31st May 2025

1. ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ Launched At OUAT, Bhubaneswar
2. Global Temperature Likely To Breach 1.5°C In Next Five Years
3. India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT 2025 Begins In…
4. Veteran Tamil Actor Rajesh Passes Away At 75
5. IIT Kharagpur & Singapore’s IME Sign MoU To Boost Semiconductor Innovation
6. Gujarat Karmayogi Swasthya Suraksha Yojana 2025: Check Benefits, Coverage, And…
7. Odisha Launches ANKUR: A Strategic Urban Transformation Initiative
8. India’s GDP Growth Forecast At 6.5% For FY26: Crisil
9. Hindi Journals Day 2025: Celebrating The Legacy Of Vernacular Media In India
10. Rashtriya Boudhik Sampada Mahotsav-2025 At CSIR-IIP, Dehradun
11. Mary Earps Retires From International Football
12. IPL 2025: Rohit Sharma Becomes First Indian Batter To Smash 300 Sixes
13. Kashmir’s First Cherry Cargo Train From Katra To Mumbai
14. Serena Williams Honoured With Princess Of Asturias Award For Sports 2025
15. Miss Indonesia Monica Kezia Sembiring Won Talent Finale At Miss World 2025 In…
16. India To Host IATA Annual General Meeting 2025 In New Delhi After 42 Years
17. India Meets Fiscal Deficit Target Of 4.8% For FY 2024-25 Despite Revenue Shortfalls
18. Microsoft And Yotta Partner To Advance AI Adoption Across India
19. President Of India Confers National Florence Nightingale Awards 2025 To Exemplary…
20. Goa Declared Fully Literate Under ULLAS
21. World No Tobacco Day 2025: Date, Theme, History And Significance
22. Kohli Creates History, Achieves 9000 T20 Runs For RCB
23. Union Minister Rajnath Singh Approved Miniratna Category-I Status to MIL, AVNL and IOL
24. 78th World Health Assembly Held from 19 to 27 May 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland – Part I
25. 10 Indian AI Startups Selected for AI Accelerator Programme in Paris, France
26. RBI Approves Worldline, Paypal to Facilitate Cross-Border Online Transactions for Import and Export

National News

1. CSIR-IIP Dehradun Celebrates Rashtriya Boudhik Sampada Mahotsav

• What:
  • CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun celebrated Rashtriya Boudhik Sampada Mahotsav (RBSM) 2025 on 29th May 2025 to promote intellectual property (IP) awareness in India.
• Why:
  • The event aims to increase awareness and understanding of intellectual property rights among scientists, researchers, and the public.
• Tell me more:
  • RBSM is part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative and was first launched in July 2023.
  • An online quiz competition on intellectual property was conducted as part of the celebration.

Source: PIB

2. PM Modi to Attend IATA 81st AGM in New Delhi

• What:
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 81st Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 2nd June and address the gathering.
• Why:
  • The event aims to discuss and address key issues in the aviation industry and showcase India’s progress in air infrastructure and connectivity.
• Tell me more:
  • The IATA 81st AGM and World Air Transport Summit will be held from 1st to 3rd June.
  • This is the first time in 42 years that the IATA AGM is being held in India; the last was in 1983.
  • The summit will focus on topics such as airline economics, air connectivity, energy security, sustainable aviation fuel, financing decarbonisation, and innovations.
  • Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi is hosting the event.

Source: PIB

3. IndiaAI Startups Selected for Global Initiative in Paris

• What:
  • The IndiaAI Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has chosen 10 AI startups for the IndiaAI Startups Global Initiative (ISG 2025 Paris), an international acceleration program in partnership with Station F and HEC Paris.
• Why:
  • The initiative aims to help Indian AI startups grow globally, form international partnerships, and create impactful solutions.
• Tell me more:
  • The program includes a four-month acceleration, with one month of online preparation and three months of residency at Station F in Paris.
  • The selected startups will receive mentorship, networking, and access to French and European innovation ecosystems.
  • The 10 selected startups are:
    1. PrivaSapien Technologies – Developing Responsible AI with privacy engineering.
    2. CoRover.ai – Gen AI conversational platform with contextual, human-like responses.
    3. Staqu Technologies (Jarvis) – AI audio-video analytics for surveillance and governance.
    4. SatSure Analytics – Merging satellite imagery with AI for decision intelligence.
    5. Storyvord – AI coproducer converting product URLs into creative video content.
    6. VolarAlta – Drone-based AI for industrial inspections.
    7. Smartail – Edtech platform with adaptive learning and real-time assessments.
    8. Secure Blink – Cybersecurity with AI-driven DevSecOps for security posture management.
    9. NeuroPixel.AI – Ultra-fast image editing using AI for fashion and e-commerce.
    10. Voicing AI – Enterprise-grade Agentic AI platform for intelligent voice agents.
  • The program is designed by HEC Paris and supports startups in exploring and establishing themselves in European markets.

