- On May 11, 2025, Indore was officially declared India’s first beggar-free city after a year-long rehabilitation campaign. Over 5,000 beggars were rehabilitated, with children enrolled in schools and adults provided employment opportunities. Strict regulations ban begging, donating to beggars, and purchasing from street beggars, with a ₹1,000 reward for reporting violations.
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- On May 6, 2025, Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) became the first U.S. university to set up a degree-granting campus in India. Located in Mumbai, the university is investing $50 million to offer programs in computer science, engineering, and business. Approved by India’s University Grants Commission (UGC), students will have access to cross-campus study options and research collaborations.
- On May 13, 2025, JSW One Platforms achieved unicorn status after raising $40 million in a funding round. The investment, led by Principal Asset Management, OneUp, and JSW Steel, pushed its valuation to $1 billion. The funds will expand national supply chains in steel and cement, and enhance credit access for MSMEs.
- On May 14, 2025, the Union Cabinet approved India’s 6th semiconductor unit near Jewar Airport, Uttar Pradesh under the India Semiconductor Mission. This ₹3,706 crore joint venture between HCL and Foxconn will manufacture display driver chips for mobile devices, laptops, and automobiles. Located in Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), the plant will produce 3.6 crore chips monthly starting in 2027.
- On May 14, 2025, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) suspended its academic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Inonu University, Turkey, citing national security concerns. The MoU, signed in February 2025, aimed to enhance cross-cultural research and student exchanges. JNU’s decision follows Turkey’s growing defense cooperation with Pakistan, raising security risks for India.
- On May 14, 2025, Donald Trump signed $243.5 billion worth of agreements with Qatar, covering aviation, defense, and technology investments. Key deals include Boeing’s $96 billion aircraft sale to Qatar Airways and Raytheon’s $1 billion counter-drone system. Qatar also committed $1 billion to quantum technologies, strengthening US-Qatar strategic cooperation.
- India’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation fell to 0.85% in April 2025, its lowest level in 13 months. Food inflation eased to 2.55%, while fuel prices dropped by 2.18%, contributing to the decline. The Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation also fell to 3.16%, the lowest since July 2019. This drop reflects softening commodity prices, improved supply conditions, and global economic trends.
- On May 13, 2025, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Instruments Research & Development Establishment (IRDE), Dehradun to enhance India’s Space Situational Awareness (SSA). The collaboration aims to enhance India’s ground-based Space Situational Awareness (SSA) by utilizing ARIES’ observational facilities, developing electro-optical surveillance systems, and advancing AI-based image processing for space monitoring.
- Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood released India's Priority Corridors for Zero-Emission Trucking report on May 9, 2025. It identifies ten highway corridors for early adoption of zero-emission trucks (ZETs) to reduce freight emissions. Developed with IIT Madras, Rocky Mountain Institute, and pManifold, it supports India’s PM E-DRIVE scheme. The corridors aim to decarbonize logistics, enhance infrastructure, and promote sustainable transport solutions.
- On May 14, 2025, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) released the 23rd Annual South Asia Press Freedom Report (SAPFR) 2024-25. The report highlights India’s declining press freedom, citing legal suppression, journalist detentions, and government influence over media houses. It flags AI-generated misinformation and political disinformation campaigns as emerging threats to media independence.
- Taiwan conducted its first live-fire test of the US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) on May 12, 2025 at Jiupeng Base in Pingtung County. The Taiwan Army’s 58th Artillery Command fired 33 rockets from 11 launch vehicles, with US personnel assisting on-site.
- Karnataka launched the Petologist App on May 9, 2025, developed by Transduceideas Technologies LLP. The app connects pet parents, clinics, and farms with licensed veterinarians for digital health management. Key features include vaccination tracking, medication reminders, telemedicine consultations, and farm animal monitoring.
- The Assam Cabinet approved the “Eti Koli Duti Paat” scheme on May 10, 2025, offering ₹5,000 to tea garden workers. The scheme marks 200 years of Assam Tea and benefits both permanent and temporary tea garden workers. The Dibrugarh Airport will be renamed after Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika on his 100th birth anniversary.
- Harvansh P. Chawla was appointed as Chairman of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry on May 13, 2025. A leading expert in international trade law, he aims to strengthen economic ties and reduce trade barriers among BRICS nations. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of K.R. Chawla & Co. Advocates, with three decades of global advisory experience.
- Santosh Kumar Sarangi was appointed as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) on May 12, 2025, following Rameshwar Prasad Gupta’s removal on May 10. Currently serving as Secretary of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), he holds the CMD role until further orders.
- Ed Smith was appointed as the next President of MCC on May 8, 2025, and will take charge on October 1, 2025. A former England selector and cricketer, he played for Kent, Middlesex, and England, scoring nearly 13,000 first-class runs. After retiring in 2008, he transitioned into media, authored five books, and served as England’s chief selector from 2018 to 2021.
- Brazilian microbiologist Mariangela Hungria won the 2025 World Food Prize for her work in biological nitrogen fixation. Her research helps farmers reduce chemical fertilizer use, improving soil health and crop yields sustainably. The World Food Prize Foundation announced her selection on May 13, 2025, recognizing her global impact on agriculture.
- José Mujica, former President of Uruguay, passed away on May 14, 2025, at the age of 89, after battling esophageal cancer. Renowned as the “world’s poorest president”, he donated most of his salary and lived on a modest farm.
Questions:
Q.1 Who was appointed as the new Chairman of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce?a) Rameshwar Prasad Gupta
b) Harvansh P. Chawla
c) Santosh Kumar Sarangi
d Ed Smith
Answer: b) Harvansh P. Chawla, an expert in trade law, was appointed. BRICS-related appointments are relevant for international relations sections.
Q.2 What was India’s WPI inflation rate in April 2025?
a) 0.85%
b) 2.55%
c) 3.16%
d) 4.10%
a) 0.85%
b) 2.55%
c) 3.16%
d) 4.10%
Answer: a) The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) fell to 0.85%, the lowest in 13 months. Inflation data is frequently asked in RBI and economic exams.
