Current Affairs One - Liner : 21st May 2025

National:

• On May 19, 2025, Reliance Power and Bhutan’s Druk Holding and Investments (DHI) announced a ₹2,000 crore joint venture to develop Bhutan’s largest solar power project (500 MW). The project follows a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model, marking the largest private sector FDI in Bhutan’s solar sector. It aims to diversify Bhutan’s renewable energy mix, reducing reliance on hydropower and enhancing grid stability.

• On May 15, 2025, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma introduced Ankita, an AI-powered news anchor, to share Cabinet meeting decisions in Assamese. Ankita announced updates like renaming Dibrugarh Airport after Bhupen Hazarika and financial aid for tea garden workers, enhancing digital governance. This marks Assam’s second AI-driven initiative, following its AI teacher ‘Iris’.
• On May 13, 2025, the Maharashtra Cabinet approved a policy to promote artificial sand (M-Sand) in construction, making its use mandatory for government projects. The policy aims to reduce illegal sand mining, offering MSME status, subsidies, and royalty reductions to M-Sand producers. The state will lease land for crushers, allowing 50 units per district and 1,500 units statewide.

International:

• On May 12, 2025, Nepal’s Yala Glacier in Langtang Valley was officially declared “dead” due to rapid ice loss from global warming. The glacier has shrunk by 66% and retreated 784 meters since the 1970s, marking Asia’s first glacier funeral. Memorial plaques highlight the loss of 54,000 glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, impacting 2 billion people.
• On May 20, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled the Golden Dome missile defense system, a $175 billion initiative to counter ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missile threats. The system integrates space-based interceptors, advanced tracking technologies, and laser weapons.
• On May 14, 2025, Colombia officially joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) during Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s visit to Beijing, where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the China-CELAC Forum. The agreement aims to enhance trade, infrastructure development, and investment, with China pledging to import more Colombian products and support Chinese enterprises investing in Colombia.
• On May 20, 2025, the Sunday Times Rich List 2025 ranked the Hinduja family as the UK’s richest for the fourth consecutive year, with a net worth of £35.3 billion. Despite a decline from £37.2 billion last year, they maintained their lead, followed by the Reuben brothers (£26.87 billion) and Sir Leonard Blavatnik (£25.72 billion). Their 110-year-old conglomerate, spanning banking, mobility, media, and energy, continues expanding globally.

Banking:

• Since April 1, 2025, Tamil Nadu received the highest allocation from Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in FY26, totaling ₹2,900 crore, surpassing Uttar Pradesh (₹2,100 crore) and Bihar (₹2,000 crore). The MGNREGS budget remains at ₹86,000 crore, ensuring continuous funding based on employment demand.
• On May 17, 2025, RBI announced the upcoming issuance of ₹20 banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series, featuring Governor Sanjay Malhotra’s signature. The new notes will retain the existing design with Ellora Caves motif on the reverse side. All previously issued ₹20 banknotes will remain valid legal tender.
• On May 20, 2025, RBI granted in-principle approvals to ZikZuk for issuing Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI) and Emirates NBD for establishing a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) in India. ZikZuk’s approval strengthens India’s fintech ecosystem, enabling digital payments via third-party apps.
• Apollo SBI Card SELECT, launched by SBI Card in partnership with Apollo HealthCo, offers exclusive healthcare and wellness benefits. Cardholders receive up to 25% value back on Apollo purchases, priority healthcare access, and a complimentary 1-year FITPASS PRO membership. The card comes with a ₹1,499 annual fee, waived on ₹3 lakh+ yearly spends.

MoUs:

• On May 15, 2025, in New Delhi, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) and the Foundation for Development of Rural Value Chains (FDRVC) signed an MoU to improve access to sustainable agricultural inputs for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) across India. The initiative will benefit over 800 FPOs and one million farmers, supporting climate-smart farming and rural economic growth.
• On May 20, 2025, Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL) and IIT Delhi signed an MoU in New Delhi to enhance scientific capabilities and ease of doing business. The collaboration focuses on modernizing customs testing, integrating high-end instrumentation, and improving trace-level detection

Sports:

