Current Affairs 20 May 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 20 May 2025, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2025 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Northeast Region’s First Geothermal Production Well Drilled in Dirang, ARIn May 2025, the Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh, AR)-based Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CESHS), an autonomous body under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of AR, successfully drilled the Northeast Region’s first Geothermal production well in Dirang village of West Kamal district in AR, marking a major step towards clean and sustainable energy in the Himalayan region.

• The Geothermal Energy project has been supported by the AR government and the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
• The project is a result of an international collaboration with Oslo(Norway) based Norway Geotechnical Institute (NGI), Iceland based Geotrophye hf,  and the drilling team from Guwahati Boring Service(Assam).

Key Points:
i.It uses a closed-loop binary Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system which uses geothermal heat to vaporize an organic fluid in a secondary loop, which drives a turbine to generate electricity.
ii.Following the success of the first drill, CEHS plans to expand operations with deeper drilling in future phases, which will make Dirang as India’s first powered town.
iii.The achievement of the drilling project follows two years of detailed chemical and structural surveys of hot water sources in West AR
iv.The project site at Dirang, is a medium to high temperature geothermal site, with reservoir temperatures estimated at around 115 °C (Degree Celsius), which makes it highly suitable for direct-use geothermal technologies.
v.The Geothermal System is expected to offer several eco-friendly solutions such as drying of agricultural products (fruits, nuts and meat), space heating, and controlled environment-storage.
Note: India’s first geothermal power project was successfully established in the Manuguru region of Telangana, with a 20-Kilowatt (KW) pilot plant developed by Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).
About Arunachal Pradesh(AR):
Chief Minister (CM)– Pema Khandu
Governor- Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik
Capital- Itanagar
Wildlife Sanctuary-Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary

HP Govt Declares ‘Tsarap Chu CR’ as India’s Largest Conservation Reserve
In May 2025, the Himachal Pradesh (HP) Government has formally designated the Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve(CR) located in Spiti Valley(HP) as India’s largest conservation reserve under Section 36A (1) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

• Tsarapu is the 5th CR of HP after Shilli CR, Naina Devi CR, Darlaghat CR and Potter Hills CR.

Key Points:
i.The Tsarapu CR is spreads over 1,585 square kilometres(sq km) and bounded by the Union Territory(UT) of Ladakh to the north, the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary(Hp) extending up to Malang Nala and Lungar Lungpa to the east, Kabjima Nala to the south and Chandratal Wildlife Sanctuary(HP) to the west.

• It is also the location for the confluence of the Unam River and Charap Nala.

ii.Tsarapu CR is one of the areas in HP with a high density of snow leopards. It is often called as the “ghost of the mountains”.
iii.The reserve will be managed through a Conservation Reserve Management Committee (CRMC), which will also include representatives from local panchayats.

• The committee will manage the area while balancing the needs of local communities and wildlife conservation priorities.

ARIES-DST Signed MoU with IRDE-DRDO to Boost Ground-based SSA
In May 2025, Nainital (Uttarakhand) based Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dehradun (Uttarakhand), Instruments Research & Development Establishment (IRDE) a laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to collaborate on strengthening India’s capabilities in ground-based Space Situational Awareness (SSA).

• The primary aim of this MoU is to leverage ARIES’ advanced observational facilities and scientific expertise in space exploration and astronomy to support IRDE in designing Electro-Optical surveillance systems for defence platforms.
• The MoU was signed by Dr. Manish Kumar Naja, Director, ARIES, and Dr. Ajay Kumar, Director of IRDE at Dehradun.

Key Highlights:
i.ARIES will provide access to its state-of-the-art national observing facilities such as:

• 3.6-metre(m) Devasthal Optical Telescope
• Stratosphere-Troposphere (ST) Radar system

ii.The collaboration will enable joint development of Electro-Optics-based systems for astronomy and SSA applications.
iii. It also aims at developing image processing and data analysis techniques by integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies.
iv.The MoU includes knowledge exchange, training activities, and capacity building through joint scientific and technical research & development initiatives.
Note: Established in 1960, the IRDE is a premier DRDO laboratory specializing in the design and development of Electro-Optical surveillance systems.
About Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES):
Director – Dr. Manish Kumar Naja
Headquarters – Nainital, Uttarakhand
Established – 2004

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Highlights of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav’s Visit to Nepal from May 15 to 17, 2025Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) was on an official visit to Nepal from 15th to 17th May 2025. He participated in the first edition of “Sagarmatha Sambaad”, hosted by the Government of Nepal in Kathmandu, Nepal.

