1972.
Background:
i.On 2nd May 2024, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/78/278
declaring 24 May as the International Day of the Markhor.
ii.The resolution was proposed by Pakistan and co-sponsored by Afghanistan, China, Hungary, Israel,
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
iii.The resolution invites the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and all Member States, civil
society, and stakeholders to support the observance and promote regional cooperation in markhor
conservation.
iv.The first observance of the Day was held on 24th May 2024.
Significance:
The day highlights the urgent need to protect the species from threats such as habitat loss, poaching, illegal
hunting, and climate change, while promoting sustainable tourism and biodiversity preservation.

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About Markhor:
i.The term Markhor comes from Persian, meaning “snake-eater” or “snake-killer,” and the animal is also
referred to as the screw horn or “screw-horned goat.”
ii.Markhors are herbivorous animals that graze on various grasses during spring and summer, while in the
fall and winter, they feed on leaves, twigs, and shrubs.
Conservation Status:
i.The Markhor is listed as Near Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Red List (2014) of Threatened Species.
ii.It has also been included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora since 1992.
Markhor in Pakistan:
i.Pakistan is home to three subspecies of the Markhor:
• Flare-horned Markhor (C. f. falconeri): Found in northern Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
Gilgit-Baltistan).
• Straight-horned Markhor (C. f. megaceros): Found in western Pakistan (Balochistan, Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa).
• Bukharan Markhor (C. f. heptneri): Found in Chitral (northern Pakistan).
ii.Markhor populations in Pakistan are found in remote, rugged mountains, including Chitral Gol National
Park, Tooshi Game Reserve, Kirthar National Park and Torghar Conservation Area.
Markhor in India:
i.The Markhor is a rare and endangered species found in India, mainly in the Union Territory(UT) of Jammu
& Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh.
ii.The species is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, providing it the highest level
of legal protection in India.
iii.In 2004, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) along with the Wildlife Department of J&K, the Environment and
Ecology Cell, and the Indian Army conducted detailed surveys in the areas where markhors were previously
found.
• The surveys identified only two markhor populations – one in Kazinag and the other in
Pir Panjal, with a total of around 250 individuals.
Key facts:
i.The global population of mature Markhor is approximately 5,700 individuals.
ii.It is known for its distinctive long, spiral-shaped (corkscrew) horns, which can grow up to 63 inches in
length.
iii.Markhor inhabits mountainous terrain at elevations ranging from 600 to 3,600 meters(m).

World Schizophrenia Awareness Day 2025 – May 24

World Schizophrenia Awareness Day, also known as Pinel Day, is observed annually across the globe
on May 24 to raise awareness about schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder affecting millions globally.
• The day aims to fight myths, reduce stigma and discrimination, promote mental health care, and
support people living with schizophrenia.
2025 Theme:
The theme for 2025 World Schizophrenia Awareness Day is “Rethink the Label: Reclaim the Story”.
Note: There is no official theme announced for World Schizophrenia Awareness Day 2025, but the above
theme is widely shared by news sites and mental health organizations.

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Symbol for Schizophrenia:

The silver ribbon is the internationally recognized symbol for schizophrenia awareness. It
represents clarity, strength, and the ongoing global effort to combat stigma and discrimination faced by
individuals living with schizophrenia.
Background:
i.World Schizophrenia Awareness Day was established by the National Schizophrenia Foundation (NSF),
a not-for-profit agency, this day honors Dr. Philippe Pinel (1745–1826), a French physician who pioneered
humane treatment for mental illness.
ii.The date commemorates the day in 1792 when Dr. Pinel began to release psychiatric patients from chains
at the Bicêtre Hospital in Paris(France), advocating for more humane treatment of the mentally ill.
iii.The term schizophrenia (Greek: schizein = splitting, phren = mind) was coined on 24 April 1908 by Swiss
psychiatrist Professor Paul Eugen Bleuler.
Schizophrenia:
Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe mental disorder affecting thought processes, emotions, behavior, and
reality perception. Key facts include:
i.Prevalence: Impacts around 24 million people globally (1 in 300 individuals or 0.32%). Among adults,
the rate rises to 1 in 222 (0.45%).
• Schizophrenia is a major public health concern in India, currently affecting around 3.5 million
people. Studies report a lifetime prevalence of 1.41% and a current prevalence of 0.42%, or 3 in
every 1,000 individuals.
ii.Onset: Typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood (ages 15–35), with earlier onset in men.
Men are twice as likely to develop it as women.
iii.Mortality: Patients face 2–3 times higher risk of early death, often due to cardiovascular or metabolic
diseases linked to poor healthcare access.
Symptoms
i.Psychotic Symptoms:
• Hallucinations: Sensing unreal stimuli (e.g., hearing voices).
• Delusions: Fixed false beliefs (e.g., persecution fears).
• Disorganized speech or behavior: Incoherent communication or unpredictable actions.
ii.Negative Symptoms: Loss of motivation, diminished emotional expression, social withdrawal, and
difficulty in daily functioning.
iii.Cognitive Symptoms: Problems with attention, concentration, and memory.
Treatment:
While no cure exists, effective strategies include:
i.Medication: Antipsychotics (e.g., clozapine) reduce psychotic symptoms in 70–80% of cases.
ii.Therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps manage symptoms and improve social functioning.
iii.Psychosocial Support: Rehabilitation programs, supported employment, and family interventions
enhance recovery.
Global Challenges:
i.Over two-thirds of schizophrenia patients lack access to mental health care, worsening in low-income
regions.
ii.Around 64.5% face discrimination, hindering social integration and healthcare access.
World Health Organisation (WHO) Initiatives:
i.Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan (2013–2030): Adopted by the 66th World Health Assembly,
this plan outlines steps to provide proper services for people with mental disorders, including
schizophrenia.

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ii.Special Initiative for Mental Health: Aims to provide 100 million more people access to affordable care
by 2030.
iii.Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP): Deploys evidence-based tools in 100+ countries,
prioritizing psychosis management in resource-poor settings.

