22nd May 2025

1. India Reaffirms Global Health Commitment at 78th World Health Assembly
2. DoT Launches Financial Fraud Risk Indicator to Tackle Cyber Crime
3. PM Modi Inaugurates 103 Amrit Stations Across 18 States Under ₹1,100 Crore Plan
4. Banu Mushtaq Makes History with International Booker Prize Win
5. WHO Adopts First-Ever Global Pandemic Treaty
6. Geeta Samota: First CISF Officer to Summit Mount Everest
7. India Set to Become World’s Top Potato Producer by 2050
8. DEPwD Organised ‘Inclusive India Summit’ in New Delhi
9. Indian Army & NDRF Conducted ‘Exercise Rahat’ in Nagaland
10. DoP Releases Commemorative Postage Stamp for 125 Years of Kodaikanal Solar Observatory
11. DPIIT signs MoU with GEAPP for Climate-Tech Entrepreneurship in India
12. BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting 2025 held in Brazil
13. Indira Gandhi International Airport Ranks 9th Busiest Airports for 2024-25: ACI World
14. USA Became India’s 4th Largest Crude Oil Supplier
15. IIFT to Establish First Offshore Campus in Dubai, UAE to Expand Indian Education Globally
16. EnKash Launches India’s 1st Payment Gateway, Built for SMBs and Startups
17. Star Health Insurance Launches Star Flexi variants under Super Star Plan
18. MMRDA secures Rs. 1,500 cr loan from BoM for slum redevelopment project
19. HDFC Bank Launches ‘Biz+ Current Accounts’ to Support MSME Sector
20. India’s Banu Mushtaq & Deepa Bhasti Wins International Booker Prize 2025 for ‘Heart Lamp’
21. China’s Miao Lijie & Japan’s Yuko Oga Named as Ambassadors for FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025
22. Singapore’s Singtel Sold 1.2% Stake in Bharti Airtel for SGD 2 Billion
23. Pankaj Advani Clinches Third Consecutive CCI Billiards Classic Title 2025
24. Padma Vibhushan Awardee M.R. Srinivasan Passed Away
25. Noted Astrophysicist & Padma Awardee Dr. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar Passed Away
26. International Tea Day 2025 – May 21
27. Indian Tea Industry Charts New Growth Path at Vanijya Bhawan Convention
28. World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 2025 – May 21
29. National Anti-Terrorism Day 2025 – May 21
30. International Day for Biological Diversity 2025 – May 22

National News

1. Financial Fraud Risk Indicator Launched for Cyber Fraud Prevention

• What:
  • Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has started sharing the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) with stakeholders to help financial institutions prevent cyber fraud and financial crimes.
• Why:
  • The purpose is to provide advance actionable intelligence so that banks, NBFCs, and UPI service providers can take quick action and protect customers from financial fraud.
• Tell me more:
  • FRI is a risk-based metric that classifies mobile numbers as Medium, High, or Very High risk for financial fraud.
  • The classification uses data from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, DoT’s Chakshu platform, and intelligence from banks and financial institutions.
  • The Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU) shares lists of disconnected mobile numbers, including reasons like cyber-crime involvement or failed verification, with stakeholders.
  • PhonePe, as an initial adopter, uses FRI to block transactions for Very High risk numbers and warns users for Medium risk numbers.
  • Leading UPI platforms such as PhonePe, Paytm, and Google Pay, covering over 90% of UPI transactions, have started integrating DIP alerts to reduce financial fraud.

Source: PIB

2. 103 Amrit Bharat Railway Stations Inaugurated

• What:
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated 103 Amrit Bharat stations across 18 states from Rajasthan and dedicated 43 projects worth Rs 23,400 crore to the nation.
• Why:
  • The aim is to upgrade railway stations and modernize infrastructure to improve travel experience and connectivity.
• Tell me more:
  • The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme upgrades stations based on specific needs in phases and focuses on modern buildings, better connectivity, and accessibility for persons with disabilities.
  • New amenities include designed façades, renovated platforms, landscaped areas, roof plazas, kiosks, food courts, and children’s play zones.
  • Gandhinagar was the first station to be upgraded under this scheme in 2021.
  • Projects worth Rs 26,000 crore were launched in Rajasthan during the event.

Source: ET

3. IIFT Opens First Overseas Campus in Dubai

• What:
  • The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) has announced the establishment of its first overseas campus in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
• Tell me more:
  • The announcement marks a key step in the internationalisation of Indian education under the National Education Policy 2020.
  • Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted the campus as a symbol of the growing India-UAE partnership.
  • This is IIFT’s first overseas campus.

Source: NOA

State News

1. MMRDA Secures Rs 1,500 Crore Loan for Slum Redevelopment

• What:
  • The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has received a Rs 1,500 crore loan from Bank of Maharashtra for its first slum redevelopment project in Ghatkopar, Mumbai.
• Tell me more:
  • This is the first major financial closure for MMRDA’s Rs 8,498 crore Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project.
  • The Rs 1,500 crore loan is the first tranche out of Rs 3,916 crore planned through institutional loans.