• The “Sagarmatha Sambaad” is a global dialogue forum, established by the Government of Nepal, to emphasize the issues of global, regional and national significance.

Highlights:
i.Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, represented India at the inaugural ceremony of the dialogue, reaffirming India’s commitment to regional efforts towards climate action and environmental conservation.
ii.During the event, Union minister Bhupender Yadav, presented a comprehensive five-point call for global action aimed at safeguarding fragile mountain ecosystems.
About Nepal: 
Prime Minister (PM)- Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli
President – Ram Chandra Poudel
Capital- Kathmandu
Currency– Nepalese Rupee (NPR)
>> Read Full News

FAO’s GRFC 2025: Nearly 300 Million People Faced Acute Hunger in 2024In May 2025, Rome (Italy)-based United Nations (UN)’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) released its latest report titled ‘2025 Global Report on Food Crisis (GRFC)’. The report revealed that nearly 300 million (295.3 million) people across 53 countries and territories faced acute levels of hunger in 2024, marking an increase of 13.7 million compared to 2023. Also, nearly 23% of the total people analysed by the report, faced acute food insecurity.

• It is the 5th consecutive year that the number of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity remained above 20% and overall 6th consecutive year of increase in these levels.

i.The report is published annually by the Global Network Against Food Crisis (GNAFC) with analytical support from the Food Security Information Network (FSIN).
ii.As per the report, the number of people facing catastrophic food crises (IPC/CH Phase-5) more than doubled between 2023 and 2024, to reach 1.9 million , which is the highest figure on record since the GRFC started tracking in 2016.This food crisis is mainly driven by armed conflict.

• More than 90% of people facing extreme levels of hunger are in Gaza and Sudan.

About Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO):
Director-General (DG)- Qu Dongyu
Headquarters- Rome, Italy
Established- 1945
>> Read Full News

India, Maldives sign 13 MoUs for projects under Indian grant assistanceIn May 2025, The Government of India(GoI) has signed 13 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with the Government of Maldives for enhancing ferry services in the island nation with Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) 100 million grant(approximately Rs.55.3 crore), expanding maritime connectivity and uplifting community livelihoods.

• The MoUs were signed by Abdulla Khaleel, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Maldivian government, and G Balasubramanian, the High Commissioner of India to the Maldives in Malé, Maldives.
• Mohamed Ameen, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, signed on behalf of the implementing agency.

Key Highlights:
i.The MoUs signed for projects slated for implementation under Phase III of the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP), supported by Indian grant assistance.

• The announcement of Phase III of the HICDP scheme was made during the state visit to India by Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu in October 2024.

ii.The 13 projects launched under this phase, primarily aimed at enhancing ferry services in the Maldives, expanding connectivity, and uplifting community livelihoods.
iii.The project initially scheduled for completion in 2027 is now expected to be finalised by the end of this year.
iv.This collaboration underscores India’s commitment to supporting the Maldives’ socio-economic development, particularly in enhancing maritime connectivity, which is vital for the island nation’s daily life and economic activities.
About Maldives:
President – Mohamed Muizzu
Capital – Male
Currency – Maldivian Rufiyaa(MVR)

BANKING & FINANCE

TCS Partners with Mongolia’s Khan Bank for Digital Banking Modernisation
In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS) announced a strategic partnership with Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) based Khan Bank, a leading commercial bank in Mongolia, to modernise its core digital banking platform.

• The collaboration will leverage TCS’ flagship TCS BaNCS (Banking and Core Systems) Global Banking Platform (GBP) to support Khan Bank’s comprehensive digital transformation by streamlining operations, boosting digital capabilities, and integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered innovations.

i.The transformation will cover key banking functions such as Customer Information File (CIF), Trade finance, Treasury, International payments and Loans and deposits.
ii.TCS BaNCS offers an International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 20022-ready payment solution supporting SWIFT GPI (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication – Global Payments Innovation) and SWIFT Go standards, enabling Khan Bank to offer both high and low-value international payments.
iii.The collaboration between TCS (India) and Khan Bank (Mongolia) marks the continuation of their 25-year-long partnership since 2001.
Note: TCS BaNCS, developed by TCS, is a comprehensive suite of banking and financial services software solutions designed for use by retail banks and financial institutions.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

IndianOil UTT & JioStar Sign 3-Year Broadcast Deal to Boost Table Tennis in India
In May 2025, IndianOil Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), a franchise-based league organized under the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), signed a 3-year agreement with Mumbai(Maharashtra) based JioStar Private Limited, a leading sports broadcaster, to enhance the reach and visibility of table tennis in India.

