Current Affairs One - Liner : 18th & 19th May 2025

National:

• On May 13, 2025, Rajasthan’s Sangri bean received the GI tag, recognizing its cultural and culinary significance. Grown on the Khejri tree, it is valued for its nutrition and drought resistance. The GI status ensures authenticity, benefiting local farmers and preserving Rajasthan’s food heritage.

• On May 13, 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare (MoA&FW) released three new crop varieties developed by BHU for Uttar Pradesh farmers. These include flood-resistant rice, high-yield rice, and mustard with 39.4% oil content. The varieties aim to enhance productivity and support climate resilience.
• On May 14, 2025, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated India’s first 3nm chip design centres in Noida and Bengaluru, developed by Renesas Electronics India. These centres mark a milestone in India’s semiconductor strategy, advancing beyond 7nm and 5nm designs. The initiative aligns with the India Semiconductor Mission, focusing on design, fabrication, and supply chain integration.
• On May 16, 2025, Sikkim celebrated its golden jubilee, marking 50 years since its integration into India. The celebrations featured a Tiranga Yatra in Gangtok, heritage walk, and Butterthon race. A special match in the Sikkim Premier League showcased local sports talent.
• On May 18, 2025, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh laid the foundation stone for an Integrated Aquapark in Kailashahar, Tripura, under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The ₹42.4 crore project aims to boost fish production, modernize aquaculture infrastructure, and support sustainable fisheries.
• In May 2025, Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) added Coromandel International & Nykaa to the MSCI Global Standard Index, effective May 30, 2025. Coromandel is expected to attract $227–252 million, while Nykaa may see $181–199 million in passive inflows. No Indian stocks were removed, marking a positive shift in market dynamics.

International:

• On May 17, 2025, India imposed import restrictions on Bangladeshi goods, affecting garments, processed foods, beverages, plastic goods, and wooden furniture. These products can now only enter via Nhava Sheva and Kolkata seaports, barring land border imports. The move follows Bangladesh’s recent trade curbs on Indian exports, impacting 42% of its shipments to India.

Banking:

• On May 9, 2025, LIC hiked its stake in Bank of India (BoI) to 8.38%, up from 6.35% over four years. The acquisition was made through market purchases between September 2, 2021, and May 9, 2025. This move strengthens LIC’s presence in the public sector banking space.
• On May 13, 2025, PayU received final RBI approval to operate as an Online Payment Aggregator (PA). This allows PayU to onboard new merchants and expand its digital payment services. The company supports 150+ online payment methods, enhancing India’s digital payment ecosystem.

Economy:

• In May 2025, FPIs invested ₹18,620 crore into Indian equities, showing renewed investor confidence. Between May 13–16, FPIs infused ₹4,452.3 crore, with the highest inflow of ₹5,746 crore on May 16. Key sectors like Defense (+17%), Capital Markets (+11.50%), and Realty (+10.85%) saw notable gains.

Sports:

• On May 18, 2025, Carlos Alcaraz won his maiden Italian Open title at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy. He defeated Jannik Sinner in the Italian Open 2025 final, securing victory in men’s tennis.
• On May 16, 2025, China’s Zhu Jiner and Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina finished as the top two players in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-25, securing their spots in the Women’s Candidates 2026.
• On May 16, 2025, GM Daneshvar Bardiya of Iran and IM Song Yuxin of China won the 2025 Asian Chess Championship held at the Danat Resort Hotel in Al Ain, UAE2. Bardiya secured the Open category title, while Song Yuxin claimed victory in the Women’s section, both finishing with 7/9 points.
• On May 15, 2025, L.R. Srihari from Tamil Nadu became India’s 86th Grandmaster (GM) in chess. He earned the title at the Asian Individual Men’s Chess Championship in Al-Ain, UAE. His achievement adds to India’s growing chess legacy.
• On May 17, 2025, Miss Estonia Eliise Randmaa won gold in the Miss World 2025 Sports Challenge in Hyderabad, making history for Estonia. She defeated Aurélie Joachim (Martinique) and Emma Morrison (Canada), who won silver and bronze, respectively. The event featured 108 contestants competing in various sports, including badminton, shot put, basketball, and football penalty shootouts.

Defence:

• On May 16, 2025, India unveiled Akashteer, an automated air defense system for real-time threat detection and engagement. Developed by BEL, DRDO, and ISRO, it integrates AI-driven tracking and war-cloud technology. Akashteer was successfully deployed during Operation Sindoor (May 9–10, 2025) to neutralize aerial threats.
• On May 16, 2025, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) signed a contract with the Indian Army Air Defence to manufacture the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System (IDDIS). Developed jointly by DRDO and BEL, IDDIS is designed to detect, track, and neutralize hostile drones, enhancing India's air defense capabilities.

Committees:

• On May 18, 2025, ISRO formed a probe committee chaired by V Narayanan to investigate the PSLV-C61 mission failure. The committee consists of senior ISRO scientists and propulsion experts, analyzing the third-stage anomaly that prevented the EOS-09 satellite from reaching orbit. The aim is to identify the root cause, recommend corrective measures, and ensure future mission reliability.

Important Days:

• On May 17, 2025, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) raises awareness about LGBTQ+ rights and discrimination. The theme for 2025 is “The Power of Communities,” highlighting solidarity and resilience.
• On May 18, 2025, World AIDS Vaccine Day was observed with the theme "Innovate. Immunize. Inspire.". The day emphasized scientific advancements, global immunization efforts, and collaborative awareness. Organizations like WHO, NIAID, and IAVI led initiatives to accelerate HIV vaccine research.
• On May 18, 2025, International Museum Day was observed with the theme "The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities". The day emphasized heritage preservation, youth engagement, and technological adaptation. Over 37,000 museums from 158 countries participated in exhibitions.

Appointments:

• On May 13, 2025, BillDesk Co-Founder M N Srinivasu was appointed Chairperson of IAMAI for the 2025–2027 term. He succeeds Harsh Jain (Dream Sports), with Harshil Mathur (Razorpay) as Vice Chairperson and Sameer Nigam (PhonePe) as Treasurer.
• On May 13, 2025, ONDC appointed Vibhor Jain as Acting CEO, overseeing operations during the leadership transition. The search for a permanent Managing Director & CEO is ongoing. Jain will focus on strengthening ONDC’s digital commerce strategy.

Obituaries:

• Nepaldeb Bhattacharjee, former Rajya Sabha MP and senior CPM leader, passed away on May 13, 2025, at a private hospital in Kolkata following a prolonged illness. He was 74 years old and had withdrawn from active politics due to health issues.

Questions:

Q.1 Who became India’s 86th Grandmaster (GM) in chess in May 2025?
a) R. Praggnanandhaa
b) D. Gukesh
c) L.R. Srihari
d) Vidit Gujrathi

Answer: c) L.R. Srihari from Tamil Nadu earned the GM title at the Asian Individual Chess Championship in Al-Ain, UAE.

Q.2 Which product from Rajasthan received the GI tag on May 13, 2025?
a) Bajra
b) Sangri bean
c) Rajasthani Papad
d) Moth dal

Answer: b) The Sangri bean, grown on the Khejri tree, was awarded the GI (Geographical Indication) tag, recognizing its cultural and culinary significance.