Daily Current Affairs

India’s 12 major ports registered a 4.3% increase in cargo handling — from 819 MT (FY24) to 855 MT (FY25) (MoPSW data). Paradip Port Authority (PPA), Odisha and Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), Kandla, Gujarat both breached the 150 MT cargo handling mark for the first time in FY25.

The Union Cabinet (PM Narendra Modi) approved a Joint Venture between HCL Group (Noida, UP) and Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Taiwan) to set up a semiconductor unit near Jewar Airport, YEIDA (Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority), UP. This is the 6th semiconductor unit approved under India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) (₹76,000 crore outlay) and the first-ever semiconductor chip unit in UP under ISM.

• Estimated cost: ₹3,706 crore (GoI incentive: ~₹1,500 crore)
• Production: Expected to begin in 2027; will meet ~40% of India’s local semiconductor chip demand
• MeitY: Union Minister – Ashwini Vaishnaw (RS, Odisha) | MoS – Jitin Prasada (Pilibhit, UP)

MoS (IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh (Ministry of Science & Technology) dedicated India’s first publicly funded DST-ICGEB Bio-foundry at the 31st Board Meeting of Governors of ICGEB (International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology), New Delhi. Designed to accelerate synthetic biology, biomanufacturing, and precision biotechnology.

• Key component of India’s BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) — approved by GoI in August 2024
• India’s bioeconomy grew from USD 10 billion (2014) to USD 165.7 billion (2024)
• Target: USD 300 billion by 2030

NIOT (National Institute of Ocean Technology) Director Balaji Ramakrishnan announced India’s first manned deep ocean mission ‘Samudrayaan’ will launch by 2026. It will use the manned submersible ‘Matsya’ — a 25-tonne, 4th-generation vehicle with a titanium hull — to carry 3 scientists to 6,000 metres depth. Part of India’s Deep Ocean Mission (DOM); NIOT is the implementing nodal agency under MoES.

• 500m depth trial expected by end-2025
• ‘Samudrajivah’ (companion tech) — large-scale open-sea farming using electronically monitored submerged fish cages with sensors for remote monitoring of fish biomass, growth, and water quality

The Department of Commerce (DoC), MoC&I, in consultation with the Export Inspection Council (EIC), prohibited several medically important antimicrobials in the aquaculture sector under the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963.

• Banned: 12 antibiotic classes and 6 antibiotics (those authorised only for human use per WHO’s List of Medically Important Antimicrobials)
• Applies to: Culture of shrimps, prawns, and all fishery products
• Rationale: Overuse of antibiotics in food-animal production is a key driver of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
• Also banned: certain antivirals and antiprotozoals; aligns with global food safety and export quality standards

C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics; premier telecom R&D under DoT, MoC) signed an MoU with Synergy Quantum India Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru. Focus: developing drone-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems using the decoy-based BB84 protocol with polarization encoding at TRL 6+.

GoI gifted 15 Electric Vehicles (EVs) to Nepal to support the inaugural Sagarmatha Sambaad (16–18 May 2025, Kathmandu) — a biennial, multi-stakeholder global dialogue initiated by Nepal, themed ‘Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity’. EVs handed over by Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava to Nepal’s FM Arzu Rana Deuba; vehicles to be used for transporting delegates.

IUCN’s Primate Specialist Group (PSG) (Gland, Switzerland) — in collaboration with IPS (International Primatological Society, Louisiana) and Re:wild (Texas) — released the 12th edition of ‘Primates in Peril: The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates 2023–25’.

• Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) — Cameroon + Nigeria
• Tapanuli Orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) — Sumatra, Indonesia
• 15 of the 25 were not on the 2022–23 list; 8 listed for the first time (incl. Sahafray Sportive Lemur, Northern Pygmy Slow Loris, Myanmar Snub-nosed Monkey)

(i) Canara Bank (Bengaluru) launched ‘CANARA TruEdge’ — a feature-rich suite of Current + Savings Accounts for institutional clients (healthcare, education, religious organisations, and other non-individual entities); zero initial deposit requirement; benefits increase proportionally with higher balances.

(ii) Union Bank of India (UBI), Mumbai launched ‘Union Wellness Deposit’ — a new retail term deposit scheme with a fixed tenure of 375 days and an interest rate of 6.75% p.a. (+0.50% for senior citizens).

SIDBI released ‘Understanding the Indian MSME Sector: Progress and Challenges’ — based on a survey of 2,097 MSMEs across 19 sectors. MSMEs contribute ~30% of India’s GDP and employ over 11 crore individuals. Udyam Registration Portal (URP) registrations surged from 2.5 crore (March 2024) to 6.2 crore (March 2025).

• Women-owned establishments: up from 22.9% (FY22-23) to 26.2% (FY23-24) per ASUSE 2023-24

Uttarakhand secured ₹1,910 crore from the European Investment Bank (EIB), Luxembourg under UUSDA (Uttarakhand Urban Sector Development Agency). Agreement to be signed in June 2025; DPRs reviewed by DEA (MoF).

