Daily Current Affairs

Union MoS L. Murugan (Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways / MPA) announced a commemorative postage stamp at the king’s 1,350th birth anniversary at Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu (May 23, 2025).

• Stamp (to be released in 2026) will bear the image of Tamil king Perarasar Perumpidugu Mutharaiyar; a manimandapam (memorial hall) to also be constructed
• DoP and Tamil Nadu Forest Dept (TNFD) released a special cover for the ‘Born to Fly’ campaign under International Day for Biological Diversity 2025 (May 22) at Head Post Office, Coimbatore

The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) co-hosted the 2nd Blue Talks at Prithvi Bhawan, New Delhi with the France and Costa Rica embassies. Chaired by MoES Secretary Dr. M. Ravichandran.

• Released white paper: ‘Transforming India’s Blue Economy: Investment, Innovation and Sustainable Growth’
• Promotes SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and sustainable ocean resource utilisation
• Held ahead of 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), Nice, France, June 9–13, 2025 (hosted by France & Costa Rica)

TN CM M.K. Stalin inaugurated India’s first Mahouts’ Village at Theppakadu Elephant Camp, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu.

• 44 eco-friendly houses built by TNFD at cost ₹5.6 crore for mahouts and cavadies
• Houses named after elephants that died in service; lanes named after camp elephants; basketball court and solar fencing added
• Beneficiaries: mahouts from Irular, Vettakorumbar, and Kattunayakar tribal communities

The UP government, with Indian Railways, launched India’s first Vistadome jungle safari train between Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (Bahraich) and Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (Pilibhit).

• Train: Bichia–Mailani Tourist Passenger | 107 km forest route | 9 stations | journey ~4 hrs 25 min | ticket: ₹275/person
• Vistadome coaches: panoramic windows, transparent glass roofs, rotating seats for wildlife viewing
• Part of UP’s ‘One Destination, Three Forests’ initiative integrating Dudhwa NP, Katarniaghat WS, and Kishanpur WS

Spice Board of India (Kochi, under MoC&I) launched the SPICED scheme — Sustainability in Spice Sector through Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative Interventions for Export Development.

• Approved outlay: ₹422.30 crore (FY26); ₹130 crore disbursed to ~45,000 beneficiaries
• Targets: enhanced cardamom productivity, post-harvest quality, exports of value-added, organic, and GI-tagged spices
• Equipment supported: dryers, slicers, dehullers, polishers, turmeric boilers, mint distillation units
• Spice Incubation Centres for startups/MSMEs
• Priority: SC/ST communities, North-Eastern states, first-time exporters

Ministry of MSME tied up with the Danish Patent and Trademark Office (DKPTO) under the MSME-SCIP (Support for Commercialisation of IP) programme.

• Objective: streamline acquisition and commercialisation of patents, trademarks, and technology licenses for Indian MSMEs
• Ministry bears 70% of registration/acquisition costs; target: 2,500 innovations registered in FY26
• Facilitated through Intellectual Property Facilitation Centres (IPFCs) across India

The 6th World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition was held on May 20–22, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Theme: ‘Navigating Challenges with Solid Form of Financial Investment Decision (FIDs)’.

• Organised by Sustainable Energy Council (SEC, London) and Rx Global (UK) with Netherlands government
• India represented by MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi
• Juno Joule Green Energy (Hyderabad) signed MoU with Select Energy GmbH (Hamburg) to develop a green hydrogen and ammonia export facility at Mulapeta Port, Andhra Pradesh
• Hyundai Motor Group (Seoul) showcased hydrogen leadership at the Korean Pavilion

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) released its inaugural State of the World’s Animal Health report on May 23, 2025.

• 47% of WOAH-notified diseases (2005–2023) are zoonotic (capable of infecting humans or spreading between animals)
• Avian influenza outbreaks in mammals: 1,022 in 55 countries (2024) — more than double the 459 outbreaks in 2023
• Rising spread of ASF, avian influenza (HPAI), FMD, and PPR threatening agrifood systems globally
• Released ahead of WOAH’s 92nd session (May 25–29, 2025, Paris)

The 15th BRICS Trade Ministers’ Meeting was held under Brazil’s Presidency; theme: ‘Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance’.

• India represented by Yashvir Singh (Economic Adviser, DoC, MoC&I); opposed export controls among BRICS members
• India proposed the ’30 for 30′ initiative: 30 reforms to mark WTO’s 30th anniversary in 2025
• India hosted a Virtual Capacity Building Session on Digital Transformation for BRICS, organised by DoT through NCA-T, Ghaziabad