Commonwealth Day 2025 in India – May 24

Commonwealth Day 2025 is observed in India annually on May 24, commemorating the birthday of Queen
Victoria, born on this day in 1819.
However, Commonwealth Day was globally observed on the second Monday of March(March 10, 2025 )
in accordance with the tradition followed by most of the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth of
Nations (CoN).
• This unique observance reflects India’s historical association with the British Empire during the
colonial period.
• The day promotes shared values, historical ties, cultural exchange, and international cooperation
among member states.
Note: The theme of Commonwealth Day 2025 is “Together We Thrive”.
Background:
i.The idea of the day was championed by Clementina Trenholme, and the first observance took place in
Ontario, Canada in 1898, aligned with Queen Victoria’s birthday (May 24).
ii.By the early 20th century, Empire Day was celebrated across parts of the British Empire, including the
Cape Colony and Union of South Africa.
• In 1904, Reginald Brabazon, 12th Earl of Meath, formally introduced Empire Day in the United
Kingdom(UK) to promote imperial identity and responsibility among youth.
iii.It was first celebrated as “Empire Day” in 1904, the event honored the British Empire and Queen
Victoria’s legacy.
iv.Following Queen Victoria’s death on 22 January 1901, her birthday (May 24) was commemorated as
Empire Day from 1902, becoming an official annual event in 1916.
v.It was renamed “Commonwealth Day” in 1958 by former UK Prime Minister(PM) Harold Macmillan to
reflect the transition from empire to a voluntary association
vi.In 1977, London, United Kingdom(UK) based the Commonwealth Secretariat standardized the
observance to the second Monday of March for most nations. India retained May 24 to preserve historical
continuity.
About the Commonwealth of Nations:
Secretary-General -Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey(Ghana)
Headquarters – London, United Kingdom (UK)
Established – 1931
Member Countries – 56

World Football Day 2025 – May 25

The United Nations (UN’s) World Football Day(WFD) is annually observed across the globe on May 25 to
acknowledge the global reach of football and its impact across various spheres, including commerce, peace
and diplomacy.
• The day encourages countries to use football to promote peace, health, unity, and development,
and empower women and girls.
• The year 2025 marks the 2nd anniversary of the UN World Football Day.

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Background:
i.On 7th May 2024, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/78/281,
proclaiming the 25th May of every year as WFD.
• The resolution was initiated by Bahrain, Libya, and Tajikistan and was subsequently adopted by
170 nations at the UNGA.
ii.The resolution recognizes “the fundamental role” of Federation Internationale de Football Association
(FIFA) and regional/national soccer federations in promoting football.
iii.The first edition of the World Football Day was observed on May 25, 2024.
Note: May 25, 2024, commemorates the 100th anniversary of the 1924 Olympic Football Tournament held
in Paris(France), the first global football event with participation from all regions.
Significance of 25 May:
On 25th May 1928, 17th FIFA congress, held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, decided to create the FIFA
World Cup.
Objectives of World Football Day:
i.To celebrate football’s universal appeal and power
ii.To provide a platform for shared experiences; and
iii.To drive progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).
2025 Event:
The UN hosted a commemorative event for World Football Day at the General Assembly Hall in New York,
theUnited States of America (USA) on May 22, 2025.
Football Week 2025:
FIFA has launched Football Week 2025 from May 21 to May 25, 2025, a week of festivities to celebrate
football’s unique ability to connect people across places, cultures and languages.
• The inaugural football week 2025 theme is “Together, We Are Stronger”.
• The individuals, teams and organizations around the world are invited to play, watch and
celebrate football, highlighting the strength which exists in unity.
About Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA):
President – Gianni Infantino
Headquarters – Zurich, Switzerland
Founded – 1904

International Missing Children’s Day 2025 – May 25

International Missing Children’s Day (IMCD) is annually observed across the globe on May 25 to raise
awareness about the issue of missing children, promote child safety, and highlight efforts to protect children
from abduction, trafficking, and exploitation.
• The day is symbolized by the “forget-me-not flower”, representing hope for reuniting missing
children with their families.
Background:
i.Former President of the United States of America (USA) Ronald Reagan officially designated 25 May
1983, as the first National Missing Children’s Day to commemorate the disappearance of Etan Patz, a six-
year-old boy who vanished from a street corner in New York City (USA) on May 25, 1979.
ii.IMCD began in 1998 through a partnership between the International Centre for Missing & Exploited
Children (ICMEC) and the USA-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
iii.In 2001, May 25th was officially recognized as the first IMCD, achieving worldwide recognition through
the collaborative efforts of ICMEC, the European Commission, and Missing Children Europe.

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Missing Children Statistics in India (2020-2024):

i.According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA),
nearly 3 lakh children were reported missing during this period.
• 3 of every 4 missing children in India are girls.
ii.About 36,000 children remain untraced, indicating enforcement challenges.
iii.State-wise ranking:
• Among the states, Madhya Pradesh (MP) recorded the highest number with 58,665 missing
children, out of which 45,585 have been recovered, leaving 3,955 still missing.
• Bihar and Odisha follow next in terms of the number of missing children.
Initiatives in India:
i.Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs): AHTUs are being reinforced across all districts to combat
trafficking more effectively.
ii.Crime Multi Agency Centre (Cri-MAC): Development of a coordinated, online data-sharing platform
among law enforcement agencies to facilitate real-time communication and information exchange.
iii.Childline 1098 and Railway Childlines: The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD)
operates a 24×7 helpline for children in distress and transit point protection through Railway Childlines.
iv.TrackChild Portal: The MoWCD initiated the Track Child Portal to help locate missing and found
children across all States and Union Territories.
• It is implemented with support from the MHA, Ministry of Railways (MoR), State
Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations, Child Welfare Committees (CWC), Juvenile
Justice Boards, and the National Legal Services Authority (NLSA).
v.The Khoya-Paya portal: Developed by the MoWCD and the Department of Electronics and Information
Technology (DeitY), under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), is a citizen-driven
website that allows any Indian citizen to register and report information about missing and found children.
vi.Mission Vatsalya Scheme:
Mission Vatsalya Scheme, is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme(CSS) introduced by the MoWCD, carried out by
the States and Union Territories (UTs).
• Its main goal is to provide support to Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP) and
Children in Conflict with Law (CCL).
vii.Standard Operating Protocol (SOP): MWCD has issued SOPs for police, child welfare committees, and
juvenile justice boards to streamline rescue and rehabilitation.
About International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC):
Secretary General – Stephen Kavanagh
Headquarters – Virginia, United States of America (USA)
Established – 1998

World Thyroid Day 2025 – May 25

World Thyroid Day (WTD) is observed annually across the globe on May 25 to raise global awareness about
thyroid disorders and emphasize early detection and treatment.
• This day is part of International Thyroid Awareness Week (ITAW), held from May 25 to 31,
and is spearheaded by the Thyroid Federation International (TFI), a global non-profit
organization
Awareness Symbol: Blue Paisley Ribbon
The blue paisley ribbon is the symbol for thyroid awareness. The paisley design was chosen because it
resembles a cross-section of thyroid follicles, representing the gland’s structure.

