Stay ahead with the latest national and international updates to excel in Banking, SSC, UPSC, Railways, and other competitive exams. Explore key developments in government initiatives, finance, science, and more.

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International Affairs

India Lost 18,200 Hectares of Primary Forest in 2024

According to Global Forest Watch (GFW) data released in May 2025, India lost 18,200 hectares of primary forest in 2024, up from 17,700 hectares in 2023.

Key Points:

• From 2002–2024, India lost 348,000 hectares of humid primary forest (5.4% of total), accounting for 15% of total tree cover loss.
• Globally, 2024 saw a record 6.7 million hectares of tropical primary rainforest loss, driven by fires.
• GFW Overview: A collaboration led by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the University of Maryland, using Landsat satellite imagery.

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Algeria Joins BRICS-Backed New Development Bank

On 22 May 2025, the New Development Bank (NDB), established by BRICS nations, welcomed Algeria as a new member, announced by President Dilma Rousseff.

Details:

• NDB Members: Includes BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), Bangladesh, UAE, Egypt, Indonesia, with Uruguay as a prospective member.
• Objective: Finance infrastructure and sustainable development in emerging economies.
• NDB Overview:
  • Established: 2015, Shanghai, China.
  • Indian Regional Office: GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• Algeria Details:
  • President: Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
  • Capital: Algiers.
  • Currency: Algerian Dinar (DZD).

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Mumbai Ranks as India’s Wealthiest City

The Henley & Partners World’s Wealthiest Cities Report 2025 ranked Mumbai as India’s wealthiest city, at 27th globally, with 51,000 millionaires and 25 billionaires.

Highlights:

• Mumbai’s millionaire population grew 69% over the past decade.
• Global Top 3: New York City (384,500 HNIs), Bay Area (USA), Tokyo (Japan).
• New Entry: Lisbon (Portugal) at 50th with 22,000 millionaires.
• Henley & Partners:
  • CEO: Dr. Juerg Steffen.
  • Headquarters: London, UK.

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National Affairs

PM Modi Inaugurates Projects Worth ₹26,000 Crore in Rajasthan

On 22 May 2025, PM Narendra Modi visited Bikaner, Rajasthan, to launch and lay the foundation for projects worth ₹26,000 crore.

Key Initiatives:

• Railways: Inaugurated 103 Amrit Bharat Railway Stations across 18 states/UTs (₹1,100 crore).
• Infrastructure: Foundation stones for 3 vehicle underpasses, national highway upgrades, and 25 state government projects.
• Renewable Energy:
  • 100 MW Nawa Solar Power Project (Didwana, Kuchaman).
  • 300 MW Ground-Mounted Solar Project (Bikaner).
• Rajasthan Details:
  • CM: Bhajan Lal Sharma.
  • Governor: Haribhau Bhagade.
  • Capital: Jaipur.

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MoHUA Announces 4% Housing Reservation for PwDs

In May 2025, the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) introduced a 4% reservation for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) up to Type 5.

Details:

• Aligns with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (launched 2015).
• Priority for PwD officials (ASO to Director rank) in monthly online bidding.
• Unique Disability ID (UDID) card required for eligibility.
• DoE: Manages 1.02 lakh GPRA units across 61 cities.
• MoHUA:
  • Union Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar (Karnal, Haryana).
  • MoS: Tokhan Sahu (Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh).

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MoS Jitendra Singh Inaugurates NCPOR Facilities in Goa

On 20 May 2025, MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh (Ministry of Science & Technology) inaugurated Sagar Bhavan and Polar Bhavan at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Vasco da Gama, Goa, marking its 25th anniversary.

Key Features:

• Polar Bhavan (11,378 sq.m, ₹55 crore): Labs, 55 scientist rooms, Science On Sphere platform, and India’s first Polar and Ocean Museum.
• Sagar Bhavan (1,772 sq.m, ₹13 crore): Ice core labs, clean room for trace metal research.
• Significance: Enhances polar, ocean, and climate research; supports India’s Blue Economy and Deep Ocean Mission.
• NCPOR:
  • Director: Dr. Thamban Meloth.
  • Headquarters: Goa.
  • Established: 1998.

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Union Minister Lays Foundation for Tripura Aquapark

In May 2025, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (MoFAH&D, MoPR) laid the foundation for a ₹42.4 crore Integrated Aquapark in Kailashahar, Tripura, under PMMSY.

