Daily Current Affairs

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) extended the deadline for completing houses sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) to December 31, 2025 (from the original March 31, 2022 deadline).

• Launched June 2015 under the ‘Housing for All’ mission
• Covers: EWS (up to ₹3L income), LIG (₹3–6L), MIG-I (₹6–9L), and slum dwellers
• PMAY-U 2.0 launched in 2024; supports BLC, AHP, CLSS, and ISSR verticals
• Since inception: over 92.61 lakh houses constructed across India

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment organised the ‘Inclusive India Summit’ on Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD, May 15) in hybrid mode at India International Centre, New Delhi. Co-organised with SBI Foundation and National Association for the Blind (NAB).

• DEPwD signed MoUs with: I for Humanity Foundation, Nipman Foundation, YLAC, and Ramp my city Foundation to advance inclusive development and digital accessibility

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi (MoCAF&PD) launched three initiatives to transform India’s Public Distribution System (PDS):

• Depot Darpan — digital self-assessment and monitoring web portal for food grain depots; graded on operational performance (60%) and infrastructure standards (40%); 5-star rating for top performers
• Anna Mitra — mobile app for FPS dealers to view stock receipts, monthly sales reports, and receive timely alerts
• Anna Sahayata — beneficiary-facing app to empower NFSA recipients

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched a Pilot Apprenticeship Scheme under NAPS (National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme) in Aizawl, Mizoram, co-launched by MoS Jayant Chaudhary and Mizoram CM Lalduhoma. Budget: ₹43.93 crore.

• ~26,000 Northeast youths will receive ₹1,500/month extra stipend for one year
• Overseen by IIE Guwahati and NSDC, supported by Regional Directorates of Skill Development

Mizoram CM Lalduhoma declared Mizoram as India’s first fully literate state in the presence of MoS Jayant Chaudhary (MoE) at Mizoram University, Aizawl. Mizoram has achieved a 98.2% literacy rate (PLFS 2023–24), surpassing the 95% benchmark set by MoE.

• Achieved through ULLAS – New India Literacy Programme (NILP) — centrally sponsored scheme (2022–27), aligned with NEP 2020, targeting adults aged 15+
• 3,026 illiterate persons identified; 1,692 enrolled and taught by 292 volunteer teachers (students, educators, resource persons)

The Indian Army (Spear Corps Engineers) and NDRF conducted Exercise Raahat (May 13–15, 2025) at Rangapahar Military Station, Dimapur, Nagaland to enhance disaster relief readiness for the monsoon season.

• Involved: scenario-based planning, real-life case studies, demonstration of disaster relief equipment, and simulated rescue and medical operations
• Flood Relief Columns from Spear Corps units reinforced inter-agency cooperation protocols between the Army and NDRF

The Department of Posts (India Post) released a ₹5 commemorative postage stamp celebrating 125 years of the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KSO) at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru.

• Established April 1, 1899 | altitude: 2,343 m, Palani Hills, Tamil Nadu | operated by IIA
• India’s oldest astronomical observatory; one of the world’s longest continuous solar data records — over 45,000 digitized solar images
• Focus: solar spectroscopy, sunspot observations, helioseismology
• Stamp features an H-alpha image of the sun taken at KSO on May 6, 2024

DPIIT (MoC&I) signed a 2-year MoU with GEAPP (Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, New York) to support early-stage climate-tech startups in India through funding, mentorship, and growth enablement.

• GEAPP will launch the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE) — competitive platform offering rewards up to USD 500,000 (~₹4 crore) for high-impact clean energy solutions
• Investment support from Spectrum Impact and Avana Capital (both Mumbai)

The BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting 2025 was held in Brasilia, Brazil under the theme “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance” (Brazil’s BRICS presidency). India represented by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar (Ministry of Power and MoHUA).

• India highlighted 475 GW electricity generation capacity in 2025 — a 90% increase over the past decade
• Target: 900 GW by 2032
• India invited BRICS members to the 2026 BRICS Energy Gathering hosted by India

Per ACI World’s Top 10 Busiest Airports by Passenger Traffic 2024-25, IGIA (DEL), New Delhi ranked 9th globally with 77,820,834 passengers — busiest in India and 3rd in Asia (behind Dubai DXB and Tokyo HND).

As per Vortexa (London), the USA surpassed UAE to become India’s 4th largest crude oil supplier in April 2025. India’s crude imports from the USA doubled to 0.33 mbd (up from 0.17 mbd in April 2024), accounting for 7.3% of India’s total crude imports vs UAE’s 6.4%.

Following PM Modi–President Trump discussions (February 2025), India targets raising US energy imports from USD 15 billion to USD 25 billion.

The Government of India approved the first offshore campus of IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi) in Dubai, UAE, with NOCs from MEA, MHA, and UGC. Will offer full-time and executive education programmes aligned with regional market needs.

• Follows the 2023 launch of IIT Madras in Zanzibar, Tanzania

EnKash (Mumbai-based B2B fintech, founded 2018) launched the EnKash Payment Gateway — India’s first payment gateway purpose-built for 63+ million SMBs and startup merchants. Addresses issues like 20–30% failure rates during peak hours, manual reconciliation, and disjointed spend systems.

• Features: unified payments and spend stack, low-code/no-code integration, automated reconciliation, zero-cost lifetime support
• Security: PCI DSS compliance, end-to-end encryption, tokenization, real-time threat assessment
• Holds RBI-regulated PAPG, BBPOU, and PPI licences

MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) secured a ₹1,500 crore loan from Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) for the first phase of a ₹8,498 crore SRA project to redevelop Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Kamraj Nagar, Ghatkopar, Mumbai.

