Daily Current Affairs

Ministry of Ayush signed an MoU with WHO (Geneva) on May 24, 2025 to develop a Traditional Medicine Module under the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI).

• Module will complement WHO’s ICD-11 by codifying Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha, and Unani (AYUSH) interventions in globally standardised terms — e.g., Panchakarma, Yoga therapy, Unani regimens, Siddha procedures
• Benefits: transparent billing, health insurance integration, enhanced clinical documentation, and greater global accessibility
• India contributed USD 3 million to WHO to support the module’s development

PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rising North East Investors Summit 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (May 23–25, 2025); referred to 8 NE states as ‘Ashta Lakshmi’. Organised by MDoNER (Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region).

• Arunachal Pradesh: 16 MoUs worth ₹6,357 crore | Tripura: 33 MoUs worth ₹15,646 crore
• Reliance Industries, Adani Group, and Vedanta Group collectively pledged ₹1.55 trillion in investments for NER
• Total investment proposals: ₹4.3 lakh crore (announced by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, MDoNER)

VP Jagdeep Dhankhar (May 20–22, Goa) inaugurated and dedicated projects at Mormugao Port Authority (MPA), total outlay ₹300 crore.

• Inaugurated 3 MW Solar Power Plant at Mormugao Port (₹18 crore) — milestone for sustainable maritime infrastructure
• Unveiled statues of Acharya Charaka and Sage Susruta at Raj Bhawan, Goa

Government of Maharashtra approved the merger of KRCL (Konkan Railway Corporation Limited) with Indian Railways on May 22, 2025. Maharashtra was the last state required to clear the merger (Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala had already approved).

• GOM conditions: (1) Reimburse ₹396.54 crore (Maharashtra’s equity in KRCL); (2) Retain the name ‘Konkan Railway’ post-merger
• KRCL: 741 km coastal line (Roha, Maharashtra → Mangalore, Karnataka)
• Ownership: MoR (51%) + Maharashtra (22%) + Karnataka (15%) + Goa (6%) + Kerala (6%)

NLCIL (Neyveli, Tamil Nadu), a Navratna CPSE under Ministry of Coal, celebrated its 69th Raising Day and unveiled lion mascot ‘Neyon’ (symbolising power and progress). CMD: Prasanna Kumar Motupalli.

• Released ethics book: ‘The Guiding Light — NLCIL Ethics Book’
• Target: lignite production to exceed 100 MT by 2030 (3× rise from current 44 MT)

NIT Calicut (NITC), Kozhikode was inducted into the HERITAGE Network (30 premier Indian & European technical institutions) at TU Dresden, Germany.

• MoUs signed with: NTNU (Trondheim, Norway) and TU Berlin (Germany)
• Focus: dual-degree postgraduate programmes, undergraduate student exchanges, and semiconductor packaging research
• Explored semiconductor packaging research with CITC (Chip Integration Technology Center), Netherlands — supports national advanced electronics missions
• NITC Director: Prof. Prasad Krishna

CM Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka Cabinet approved renaming of Ramanagara district as Bengaluru South; Ramanagara town remains district HQ.

• Includes: Ramanagara, Magadi, Kanakapura, Channapatna, and Harohalli taluks
• Renaming power under State List (Entry 18: Land; Entry 45: Land Revenue); Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 empowers the state
• Note: MHA had declined to issue NOC for the renaming of Ramanagara in 2024

The 17th Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2025) was held May 20–24, 2025 at MIEC, Langkawi, Malaysia; organised by Malaysia’s MoD and GEC. Inaugurated by Malaysia’s PM Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim.

• India Pavilion inaugurated by Union MoS Sanjay Seth (MoD); showcased BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, HAL Dornier aircraft, and INS Kavaratti
• Malaysia secured MoUs worth 11 billion Malaysian Ringgit (~USD 2.34 billion) covering defence satellites and AI in aviation
• One of Asia-Pacific’s largest maritime/aerospace exhibitions (biennial event)

The 615th meeting of RBI’s Central Board (chaired by Governor Sanjay Malhotra) approved a surplus transfer of ₹2,68,590.07 crore (₹2.69 trillion) to GoI for FY25 — 27% higher than FY24 surplus (₹2.11 trillion).

• Driven by foreign exchange operations: gross dollar sales surged to USD 399 billion in FY25 (vs USD 153 billion in FY24)
• Expected to reduce fiscal deficit by ~20 basis points from budgeted 4.4% of GDP
• Contingency Risk Buffer (CRB) raised to 7.5% (highest end of new band); CRB range revised from 5.5–6.5% to 4.5–7.5% of RBI’s balance sheet

Axis Bank (Mumbai) partnered with super.money (Bengaluru, backed by Flipkart) to launch the Axis Bank super.money RuPay Credit Card.