• Pithoragarh – drinking water + sewerage
• Sitarganj, Rudrapur, Kashipur – drinking water supply

RBI imposed a total penalty of ₹2.72 crore under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949:

• Dr. Ajay Kumar (former Defence Secretary, MoD; retired 1985-batch IAS, Kerala cadre) appointed Chairman of UPSC for 6 years or till age 65 (whichever earlier); appointed by President Droupadi Murmu under Article 316(1) via DoPT order. Succeeds Preeti Sudan (tenure ended 29 April 2025). UPSC: HQ – New Delhi | Est. – 1926 | conducts IAS/IFS/IPS exams | max 10 members.
• Justice Surya Kant (SC Judge; currently Chairman, SCLSC) appointed Executive Chairman of NALSA (effective 14 May 2025); succeeds Justice B.R. Gavai. Before SC elevation (May 2019): CJ of HP HC and judge of Punjab & Haryana HC. NALSA: statutory body under Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (effective 9 November 1995).

IOC President Thomas Bach appointed Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski (Philippines; IOC EB member since 2020) as Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. She succeeds Kristy Coventry (who will become IOC President in June 2025). First commission meeting: Brisbane, 20–22 May 2025.

• Former equestrian athlete; Gold at 2002 Asian Games (Busan) + team gold at 2005 SEA Games (Manila)
• IOC member since 2013; served on Coordination Commissions for Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024

NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) — wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC Ltd — appointed Sarit Maheshwari as new CEO and KMP (effective 10 May 2025). Succeeds Rajiv Gupta (repatriated to NTPC). Maheshwari has 35+ years in the power sector.

• Previously CEO of NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (NTPCREL) and CEO of NTPC Rajasthan Green Energy Ltd (NRGEL) (74:26 JV with RRVUNL)
• Also served as Head of Project at NTPC Korba
• NGEL: Incorporated 2022 | central to India’s 500 GW non-fossil fuel target by 2030

Brazilian microbiologist Dr. Mariangela Hungria was named the winner of the 2025 World Food Prize (announced 13 May 2025) by the World Food Prize Foundation, Des Moines, Iowa, USA. Recognised for groundbreaking work developing biological alternatives to chemical fertilizers; she is the 10th woman to be honoured with the World Food Prize.

• Prize value: USD 500,000
• Ceremony: World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium, October 2025, Des Moines

Indian shooters Kynan Chenai and Sabeera Haris secured a bronze medal in the Trap Mixed Team event at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup 2025 (3–12 May 2025, Nicosia, Cyprus) — the 3rd World Cup of the 2025 season. They defeated Turkey’s Tolga Tuncer + Pelin Kaya 34–33. The pair finished 4th in qualification (142/150 from 34 teams).

• Second Indian team (Shardul Vihan + Kirti Gupta) finished 17th (137 hits)
• Overall tally: Neutral Athletes topped with 2 gold medals (out of 5 events)
• Next ISSF Shotgun World Cup: 4–14 July 2025, Lonato del Garda, Italy

The International Day of Families (IDF) is observed annually on 15 May; 2025 marks the 31st anniversary of the International Year of the Family (IYF, 1994).

• Theme 2025: ‘Family-Oriented Policies for Sustainable Development: Towards the Second World Summit for Social Development’
• Proclaimed by: UNGA via Resolution A/RES/47/237 (1993); 1st IDF: 15 May 1994
• Coordinated by: UN DESA’s Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

Robert Douglas Benton (b. 29 September 1932, Benton, Texas; d. 11 May 2025, Manhattan, NY) passed away at 92. Received 6 Academy Award nominations and won 3 Oscars:

• Best Director + Best Adapted Screenplay — Kramer vs Kramer (1979) (also won Best Picture)
• Best Original Screenplay — Places in the Heart (1984)

Career: Art director at Esquire magazine; co-wrote ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ (1967) (revolutionised Hollywood); directorial debut — The Late Show (1977); final film — Feast of Love (2007). Awards: Ian McLellan Hunter Award (WGA, 1995); Laurel Award for screenwriting (2007).

Celebrity makeup artist Vikram Gaikwad (b. 1960, Jalgaon, Maharashtra; d. May 2025, Mumbai; age 65) won 3 National Awards for Best Makeup Artist:

• Moner Manush (2010, Bengali)
• Dirty Picture + Balgandharva (2011, Hindi + Marathi)
• Jaatishwar (2014, Bengali)

Notable works: 83, Uri: The Surgical Strike, Ponniyin Selvan, Dangal, PK, 3 Idiots, Sanju, Tanhaji. IIFA awards: Dirty Picture (2012), Bhaag Milka Bhaag (2014), Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2016). Began career with film Sardar.