Source: PIB

State News

1. Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan Launched at OUAT, Odisha

• What:
  • Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan was launched at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) campus in Bhubaneswar to bring positive change in agriculture across India.
• Why:
  • The campaign aims to make agriculture a profitable business, increase farmers’ income, and enable India to become the food bank of the world.
• Tell me more:
  • The campaign involves agricultural scientists and government officials interacting with farmers at 2,170 locations nationwide.
  • The Central Government is providing up to 4% interest subsidy on agricultural loans through Kisan Credit Cards, with the subsidy possibly reaching zero percent with state support.
  • The Odisha government is preparing an irrigation plan for 15 lakh hectares of agricultural land.
  • Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has been launched to provide compensation for crops affected by climate change.

Source: PIB

2. Gujarat Employees, Pensioners Covered Under AB-PMJAY

• What:
  • Gujarat government has decided to cover all its employees and pensioners under the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), providing medical insurance of Rs 10 lakh for the entire family of a card-holder.
• Why:
  • The move aims to offer comprehensive medical insurance benefits to state government employees and pensioners.
• Tell me more:
  • The new scheme is called Gujarat Karmayogi Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.
  • It will cover 4.2 lakh employees and 2.2 lakh pensioners, with a financial burden of Rs 303 crore on the state government.
  • Employees and pensioners not eligible for AB-PMJAY will continue to get their existing medical facilities and a monthly medical allowance of Rs 1,000.
  • The scheme does not apply to fix-pay employees (covered under Karmayogi Card) and pensioners above 70 years (covered under Vay Vandana scheme).

Source: IE

3. Odisha Launches ANKUR for Urban Growth Reform

• What:
  • The Housing and Urban Development Department of Odisha launched the Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanization and Reform (ANKUR) to promote inclusive, sustainable, and innovative urban growth across the state.
• Why:
  • The initiative aims to build efficient, smart, and citizen-centric cities and prepare for rapid urbanisation in Odisha.
• Tell me more:
  • MoUs were signed between the department and six leading institutions and organisations working in urban development.
  • ANKUR will focus on four main areas: capacity building, knowledge and research, implementation support, and innovation.
  • The platform is designed to co-create resilient, liveable, and future-ready cities as Odisha’s urban population is expected to triple by 2036.
  • ANKUR will serve as the institutional backbone for reform, innovation, and evidence-based decision-making in urban development.

Source: TOI

4. Railways Start Cherry Transport from Kashmir to Mumbai

• Railways ferried 24 tonnes of cherries from Kashmir to Mumbai for the first time, reducing travel time to 33 hours and cutting transportation cost by 75%.
• Over 95% of India’s cherries are grown in Kashmir, and the fruit is highly perishable.
• The initiative aims to help cherry growers in Kashmir by providing a faster, safer, and more cost-effective way to reach major markets.

Source: HT

5. Goa Declared Fully Literate Under ULLAS Scheme

• What:
  • Goa has been officially declared a fully literate state under the New India Literacy Program (ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram) during the 39th Statehood Day celebrations.
• Why:
  • The declaration aims to recognize Goa’s achievement in surpassing the National Education Policy 2020’s literacy target and joining the national goal of universal literacy by 2030.
• Tell me more:
  • Goa is the second Indian state to exceed the 95% literacy target set by NEP 2020.
  • The state’s recent survey confirms full literacy, surpassing the previous 93.60% literacy rate reported in the PLFS Report 2023–24.
  • The achievement was made possible through coordinated efforts by several state departments and the involvement of volunteers called Swayampurna Mitras.
  • ULLAS stands for Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society and runs from 2022 to 2027, targeting adults aged 15 and above who missed formal schooling.
  • The program covers basic education, vocational skills, critical life skills, continuing education, and foundational literacy and numeracy.

