Daily Current Affairs

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the execution model for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme on May 27, 2025; to be implemented by ADA-DRDO in collaboration with industry.

• Execution model: equal opportunities for public and private sector on competitive basis; bids can be independent, JV, or consortia
• Bidding entity must be an Indian company compliant with Indian laws
• AMCA: India’s indigenous 5th-generation stealth fighter aircraft — incorporates stealth, supercruise, advanced avionics, and AI-assisted systems

PM inaugurated and laid foundations for projects spanning Railways, Power, Urban Development, and Housing during a two-day Gujarat visit.

• Inaugurated new Locomotive Manufacturing Plant (LMP) at Dahod; flagged off first 9,000 HP Electric Locomotives for domestic use and export
• Virtually flagged off Sabarmati (Ahmedabad)–Veraval Vande Bharat Express (438 miles, ~7 hours)
• Dedicated projects worth ₹53,400 crore in Bhuj, Kutch district
• Attended 20-year celebration of Gujarat’s Urban Growth Story in Gandhinagar; launched Urban Development Year 2025

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia (MoC + MDoNER) unveiled the theme for India Mobile Congress 2025: ‘Innovate to Transform’. IMC 2025: October 8–11, 2025 at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi.

• Scindia also launched revamped ‘Sanchar Mitra Scheme’ — student volunteers as ambassadors of telecom awareness, cybersecurity, and digital empowerment
• DoT announced Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Excellence Awards 2024 for contributions in telecom innovation, skilling, services, manufacturing, and app development

Ministry of Railways approved a new express train connecting Agartala (Tripura) and Guwahati (Assam) via Narangi (NNGE) station, following representation by MP Biplab Kumar Deb (West Tripura, former Tripura CM).

• NFR also successfully conducted trial run of electric locomotive between southern Assam and Tripura under ₹46 crore electrification project — integrating Tripura into the national electric railway grid

93rd meeting of CCVR-C (Central Crop Variety Notification and Release Committee) approved 3 new high-yielding varieties from Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), Akola, Maharashtra.

• AKAW 5100 (Wheat): High-yield, rust-resistant, drought-tolerant; suitable for bread/chapati; recommended for Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, AP, Tamil Nadu
• CSV 65 Yellow (Sorghum, Kharif): Bio-fortified; 23.2 ppm zinc + 30.8 ppm iron; yields 25–28 quintals/ha grain + 110–115 quintals/ha fodder; matures in 110–112 days
• Super Jaki Chickpea (AKG 1402): 2,073 kg/ha yield; matures in 98 days; machine-harvestable; for rainfed Maharashtra

The Andhra Pradesh Government issued GO Ms No. 170 on May 26, 2025, officially renaming YSR District as YSR Kadapa District under the AP Districts (Formation) Act, 1974.

• History: originally ‘Kadapa district’; renamed ‘YSR District’ in 2010 in memory of former AP CM Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (died 2009); YSRCP dropped ‘Kadapa’ in 2022
• ‘Cuddapah’ spelling officially changed to ‘Kadapa’ in 2005; derived from Telugu word ‘Gadapa’ meaning threshold (gateway for Tirupati pilgrims)

ILO (Geneva) and Poland’s NASK released the inaugural report ‘Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure’ in May 2025.

• 25% (1 in 4) of jobs globally are potentially at risk of being transformed (not replaced) by GenAI
• 34% of jobs in GenAI-exposed occupations are in High-Income Countries (HICs) vs 11% in Low-Income Countries (LICs)
• Gender gap: 4.7% of women’s jobs fall in the highest-risk category vs 2.4% of men’s jobs

Allianz Global Insurance Report 2025 projected India’s life insurance market to grow at 10.5% CAGR over the next decade — more than double the global average of 5%.

• India’s life insurance sector set to become 2nd largest in Asia, surpassing Japan
• India’s entire insurance market grew 10.6% in 2024 (vs 7.7% in 2023); premium income: USD 145 billion
• Health insurance led growth at 20.8% in 2024; Life insurance (~75% of market) grew 10.6%

Drools Pet Food (Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh) achieved unicorn status after Nestlé S.A. (Vevey, Switzerland) purchased a minority stake — Nestlé’s first-ever funding in an Indian brand.

• 4th Indian startup unicorn of 2025, after Netradyne Technology, Juspay Technologies, and Porter
• India’s first pet food brand to achieve unicorn status; valuation crossed USD 1 billion
• Earlier: L Catterton (Louis Vuitton-backed PE firm) invested USD 60 million in Drools in June 2023
• Presence: 40,000+ retail outlets; exports to 22 countries; 6 manufacturing units; 650+ SKUs
• CEO: Shashank Sinha | HQ: Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh | Founded: 2010

MoC&I reported provisional FDI of USD 81.04 billion in FY25 — 14% rise from USD 71.28 billion in FY24; grown from USD 36.05 billion in FY14.