Source: BS

International News

1. 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva

• What:
  • India reaffirmed its commitment to global health equity at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, highlighting achievements under flagship health initiatives.
• Why:
  • The aim is to showcase India’s progress in healthcare and support for a legal framework that ensures global cooperation and equitable access to health resources.
• Tell me more:
  • Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava addressed the plenary session, emphasizing Ayushman Bharat’s role in expanding healthcare access, improving infrastructure, providing financial protection, and promoting digital health.
  • India’s efforts in maternal health, family planning, and reducing childhood mortality and stillbirths have been recognized by international organizations like the United Nations Population Fund and the UN Inter-Agency Group.
  • India was recently certified as Trachoma-Free by WHO and is committed to eliminating diseases such as TB, Leprosy, Lymphatic Filariasis, Measles, Rubella, and Kala-azar.
  • India supports a binding pandemic agreement that ensures equitable access to medical countermeasures, transparent data sharing, and technology transfer, especially for the Global South.

Source: NOA

2. WHO Adopts Legally Binding Global Pandemic Treaty

• What:
  • World Health Organization (WHO) member states, except the United States, adopted a legally binding global pandemic treaty on May 20 after over three years of negotiations and 13 rounds of meetings.
• Why:
  • The treaty aims to prevent loss of life and reduce disruption during future pandemics by promoting fair access to vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics.
• Tell me more:
  • This is only the second binding accord in WHO’s 75-year history, after the 2003 tobacco control treaty.
  • The treaty includes a “pathogen access and benefit sharing” system, requiring pharmaceutical companies to share drugs and vaccines more equitably during pandemics.
  • Manufacturers must allocate 10% of production to WHO and another 10% at affordable prices, and support technology sharing for local manufacturing in developing countries.
  • The treaty does not give WHO authority over national laws and cannot mandate travel bans, vaccine mandates, or lockdowns.
  • The United States did not join the treaty, weakening its potential effectiveness.

Source: IE

3. India Highlights Energy Achievements at BRICS Meeting

• What:
  • Union Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal announced a 90% increase in India’s electricity capacity over the past decade, reaching 475 GW in 2025 and targeting 900 GW by 2032, at the BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Brasília.
• Why:
  • The announcement aims to show India’s commitment to energy security, sustainability, and inclusive access, while calling for stronger BRICS cooperation for economic stability and development.
• Tell me more:
  • India is now the world’s third-largest producer of solar and wind energy and has achieved a 20% ethanol blending milestone.
  • Investments are ongoing in smart grids, advanced metering, green energy corridors, and green hydrogen, with a target of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047.
  • India has launched a domestic Carbon Credit Market and supports the Global Biofuels Alliance and energy efficiency initiatives like the Sustainable Buildings Code and rooftop solar schemes.
  • Fossil fuels remain important in India’s energy mix, with efforts to promote cleaner use through technologies like coal gasification and carbon capture.
  • The BRICS communiqué supports Sustainable Development Goal 7, just energy transitions, open energy markets, and the use of local currencies in energy trade.

Source: ET

Banking and Economy

1. US Becomes Fourth Largest Crude Oil Supplier to India

• What:
  • The United States has overtaken the UAE to become the fourth largest supplier of crude oil to India, with imports reaching 0.33 million barrels per day in April.
• Why:
  • India is increasing energy procurement from the US to address bilateral trade disparities and diversify its crude oil sources.
• Tell me more:
  • US crude imports to India doubled from 0.17 million barrels per day last year to 0.33 million barrels per day in April, and rose from 0.24 million barrels per day in March.
  • The US held a 7.3% share of India’s crude imports in April, surpassing the UAE’s 6.4%, but remained behind Russia (37.8%), Iraq (19.1%), and Saudi Arabia (10.4%).
  • Russia remains India’s top supplier due to preferential pricing, mainly serving private refineries like Reliance Industries and Nayara Energy.
  • The growth in US exports to India is linked to reduced US exports to Europe and refinery closures in Europe.
  • OPEC+ plans to increase oil supply by about 400,000 barrels daily in May and June, with Saudi Arabia expected to provide most of the additional supply.

Source: TOI

2. EnKash Launches Payment Gateway for Small Businesses

• What:
  • EnKash has launched the EnKash Payment Gateway, a new payment solution designed for India’s small, medium-sized, and startup merchants.
• Why:
  • The launch aims to provide faster, flexible, and modern payment infrastructure to underserved merchants and support the growth of digital commerce.
• Tell me more:
  • EnKash is the first Indian fintech to offer a unified payments and spend stack, combining accounts payable automation, expense management, corporate cards, loyalty programs, and a payment gateway.
  • The solution is ready for platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and custom tech stacks, covering sectors from D2C and SaaS to edtech and logistics.