Details:

• Features hatcheries, feed mills, processing units, and training centers.
• Part of 11 national aquaparks, with 4 in Northeast India.
• Tripura’s fish production target: 2 lakh tonnes annually.
• Per Capita Fish Consumption: Over 29 kg/year.
• Event: Coincided with a Fish Festival in Agartala.

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Bihar Hosts First International Buyer-Seller Meet

From 19–20 May 2025, Bihar hosted its first International Buyer-Seller Meet (IBSM) in Patna, organized by MoFPI, APEDA, and TPCI.

Highlights:

• Attended by Union Minister Chirag Paswan and Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha.
• Over 70 buyers from 20 countries (e.g., UAE, Japan, UK).
• Promoted GI-tagged products like Makhana, Shahi Litchi, and Katarni Rice.
• MoU: Signed with Lulu Group (UAE) to boost litchi exports.

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MHA Launches e-Zero FIR for Cyber Crimes

In May 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) introduced the e-Zero FIR initiative via the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) to tackle cyber financial crimes.

Details:

• Pilot: Launched in Delhi, expandable to other states/UTs.
• Threshold: Auto-registers FIRs for losses ≥ ₹10 lakh via NCRP or Helpline 1930.
• Integration: Links I4C’s NCRP, Delhi Police’s e-FIR platform, and NCRB’s CCTNS.
• Process: FIRs registered at Delhi’s e-Crime Police Station, transferable within 3 days.
• Aligns with Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

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Banking & Finance

RBI Approves Payment Aggregator Licenses and CIHL Stake Sale

In May 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted:

• In-Principle PA License: To QuickPay (Quicktouch Technologies, Delhi).
• Final PA Authorization: To Getepay (Jaipur, Rajasthan).
• Stake Sale Approval: Capital India Finance Ltd (CIFL) to sell its subsidiary Capital India Home Loans Ltd (CIHL).
• CIFL:
  • CEO: Pinank Jayant Shah.
  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

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IPPB Partners with Aditya Birla Capital

In May 2025, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) collaborated with Aditya Birla Capital Ltd (ABCL) to enhance credit access through IPPB’s postal network.

Details:

• Offers ABCL’s loan products (personal, business, property loans) to IPPB customers, especially in rural areas.
• Uses AI and data analytics for seamless, low-documentation loans.
• IPPB: Established 2018, serves 11 crore customers across 5.57 lakh villages/towns.

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SBM Bank India Ties Up with ICICI Prudential Life

In May 2025, SBM Bank India partnered with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance for a bancassurance alliance.

Details:

• Offers insurance products (term, savings, retirement) to SBM’s retail, wealth, and NRI customers.
• Leverages ICICI Prudential’s 99.3% claim settlement ratio (FY24–25).
• India’s Insurance Penetration: 3.7% (FY24), below global 7%.

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IndusInd Bank MoU with AIC STPINEXT

In May 2025, IndusInd Bank signed an MoU with AIC STPINEXT (STPI, Bengaluru) to support startups and MSMEs.

Features:

• Current Account: No quarterly balance requirement.
• Mentorship: Workshops on banking, equity, and funding models.
• Support: Free payroll and attendance management services.

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Economy & Business

NESFB Rebrands as Slice SFB

On 14 May 2025, the RBI approved renaming North East Small Finance Bank (NESFB) to Slice Small Finance Bank (Slice SFB) post-merger with fintech Slice.

Details:

• Offers savings accounts, loans, and digital banking solutions.
• No changes to account numbers, IFSC codes, or existing banking documents.
• Slice SFB:
  • MD & CEO: Satish Kumar Kalra.
  • Headquarters: Guwahati, Assam.

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ICRA Projects 6.9% GDP Growth for Q4 FY25

In May 2025, ICRA Ltd forecasted India’s GDP growth at 6.9% for Q4 FY25 (up from 6.2% in Q3) and 6.3% for FY25 (down from 9.2% in FY24).

Key Points:

• GVA Growth: 6.3% in Q4 FY25, 6.2% for FY25.
• Industrial GVA: 4.8% in Q4 FY25.
• Manufacturing GVA: Stable at 3.5%.

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Fitch Raises India’s Growth Forecast to 6.4%

On 22 May 2025, Fitch Ratings revised India’s medium-term GDP growth to 6.4% for the next five years (from 6.2%).