• Under this agreement, JioStar will serve as the exclusive broadcast and streaming partner of IndianOil UTT till 2027.

i.The collaboration aims to enhance the visibility, reach, and engagement of table tennis across India through live multilingual coverage on television and Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms.
ii.Matches will be broadcast live on Star Sports 2 (for the opening day), Star Sports Khel, and Star Sports Tamil, with digital streaming on JioHotstar in English, Hindi, and Tamil.
iii.IndianOil UTT 2025 is organized under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani. Season 6 will witness 48 top-tier players competing across eight franchises.

• It will be held from May 31 to June 15, 2025 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2025 : Featured 94 Indians; Includes Gukesh D, Ananya Pandey and Ishaan KhatterIn May 2025, New Jersey, the United States of America (USA)-based Forbes, a Business Magazine released its 10th Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List, featuring 94 honourees from India, highest in the Asia-Pacific Region, which includes Chess Grandmaster(GM) Gukesh Dommaraju (18); Actress, Ananya Pandey (26) and Actor, Ishaan Khatter (29).

• The Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2025 list celebrates 300 of the region’s most promising young leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators under the age of 30.
• The 10 categories featured in the 2025 list are: Entertainment & Sports; Consumer & Enterprise Technology; Social Impact; Finance & Venture Capital; Artificial Intelligence (AI); Industry, Manufacturing & Energy; Healthcare & Science, Retail & E-commerce; The Arts (Art & Style, Food & Drink) and Media, Marketing & Advertising.

i.Following India, Australia (32), China (30), Japan (25) and South Korea (23) recorded their entries.
ii.Other prominent names featured on the list include Actor Ananya Panday, global K-pop sensations Stray Kids, actor-singer Cha Eun-woo, actress Go Min-si, Australian-Korean actress Yerin Ha, Filipino pop group BINI, Indian chess grandmaster D Gukesh, and celebrated Paralympian Sheetal Devi.
About Forbes:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Sherry Phillips
Headquarters – New Jersey, the United States of America, USA
Established – 1917
>> Read Full News

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

IDBI Bank Sold Entire 21.14% Stake in PIPDIC to Govt of Puducherry for Rs.18.83 Crore
In May 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based IDBI Bank Limited, a private sector bank in India, completed the sale of its entire 21.14% stake in Puducherry Industrial Promotion Development and Investment Corporation Limited (PIPDIC) for Rs.18.83 crore to the Government of Puducherry, marking a strategic move in its ongoing portfolio rationalisation plan.

• IDBI Bank sold 8,54,000 equity shares of face value Rs.100 each in PIPDIC, representing its entire 21.14% equity stake.
• The buyer, Government of Puducherry, already held 78.86% stake, thus becoming the sole owner of PIPDIC after this acquisition.

Note: PIPDIC was established in 1974 to promote industrial development and provide financial assistance to entrepreneurs in Puducherry.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ISRO’s PSLV-C61 Mission Carrying EOS-09 Satellite Fails Due to Third-Stage AnomalyOn 18th May 2025, Bengaluru, Karnataka based space agency of the Government of India(GoI), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) attempted its 101st mission by launching the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-09) aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C61) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP).

• The mission aimed to place the 1,696.24 kilogram (kg) EOS-09 into a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO) at an altitude of 529 kilometers (km) but failed due to a third-stage(PS3) anomaly.

Cause of Mission Failure:
The PSLV is a four-stage launch vehicle designed for efficient satellite deployment. Its first stage (PS1) comprises a solid rocket motor accompanied by six strap-on boosters. The second stage (PS2) uses the liquid-fueled Vikas engine, while the third stage (PS3) operates with a solid rocket motor to deliver high thrust. The final stage (PS4) is powered by two Earth-storable liquid engines.

• The mission proceeded nominally through the first and second stages. However, during the third stage, an anomaly occurred due to a drop in chamber pressure within the motor case, leading to the failure of the mission.