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Background:
i.The European Thyroid Association (ETA) established World Thyroid Day (WTD) in 2008, choosing May 25
to coincide with the founding date of the ETA in 1965.
ii.In 2010, the American Thyroid Association (ATA), the Latin American Thyroid Society (LATS), and the
Asia & Oceania Thyroid Association (AOTA) officially endorsed WTD during the International Thyroid
Congress held in Paris, France.
iii.The first WTD was observed by ATA, ETA, AOTA, and LATS on May 25, 2011.
International Thyroid Awareness Week (ITAW):
i.International Thyroid Awareness Week is observed from May 25 to May 31 each year.
ii.ITAW was conceptualized by Thyroid Federation International (TFI) in collaboration with Merck-Serono
in 2008 and officially announced during a press conference at the 11th European Congress of Endocrinology
in Istanbul in April 2009.
iii.The first ITAW was observed from May 25 to May 31, 2009.
iv.The campaign is endorsed by organizations such as ETA, ATA, LATS, AOTA, the Chinese Society of
Endocrinology (CSE), and the Chinese Society of Nuclear Medicine (CSNM).
What is Thyroid?
i.The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of the neck, just below the voice box
(larynx).
ii.It is a vital part of the endocrine system, which regulates various hormones in the human body.
iii.The thyroid gland secretes hormones such as Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3), which regulate
several vital bodily functions, including metabolism, energy production, reproductive functions, body
temperature and growth.
Common Thyroid Disorders:
i.Hypothyroidism: Occurs when the thyroid gland produces less than the required amount of hormones,
leading to symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, and depression. In India, congenital hypothyroidism occurs in
approximately 1 in 2,640 neonates.
ii.Hyperthyroidism: Occurs when the gland produces more than the normal level of hormones, resulting in
weight loss, rapid heartbeat, and nervousness.
iii.Goitre: An enlargement of the thyroid gland, often due to iodine deficiency. 7.5% of Indian girls with
goitre have autoimmune thyroiditis
iv.Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: An autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland,
leading to hypothyroidism.
v.Thyroid Cancer: Involves malignant growth in the thyroid gland. Accounts for 1–2% of global cancers;
early detection ensures 95% survival rate.
Prevention and Management Strategies:
i.Diet: Maintain a balanced diet rich in iodine (salt, seafood), selenium (nuts), and iron (leafy greens).
ii.Lifestyle: Avoid smoking, limit alcohol, manage stress, and maintain vitamin D levels.
iii.Screening: Regular thyroid function tests (TSH, T3, T4) for high-risk groups (pregnant women, seniors).
Global Data on Thyroid Disorders:
i.Globally, 200 million people suffer from thyroid diseases, including 42 million in India.
ii.Women are 5–8 times more vulnerable due to hormonal fluctuations.
iii.Government of India (GoI) led salt iodization reduced congenital hypothyroidism in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
However, metro cities like Mumbai(Maharashtra) report rising cases due to lifestyle factors.
Upcoming Event:
i.The 17th International Thyroid Congress (ITC 2025) is scheduled to take place from 18th to 22nd June
2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
ii.The event is organized by LATS and co-sponsored by ATA, ETA, and AOTA.

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Note: ITC is a global held every five years, rotating among the co-sponsoring societies.
About Thyroid Federation International (TFI):
Thyroid Federation International (TFI) is a global non-profit network comprising over 30 patient
organizations from across all continents, dedicated to supporting and advocating for thyroid patients
worldwide.
President – Ashok Bhaseen
Headquarters – Ontario, Canada
Founded – 1995

World Hunger Day 2025 – May 28

World Hunger Day is annually observed across the globe on May 28 to raise awareness about the millions
of people lacking access to proper food.
• The day seeks to bring together the global community to raise the voices of those affected by
hunger and promote collective action towards eliminating world hunger.
2025 Theme:
The theme for World Hunger Day 2025 is “Sowing Resilience”, highlights the need to strengthen
communities against climate-driven disruptions and systemic inequalities.
Background:
i.World Hunger Day was established in 2011 by the New York (United States of America, USA)-based non-
profit organization, The Hunger Project (THP), to highlight the global food crisis.
ii.The first World Hunger Day was observed on May 28, 2011.
Climate Change and Food Insecurity:
i.Climate change intensifies droughts, floods, and heatwaves, reducing crop yields and spiking food prices.
For instance:
ii.In Africa, agricultural productivity declined by 34% due to climate change, with 95% of farmers relying
on rain-fed agriculture.
iii.South Sudan faced 4 consecutive years of floods, submerging farmland, while Madagascar suffered its
worst drought since 1981.
iv.Climate-resilient agriculture, such as drought-resistant crops and agroforestry, could boost yields
by 30% in vulnerable regions, per the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2025
i.The GRFC 2025, published by the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC) in collaboration with the
Food Security Information Network (FSIN), reveals alarming statistics:
ii.More than 295.3 million people across 53 countries experienced acute hunger in 2024, an increase of
13.7 million compared to 2023.
iii.Global acute malnutrition cases in children aged 6–59 months rose from 26.9 million (2023) to 30.4
million (2024), with severe crises in Sudan and Gaza.
iv.139.8 million people across 20 countries, including Nigeria, Sudan, and Myanmar, face starvation due to
conflict and displacement.
Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024:
i.The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024, released by Ireland-based Concern Worldwide and Germany-based
Welt Hunger Hilfe.
• Although the world generates enough food to feed all 8 billion people, around 733 million,
equivalent to 1 in every 11 individuals, still face hunger each day.
ii.The world’s GHI score stands at 18.3, categorized as “moderate”, but 42 countries face “alarming” hunger
levels.

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• Hunger is particularly severe in Africa, where one in five people struggles with food insecurity on
a daily basis.
• The 2024 Global Hunger Index classifies hunger levels as “Alarming” in six countries: Burundi,
Chad, Madagascar, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen.
• Each year, hunger-related causes claim the lives of 9 million people, many of them children under
the age of five.
iii.India ranks 105th out of 127 countries (up from 111th in 2023), falling under the “serious” category
with a GHI score of 27.3.
Impact of USAID Funding Withdrawal:
i.The abrupt end of Washington, D.C., (USA) based United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) funding in 2025 has severely impacted humanitarian efforts, risking severe malnutrition for 14
million children in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, and Haiti.
ii.This cut disrupts food aid programs, exacerbating mortality rates in conflict zones
About The Hunger Project (THP):
President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Rowlands Kaotcha
Headquarters – New York, the United States of America (USA)
Founded – 1977

International Day of Action for Women’s Health 2025 – May 28

The International Day of Action for Women’s Health, also referred to as International Women’s Health
Day, is observed worldwide each year on May 28.
• This day focuses on raising awareness about women’s health issues and emphasizes the urgent
need to secure women’s right to comprehensive health care and well-being.
Theme:
i.The theme of the International Day of Action for Women’s Health 2025 is “In Solidarity We Resist: Our
Fight, Our Right!”
ii.The 2025 theme calls for collective action against anti-rights movements that are attempting to roll back
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights(SRHR) globally.
Background:
i.The International Day of Action for Women’s Health was established in 1987 during the International
Women’s Health Meeting in Costa Rica, spearheaded by the Latin American and Caribbean Women’s Health
Network (LACWHN).
ii.The initiative aimed to address systemic inequities in women’s healthcare, particularly focusing on SRHR.
iii.The Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) later joined as a global coordinator,
expanding the campaign’s reach beyond Latin America.
What is SRHR?
SRHR encompasses rights and services related to sexual health, sexual rights, reproductive health, and
reproductive rights. It ensures that everyone, including children and adolescents, has access to these rights
as part of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
• SRHR promotes not only the absence of disease but also physical, emotional, mental, and social
well-being.
Key Components :
• Access to Information: Individuals have the right to receive accurate sexuality-related
information.
• Sexuality Education: Essential, age-appropriate education on sexual health.
• Choice of Partner: Freedom to choose one’s partner without coercion.
• Sexual Autonomy: Right to decide whether to engage in sexual activity.