Source: IT

International News

1. WHO Adopts Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034

• What:
  • The 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025 adopted the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 to integrate traditional medicine into global health systems.
• Why:
  • To promote research, innovation, regulation, equity, and collaboration for evidence-based practice and integration of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM).
• Tell me more:
  • The Strategy supports improving safety, quality, and effectiveness of TCIM and promotes cross-sector collaboration.
  • It resulted from a two-year global consultation with over 1,200 comments from Member States, WHO entities, stakeholders, indigenous representatives, and the World Intellectual Property Organization.
  • During the Assembly, 47 Member States and 4 non-State actors intervened in support.
  • WHO launched the first-ever TCIM Dashboards based on data from the Third WHO Global Survey to help Member States manage TCIM profiles.
  • India’s Ministry of Ayush signed a US$3 million MoU with WHO to include traditional medicine in the International Classification of Health Interventions.

Source: WHO

Banking and Economy

1. India’s Fiscal Deficit for FY25 Meets Revised Target

• What:
  • India’s fiscal deficit for FY25 stood at 4.8% of GDP, matching the revised estimate released by the Comptroller General of Accounts.
• Why:
  • The fiscal deficit target was set to ensure fiscal consolidation and manage government spending and revenue efficiently.
• Tell me more:
  • The central government’s fiscal deficit was Rs 15.77 lakh crore, which is 100.5% of the revised annual target.
  • Total expenditure was Rs 46.56 lakh crore (98.7% of the revised budget), and revenue receipts were Rs 30.36 lakh crore.
  • Tax revenue was Rs 24.99 lakh crore, and non-tax revenue was Rs 5.38 lakh crore, with direct tax collections growing by 15.59% year-on-year.
  • The Reserve Bank of India transferred Rs 2.11 lakh crore as surplus to the central government for FY24, and approved a dividend of Rs 2.69 lakh crore for FY25.
  • Capital expenditure reached Rs 10.52 lakh crore (103.3% of the target), and major subsidies amounted to Rs 4.14 lakh crore.

Source: ET

2. Microsoft, Yotta Partner to Boost AI Adoption in India

• What:
  • Microsoft and Yotta Data Services have partnered to integrate Microsoft’s Azure AI services into Yotta’s Shakti Cloud, aiming to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across India.
• Why:
  • The collaboration supports the IndiaAI Mission to build a strong AI ecosystem and empower developers, startups, enterprises, and public sector organisations with advanced AI capabilities.
• Tell me more:
  • The partnership will combine Microsoft’s AI models, applications, and tools with Yotta’s cost-effective, high-performance AI compute platform.
  • The focus is on driving innovation in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, education, finance, manufacturing, retail, and media.
  • Over 500 proposals for developing indigenous AI models have been received under the IndiaAI Mission as of May 2025.
  • Microsoft and Yotta will work with government agencies, research institutions, IITs, and startups to support homegrown AI solutions.
  • The initiative aims to enhance local AI capabilities and strengthen India’s AI infrastructure in line with Digital Public Infrastructure goals.

Source: TOI

3. Miniratna Status Granted to Three Defence PSUs

• What:
  • Defence Minister approved Miniratna Category-I status for Munitions India Limited (MIL), Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), and India Optel Limited (IOL).
• Why:
  • The move aims to boost indigenous defence manufacturing and give these companies more autonomy and competitiveness.
• Tell me more:
  • MIL, AVNL, and IOL were formed from the Ordnance Factory Board in October 2021.
  • MIL’s revenue grew from ₹2,571.6 crore in 2021–22 (H2) to ₹8,282 crore in 2024–25, with exports rising from ₹22.55 crore to ₹3,081 crore.
  • AVNL’s revenue increased from ₹2,569.26 crore in 2021–22 (H2) to ₹4,986 crore in 2024–25, and it has indigenised engines for T-72, T-90, and BMP-II vehicles.
  • IOL’s revenue more than doubled from ₹562.12 crore in 2021–22 (H2) to ₹1,541.38 crore in 2024–25.

Source: DD

4. PayPal, Worldline Get RBI Nod for Cross-Border Payments

• What:
  • PayPal Payments and Worldline ePayments India have received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as cross-border payment aggregators.
• Why:
  • The approval allows these companies to facilitate online cross-border transactions for import and export of goods and services.
• Tell me more:
  • The authorisation is given under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
  • The approval enables access to PayPal’s global payment network for Indian enterprises, small businesses, and freelancers.
  • The RBI had asked all cross-border payment aggregators to secure separate approval since October last year.
  • Earlier, payment companies operated with an Online Payment Gateway Service Provider (OPGSP) licence for almost a decade.