DARPG (under MoPPG&P) announced NAeG 2025 recognising 19 initiatives — 10 gold, 6 silver, 3 jury awards.

• 6 award categories; Gram Panchayats category introduced for the first time
• Awards to be presented at 28th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG), Visakhapatnam, AP, June 9–10, 2025
• Incentive: ₹10 lakh (Gold) and ₹5 lakh (Silver) along with trophy and certificate

Dr. Adille J. Sumariwalla (VP, World Athletics; former AFI President) received the Asian Athletics Leadership Gold Pin from Asian Athletics Association (AAA) at its Congress in Gumi, South Korea.

• Awarded by AAA President General Dahlan Al Hamad for contributions to athletics development across Asia
• 1980 Moscow Olympics sprinter (100 m); 1984 South Asian Games gold; AFI President for 12 years
• 1st Indian VP of World Athletics (elected 2023) | Arjuna Award (1985)

Independent candidate Nicușor Dan (mathematician, former Bucharest Mayor) sworn in as Romania’s 7th President at joint session of Romanian Parliament, Bucharest; replaced interim President Ilie Bolojan.

• Won presidential election with 53.6% votes, defeating George Simion (Alliance for the Union of Romanians, AUR)
• Won gold medals at IMO (International Mathematical Olympiad) in 1987 and 1988
• Co-founded Save Romania Union (USR) in 2015; Mayor of Bucharest since 2020

ACC approved a 2nd one-year service extension for Dr. Samir V. Kamat (Secretary, DDR&D + Chairman, DRDO) from June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026 under Fundamental Rule 56(d). First appointed August 25, 2022; joined DRDO in 1989.

• Awards: IIT Kharagpur Distinguished Alumni (2018); Metallurgist of the Year (2008); DRDO Scientist of the Year (2012)

Citigroup appointed Prashant Thakker as Head of Corporate Bank for South & Southeast Asia (effective May 26, 2025; based in Singapore). Oversees India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.

Intelsat (US-based) received approval from IN-SPACe (Ahmedabad) on May 27, 2025 to provide direct satellite coverage to Indian media organisations.

• Authorised to operate 4 GEO satellites: IS-17, IS-20, IS-36, IS-39 — all offering C-Band coverage across India
• Among the first foreign satellite operators to receive GoI approval for satellite coverage in India
• Secured contracts with 3 of India’s largest media companies post-approval

New species Schistura densiclava discovered in Krem Mawjymbuin cave, East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya by researchers from Gauhati University, Lady Keane College (Shillong), and ICAR-NBFGR (Lucknow).

• Found in fast-flowing stream 60 m inside the cave; water temp: 18°C; low oxygen conditions
• Appearance: pale yellow-green body; 14–20 greyish-black vertical bars; thick dorsal stripe — ‘densiclava’ means ‘thick stripe’ in Latin
• Unlike obligate cave species, retains functional eyesight and pigmentation (can survive diverse environments)
• Family: Nemacheilidae (bottom-dwelling freshwater fish); has barbels (whisker-like organs) for sensing prey in low light

1st leg of ISSF Junior World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun 2025 held in Suhl, Germany (May 19–27); India topped with 11 medals (3G, 4S, 4B); China 2nd with 4 medals. 638 shooters from 59 countries; India sent largest team of 57 shooters.

‘Test Cricket: A History’ by Tim Wigmore, published by Quercus (London) ahead of Test cricket’s 150th anniversary in March 2026.

• 35 chapters tracing the evolution of Test cricket since 1877; features exclusive interviews with Sachin Tendulkar, Pat Cummins, Michael Holding, Muralidaran, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Chappell, Dale Steyn, Rahul Dravid
• Wigmore also authored ‘Crickonomics’ and ‘Cricket 2.0: Inside the T20 Revolution’; Wisden Book of the Year & Daily Telegraph Cricket Book of the Year (2020)

Established in 2011 by The Hunger Project (THP), New York; first observed May 28, 2011. Theme 2025: ‘Sowing Resilience’.

• THP CEO: Rowlands Kaotcha | HQ: New York | Founded: 1977

Established in 1987 at the International Women’s Health Meeting in Costa Rica, by the Latin American and Caribbean Women’s Health Network (LACWHN). Theme 2025: ‘In Solidarity We Resist: Our Fight, Our Right!’.

• WGNRR (Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights) later joined as global coordinator | ED: Debanjana Choudhuri | HQ: Manila, Philippines | Est: 1984

Theme 2025: ‘Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld’. Date May 28 symbolises the average 28-day menstrual cycle with 5 days of bleeding.

• First MH Day: May 28, 2014; initiated by WASH United (Germany) in 2013 with ‘#MENSTRAVAGANZA’ social media campaign