About the EOS-09 Satellite:
i.It is also known as RISAT-1B, the satellite formed part of India’s Earth Observation Satellite series and marked the program’s ninth mission.
ii.Purpose: Provide 24/7 all-weather surveillance using C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for applications in agriculture, disaster management, forestry, and border security.
iii.Key Features:

• Follow-up to EOS-04 (2022) with enhanced imaging frequency.
• Equipped with five imaging modes, including ultra-high-resolution scans.
• Integrated deorbiting fuel for responsible post-mission disposal to reduce space debris

About PSLV-C61 Rocket: 
i.Rocket Configuration: PSLV-XL (four-stage rocket with 6 strap-on boosters)
ii.Dimensions: 44.5 meters (m) tall, weighing 321 tonnes at liftoff
iii.Flight History:

• This failure marks the third unsuccessful launch out of 63 PSLV launches since its inception in 1993. The previous failures occurred in 1993 (PSLV-D1) and 2017 (PSLV-C39).
• Additionally, this is ISRO’s second mission failure in 2025, following the unsuccessful launch of the NVS-02 navigation satellite in January 2025.
• Apart from this, the PSLV-C1 mission in 1997, which carried the IRS-1D satellite, experienced a partial failure.

About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
Chairman – V Narayanan
Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established – 1969

China Launched 12 AI-Satellites to build World’s 1st Supercomputer in OrbitIn May 2025, China launched First batch of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered satellites aboard a Long March 2D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre to build World’s 1st Supercomputer in Orbit

• These satellites are part of the ‘Three-Body Computing Constellation’, a network designed to match and potentially surpass, the capabilities of the world’s most powerful supercomputers in orbit.
• Batch contains 12 satellites and all are equipped with AI-powered computing systems and high-speed laser communication links, which enables them to process data directly in space.

About Three-Body Computing Constellation:
i.The space supercomputer has been developed by Chinese start-up ADA Space in collaboration with Zhejiang Lab and the Neijiang High-Tech Zone.

• On successful completion of the constellation in space, the system aims to achieve total computing capacity of 1,000 Peta Operations per Second (POPS), equivalent to 1 quintillion operations per second.

iii.Zhuque-2E Y2, a new methane-powered rocket developed by Beijing (China)-based LandSpace Technology Corporation Limited has successfully launched 6 satellites into orbit. This marks the 5th launch of its Zhuque-2 series methane-fueled rocket.

• These satellites were lifted off from a dedicated pad at Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Area at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China.

About LandSpace Technology Corporation Limited:
Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Zhang Changwu
Headquarters- Beijing, China
Founded- 2015
>> Read Full News

SPORTS

Indian GM Praggnanandhaa Wins 1st GCT at Superbet Chess Classic Romania 2025In May 2025, Indian Grandmaster (GM) Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa secured his maiden Grand Chess Tour (GCT) title by winning the Superbet Chess Classic Romania 2025, held in Bucharest (Romania) from May 7 to 16, 2025.

• Praggnanandhaa clinched the title via a three-way blitz playoff against GMs Alireza Firouzja (France) and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France), earning a prize of USD 77,667 and 10 GCT points.
• This win boosted Praggnanandhaa’s International Chess Federation (FIDE) rating to 2758, retaining his World No. 7 rank.

Note: In January 2025, Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian chess player to win the 2025 Tata Steel Chess Masters title (the Netherlands), since Vishwanathan Anand won it in 2006.
Key Highlights:
i.The tournament featured 10 elite GMs from across the globe and followed a single round-robin classical format, offering a total prize fund of USD 350,000.
ii.Praggnanandhaa’s journey to the title included a crucial win against GM Wesley So (United States of America, USA) in the penultimate round, propelling him to the top of the leaderboard.
iii.In the final round, a draw against GM Levon Aronian (USA) using a risk-free French Defense, ensuring a share of first place.
iv.Simultaneously, wins by GMs Firouzja and Vachier-Lagrave led to a three-way tie at 5.5 points each, necessitating a blitz playoff.
v.The playoff followed a single round-robin format with a 5-minute base time and a 2-second increment was held to break the three-way tie.

• Game 1: Firouzja vs. Praggnanandhaa – Draw
• Game 2: Vachier-Lagrave vs. Firouzja – Draw
• Game 3: Praggnanandhaa vs. Vachier-Lagrave – Praggnanandhaa won

Note: The third GCT event, the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia, will occur in Zagreb (Croatia) from 1st–6th July 2025.

India Secures SAFF U-19 Championship Title 2025 By Defeating Bangladesh in AROn May 18, 2025, the Indian men’s under-19 (U-19) football team clinched their 4th South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-19 Championship(2025) title by defeating Bangladesh in the final was held at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh (AR), India.

• The Indian U-19 football team, popularly known as the ‘Blue Colts’ and led by captain Singamayum Shami, defeated Bangladesh 4–3 in a penalty shootout following a 1–1 draw in regulation time to win the title.