Source: ET

Reports and Indices

1. WMO Warns of 70% Chance to Breach 1.5°C by 2029

• What:
  • The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has reported a 70% chance that global temperatures will exceed the 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels between 2025 and 2029.
• Why:
  • The warning highlights the urgent need for stronger climate action and updated climate plans to limit global temperature rise and avoid severe impacts.
• Tell me more:
  • 180 out of 195 UNFCCC countries have not yet submitted their next round of climate plans (NDCs) for 2031-35 before COP30.
  • The annual global mean temperature between 2025 and 2029 is predicted to be 1.2°C to 1.9°C higher than the 1850-1900 average.
  • There is an 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will be the warmest on record, surpassing 2024.
  • The 1.5°C target was set at the 2015 Paris climate conference to prevent the worst effects of climate change.
  • The year 2024 was the hottest year on record and the first to breach 1.5°C above the 1850–1900 baseline.

Source: BS

GDP Forecasts

1. Crisil Forecasts India’s GDP Growth at 6.5% for FY26

• What:
  • Crisil has forecast India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 6.5 per cent for fiscal year 2026, supported by improving domestic consumption.
• Why:
  • The forecast is based on expectations of healthy agricultural growth, easing inflation, RBI rate cuts, and income tax relief boosting demand.
• Tell me more:
  • Above-normal monsoon is expected this fiscal, which should help agricultural production and keep inflation in check.
  • Crude oil prices are predicted to remain subdued at $65-$70 per barrel, lower than the previous fiscal’s average.
  • RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee is expected to cut the repo rate by another 50 basis points, supporting domestic demand.
  • Industrial activity is likely to benefit from higher consumer demand, especially for durables like electronic goods, refrigerators, and TVs.
  • Infrastructure sector grew by 4% due to major government projects in highways, railways, and ports.

Source: ET

Defence News

1. India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise Nomadic Elephant Begins

• What:
  • The 17th edition of the India-Mongolia joint military exercise, Nomadic Elephant, started on May 31, 2025, at the Special Forces training centre in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
• Why:
  • The exercise aims to strengthen cooperation, mutual understanding, and operational readiness between the armed forces of India and Mongolia.
• Tell me more:
  • The exercise will run until June 13, 2025, and is attended by dignitaries including India’s Ambassador to Mongolia and a Major General from Mongolia.
  • The Indian contingent has 45 personnel, mainly from the Arunachal Scouts, while the Mongolian side is represented by a 150 Special Forces unit.
  • The last edition of the exercise was held in Umroi, Meghalaya, in July 2024.

Source: TI

Awards

1. Serena Williams Wins 2025 Princess of Asturias Prize

• What:
  • Tennis legend Serena Williams has been named the winner of the 2025 Princess of Asturias Prize for Sports.
• Why:
  • The award recognises Serena Williams for her excellence in tennis and her advocacy for gender equality and equal opportunities in sport and society.
• Tell me more:
  • The Princess of Asturias Awards are among Spain’s most prestigious honours, covering fields like sports, arts, and literature.
  • The annual ceremony is presided over by Princess Leonor of Spain in Oviedo.
  • Serena Williams ended her career with 23 Grand Slam titles, 73 singles titles, and four Olympic gold medals.
  • Previous winners in sports include Lindsey Vonn, Carolina Marin, Eliud Kipchoge, and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team.
  • The ceremony is held every autumn in Oviedo, Spain.

Source: OC

2. Miss Indonesia Wins Talent Finale at Miss World 2025

• What:
  • Miss Indonesia Monica Kezia Sembiring won first place at the Talent Finale of Miss World 2025 with a piano performance blending Indian and Indonesian melodies.
• Why:
  • The event celebrates global culture and artistic expression by showcasing the diverse talents of contestants from around the world.
• Tell me more:
  • The Talent Finale was held at Shilpakala Vedika and featured performances by the top 24 contestants.
  • Miss Cameroon Issie Princesse secured second place with a gospel song, and Miss Italy Chiara Esposito took third with a ballet performance.
  • Miss India Nandini Gupta performed a Bollywood dance, while other contestants showcased their national and cultural talents.
  • The event concluded with all finalists dancing together to the song ‘Ranu Mumbai Ki Ranu’, highlighting unity and celebration.