• 3% cashback on ‘Scan & Pay’ UPI transactions (super.money app); 1% on other eligible spends
• Max cashback: ₹500/billing cycle | 1% fuel surcharge waiver (₹400–₹4,000) | Zero joining/annual fees

ABSLI (Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance — JV of Aditya Birla Group & Sun Life Financial Inc.) partnered with Equitas Small Finance Bank (Chennai) for bancassurance. Products: protection plans, savings plans, retirement solutions, endowments, and ULIPs. Aligned with ‘Insurance for All by 2047’ vision.

Daniel Noboa (National Democratic Action/ADN party) was sworn in as Ecuador’s 48th President at the National Assembly, Quito. VP: María José Pinto. Term: 2025–2029.

• At 37, remains the youngest president in Ecuador’s history
• Previously served as President from November 2023 (completing Guillermo Lasso’s term); re-elected in April 2025, defeating Luisa Gonzalez (Citizen Revolution Party)

Indian researchers investigated jarosite (rare iron-potassium sulfate mineral) from Kachchh, Gujarat as a natural geological clock for Mars exploration.

• Chemical formula: KFe₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆ | Yellow-brown hydrous sulphate | Trigonal crystal structure | Mohs hardness: 2.5–3.5 | Thermally stable up to 450°C
• Formed in acidic, saline environments; associated with acid mine drainage and oxidised ore deposits; iron analogue of alunite
• Six jarosite vein samples from Kachchh analysed; grains saturated at radiation doses of 590–2,600 gray — confirming ability to record geological events

Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) 2025 held May 19–24, 2025 in Diu (UT of DNHDD); organised by MYAS. India’s first national Beach Games.

• Nagaland achieved its first-ever top-three finish at a Khelo India event
• All 4 DNHDD golds came in Pencak Silat
• MYAS Minister: Mansukh Mandaviya (Porbandar, Gujarat) | MoS: Raksha Khadse (Raver, Maharashtra)

Lando Norris (McLaren, UK) won the F1 Monaco Grand Prix 2025 at Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo on May 25, 2025.

• Norris’s 1st Monaco GP win and 2nd win of 2025 F1 season; McLaren’s first Monaco win since 2008
• New 2025 regulation: mandatory two pit stops per driver
• 8th round of 2025 F1 season; 71st Monaco GP as part of F1 World Championship
• Next race: Spanish GP, June 1, 2025, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya

Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) defeated Manchester United 1–0 in the UEFA Europa League final at San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao, Spain.

• Tottenham’s first European title since 1984; qualifies for 2025–26 UEFA Champions League (Sep 16, 2025 – May 30, 2026)
• Goal: Brennan Johnson (42nd min) — cross from Pape Matar Sarr deflected off Luke Shaw (MANU) into net
• Tottenham’s Europa campaign: 10 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses
• Spurs captain: Son Heung-min | MANU captain: Bruno Fernandes

UNGA resolution A/RES/78/281 (May 7, 2024) — proposed by Bahrain, Libya, Tajikistan; adopted by 170 nations — proclaimed May 25 as World Football Day.

• Marks 100th anniversary of the 1924 Olympic Football Tournament in Paris — first global football event with all-region participation
• May 25, 1928: FIFA Congress in Amsterdam decided to create the FIFA World Cup
• FIFA Football Week 2025 (May 21–25): Theme — ‘Together, We Are Stronger’

Observed annually on May 25; symbolised by the forget-me-not flower (hope for reuniting missing children with families).

• First National Missing Children’s Day: US President Ronald Reagan designated May 25, 1983, commemorating disappearance of 6-year-old Etan Patz, NYC, May 25, 1979
• IMCD began 1998 (ICMEC + NCMEC partnership); officially recognised globally as IMCD on May 25, 2001
• ICMEC: Secretary General — Stephen Kavanagh | HQ: Virginia, USA | Est: 1998

Observed annually on May 25; part of International Thyroid Awareness Week (ITAW, May 25–31). Symbol: blue paisley ribbon (resembles thyroid follicle cross-section).

• Established in 2008 by the European Thyroid Association (ETA) — ETA was founded on May 25, 1965
• First WTD observed: May 25, 2011 by ATA, ETA, AOTA, and LATS