About the SAFF U-19 Championship 2025:
i.The 7th edition of the SAFF U-19 Championship (2025) was organised by Dhaka (Bangladesh) based SAFF and hosted by New Delhi (Delhi) based All India Football Federation (AIFF) in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh Football Association (APFA).
ii.The tournament was held from May 9 to 18, 2025, at the Golden Jubilee Stadium, Yupia, AR, featuring 6 teams (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka).
iii.The format featured two groups comprising three teams each. Group A included Bangladesh, Bhutan, and the Maldives, while Group B consisted of India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
Awards and Honors:

• Top Scorer: Danny Meitei Laishram (India) – 5 goals
• Best Goalkeeper: Suraj Singh Aheibam (India)
• Most Valuable Player: Mohammed Arbash (India)
• Fair Play Award: India

About South Asian Football Federation (SAFF):
President – Kazi Salahuddin (Bangladesh)
Headquarters – Dhaka, Bangladesh
Established – 1997
Member Nations – India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen Won F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2025 TitleIn May 2025, Max Verstappen, a Belgian-Dutch driver of Red Bull, won the Formula 1 (F1) Emilia Romagna Grand Prix (GP) 2025 held at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy.

• This marked his 2nd consecutive victory of the F1 2025 season after winning the Japanese GP title in April 2025 and his 4th consecutive win at Imola and the 59th win of his F1 career.
• With this victory, the Red Bull team has also completed its 400th F1 race.

Top 3 Winners of Emilia Romagna GP 2025:

Key Highlights of Emilia Romagna GP 2025:
i.Max Verstappen, who finished in 1st position at the GP with 25 points, emerged back on track with a staggering lead of around 20 seconds (s) from McLaren’s championship leader Lando Norris, secured 2nd position (18 points).
ii.Australian F1 driver of McLaren, Oscar Piastri, who was overtaken by his teammate Norris, thereby Piastri secured 3rd position with 15 points.
iii.7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton recovered from 12th spot on the grid to finally finish in 4th position (12 points), followed by Williams’ Alex Albon at 5th position in the race (10 points).
About Emilia Romagna GP 2025:
i.The latest edition of the Emilia Romagna GP, which took place over 63 laps with a 4.909-kilometer (km) circuit length.
ii.It is officially known as the Formula 1 AWS Gran Premio de l Made in Italy e dell’Emilia-Romagna 2025.
About Federation Internationale de I’Automobile (FIA):
The F1 Grand Prix races are organised by the Fédération Internationale de I’Automobile (FIA).
President – Mohammed Ben Sulayem
Headquarters – Paris, France
Established – 1904

OBITUARY

Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri Awardee – Dr. Saroj Ghose Passes AwayIn May 2025, Dr. Saroj Ghose, Founding Director General of National Council of Science Museums (NSCM), Ministry of Culture (MoC) and the Father of India’s Science Museum Movement, has passed away at the age of 89 in Seattle, United States of America (USA).

• He envisioned and executed the development of a decentralized model of science museums across India, making science accessible, interactive and inspiring to millions of people

About Saroj Ghose:
i.Saroj Ghose, born in 1 September 1935 at Calcutta (Present day Kolkata)(West Bengal)(WB), India. Joined as a technical officer at Kolkata(WB) based Birla Industrial & Technological Museum (BITM) in 1958.
ii.In 1965, he became the Director of BITM and launched the “Mobile Science Museum”, a traveling exhibition with a vision to bring science exhibitions to remote areas.
iii.Ghose became the founding Director General of NSCM in 1979.

• During his tenure from 1979 to 1997, he established several science centres, including the Nehru Science Centre (New Delhi, Delhi) and the Science City (Kolkata, West Bengal).

iv.He served as the President of the Paris(France) based International Council of Museums (ICOM) from 1992 to 1998.
Awards and Honours:
i.He was conferred the Padma Shri Award (1989) and the Padma Bhushan (2007)  in the Field of Science and Engineering by the Government of India (GOI) for his exceptional contributions to science education and museology in India.
ii.The Association of Science Technology Centres, USA, awarded him the ASTC Fellowship in 1997.
About the National Council of Science Museums (NSCM):
Director General – A. D. Choudhury
Headquarters – Kolkata, West Bengal
Founded – 4 April 1978

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Museum Day 2025 – May 18International Museum Day (IMD) is annually observed across the globe on May 18 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) to highlight the pivotal role of museums in fostering cultural exchange and promoting mutual understanding, cooperation, and peace among peoples.

• The theme for IMD 2025 is “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities.”

