Current Affairs : 6th May 2025

National:

• British Indian Minister Lisa Nandy, UK’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, signed the India-UK Cultural Cooperation Pact in New Delhi on May 2, 2025. The agreement strengthens bilateral collaboration in arts, heritage, and creative industries. Key partners include the British Council, Arts Council England, British Library, and leading UK museums.

• STRIDE-EUI (Strategic Research, Innovation & Dialogue for EU-India Engagement) was launched on May 3, 2025, to enhance EU-India cooperation in trade, technology, and security. Led by The Dialogue and Grayspace Law & Policy Consulting, it promotes policy research and multi-stakeholder discussions.
• The Haryana Cabinet approved the Excise Policy 2025-27 on May 6, 2025, with key restrictions on liquor shop visibility and advertising. Villages with less than 500 people will no longer have liquor shops, leading to the closure of 152 outlets. Minimum distances from schools, colleges, and religious places increased from 75m to 150m.
• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and International Business Machines (IBM) partnered with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to develop India’s first Quantum Valley Tech Park in Amaravati, launched on May 2, 2025. The facility will house IBM Quantum System Two, featuring India’s largest 156-qubit quantum computer. It aims to accelerate quantum research, industry applications, and talent development.

International:

• Trump announced a 100% tariff on foreign-made films to boost U.S. movie production. Countries like India, Canada, and the UK face challenges due to higher costs. Experts warn of rising ticket prices and declining U.S. box office revenue. Hollywood and global studios are assessing the policy's long-term impact.

Banking:

• Razorpay launched India’s first AI-integrated MCP Server for payments on May 1, 2025. This allows businesses to integrate AI assistants directly into payment workflows, enabling instant transactions without traditional APIs. It streamlines operations, reducing integration time to 15 minutes while enhancing automation. Razorpay aims to make payments ambient, invisible, and agent-driven, shaping fintech innovation.
• The RBI fined five major banks ₹2.52 crore on May 3, 2025, for regulatory violations. ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, Bank of Baroda, and IDBI Bank were penalized. Charges included cybersecurity lapses, KYC non-compliance, excessive fees, and unauthorized transactions. The fines aim to strengthen banking regulations and consumer protection in India.

MoUs:

• The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rhenus Logistics India on May 6, 2025, in New Delhi to enhance cargo movement on national waterways. The partnership will introduce 100 barges, starting with 20 barges and 6 pushers, targeting over 1 million tonnes annually.

Science & Technology:

• Researchers at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) developed an advanced non-invasive blood flow monitoring technology using piezoelectric pressure sensors, launched on May 5, 2025. The system measures blood flow velocity and viscosity to aid in blood clot detection and diagnostics.

Committees:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting in New Delhi on May 5, 2025, to discuss the appointment of the next CBI Director. The meeting included Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The new director will replace Praveen Sood, whose two-year term ends on May 25, 2025.

Defence:

• The Indian Navy and DRDO conducted a successful combat trial of the indigenous Multi-Influence Ground Mine (MIGM) on May 5, 2025. The trial took place at a classified naval testing site, enhancing India's underwater defense capabilities. Developed by NSTL Visakhapatnam, MIGM uses multi-influence sensors to detect and deter enemy ships and submarines.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted maiden flight-trials of its Stratospheric Airship Platform on May 3, 2025, in Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh. The airship ascended to 17 km, carrying surveillance payloads for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.

Important Days:

• World Asthma Day 2025 is on May 6, promoting global asthma awareness. The theme is "Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL", highlighting equitable care. Asthma affects 260 million+ people, with 450,000 preventable deaths annually. GINA leads efforts to improve management and accessibility worldwide.
• International Leopard Day 2025 is observed on May 3 to promote leopard conservation and human-wildlife coexistence. Leopards are listed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List, facing threats like habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.
• World Portuguese Language Day 2025 is celebrated on May 5, promoting the Portuguese language and cultural diversity. The theme is "The Promotion and Dissemination of the Portuguese Language and Cultural Diversity of CPLP Member States: From Traditional Experiences to Digital Platforms."

Appointments:

• Anthony Albanese won his second consecutive three-year term as Australia’s Prime Minister on May 3, 2025. His Labor Party secured a strong majority, marking the first back-to-back PM victory in 21 years. Opposition leader Peter Dutton lost both the election and his own parliamentary seat.
• Salem Saleh Bin Braik was appointed as Yemen's Prime Minister on May 3, 2025. He previously served as Finance Minister, managing economic policies since 2019. His leadership comes amid severe financial struggles and halted oil exports.
• South Korea’s Acting President Han Duck-soo resigned on May 1, 2025, preparing for the June 3 presidential election. His resignation follows the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, which led to Han assuming temporary leadership.
• Sanjay Jaiswal has been appointed as Chairperson of the Committee on Estimates (CoE) for FY 2025-26, overseeing government expenditure reviews. Baijayant Panda has been named Chairperson of the Committee on Public Undertakings (CoPU), monitoring public sector enterprises. Both appointments were confirmed on May 1, 2025.

Awards & Honours:

• The Pulitzer Prizes 2025 were announced on May 5, 2025, recognizing excellence in journalism and arts. ProPublica won Public Service for exposing the impact of abortion bans, while The Washington Post won Breaking News Reporting for covering the Trump assassination attempt. Reuters received Investigative Reporting for its fentanyl supply chain exposé, and The New York Times won International Reporting for its Sudan conflict coverage.

Questions:

Q.1 Which news organization won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service?
a) The New York Times
b) The Washington Post
c) Reuters
d) ProPublica

Answer: d) ProPublica won for exposing the impact of abortion bans, a significant investigative journalism achievement.

Q.2 Where is India’s first Quantum Valley Tech Park being developed?
a) Bengaluru
b) Hyderabad
c) Amaravati
d) Pune

Answer: c) Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and International Business Machines (IBM) partnered with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to develop India’s first Quantum Valley Tech Park in Amaravati, launched on May 2, 2025.