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• Contraception: Access to modern contraceptive methods.

• Maternity Care: Availability of quality maternity care services.
• Safe Abortion: Access to safe and effective abortion and post-abortion care.
Global Initiatives:
The World Health Organization (WHO), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA), based in New York, United States of America(USA), jointly established the Sexual
and Reproductive Health and Rights and Universal Health Coverage Learning by Sharing Portal (SRHR-UHC
LSP).
• This initiative promotes knowledge-sharing to strengthen SRHR integration into universal health
coverage.
About Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR):
Executive Director(ED) – Debanjana Choudhuri
Headquarters – Manila,Philippines
Established – 1984

World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025 – May 28

World Menstrual Hygiene(MH) Day or Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) is annually observed across the
globe on 28th May to raise awareness about menstrual health and equity, addressing the challenges of
period poverty and stigma.
• The day promotes access to menstrual products, safe hygiene facilities, and stigma-free
environments to ensure menstruators can manage periods with dignity.
Theme:
The theme for World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025 is “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld”.
• The theme called for collective action to ensure that menstruation does not restrict access to
education, health, or opportunities.
Background:
i.In May 2013, German based Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) WASH United initiated a 28-day
social media campaign called “May #MENSTRAVAGANZA” on platforms like Twitter to raise awareness
about menstruation and the importance of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) as a key part of Water,
Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs.
ii.The first MH day was observed on 28th May 2014.
Why May 28?
The date 28th May (28/5) symbolises the average 28-day menstrual cycle with 5 days of bleeding.
Initiatives:
i.Globally, Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) Funding Tracker by MH Day and WASH United tracks
investments to enhance transparency in menstrual health programs.
ii.In Malawi, reusable sanitary pad programs have reduced school absenteeism and supported local
businesses.
iii.The Period Purse, founded in 2017 in Toronto (Canada), works to ensure sustainable access to
menstrual products for all, regardless of financial status.
Keyfacts:
i.Approximately 39% of schools worldwide provide menstrual health education. This figure increases in
secondary schools, with 84% in Central and Southern Asia offering such education, compared to 34% in
primary schools.
ii.Only 31% of schools globally have bins for menstrual waste in girls’ toilets. In Least Developed Countries,
this drops to 17%, and in sub-Saharan Africa, it is as low as 11%

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International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 2025 – May 29

The International Day of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers is observed globally every year on May
29 to honor the professionalism, dedication, and courage of personnel serving in UN peacekeeping
operations and to commemorate those who lost their lives in the cause of peace.
• May 29, 2025, marks the 77th anniversary of the UN Peacekeeping mission, which began in
1948 with the deployment of military observers to the Middle East under the United Nations
Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).
2025 Theme:
The theme for 2025, “The Future of Peacekeeping,” emphasizes the need for adaptive strategies to
address contemporary challenges in peacekeeping missions.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/57/129 in 2002, proclaiming
May 29 as the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
ii.The first UN peacekeeping mission, UNTSO, commenced operations in Palestine on May 29, 1948.
iii.The inaugural International Day of UN Peacekeepers was observed on May 29, 2003.
UN Peacekeeping Missions: An Overview
i.Since 1948, over 2 million uniformed and civilian personnel have served in 71 UN peacekeeping missions
worldwide.
ii.Currently, more than 76,000 peacekeepers from over 120 countries are deployed in 11 active missions.
iii.India is the 4th largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping, with over 5,300
military and police personnel deployed in missions such as those in Abyei and the Central African Republic.
iv.The UN Peacekeeping budget has witnessed a substantial decline, dropping from USD 8.3 billion in 2015–
2016 to USD 5.59 billion in 2024–2025, amidst ongoing calls for further budget reductions.
Note: Since 1948, over 4,430 militaries, police, and civilian personnel have lost their lives in UN
peacekeeping missions due to violence, accidents, and disease.In 2024 alone, 26 peacekeepers died,
including five in hostile incidents.
Global Campaign: “Peace Begins With Me”
i.Launched in 2023 to mark the 75th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping, the “Peace Begins With Me” campaign
recognizes the service and sacrifice of UN peacekeepers and the resilience of the communities they serve.
ii.The campaign has received accolades, including a Gold Davey Award for ‘Social Campaigns and Series-
Public Service and Activism’ and a Platinum Muse Creative Award for ‘Social Media-Community.’
UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025:
i.The UN Peacekeeping Ministerial, held from May 13 to 14, 2025, in Berlin, Germany, functioned as a high-
level political forum to deliberate on the future of UN peacekeeping operations.
ii.74 UN member states made concrete pledges to address capability gaps, including military/police units,
training, and technology
iii.The co-chairs of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 process included Bangladesh, Canada, Ethiopia,
Ghana, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Uruguay, United
Kingdom, United States, and the United Nations Secretariat.
2025 Events:
i.On May 29, 2025, formal ceremonies were held at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States of
America (USA) to commemorate the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
ii.UN Secretary-General António Guterres laid a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial to honour the
memory of over 4,400 peacekeepers who have lost their lives in service since 1948.
• He also presented the Dag Hammarskjöld Medals posthumously to 57 militaries, police, and
civilian peacekeepers who died in 2024, and the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.

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Dag Hammarskjöld Medal

i.The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal was established in 1997 by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
through Resolution S/RES/1121(1997), marking the 50th anniversary of UN peacekeeping.
ii.This posthumous award serves as a solemn tribute to peacekeepers who lost their lives while serving
under the operational control and authority of the United Nations in peacekeeping missions.
iii.In 2025, the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal was awarded posthumously to the 57 military, police, and civilian
personnel who died in 2024.
iv.Two Indian peacekeepers, who lost their lives in 2024 while serving under the UN flag, were honoured
with the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal.
• Brigadier General Amitabh Jha, who served as the Deputy Force Commander (DFC) of the
United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Golan, Syria.
• Havildar Sanjay Singh, who was deployed with the United Nations Organization Stabilization
Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
Other Awards:
i.Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme from Ghana received the 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of
the Year Award.
• This award, established in 2016, recognises outstanding efforts in promoting the principles of
United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.
iii.Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone was named 2025 UN Woman Police Officer of the Year,
acknowledging her exemplary service and leadership in UN peace operations.