• Will rehabilitate ~17,000 slum dwellers in free 300 sq ft 1-BHK homes + 5,000 additional apartments
• Funding: 46% institutional loans | 39% internal revenue | 15% other sources
• Expected completion: 48 months (15-year BoM loan)

CCI approved four major deals on May 20, 2025:

• Bajaj Group acquires Allianz’s stakes in insurance JV for ₹24,180 crore
• Majority stake acquisition in Nazara Technologies by Axana Estates LLP, Plutus Wealth Management LLP, and Junomoneta Finsol Pvt. Ltd
• Temasek Holdings (Singapore) clears minority stake acquisition in Haldiram Snacks Food (HSFPL) via JongSong Investments Pte. Ltd
• 360 ONE WAM cleared for combined acquisition of Batlivala & Karani Securities and Batlivala & Karani Finserv

Singtel (Singapore) sold ~1.2% stake in Bharti Airtel via Pastel Limited (Mauritius arm) for SGD 2 billion (~₹13,182 crore). 71 million shares sold at ₹1,814/share; estimated gain of SGD 1.4 billion. Post-divestment: Singtel’s total Airtel stake reduces from 29.5% to 28.3%, valued at SGD 48 billion.

Star Health and Allied Insurance (India’s largest retail health insurer) expanded its flagship Super Star plan (1.6 lakh policies, ₹580 crore revenue in 7 months) with Star Flexi — three variants:

• Essential — ₹5L cover; for Tier 2/3 first-time buyers
• Preferred — for urban families; air ambulance cover ₹5L
• Secure — comprehensive; no room rent cap; limitless loyalty bonus

HDFC Bank launched Biz+ Current Accounts — tiered MSME banking suite under a One Bank approach: Biz Lite+ (setup), Biz Pro+ (growth), Biz Ultra+ (expansion), and Biz Elite+ (diversification). Benefits: bundled liability products, asset solutions, digital payment tools, and dedicated RM support.

Banu Mushtaq (Bengaluru) and translator Deepa Bhasthi won the International Booker Prize 2025 for the Kannada short story collection ‘Heart Lamp: Selected Stories’ — the first short story collection and first Kannada work to win the prize. Announced by author Max Porter at Tate Modern, London, May 20, 2025.

• Banu Mushtaq: first Kannada author and first Muslim woman from India to win the International Booker
• Deepa Bhasthi: first Indian translator and 9th female translator to win
• Prize: GBP 50,000 (~USD 66,000) — shared equally between author and translator

Chinese basketball legend Miao Lijie and Japanese star Yuko Oga were named ambassadors for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 (31st edition), to be held in Shenzhen, China, July 13–20, 2025 — China’s first hosting in 10 years.

Indian cue sports legend Pankaj Advani won his 3rd consecutive CCI Billiards Classic title by defeating Dhruv Sitwala 5–2 in the final at Wilson Jones Billiards Hall, Mumbai (April 25 – May 4, 2025). Prize money: ₹2.5 lakh (winner), ₹1.5 lakh (runner-up).

• Adds to his record of 28 IBSF World Championship titles and 36 national titles
• Asian Games golds: 2006 Doha and 2010 Guangzhou

The UN observes International Tea Day (ITD) on May 21 annually; 2025 marks the 6th ITD.

• First observed: December 15, 2005, New Delhi (initiated by tea workers)
• India proposed a globally recognised ITD at the FAO IGG on Tea meeting (October 2015)
• UNGA officially declared May 21 as ITD in December 2019; first UN-recognised ITD: May 21, 2020

Observed annually on May 21, led by UNESCO (Paris), this day highlights cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue, and sustainable development.

• UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity in November 2001 — recognising it as the ‘common heritage of humanity’
• UNGA passed Resolution A/RES/57/249 on December 20, 2002, proclaiming May 21 as the day
• First observed: May 21, 2003

National Anti-Terrorism Day is observed on May 21 — marking the death anniversary of former PM Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated on May 21, 1991 by an LTTE suicide bomber at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. 2025 marks the 34th death anniversary of India’s 6th PM (1984–1989).

• Established by GoI in 1992; coordinated by the Ministry of Home Affairs

M.R. (Malur Ramasamy) Srinivasan — former Chairman of AEC (Atomic Energy Commission) and Founder-Chairman of NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited) — passed away at age 95 in Ooty, Tamil Nadu. Born January 5, 1930, Bengaluru.

• Joined DAE in 1955; worked with Dr. Homi Bhabha on India’s first reactor Apsara (criticality: August 1956)
• Principal Project Engineer for India’s first Atomic Power Station (1959)
• Chairman of AEC and Secretary of DAE (1987); founded NPCIL; led development of 18 nuclear power units
• Senior Advisor to IAEA, Vienna (1990–92); founder member of WANO (World Association of Nuclear Operators), London

Dr. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar — founder of IUCAA (Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics), Pune — passed away at age 87 in Pune. Born July 19, 1938, Kolhapur, Maharashtra.

• Known for the Hoyle–Narlikar theory of gravity (1963), with Sir Fred Hoyle — integrating Einstein’s theory with Mach’s principle as an alternative to the Big Bang model
• Joined TIFR (1972); founded IUCAA in 1988, serving as director until 2003
• President of the Cosmology Commission of the IAU (1994–97); authored 30+ books in English and Marathi; founding member of the World Cultural Council (1981)