Current Affairs Oner - Liner : 14th May 2025

National:

• The Adani Group launched India’s first hydrogen-powered mining truck in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on May 10, 2025. Flagged off by CM Vishnu Deo Sai, the 40-tonne payload truck has a 200 km range per refill. It replaces diesel trucks for coal transport, cutting emissions with zero pollution and only water vapor output.

• The Water Heritage Museum of CWRDM in Kozhikode, Kerala was added to WAMU-NET (Global Network of Water Museums) on May 11, 2025. This recognition highlights India’s efforts in water conservation and heritage preservation. The museum showcases historical water management practices and indigenous knowledge.
• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated India’s first 3-nanometer chip design centres on May 13, 2025, in Noida and Bengaluru. These centres mark a technological leap, advancing semiconductor innovation and strengthening India's chip ecosystem. Developed by Renesas Electronics India, they align with the India Semiconductor Mission to boost self-reliance in chip manufacturing.

International:

• The United States and UAE signed economic partnership agreements on May 13, 2025, spanning technology, energy, investment, and defense. UAE-based MGX, Microsoft, and xAI launched a $100 billion AI infrastructure project in the U.S. ADQ signed a $25 billion clean energy deal to power U.S. data centers, strengthening bilateral innovation. UAE investments in the U.S. exceeded $1 trillion, reinforcing strategic ties.
• India’s HLL Lifecare Limited signed an agreement with Maldives’ State Trading Organization (STO) on May 13, 2025, to supply essential medicines under PMBJP. This initiative ensures affordable pharmaceutical access, supporting Maldives’ national health scheme, Aasandha. The agreement links HLL’s Janaushadhi network, offering 2,000+ generic medicines and 300 surgical items.
• The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced on May 12, 2025, that it will lay down arms and disband, ending its 40-year insurgency against Turkey. The decision follows a call by PKK’s imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan, urging the group to adopt democratic means. The announcement signals a potential shift in Turkey-Kurdish relations after decades of conflict.
• U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a $600 billion economic and defense partnership agreement in Jeddah on May 13, 2025. The deal includes $142 billion in defense sales, featuring advanced warfighting systems. Saudi firm DataVolt pledged $20 billion for AI-driven data centers in the U.S. This agreement strengthens bilateral trade, energy security, and technology collaboration.

Banking:

• Qatar National Bank (QNB) became the first Middle East and Africa (MEA) bank to open a branch in India’s GIFT City, Gujarat, on May 7, 2025. The branch will offer multi-currency financial products and support Indian corporations with global banking solutions. This expansion strengthens India’s global financial presence, aligning with its growing foreign exchange reserves. QNB now operates in 28 markets across three continents, broadening its international reach.
• Canara Bank launched CANARA TruEdge on May 13, 2025, offering specialized banking solutions for institutional clients. It features zero initial deposit, a dynamic 5-tier MAB structure, and integrated digital tools like Canara Easy Fee and API banking. Institutions benefit from charge waivers, free Coursera licenses, and dedicated relationship managers.
• Union Bank of India launched the Wellness Deposit scheme on May 13, 2025, offering a 375-day term deposit with health insurance benefits. Customers receive 6.75% interest, with senior citizens getting an extra 0.50%, plus a ₹5 lakh Super Top-up Health Insurance. The scheme includes a RuPay Select Debit Card and allows premature closure and loans against deposits.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a ₹1.72 crore penalty on State Bank of India (SBI) on May 9, 2025, for regulatory violations. The fine was due to loan breaches, delays in crediting unauthorized transactions, and improper current account management. RBI acted under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, following its 2023 supervisory inspection.

MoUs:

• The Game Developers Association of India (GDAI) and the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) signed an MoU at WAVES Summit 2025 in Mumbai on May 7, 2025. The partnership aims to boost gaming exports, investment facilitation, and skill development in India. It focuses on AR/VR, AI, metaverse, and gamification technologies to strengthen the gaming industry.

Science & Technology:

• Chinese researchers developed the first-ever Asian rice pangenome, mapping 144 wild and cultivated rice varieties for climate resilience and yield optimization. Using PacBio high-fidelity sequencing, they identified 69,531 genes, including 13,728 unique to wild rice. The study confirms that all Asian cultivated rice originated from the wild ancestor Or-IIIa.

Reports:

• The Consumer Price Index (CPI) Inflation Report for April 2025 was released by MoSPI on May 13, 2025. Retail inflation dropped to 3.16%, the lowest since July 2019, driven by falling food prices. Food inflation declined to 1.78%, with urban inflation at 3.36% and rural at 2.92%. RBI projects inflation to average 4% in FY26, influencing upcoming monetary policy decisions.

Sports:

• Russian Grandmaster Ivan Zemlyanskii and Kazakhstan’s WGM Alua Nurman won the 2025 Asian Blitz Chess Championship held in Al Ain, UAE, on May 10, 20252. Zemlyanskii remained undefeated, scoring 8 points out of 9 rounds, while Nurman secured the women’s title with 7.5 points, edging out GM Valentina Gunina on tiebreaks.

Summits & Conferences:

• The Western Regional Power Conference 2025 was held on May 13, 2025, in Mumbai, chaired by Ghanshyam Prasad, CEA Chairperson. Organized by WRPC, its theme was "Smart Infrastructure & Sustainable Energy Transitions." Key discussions covered smart metering, green energy zones, nuclear expansion, and financial reforms for DISCOMs.

Committees:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level review meeting on May 13, 2025, in New Delhi to advance India’s TB elimination efforts. The meeting reviewed strategies like the 100-Day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, which screened 12.97 crore individuals. The focus was on early detection, treatment, and targeted interventions for high-risk groups.

Appointments:

• Anita Anand was appointed Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Mark Carney government on May 13, 2025. She replaces Mélanie Joly and becomes the first Hindu woman to hold this position. Anand previously served as Minister of Defence, Transport, and International Trade
• Dr. Ajay Kumar, former Defence Secretary, took charge as UPSC Chairman on May 14, 2025, succeeding Preeti Sudan. His appointment was approved by President Droupadi Murmu, and he will serve until October 2027 or until he turns 65.

Obituaries:

• Padma Shri awardee Dr. Subbanna Ayyappan, former Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), passed away on May 10, 2025. His body was found in the Cauvery River near Sai Ashram in Srirangapatna, Karnataka, three days after he was reported missing.
• Former Indian footballer DMK Afzal, a gold medalist at the 1962 Asian Games, passed away on May 7, 2025, at the age of 81. He was a midfield maestro, playing under coach Syed Abdul Rahim during India’s golden football era.

Questions:

Q.1 Who became Canada’s first Hindu woman Foreign Minister in 2025?
a) Anita Anand
b) Mélanie Joly
c) Chrystia Freeland
d) Mary Ng

Answer: a) Anita Anand became Canada’s first Hindu woman Foreign Minister on May 13, 2025, succeeding Mélanie Joly.

Q.2 India’s first hydrogen-powered mining truck was launched in which state?
a) Gujarat
b) Chhattisgarh
c) Odisha
d) Jharkhand

Answer: b) The Adani Group launched India’s first hydrogen-powered mining truck in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on May 10, 2025. This initiative aims to replace diesel trucks in coal transport, reducing emissions.