World Digestive Health Day 2025 – May 29

World Digestive Health Day (WDHD) is observed annually on 29 May to raise global awareness about
digestive health and promote preventive measures against gastrointestinal disorders.
• Initiated by the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO), this day serves as a platform to
educate individuals about the significance of maintaining a healthy digestive system.
Theme:
i.The theme for WDHD 2025 is “Your Digestive Health: Nourish to Flourish”.
ii.This theme underscores the vital role of proper nutrition, hydration, and mindful eating habits in
supporting a healthy digestive system. By focusing on nourishment, the campaign aims to encourage
individuals to adopt dietary practices that promote gut health and overall well-being.
Background:
i.WDHD was established to commemorate the 45th anniversary of WGO in 2003.
• The WGO was founded on 29 May 1958, on the last day of the 1st World Congress of
Gastroenterology in Washington, the United States of America (USA).
ii.The 1st ever WDHD was observed on 29 May 2004.
What is Gastroenterology?
i.Gastroenterology is the study of the normal function and diseases of the esophagus, stomach, small
intestine, colon and rectum, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and liver.
ii.It involves a detailed understanding of the normal action (physiology) of the gastrointestinal organs
including the movement of material through the stomach and intestine (motility), the digestion and
absorption of nutrients into the body, removal of waste from the system, and the function of the liver as a
digestive organ.
iii.It includes common and important conditions such as colon polyps and cancer, hepatitis,
gastroesophageal reflux (heartburn), peptic ulcer disease, colitis, gallbladder and biliary tract disease,
nutritional problems, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and pancreatitis.

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Global Digestive Disease Burden:

• 40% of the global population suffers from functional Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders (WHO),
according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common cancer worldwide.
• India-specific: 10–15% prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS); gastric cancer tops in
Northeastern states.
About World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO):
The WGO was constituted as “Organisation Mondiale de Gastro-entérologie” (OMGE), and the organisation
was officially renamed WGO in May 2007.
President– Professor Geoffrey Metz (Australia)
Headquarters- Wisconsin, the United States of America(USA)
Established – 1958

International Everest Day 2025 – May 29

International Everest Day is annually observed across the globe on 29th May to commemorate the first-
ever successful summit of Mount (Mt) Everest in 1953 by mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand
and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal.
• The day honours their historic achievement and raises awareness about mountain conservation
and the challenges faced by mountaineering communities.
• 29 May 2025 marks the 72nd anniversary of the first ascent of Mount Everest.
Background:
The Government of Nepal officially declared 29th May as International Everest Day in 2008, following Sir
Edmund Hillary’s death.
Significance:
i.Celebrates the legacy of climbers and the Sherpa community, whose expertise enables high-altitude
expeditions.
ii.Highlights Nepal’s mountain heritage and drives tourism, contributing significantly to its economy.
iii.Raises global awareness about environmental threats to the Himalayas, including glacial retreat, waste
management crises, and climate change-induced Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).
About Mt Everest:
i.World’s Highest Peak: Mount Everest, located in the Himalayas on the Nepal-Tibet border, is the highest
mountain on Earth, with an updated official height of 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet) as per a 2020 Nepal-
China joint survey.
ii.It was named in 1865 by the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) of Britain after Sir George Everest, the
former Surveyor General of India.
iii.Everest, known as “Sagarmatha“ in Nepali, meaning “Goddess of the Sky” and “Chomolungma“ in
Tibetan, meaning “Mother Goddess of the World”, is not only a symbol of human achievement and
exploration but also holds religious and cultural significance for the people of the Himalayas.
About the 1st Mt Everest Summit:
i.On May 29, 1953, Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa from Nepal, and Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand became
the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest as part of the 9th British expedition led by British Army
officer Sir John Hunt.
ii.The expedition was very large, with about 350 porters, 20 Sherpas, and a lot of supplies to help just 10
climbers try to reach the summit.
iii.In 1959, the Government of India (GoI) honoured Tenzing Norgay with the Padma Bhushan award in the
field of Sports for his achievement in mountaineering.

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2025 Events:
i.Everest Summiteers Summit:
The Everest Summiteers Summit 2025 was held in Kathmandu(Nepal), bringing together over 175 national
and international Everest climbers.
• The summit, themed “Honoring the Legends, Inspiring the Future”, featured seminars on
modern climbing challenges, women’s participation in mountaineering, advancements in climbing
technology, and climate change.
• During the summit, Nepal’s Badri Pandey, Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Civil Aviation,
honoured more than 100 mountaineers, including 10 Indian climbers, at the Everest Summiteers
Summit.
ii.Everest Marathon:
2025 Everest Marathon, an international high-altitude adventure sports event, is held annually on May 29
from the Mt. Everest Base Camp, traversing the Sherpa trails of the Khumbu Valley.
• The 2025 Everest Marathon, celebrating its 20th edition, featured multiple race categories
including the 70 kilometre (km) Extreme Ultra, the 42.195 km Full Marathon, and the 21 km Half
Marathon, attracting participants from around the world.
Recent Mt Everest Records:
i.On May 27, 2025, famed Nepalese Sherpa guide Kami Rita scaled Mount Everest for the 31st time, setting
a new world record for the most successful ascents of the 8,849-meter peak.
ii.In the spring of 2024, Nepali mountaineer and photojournalist Purnima Shrestha became the first person
to summit Mount Everest three times in a single climbing season.
• Between 1994 and 2025, he also summited other major peaks: K2 (once), Mt Lhotse (once),
Manaslu (three times) and Cho Oyu (eight times).
iii.Kenton Cool, a British mountaineer, achieved his 19th ascent of Everest on May 18, 2025, breaking his
own record for the most climbs by a non-Sherpa.
iv.Kaamya Karthikeyan, an Indian climber from Mumbai, Maharashtra, became the youngest Indian
mountaineer and the second youngest girl in the world to summit Mount Everest from the Nepal side at the
age of 16.
• In 2024, she became the youngest female in the world to complete the Seven Summits challenge.
Earlier, in 2021, she was honoured with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, the highest
civilian award for Indian citizens under 18 years of age.

International Day of Potato 2025 – May 30

The United Nations (UN’s) International Day of Potato is observed annually across the globe on May 30 to
highlight the potato’s (Solanum tuberosum (L.)) crucial role as a global food resource.
It emphasizes its nutritional, economic, environmental, and cultural value, particularly its
contribution to income generation for rural families and producers.
May 30, 2025, marks the 2nd observance of International Day of Potato, significantly coinciding
with the 80th anniversary year of the Rome (Italy) based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
the UN agency that facilitates the annual event.
2025 Theme:
The theme for the 2025 International Day of Potato, “Shaping history, feeding the future“, acknowledges
the potato’s deep historical and cultural significance and its evolving role in today’s global agrifood systems.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/78/123 on December
8, 2023, officially designating May 30 of every year as the International Day of Potato.

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ii.The proposal for this observance was championed and submitted to the UNGA by Peru, the potato’s
ancestral home.
Peru’s proposal stemmed from a Resolution adopted by the FAO Conference in July 2023.
iii.The 1st ever International Day of Potato was observed on May 30, 2024.