Background:
i.IMD was officially established in 1977 through a resolution adopted during the ICOM General Assembly in Moscow, Russia.

• It aims to unify museums globally and highlight their contributions to societal development.

ii.Since its inception in 1977, ICOM has organized IMD annually, serving as a significant occasion for the global museum community.
iii.The practice of selecting an annual theme for IMD began in 1992, while the concept of an international poster was introduced by ICOM in 1997.
About International Council of Museums (ICOM):
President – Emma Nardi (Italy)
Director General (DG) (interim) – Medea Sógor Ekner
Headquarters – Paris, France
Founded – 1946
>> Read Full News

World AIDS Vaccine Day 2025 – May 18World AIDS Vaccine Day (WAVD), also known as HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD), is annually observed across the globe on 18th May to raise awareness about the urgent and ongoing need for a vaccine to prevent Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

• 18th May 2025 marks the 28th observance of the WAVD.

Background:
i.The day 18th May commemorates the 1997 speech by former United States of America (USA) President Bill Clinton, where he highlighted the urgent need for a preventive HIV vaccine.
ii.The first WAVD was observed on 18th May 1998 to mark the anniversary of Clinton’s speech. 
About HIV and AIDS:
i.HIV is a virus that attacks and weakens the human immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (a type of white blood cell), which help the immune system fight infections.
ii.If left untreated, HIV typically progresses to AIDS, the most advanced stage of the infection, within 8 to 10 years.
>> Read Full News

International Day for Women in Maritime 2025 – May 18The International Day for Women in Maritime (IDWIM) is annually observed across the globe on May 18 to celebrate and honour the contributions of women in the marine industry and promote women’s recruitment, retention, and sustained employment in the future.

• The annual event of IDWIM is initiated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), responsible for regulating maritime transport.

Background:
i.In 2021, the IMO assembly at its 32nd session, adopted the resolution (A.1170(32)), proclaiming May 18 every year as the International Day for Women in Maritime.
ii.The first ever International Day for Women in Maritime was observed on May 18, 2022.
2025 Events:
Symposium:
On May 16, 2025, IMO hosted a symposium, focusing on the theme “An Ocean of Opportunities for Women” in London, United Kingdom (UK), aligning with the 2025 World Maritime Day theme “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity”.
>> Read Full News

World Fair Play Day 2025- May 19 The first-ever United Nations (UN’s) World Fair Play Day was observed on 19 May 2025 to promote sportsmanship rooted in the spirit of friendship, solidarity, tolerance, inclusion, and non-discrimination.

• Fair play refers to a set of guiding principles that promote ethical conduct, respect, and integrity in both sports and everyday life. It goes beyond simply following the rules, it encourages a spirit of honesty, cooperation, and equality among all participants.

Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA), during its 78th session, adopted Resolution A/RES/78/310 on 1 July 2024, officially designating 19 May as World Fair Play Day.
ii.The initiative to recognize World Fair Play Day was spearheaded by Hungary and garnered co-sponsorship from 92 Member States.
iii.The resolution acknowledges the spirit of fair play inherent in the Olympic ideal and emphasizes the importance of sports, including for persons with disabilities, in promoting peace, development, and community cohesion.
About International Committee for Fair Play (CIFP):
President – Dr Jenö Kamuti
Headquarters –  Paris, France
Established -1963
>> Read Full News

STATE NEWS

Haryana Launches AI-Powered Water Resource Atlas 2025 to Tackle Groundwater Depletion
In May 2025, the Haryana Water Resources (Conservation, Regulation and Management) Authority (HWRA) launched the Haryana Water Resource Atlas 2025, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered geospatial platform developed in collaboration with Hisar (Haryana)-based Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC) in Haryana.

• This initiative aims to monitor, manage, and conserve Haryana’s rapidly depleting water reserves through real-time, layered insights.

i.It is a publicly accessible platform that integrates satellite data, Global Positioning System (GPS) based ground surveys, India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and datasets from Faridabad (Haryana) based Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

• It provides real-time data on: Groundwater levels, Surface water bodies, Aquifers and recharge zones, Canal systems and Water-intensive cropping patterns.

ii.It uses AI and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to forecast stress points and assist in planning sustainable water management strategies such as rainwater harvesting, alternative cropping, and infrastructure upgrades.
iii.As per internal assessments by HWRA, over 76% of Haryana’s administrative blocks are classified as “critical” or “over-exploited” in terms of groundwater usage, necessitating urgent data-driven interventions at both administrative and grassroots levels.

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