• At the Italian Open 2025 (May 6–18, Rome), Carlos Alcaraz won his first Italian Open title on May 18, 2025, defeating Jannik Sinner 7–6 (7–5), 6–1 in the Men’s Singles final. In the Women’s Singles, Jasmine Paolini triumphed over Coco Gauff 6–4, 6–2 on May 17, 2025, also winning the doubles title with Sara Errani, becoming the first Italian woman to achieve this since Monica Seles in 1990.
• On May 20, 2025, Indian javelin thrower Shivpal Singh failed a dope test for the second time, testing positive for methandienone. His urine sample, collected earlier this year at NIS Patiala, led to a provisional suspension by NADA.
• On May 20, 2025, Spanish football legend Pepe Reina announced his retirement at age 42, ending a 25-year career. His final match will be for Como in Serie A against Inter Milan. Reina won the 2010 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euros (2008 & 2012), and three Premier League Golden Gloves.

Apps & Portals:

• On May 14, 2025, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched i-PRAGATI and ‘Tera Tujhko Arpan’ portals to enhance police services. i-PRAGATI offers real-time updates on FIR investigations, while ‘Tera Tujhko Arpan’ expedites cybercrime refunds via Lok Adalats. Citizens can also request unfreezing of frozen bank accounts linked to cybercrime cases online.
• On May 20, 2025, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi launched three digital platforms—Depot Darpan, Anna Mitra, and Anna Sahayata—to modernize India’s Public Distribution System (PDS). Depot Darpan enhances foodgrain depot monitoring, Anna Mitra provides real-time PDS data, and Anna Sahayata streamlines grievance redressal. These platforms aim to increase transparency, improve efficiency, and empower beneficiaries.

Important Days:

• World Metrology Day is celebrated annually on May 20 to highlight the importance of measurement science in trade, health, and innovation. The 2025 theme, “Measurements for all times, for all people,” emphasizes the role of metrology in shaping history and the future.
• National Anti-Terrorism Day is observed annually on May 21 in India to raise awareness about terrorism’s impact and promote peace and unity. The day marks the death anniversary of former PM Rajiv Gandhi, assassinated on May 21, 1991.
• International Tea Day is observed annually on May 21 to recognize tea’s cultural, economic, and social significance. The 2025 theme, “Tea for Better Lives,” highlights tea’s role in improving livelihoods and strengthening communities. Established by the United Nations in 2019, it was first celebrated on May 21, 2020.

Appointments:

• On May 19, 2025, Sudan’s army chief Abdel-Fattah Burhan appointed Kamil al-Taib Idris as the country’s first prime minister since the civil war began in April 2023. Idris will lead a transitional government, following the army’s recapture of Khartoum in March 2025.
• On May 13, 2025, Manoj Kumar Jhawar was appointed as CMD of PTC India, transitioning from his previous role as Whole Time Director (Commercial & Operations). With over three decades of expertise in power distribution, IT management, finance, and engineering, he brings extensive leadership experience.

Awards & Honours:

• On May 19, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO) awarded India the Certificate of Elimination of Trachoma as a Public Health Problem at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva. India became the third country in WHO’s South-East Asia Region to eliminate trachoma after Nepal and Myanmar.
• On May 18, 2025, the Sansad Ratna Awards 2025 honored 17 MPs and 2 Parliamentary Standing Committees for exemplary parliamentary contributions. Maharashtra led the awards with 7 MPs, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam. Special awards recognized Supriya Sule, Shrirang Barne, Bhartruhari Mahtab, and N.K. Premachandran for consistent parliamentary excellence.
• On May 20, 2025, Banu Mushtaq won the International Booker Prize for her Kannada short story collection "Heart Lamp", translated by Deepa Bhasthi. Mushtaq is the first Kannada author to win the award, and Bhasthi is the first Indian translator to receive the honor.

Questions:

Q.1 Which glacier in Nepal was declared “dead” on May 12, 2025, due to global warming?
a) Khumbu Glacier
b) Yala Glacier
c) Ngozumpa Glacier
d) Imja Glacier

Answer: b) The Yala Glacier in Langtang Valley was declared “dead” after shrinking by 66% and retreating 784 meters since the 1970s.

Q.2 Who won the International Booker Prize 2025 for the Kannada short story collection "Heart Lamp"?
a) Banu Mushtaq
b) Deepa Bhasthi
c) Girish Karnad
d) U.R. Ananthamurthy

Answer: a) Banu Mushtaq won the International Booker Prize for "Heart Lamp", translated by Deepa Bhasthi, marking a historic win for Kannada literature.