Source: TH

3. National Florence Nightingale Awards 2025 Presented

• What:
  • The President of India gave the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2025 to 15 outstanding nurses for their dedicated service in public health and community welfare.
• Why:
  • The awards aim to recognize and motivate nurses for their vital role in strengthening healthcare and serving society.
• Tell me more:
  • The awards ceremony took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan and was attended by the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and other dignitaries.
  • Awardees included Registered Nurses, Midwives, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, and Lady Health Visitors from different regions and healthcare settings.
  • Each winner received a Certificate of Merit, ₹1,00,000 cash prize, and a medal as a mark of national gratitude.
  • The awards are given by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Source: PIB

Important Days

1. Hindi Journalism Day Celebrated on May 30 in India

• What:
  • India observes Hindi Journalism Day on May 30 each year to mark the launch of the first Hindi newspaper, ‘Udant Martand’, in 1826.
• Why:
  • The day is celebrated to honour the role of Hindi journalism in informing, empowering people, and supporting the freedom movement.
• Tell me more:
  • ‘Udant Martand’ was first published on May 30, 1826, from Calcutta by Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla.
  • The day also honours journalists and founders like Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi, Pt. Rambhuj Dutt Chaudhary, and Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi.
  • Hindi journalism has been practised in India for almost 199 years.
  • Hindi Journalism Day is also called Hindi Patrakarita Diwas.

Source: BS

2. World No Tobacco Day – May 31

• Theme: “Bright products. Dark intentions. Unmasking the Appeal”

Source: WHO BS

Sports

1. England Goalkeeper Mary Earps Announces International Retirement

• What:
  • England goalkeeper Mary Earps retired from international football just five weeks before the Women’s European Championship.
• Tell me more:
  • She was the goalkeeper when England won Euro 2022 and reached the Women’s World Cup final in 2023.
  • Earps received two FIFA Best awards and a World Cup golden glove.

Source: IE

2. Rohit Sharma Becomes First Indian to Hit 300 IPL Sixes

• Rohit Sharma became the first Indian batter to hit 300 sixes in the IPL during his 81-run knock against Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2025 Eliminator.
• Rohit reached the 300-sixes milestone in his 271st IPL match, moving to second on the all-time IPL six-hitters list behind Chris Gayle.

Source: IT

3. Virat Kohli Becomes First to Score 9,000 T20 Runs for One Franchise

• What:
  • Virat Kohli became the first cricketer to score 9,000 T20 runs for a single franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), during a match against Lucknow Super Giants.
• Why:
  • This achievement highlights Kohli’s consistent performance and major contribution to RCB in T20 cricket.
• Tell me more:
  • Kohli’s total includes runs from both Indian Premier League (IPL) and Champions League T20 (CLT20) matches for RCB.
  • Before the match, Kohli had 8,976 runs in 279 matches and 270 innings, with an average of 39.54 and a strike rate of 133.49.
  • His record features eight centuries, 64 half-centuries, and a top score of 113*.
  • In IPL alone, Kohli has 8,552 runs from 264 matches, with an average of 39.59, eight hundreds, and 62 fifties.

Source: TOI

Memorandum of Understanding

1. IIT Kharagpur, Singapore’s IME Sign Semiconductor MoU

• What:
  • IIT Kharagpur and Singapore’s Institute of Microelectronics (IME) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaboration in semiconductor technology.
• Why:
  • The partnership aims to promote collaborative research and human capital development in emerging semiconductor technologies.
• Tell me more:
  • The MoU was announced during SEMICON Southeast Asia 2025, a major event in the semiconductor industry.
  • The collaboration will focus on areas like post-CMOS and advanced transistor technologies, heterogeneous integration, chip packaging, AI-driven hardware accelerators, quantum devices, photonic systems, thermal management, and reliability diagnostics.
  • Plans include bilateral exchange programs, specialized training, and joint workshops for researchers, engineers, and students.
  • The partnership is described as a transformative step to build a resilient and competitive tech ecosystem.

Source: IE

Miscellaneous

1. Veteran Actor Rajesh Williams Passes Away at 75

• Veteran actor and businessman Rajesh Williams, known for his roles in Tamil and Malayalam films and TV serials, passed away in Chennai on 29 May at the age of 75.

Source: HT

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