Daily Current Affairs

The National Statistics Office (NSO) under MoSPI released the inaugural Monthly Bulletin of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for April 2025, marking a shift from quarterly/annual to monthly employment data reporting. MoSPI revamped the PLFS methodology effective January 2025 to enhance frequency and geographic coverage.

The Geographical Indication Registry (GIR), Chennai — under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry — granted a GI tag in the agricultural products category to Rajasthan’s traditional Sangri bean. GI application filed by Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University (SKRAU), Bikaner in January 2025.

• Grows on the Khejri tree (Prosopis cineraria) — the state tree of Rajasthan, also called the ‘Wonder of the Thar Desert’
• Predominantly found in Jaisalmer and Barmer
• Key ingredient in iconic Rajasthani dish ‘Kher Sangri’ — slow-cooked dried beans with regional spices and curd

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), in partnership with World Monuments Fund India (WMFI) and TCS Foundation, completed the restoration of Rajon ki Baoli — a 16th-century stepwell at Mehrauli Archaeological Park, New Delhi.

• Built: Around 1506 during the Lodhi dynasty by Daulat Khan Lodi (official under Sikandar Lodi)
• Structure: 4-tiered stepwell | 1,610 sq. m area | 13.4 m deep | main tank: 23 × 10 m
• Work done: De-silting, structural repair, lime plaster application, and drainage connectivity; fish introduced to maintain water quality
• Aligned with WMF’s Climate Heritage initiative

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) signed a contract with the Indian Army Air Defence to manufacture the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System (IDDIS), jointly developed with DRDO under the Make in India initiative.

• Detection range: 5–8 km using electronic jamming and high-energy laser neutralisation
• Complements the Akashteer air defence system — integrates radar and command units into a unified network
• BEL secured additional orders worth ₹572 crore since April 2025, covering IDDIS, Software Defined Radio (SDR), AI-based ship solutions, simulators, and communication equipment

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare released three new crop varieties developed by Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi — two rice varieties and one mustard variety.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (MeitY) inaugurated India’s first 3 nanometre (nm) semiconductor chip design facilities of Renesas Electronics India in Noida (UP) and Bengaluru (Karnataka).

• India had previously designed chips at 7nm and 5nm nodes — these new facilities mark entry into the global cutting-edge league
• Supported by the Chips to Startup (C2S) and Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme
• A new semiconductor kit unveiled to strengthen practical hardware skills among engineering students
• Reinforces India’s end-to-end Semiconductor Mission 2.0 strategy

The Government of India (Ministry of AYUSH) designated September 23 as the fixed annual date for Ayurveda Day, replacing its earlier link to Dhanteras (which fluctuates between October and November each year).

• September 23 coincides with the autumnal equinox — when day and night are equal — symbolising the Ayurvedic principle of balance between mind, body, and spirit
• Decision made after a committee examined logistical challenges posed by the varying Dhanteras date (ranging across 15 October to 12 November over the next decade)

OPEC released its Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) for May 2025, projecting India’s oil demand to grow 3.39% — from 5.55 million bpd (2024) to 5.74 million bpd (2025), and further to 5.99 million bpd in 2026 (+4.28%).

PayU Payments Private Limited (backed by Amsterdam-based Prosus) received the Certificate of Authorization (CoA) from RBI under the Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act, 2007 to operate as an online Payment Aggregator (PA).

• PayU is the 8th entity to receive final PA approval — joining Razorpay, Cashfree, and CC Avenue
• Second-largest PA in India by transaction volume, after BillDesk
• Had received in-principle RBI approval in April 2024
• Supports: credit/debit cards, Net Banking, EMI, QR, UPI, and digital wallets

MSCI announced the inclusion of Coromandel International Limited (Telangana) and FSN E-Commerce Ventures (Nykaa) (Maharashtra) in its MSCI Global Standard Index, effective May 30, 2025 close. Both companies were also added to the MSCI India Domestic Index. No Indian companies were removed from the Global Standard Index in this review.

• 12 stocks added to the MSCI India Domestic Smallcap Index
• 21 stocks removed from the MSCI India Domestic Smallcap Index — major reshuffling in the small-cap segment

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) retained the top spot in Forbes’ 2025 Highest-Paid Athletes list for the third consecutive year and fifth overall, earning USD 275 million (May 2024–May 2025).

President Draupadi Murmu conferred the 58th Jnanpith Award at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on May 16, 2025.

• Jagadguru Ramabhadracharya — honoured for Sanskrit literature
• Gulzar (Sampooran Singh Kalra) — honoured for Urdu literature (was unable to attend the ceremony)

M N Srinivasu, co-founder of BillDesk (IndiaIdeas.com Ltd), was elected Chairperson of IAMAI (Internet and Mobile Association of India) for the 2025–2027 term, succeeding Harsh Jain (Dream Sports).

• Vice-Chairperson: Harshil Mathur (Co-founder, Razorpay)
• Treasurer: Sameer Nigam (Founder, PhonePe)
• Dr Subho Ray continues as President (ex-officio)

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is observed annually on May 17. The date marks the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on May 17, 1865, when the First International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris, France.

• 2025 marks the 160th anniversary of ITU
• Theme 2025: “Gender Equality in Digital Transformation” — focusing on bridging digital gender gaps in access, skills, and leadership

WHO observes World Hypertension Day (WHD) every year on May 17 to raise awareness about hypertension (high blood pressure) — a leading cause of preventable global deaths. 2025 marks its 20th anniversary.

• Theme 2025: “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer”
• Initiated in 2005 by the World Hypertension League (WHL); observed on May 17 annually since 2006

IDAHOBIT is observed on May 17 annually to raise awareness of discrimination and violence against individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics. The date commemorates the WHO’s 1990 decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.

• Theme 2025: “The Power of Communities”
• Initiated in 2004 by Louis-Georges Tin, a French academic
• First official observance: May 17, 2005