Daily Current Affairs

Union Minister Rajnath Singh (MoD) virtually inaugurated the BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility and the BrahMos Production Unit (DRDO) at the UP Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC), Lucknow — with UP CM Yogi Adityanath leading the on-ground ceremony.

Also inaugurated: India’s largest Titanium and Superalloy Materials Plant, operated by Aerolloy Technologies Limited (subsidiary of PTC Industries Ltd, Lucknow) — located within the Lucknow node of UPDIC.

HLL Lifecare Limited (GoI enterprise under MoH&FW) signed a strategic agreement with State Trade Organisation Plc (STO) — Maldives’ government enterprise for essential goods import/distribution — under PMBJP (Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana) to supply affordable, high-quality medicines to Maldives. PMBJP was launched in November 2008 by DoP (MoC&F).

Additionally, SBI subscribed for one more year to a USD 50 million Government Treasury Bill issued by Maldives’ MoF — supporting Maldives’ ongoing fiscal reforms.

Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) introduced India’s first hydrogen-powered fuel cell truck for mining logistics in Raipur, Chhattisgarh — flagged off by CM Vishnu Deo Sai. The truck will transport coal from the Gare Pelma III Block (Raigarh) to a state-run CSPGCL power plant. Executed by Adani Natural Resources (ANR) and Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL).

Neyveli-based NLCIL (Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited) (PSU under MoC) signed an MoU with Mumbai-based IREL (India) Limited (formerly Indian Rare Earths Limited) for joint exploration and development of critical minerals and Rare Earth Elements (REE).

• Collaboration on mining, excavation, and refining of critical mineral assets
• Acquire/source raw materials domestically and internationally
• Aligns with GoI’s push for PSEs to secure critical mineral assets

Governments of Madhya Pradesh (CM Mohan Yadav) and Maharashtra (CM Devendra Fadnavis) signed an MoU in Bhopal at the 28th MP-Maharashtra Inter-State Control Board meeting for the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project (₹19,244 crore) — touted as the world’s largest groundwater recharge initiative. GoI to fund 90% of the project cost.

JP Morgan’s PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index) report for April 2025 revealed India topped all developed and emerging economies in both manufacturing and services activity.

Sri Lanka hosted the 4th Ministerial Conference of RIMES (Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System) in Colombo (7–9 May 2025), supported by the World Bank (CARE Component-1) and UK’s FCDO. Theme: ‘Actionable Early Warnings and Climate Services for All’.

• India served as co-chair alongside Sri Lanka; Indian delegation led by Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES
• Conference concluded with adoption of the RIMES Ministerial Declaration — reinforcing member states’ commitment to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster-resilient development

All 12 PSBs posted a cumulative record profit of ₹1,78,364 crore in FY25 — up 26% from ₹1.41 lakh crore in FY24; absolute YoY increase: ~₹37,100 crore.

Reflects strong credit growth, NPA recovery, and operational efficiency across PSBs.

Doha-based Qatar National Bank Group (QNB) — the largest financial institution in MEA — became the first MEA bank to open a branch in GIFT-IFSC (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City — IFSC), Gandhinagar — India’s first international financial hub and SEZ.

• The branch will support Indian corporates seeking international banking partners
• QNB’s GIFT City branch strengthens its network across 28 markets on 3 continents
• QNB first entered India in 2017 and operates QNB (India) Private Limited (Mumbai) — an SCB providing structured credit solutions

Hyderabad-based Game Developers Association of India (GDAI) and New Delhi-based Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) (under MoC&I) signed an MoU at WAVES Summit 2025, Mumbai.

• Attract bilateral investments + JVs in gaming
• Global promotion of Indian game developers
• Skill development for talent pool
• Support for AR/VR, AI, metaverse, gamification, animation, and VFX
• Formation of a consortium for esports + video game export promotion

Adani Group and Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC), Thimphu signed an MoU to jointly develop 5,000 MW of hydropower projects in Bhutan — including hydropower and pumped storage projects. Signed in the presence of Bhutan PM Dasho Tshering Tobgay and Energy Minister Lyonpo Gem Tshering.

• Builds on existing Wangchhu Hydropower Project (570 MW, expandable to 900 MW) — DGPC holds 51%, Adani holds 49%
• Projects to be identified, studied via DPRs, and implemented in phases
• Aligns with Bhutan’s RE Roadmap: 20,000 MW RE capacity by 2040

Indian child rights lawyer Bhuwan Ribhu was conferred the ‘Medal of Honour’ by the World Jurist Association (WJA) — becoming the first Indian lawyer to receive this recognition. Awarded at the World Law Congress (WLC) 2025 (4–6 May, Dominican Republic).

Recognised for two decades of legal work protecting children from child marriage, trafficking, sexual abuse, and forced labour. Award presented jointly by Eddy Olivares Ortega (Minister of Labour, Dominican Republic) and Javier Cremades (President, WJA).