Significance:
i.Building on Legacy: It provides an opportunity to expand upon the momentum and awareness generated
by the 2008 International Year of the Potato.
ii.Combating Global Challenges: It spotlights the potato’s significant contribution to fighting hunger and
poverty worldwide and addresses environmental threats impacting agrifood systems.
About Potato:
i.Origin: The potato originated in the Andes region of South America and was introduced to Europe in the
16th century, eventually spreading across the globe.
It played a vital role in sustaining the Inca civilization and is honoured as the “flower of ancient
Indian civilization”.
ii.Versatility: Potatoes can thrive under a wide range of environmental conditions, making them highly
suitable for cultivation in regions with limited natural resources.
iii.Global Staple: Approximately two-thirds (2/3) of the world’s population consumes potatoes as a staple
food. Nearly 50% of global potato production is used specifically as a household staple or vegetable.
Globally, potatoes are the third most consumed crop, coming after rice and wheat.
iv.Resilience: The potato is known for its resistance to drought, cold, and barren land, giving it wide
adaptability to challenging growing conditions.
v.Nutritional Value: Potatoes are naturally very low in fat (only 0.1% to 1.1%), low in calories, and high in
dietary fibre.
Key Facts:
i.Potato consumption in China, India, and Bangladesh collectively accounts for over 40% of the world’s total.
ii.By 2030, global potato production is expected to reach 750 million tons(Mt), a 112% increase. Asia,
Africa, and Latin America are projected to produce over 440 million tons, accounting for about 59% of the
global output.
2025 Events:
i.To mark the International Day of Potato 2025 on May 30, FAO and the International Potato Center
(CIP) (headquartered in Lima, Peru) will co-host a hybrid event entitled “Shaping history, feeding the
future” at Rome (Italy).
ii.A five-day exhibition will be held at the FAO headquarters from May 26 to 30, 2025, showcasing the
history of the potato, books from the FAO David Lubin Memorial Library, and various potato plants,
varieties, and products.
About Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):
Director-General (DG) – Qu Dongyu
Headquarters – Rome, Italy
Established – 1945

World Vape Day 2025 – May 30

World Vape Day is annually observed across the globe on 30th May to promote harm reduction strategies
for adult smokers, highlighting the role of safer nicotine alternatives like e-cigarettes, oral nicotine pouches,
and heated tobacco products in reducing smoking-related harm, ahead of the World No Tobacco Day (31st
May) led by the World Health Organization (WHO).

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May 30, 2025, marks the 20th anniversary of modern vaping, emphasizing its significant role in
tobacco harm reduction.
Theme:
The theme for World Vape Day 2025 is “20 years of Facts – Vaping Works!” marking two decades of
vaping as a harm reduction tool.
What is Vaping?
i.Vaping involves using an Electronic Cigarette (E-Cigarette), a battery-operated device that turns liquid
nicotine into vapor.
ii.When a user inhales, an atomizer heats the liquid, often containing ethylene glycol, into a mist that mimics
smoking without the harmful smoke of cigarettes
Background:
i.World Vape Day was initiated by the United States of America(USA) based World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA),
a non-profit organization that champions the rights of vapers and promotes the responsible regulation of
vaping products.
ii.It began as a grassroots movement to reduce smoking-related diseases, strategically observed before
World No Tobacco Day.
About e-cigarettes:
Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik invented electronic-cigarettes(e-cigarettes) in 2003 in China in 2003 and
gained popularity in Europe and the USA by 2005.
The different types of e-cigarettes include vape pens, vaporizers, e-pens, e-pipes, e-hookahs, and e-
cigars. These devices are collectively classified as Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)
and Electronic Non-Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENNDS).
Key facts:
i.According to the United Kingdom (UK) based Public Health England (PHE), vaping is 95% less harmful
than smoking.
ii.The Cochrane Systematic Review confirms that nicotine-containing e-cigarettes outperform traditional
Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRTs) in helping smokers quit, backed by high-certainty evidence.
iii.Countries adopting vaping, such as the United Kingdom (UK), New Zealand, Sweden, Japan, and the
United States of America (USA), have seen sharp declines in smoking rates.
2025 Event:
The USA based World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) hosts live streaming events on 30th May 2025 with global
experts and regional partners, including South Africa, Brazil, and Kenya, to discuss vaping advocacy.

APPS & WEB PORTAL

HP CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launches E-Kalyan portal of ESOMSA
In April 2025, Himachal Pradesh(HP) Chief Minister(CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the E-Kalyan
Portal, developed by the Department for Empowerment of Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes,
Minorities, and Specially Abled (ESOMSA). This digital initiative aims to simplify the application process for
various social security pension schemes in the state.
• The launch of the E-Kalyan Portal reflects theHP government’s commitment to enhancing
transparency and efficiency in delivering social welfare schemes
i.The portal is linked with Him Bhoomi, Him Parivar, Aadhaar, and Public Distribution System (PDS) ration
card databases, ensuring seamless verification and reducing manual paperwork.
ii.Eligible applicants can apply online directly or through Lokmitra Kendras by
visiting https://himparivar.hp.gov.in/ekalyan.

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iii.Applicants receive updates regarding application errors, verification, and approvals digitally, enabling
them to track their applications from home.

Karnataka-based Startup Launches AI-based Agriculture App, SBOF Agrosmart

In April 2025, Belagavi (Karnataka)-based SBOF Agrosmart Private Limited officially launched India’s first
AI-powered all-in-one agriculture app, SBOF Agrosmart aimed at transforming farming practices through
the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and precision farming tools in the
presence of the Minister of Public Works of Karnataka, Satish Jarkiholi in Belagavi, Karnataka.
• The application, launched with an aim to transform the farming landscape by offering
comprehensive support to farmers.
i.Farmers across India face uncertainties like climate change, market price fluctuations, pest and disease
outbreaks, lack of timely information, low-quality inputs, and difficulty accessing government schemes and
modern tools.
ii.SBOF Agrosmart has bridged the gap through a smart, digital-first approach that delivers real-time,
region-specific, and data-driven agricultural solutions.
iii.The application offers 24/7 multlingual chatbot assistance to the farmers.
iv.Real-Time Crop Advisory: Provides farmers with immediate, data-driven recommendations tailored to
their specific regional conditions .
v.Government Scheme Updates: Keeps farmers informed about the latest government schemes and
subsidies, aiding in better financial planning and support .

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy Launched Portal to Boost Non-Ferrous Metal Recycling
Ecosystem
In May 2025, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Ministry of Coal (MoC) and Ministry of Mines (MoM),
launched the Non-Ferrous Metal Recycling Website and Stakeholders’ Portal to strengthen India’s non-
ferrous metal recycling ecosystem.
• The launch event took place in New Delhi (Delhi) in the presence of Minister of State (MoS) Satish
Chandra Dubey, MoM and senior officials from the MoM and Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium
Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC).
• Developed under the National Non-Ferrous Metal Scrap Recycling Framework (NNMSRF), the
portal aims to promote resource efficiency, centralise data and insights, empower stakeholders
and enhance transparency.
Key Features of the Portal:
i.The framework is aimed at recycling metals such as aluminium, copper, lead, zinc, and other critical
elements.
ii.National Registry for dismantlers, recyclers, traders, and collection centres.
iii.Data Tracking Tools for raw material flows, product types, technology adoption, and workforce trends.
iv.Performance Benchmarking mechanisms to evaluate sector efficiency.
v.Gap Identification for regional infrastructure, skill development, and sectoral needs.
vi.Support Systems for standardization, certification, and awareness campaigns.