Details:

• Driven by higher employment and working-age population growth.
• Projections: 6.4% (2025), 6.3% (2026), 6.4% (2027).
• TFP Growth: Expected at 1.5% long-term average.
• Fitch: New York, USA.

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Acquisitions & Mergers

PNB to Sell ISARC Stake for ₹34 Crore

In May 2025, Punjab National Bank (PNB) agreed to sell its 20.9% stake in Indian SME Asset Reconstruction Company (ISARC) to Authum Infrastructure for ₹34.04 crore.

Details:

• Involves 2.09 crore shares at ₹16.29 each, to be completed by Q1 FY26.
• Aligns with RBI’s guideline limiting bank investment in ARCs to 10%.
• ISARC: Focuses on reviving distressed SME assets.

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Science & Technology

CSIR-NAL Tests Indigenous HAP Prototype

From 8–13 May 2025, CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) conducted pre-monsoon flight tests of its High-Altitude Platform (HAP) prototype at Challakere, Karnataka.

Outcomes:

• Reached 24,000 feet, operated under low solar energy.
• Features: 12m wingspan, 22 kg weight, autonomous autopilot.
• Future: Full-scale HAP to operate at 65,000 feet with 10 kg payload.
• NAL:
  • Director: Dr. Abhay Anant Pashilkar.
  • Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.

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US Unveils $175 Billion Golden Dome Defence Plan

In May 2025, US President Donald Trump announced the $175 billion Golden Dome missile defence system to counter foreign missile threats by 2029.

Details:

• Inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, uses satellite networks and AI-driven tracking.
• Targets hypersonic vehicles, cruise missiles, and AI-equipped drones.
• Lead: General Michael Guetlein, US Space Force.
• USA:
  • Capital: Washington, D.C.
  • Currency: USD.

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JNCASR Develops Sodium-Ion Battery

In May 2025, JNCASR developed a Sodium-Ion Battery (SIB) using NASICON technology, achieving 80% charge in 6 minutes and over 3,000 cycles.

Details:

• Uses Na₁.₀V₀.₂₅Al₀.₂₅Nb₁.₅(PO₄)₃ with nanoscale carbon coating.
• Safer and cheaper than lithium-ion batteries, ideal for EVs and solar grids.
• JNCASR:
  • Led by Prof. Premkumar Senguttuvan.
  • Under DST, Bengaluru.

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Environment

ZSI Discovers New Nematode Species in Tamil Nadu

In May 2025, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) identified a new marine nematode, Pheronous jairajpurii, on Tamil Nadu’s coast.

Details:

• Third species in the Pheronous genus, named after nematologist M.S. Jairajpuri.
• Acts as a bioindicator for coastal ecosystem health.
• Published in Zootaxa by Dr. Anjum Nasreen Rizvi and Ritika Datta.
• ZSI:
  • Director: Dr. Dhriti Banerjee.
  • Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal.

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Sports

FIFA Lifts Suspension on Congo Football Federation

In May 2025, FIFA lifted the suspension on the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT), imposed in February 2025 due to third-party interference.

Details:

• Restores FECOFOOT’s control over its facilities.
• Allows rescheduling of postponed 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
• FIFA: International football governing body.

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State News

Kerala Mandates Robotics for Class 10

In May 2025, Kerala became India’s first state to mandate robotics education for Class 10 students from June 2025, impacting 4.3 lakh students.

Details:

• Implemented by KITE under the revised ICT curriculum.
• Includes building automated devices using Arduino and coding with Pictoblocks.
• Features: 29,000 robotic kits, 9,924 trained teachers, multilingual textbooks.
• Kerala: Leader in AI-integrated education.

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Important Days

International Day to End Obstetric Fistula 2025 – May 23

The UN’s International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, observed on 23 May, raises awareness about this preventable childbirth injury.

Details:

• Theme 2025: “Her Health, Her Right: Shaping a Future Without Fistula.”
• Established by UNGA in 2012, first observed in 2013.
• UNFPA:
  • Executive Director: Dr. Natalia Kanem.
  • Headquarters: New York, USA.

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World Turtle Day 2025 – May 23

World Turtle Day, observed on 23 May, promotes turtle and tortoise conservation.

Details:

• Theme 2025: “Dancing Turtles Rock!”
• Launched in 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue (ATR).
• Marks its 25th anniversary in 2025.

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