The Water Heritage Museum operated by CWRDM (Centre for Water Resources Development and Management), Kozhikode, Kerala was included in WAMU-NET (Global Network of Water Museums) — a flagship initiative under UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP). It becomes the 3rd Indian museum on the list.

The museum showcases Kerala’s indigenous water traditions, features a medicinal plant garden, star garden, butterfly garden, climate change lab, and CWRDM research galleries.

Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing developed the first-ever pangenome of Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) by decoding genomes of 144 wild and cultivated rice varieties across Asia. Built using PacBio HiFi sequencing technology.

• Identified 69,531 genes including 28,907 core genes and 13,728 wild-rice-specific genes
• 3.87 billion base pairs absent from earlier reference genomes
• ~20% of genes are exclusive to wild rice — useful for phenotypic plasticity, environmental adaptation, and regeneration
• Study confirmed all Asian cultivated rice descended from Or-IIIa (subgroup of Oryza rufipogon) — wild ancestor of japonica rice

At the 2025 Asian Blitz Chess Championship (Al Ain, UAE), organised by Al Ain Chess & Mind Games Club under ACF and FIDE:

• Open Title: Russian GM Ivan Zemlyanskii — undefeated with 8/9 points (prize: USD 2,500)
• Women’s Title: Kazakhstan’s WGM Alua Nurman — 7.5 points (prize: USD 1,500), defeating Russia’s Valentina Gunina on superior opponents’ average rating

At the Archery World Cup 2025 Stage 2 (6–11 May, Shanghai, China), India won 7 medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronze) — finishing 2nd in the overall tally. South Korea topped with 7 medals (5 gold, 2 silver).

• 🥇 Madhura Dhamangaonkar — Women’s Individual Compound (her first individual World Cup gold)
• 🥇 Men’s Compound Team: Ojas Deotale, Abhishek Verma, Rishabh Yadav (beat Mexico in final)
• 🥉 Deepika Kumari — Bronze

Renowned aquaculture scientist Subbanna Ayyappan (b. 10 December 1955, Mysuru, Karnataka) — the first non-crop specialist to lead ICAR — was found dead near Srirangapatna (Cauvery River, Karnataka) on 10 May 2025 (reported missing 7 May).

• DG of ICAR (1 January 2010 – February 2016)
• Founding CEO of NFDB (National Fisheries Development Board), Hyderabad (2006–08)
• Director at CIFA (Bhubaneswar), CIFE (Mumbai), CIFRI (Barrackpore)
• Also: Chairman of NABL; Secretary, DARE (GoI); Chancellor, Central Agricultural University (Manipur)

Former Indian footballer Dost Mohammad Khan (DMK) Afzal (b. 1943, Hyderabad) passed away at age 81 in Hyderabad. He was part of the gold medal-winning India team at the 1962 Asian Games, Jakarta. An excellent midfielder with 2 national appearances, he made his India debut against South Korea in the 1962 Asian Games group stage.

• Club honours (Andhra Police): Durand Cup (1961), Rovers Cup (1962 joint), DCM Trophy (1965)
• With Calcutta clubs: Calcutta Football League (1966), IFA Shield (1966), Rovers Cup (1967), Durand Cup (1967), Sait Nagjee Trophy (1968)
• Santosh Trophy: Andhra Pradesh (1965)

Football legend Luis Galván (b. 24 February 1948, Fernández, Santiago del Estero, Argentina) passed away at age 77 in Córdoba, Argentina. A key defender in Argentina’s 1978 FIFA World Cup-winning squad — where Argentina defeated the Netherlands 3-1 in the final to claim their first World Cup title. He played every match of the 1978 tournament.

• Club: Talleres de Córdoba (1970–1982, 1986–87) — record 503 appearances
• Also featured in the 1982 World Cup (eliminated in 2nd round)
• Earned 34 international caps for Argentina (1975–1983), incl. 1975 Pan American Games

The UN’s International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) is observed on 12 May. 2025 marks the 4th IDPH. Theme 2025: ‘The Importance of Plant Health in One Health’. Organised annually by FAO + IPPC.

• Proclaimed by UNGA through Resolution A/RES/76/256 (March 2022) — co-sponsored by Bolivia, Finland, Pakistan, Philippines, Tanzania, and Zambia
• First IDPH: 12 May 2022

International Nurses Day (IND) is observed on 12 May — the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale (1820–1910), founder of modern nursing. Theme 2025: ‘Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies’.

• Since 1965, ICN has celebrated IND annually; officially designated 12 May in 1974
• On 12 May 2025, WHO + ICN released the State of the World’s Nursing 2025 (SoWN) report — based on data from 194 countries
• Originally proposed in 1953 by Dorothy Sutherland to President Dwight D. Eisenhower