Karnataka launches the ‘Petologist App’ for Pet Parents, Clinics and Farms
In May 2025, N. S. Boseraju, Minister for Science and Technology, the Government of Karnataka, officially
launched ‘Petologist’, an innovative veterinary application(app) developed by Bengaluru (Karnataka)-
based Transduceideas Technologies LLP held in Karnataka, also featured Dr. Ashok S. Alur, Vice
Chancellor of Kodagu University.

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• The development of Petologist is supported under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana –
Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-
RAFTAAR) Agribusiness Incubation (R-ABI) Scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers
Welfare(MoA&FW).
i.Petologist is a digital healthcare platform designed to connect pet owners and farmers with licensed
veterinarians, clinics, and hospitals.
ii.The platform offers features such as digital health records, vaccination tracking, medication reminders,
farm animal monitoring, and telemedicine consultations, aiming to enhance animal healthcare delivery in
both urban and rural areas.
iii.The platform is incubated at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), established in 1889, which
serves as India’s premier institute for veterinary research and education.It was located in Bareilly, Uttar
Pradesh(UP).
iv.The platform is currently in its soft launch phase, with access limited to a select group of veterinarians
and clinics in Karnataka.

Union Minister Amit Shah Launched new OCI Portal in New Delhi
In May 2025, Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of
Cooperation (MoC), has launched the revamped Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Portal in New Delhi, Delhi.
This initiative aims to enhance the digital experience for over 5 million existing OCI cardholders and
streamline the application process for new applicants.
• The existing OCI Services portal was launched in 2013. It is currently operational across more
than 180 Indian missions worldwide and 12 Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs),
handling approximately 2,000 applications daily.
Key People:
Govind Mohan, Secretary of MHA; Tapan Deka, Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB), and other senior officials
of the MHA were present at the launch event.
About Revamped OCI Portal:
The revamped portal is available at the existing Uniform Resource Locator
(URL): https://ociservices.gov.in/, this shows India’s commitment to supporting its international Diaspora
by providing secure, efficient and user-centric digital services.
Key Features:
i.User-friendly features: The new OCI portal offers various user-friendly features aimed to enhance
accessibility and convenience, like: sign-up; auto-fill of user profile details in OCI registration forms;
dashboard will display completed and partially-filled application forms;
• The portal will enable applicants to upload categorised documents based on their application
type;
• Use an integrated online payment system for those who filed in Foreigners Regional Registration
Offices (FRROs)
• Applicant has the option to edit their application form at any stage prior to final submission;
ii.Technical Features: The revamped OCI platform features upgrades to the existing software and platform
and has enhanced security protocols like:
• Infrastructure modernization include multiple web servers and load balancer on latest operating
system(OS) (RedHat 9);
• Software upgrades include switching to updated frameworks such as JDK, Struts 2.5.30 and
Bootstrap 5.3.0; which ensures better compatibility across devices;
• The portal incorporates robust security protocols to protect user data and ensure secure
transactions.

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• Improved process automation to streamline backend workflows, optimized data management for
centralised storage and access;
• User Experience enhancement includes responsive web design (optimized for all) and faster load
times and mobile optimization.
About Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) Scheme:
i.The scheme was introduced by the Government of India (GoI) through an amendment to the Citizenship
Act, 1955, in year 2005.
ii.The scheme enables the registration of Person of Indian Origins (PIOs) as OCI, subjected to the certain
conditions like: they were citizens of India on or after January 26, 1950, or were eligible to become citizens
that date.
iii.However, the scheme has classified individuals who are or had been citizens of Pakistan or Bangladesh,
or whose parent or grandparent or great parent are or had been citizens of those two countries are not
eligible to get OCI status.
Note: OCI cardholder is entitled to a multiple-entry, lifelong visa for visiting India.
About Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA):
Union Minister- Amit Shah (Constituency- Gandhinagar, Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS)– Bandi Sanjay Kumar (Constituency- Karimnagar, Telangana)

Gujarat Govt Launched i-PRAGATI and ‘Tera Tujhko Arpan’ Portals to Enhance Police Services
In May 2025, Gujarat Chief Minister (CM) Bhupendra Patel, along with Minister of State
(MoS) Harsh Sanghavi, Ministry of Home, Police Housing & Disaster Management launched two major
portals — i-PRAGATI and Tera Tujhko Arpan — aimed at improving citizen-centric police services and
combating cybercrime more effectively across the state.
• These initiatives seek to strengthen transparency, governance, and ease of access to police-
related services through technology.
i.The i-PRAGATI (Investigation Progress Report through Automatically Generated Accurate and Timely
Information) portal is integrated with the existing eGujCop system used by Gujarat Police.
• It sends automated Short Message Service (SMS) updates to complainants at four investigation
stages: FIR (First Information Report) registration, panchnama, accused arrest, and chargesheet
filing.
• Ensures real-time tracking of case progress, piloted successfully before statewide rollout.
ii.Tera Tujhko Arpan: A Cyber Crime Refund Portal Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs
(MHA) in Ahmedabad (Gujarat), expedites refunds for cybercrime victims via Lok Adalats (People’s Courts).
• Allows online registration and status tracking without FIR requirements, reducing processing
time from 2–3 hours to 15 minutes.
• provides unique login credentials for each police station, thereby reducing pending cases by over
50% and significantly enhancing police efficiency in handling cybercrime.
iii.Bank Account Unfreezing Application: CM Patel launched an online platform to help victims of
financial cybercrime request the unfreezing of frozen bank accounts. The platform is managed by the State
Cyber Crime Cell in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• Accounts are frozen under legal rules (BNSS 106, previously CrPC 102) when complaints are
registered through the Cyber Crime Helpline 1930.
• Freezing is done through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) to stop misuse of
funds.

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Union Minister Pralhad Joshi Launched ‘Depot Darpan’ Portal, Anna Mitra App & Anna Sahayata
App
In May 2025, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
(MoCAF&PD) has launched ‘Depot Darpan’ Portal ‘Anna Mitra’ application(app)
and ‘Anna Sahayata’ app, aimed at transforming India’s Public Distribution System (PDS), during the event
hosted by the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), MoCAF&PD in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The launch of these 3 new initiatives marked a major step towards enhancing transparency,
improving infrastructure, and empowering beneficiaries and frontline workers involved in the
delivery of subsidized food grains under National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
Key Points:
i.While addressing the event, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi highlighted India’s extensive PDS infrastructure,
with more than 5.38 lakh Fair Price Shops (FPS) across India.
ii.He announced that all warehouses in India are upgraded to an ‘Excellent’ grading and for which the
Government of India (GoI) has allocated a budget of Rs 280 crore and Rs 1,000 for Central Warehousing
Corporation (CWC) and Food Corporation of India (FCI), respectively.
About Depot Darpan Portal:
i.It is a digital self-assessment and monitoring web portal aimed to empower depot officials to
systematically assess and enhance their operations.
ii.The platform is strategically designed to help food grain depots achieve the highest standards
of warehousing excellence.
iii.The portal will assign a Composite Rating to food grain depots based on both infrastructural parameters
like: safety standards, environmental sustainability, statutory compliance and operational parameters such
as: occupancy levels, profitability, and storage efficiency.
iv.Depot Darpan will create a smooth digital monitoring ecosystem which includes Internet of Things (IoT)
sensors and Closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance to keep track of various parameters like: Carbon
Dioxide (CO2) and phosphine levels, fire hazards, humidity, unauthorized entry and temperature in real-
time.
• Such features will help in ensuring security and efficiency in food grain storage.
v.Also, a grading framework has been introduced to evaluate depots on operational performance (60%) and
infrastructure standards (40%), based on metrics like: storage and transit loss, space utilization, manpower
efficiency and profitability.
• Based on their performance, Depots achieving excellence will be granted 5-star rating.
About Anna Mitra:
i.Anna Mitra, a mobile app, designed to meet the specific operational requirements of key stakeholders in
PDS.
ii.Through this digital app, FPS dealers will be able to view stock receipts, access monthly sales reports, and
receive timely alerts from authorities.
iii.The app exhibits some unique features that will provide benefits to DFSO officers like: enable them to
track FPS performance, monitor and manage grievances, and access detailed beneficiary data.
iv.At present, Anna Mitra covers 4 states: Assam, Uttarakhand, Tripura, and Punjab and is available in
two official languages of India i.e. in Hindi and English.
About Anna Sahayata:
i.It is an advanced citizen-first grievance redressal platform, designed to address the grievances of
beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
ii.The platform is built on 3 main pillars: accessibility, accountability, and efficiency which uses advanced
tools such as: WhatsApp, Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS), and Automatic Speech Recognition
(ASR) thus, making the whole process of lodging grievances on the platform smooth and easy.

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iii.Currently, Anna Sahayata covers 5 states in pilot phase: Gujarat, Jharkhand, Telangana,
Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• Also, it is available in 5 languages: Hindi, Gujarati, Telugu, Bangla, and English.
About Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD):
Union Minister- Pralhad Joshi (Constituency- Dharwad, Karnataka)
Minister of State (MoS) – Banwari Lal (BL) Verma (Rajya Sabha- Uttar Pradesh, UP);
Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya (Constituency- Bhavnagar, Gujarat)

Maharashtra Govt Launches ‘Mahavistar App’ ahead of Kharif Season

On May 21, 2025, Chief Minister (CM) of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, launched the
‘Mahavistar Artificial Intelligence (AI) Application’, a significant technological initiative aimed at
transforming the agricultural sector at Kharif season review meeting, organized at Yashwantrao Chavan
Centre in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate,
and other senior officials were also present.
i.Mahavistar, an AI based application was developed by the agriculture department of Maharashtra.
ii.The application will have AI integration and a chatbot, which provides personalized suggestions on crop
selection, sowing methods, usage of fertilizers, water management and pest control techniques.
iii.Farmers will receive timely weather forecasts and agrometeorological instructions, to plan their
agricultural activities effectively.
iv.The application is linked with Seed Authentication, Traceability and Holistic Inventory (SATHI) portal, an
initiative launched by Government of India (GOI), facilitating the traceability of seeds and fertilizers to
prevent farmers from the fake (Bogus) seeds.

ENVIRONMENT
ZSI Discovers New Marine Nematode Species Pheronous Jairajpurii on TN Coast
In May 2025, a research team from Kolkata (West Bengal, WB) based Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), an
autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), identified
a new species of free-living marine nematode named Pheronous Jairajpurii Datta & Rizvi, 2025 on a
sandy beach along the Tamil Nadu (TN) coast.
• This marks the third species in the
rare Pheronous genus, previously documented in South
Africa (1966) and China (2015), with the latter also
reported in Korea (2023).
• The research was conducted by senior scientist Dr.
Anjum Nasreen Rizvi and researcher Ritika Datta from
ZSI and the discovery was published in the peer-
reviewed journal Zootaxa.
About Pheronous jairajpurii Datta & Rizvi, 2025:
i.The newly discovered species, Pheronous jairajpurii, belongs to the family Ironidae within the order
Enoplida.
ii.It plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. They are considered bioindicators,
helping scientists assess the condition of coastal environments.
iii.They act as early warning indicators of pollution and ecological changes, while also forming the
foundation of marine ecosystems by supporting nutrient cycling.

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iv.It has been named in honor of the late Professor M.S. Jairajpuri, a pioneering Indian nematologist
renowned for his foundational contributions to the study of nematodes in India.
About Zoological Survey of India (ZSI):
Director – Dr. Dhriti Banerjee
Headquarters – Kolkata, West Bengal
Established – 1916

New Cave-Adapted Fish Species Schistura densiclava Discovered in Meghalaya

In May 2025, a new species of cave-dwelling fish named ‘Schistura densiclava’ was discovered in
the Krem Mawjymbuin cave, located in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. The species was
identified by a team of researchers from Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam; Lady Keane College in
Shillong, Meghalaya and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Bureau of Fish Genetic
Resources(ICAR-NBFGR) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh(UP).
• The findings have been published in the Journal of Fish Biology, highlighting the unique
characteristics and habitat of this species.
i.The fish was found in a fast-flowing stream 60 meters (m) inside the cave, where water temperature is 18
degree celsius (°C) and oxygen levels are low.
ii.It has a pale yellow-green body with 14–20 greyish-black vertical bars and a thick dorsal stripe, which is
the basis for its name ‘densiclava’ derived from Latin, meaning ‘thick stripe’.
iii.Unlike obligate cave species (e.g., Schistura papulifera), it retains functional eyesight and pigmentation,
enabling survival in diverse environments.
iv.It is classified under the Nemacheilidae family of bottom-dwelling freshwater fishes ; the fish has
barbels (whisker-like organs) for sensing prey in low-light conditions.

New Damselfly Species ‘Caliphaea Sinuofurcata’ Discovered In AR

In May 2025, scientists identified a new species of damselfly, ‘Caliphaea sinuofurcata’, in Arunachal
Pradesh(AR), marking a significant addition to India’s biodiversity. The species, commonly named the
“Bearded Bronzeback,” was described based on two male and one female specimens collected from the
Upper Siang and Lower Dibang Valley districts of AR.
The species is only the second of its genus, Caliphaea, recorded in India; the first, Caliphaea confusa,
was documented over 165 years ago. The discovery of the Caliphaea sinuofurcata was published
in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Zootaxa.
i.The species name, sinuofurcata, is derived from Latin, with “sinuosus” meaning wavy or sinuous and
“furcatus” meaning forked.
ii.Caliphaea sinuofurcata is visually striking, with a metallic copper-green body, slender brown-tinted
wings, and yellow and olive markings.
Both male and female individuals possess dense black bristles resembling a beard around the
mouthparts (labium and labrum), inspiring the proposed common name: “Bearded Bronzeback.”
iii.This damselfly species inhabits small, rocky, seasonal streams in broadleaf evergreen forests at elevations
of 1200 to 1300 meters(m) above sea level. Individuals were observed flying low and perching on
vegetation near streams, typically in dappled sunlight conditions.

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