Source: BS

3. Star Health Launches Star Flexi with Three New Variants

• What:
  • Star Health Insurance has launched Star Flexi, an expansion of its Super Star health plan, introducing three new variants: Essential, Preferred, and Secure.
• Why:
  • The new packages aim to offer more options and customisation, expanding access to quality health insurance for a wide range of customers.
• Tell me more:
  • The launch reinforces the company’s commitment to making health insurance accessible from small villages to big cities.
  • Star Flexi is an addition to the existing Super Star health plan.
  • The announcement was made by Anand Roy, MD & CEO, Star Health Insurance.

Source: ET

4. HDFC Bank Launches Biz+ Current Accounts for Small Businesses

• What:
  • HDFC Bank has introduced a new suite of current account products called Biz+ with four variants—Biz Lite+, Biz Pro+, Biz Ultra+, and Biz Elite+—for small businesses at different growth stages.
• Why:
  • The launch aims to provide value-based, scalable banking solutions that support business growth and entrepreneurship for MSMEs.
• Tell me more:
  • Each Biz+ variant is tailored for setup, growth, expansion, and diversification phases, offering tiered benefits like free cash deposit limits, insurance, and shop-device rental waivers.
  • Biz Lite+ offers a deposit limit six times the account balance; Biz Pro+ increases it to ten times and includes zero-collateral overdraft loans; Biz Ultra+ raises it to twelve times with credit card benefits; Biz Elite+ offers a 15X deposit limit, Imperia Program benefits, and waiver of foreign bank charges.
  • Bundled services include cash handling, digital banking, relationship manager support, and business/payment protection insurance for new customers in the first year.

Source: TOI

5. Singtel Sells 1.2% Stake in Bharti Airtel for S$2 Billion

• What:
  • Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel) has sold a 1.2% direct stake in Bharti Airtel for about S$2 billion (₹13,180 crore) through a private placement to global and Indian institutional investors.
• Why:
  • The sale is part of Singtel’s capital management strategy to optimise its asset portfolio and enhance sustainable shareholder returns.
• Tell me more:
  • The transaction was done via Singtel affiliate Pastel Ltd, involving 71 million Airtel shares at ₹1,814 each, a 2.8% discount to the previous closing price.
  • Singtel’s effective stake in Airtel decreases from 29.5% to 28.3%, with 8.3% held directly and 20% indirectly through Bharti Telecom Ltd (BTL).
  • The Mittal family’s effective holding remains at 22.93%, with a 2.47% direct stake and 20.46% through BTL.

Source: ET

Awards

1. Banu Mushtaq Becomes First Kannada Booker Winner

• What:
  • Banu Mushtaq has become the first Indian author writing in Kannada to win the International Booker Prize for her short story collection “Heart Lamp,” translated by Deepa Bhasthi.
• Why:
  • The award recognizes her unique literary contribution and brings international honor to Indian and Kannada literature.
• Tell me more:
  • “Heart Lamp” is a collection of 12 short stories written in Kannada between 1990 and 2023 and published by Penguin Random House India.
  • Banu Mushtaq’s mother tongue is Urdu, and she speaks Dakhni Urdu at home but writes in Kannada.
  • She gave her award acceptance speech in English at the ceremony in London.
  • The jury appreciated “Heart Lamp” for its new and refreshing characters and themes.
  • Banu Mushtaq is the second Indian to win the International Booker Prize, after Geetanjali Shree in 2022.

Source: HT

2. Delhi IGI Airport Ranked Ninth Busiest Globally in 2024

• What:
  • Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi has been ranked ninth among the world’s busiest airports in 2024, handling 77.8 million passengers.
• Why:
  • The ranking highlights IGI Airport’s strong growth due to expanding airline operations, upgraded infrastructure, and improved global connectivity.
• Tell me more:
  • IGI Airport saw a 7.8% increase in passenger traffic from 2023 and a 13.6% rise compared to 2019.
  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the US is ranked first, handling over 108 million passengers, followed by Dubai and Dallas Fort Worth airports.
  • The Airports Council International (ACI) World rankings are based on total passenger numbers, counting transiting passengers only once.
  • IGI Airport was ranked 16th in 2018, showing a significant rise in global position.
  • ACI forecasts global air traffic will reach 9.9 billion passengers in 2025.

Source: NOA

Important Days

1. International Tea Day 2025 – May 21

• What:
  • Theme: Tea for Better Lives
  • A convention with panel discussions and an Indian Tea Appreciation zone was organized on International Tea Day, 21st May 2025, at Vanijya Bhawan, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, New Delhi.
• Tell me more:
  • Secretary Shri Sunil Barthwal stressed the need for ‘tea literacy’ and awareness programmes to help people appreciate Indian tea specialities.
  • An exclusive tea tasting session was held for government officials and tea industry stakeholders, with practical demonstrations by a professional tea taster.
  • The India Tea Appreciation Zone showcased teas from producers, exporters, small growers, FPOs, and startups, including single origin and flavoured teas from regions like Darjeeling, Assam, Nilgiri, Kangra, and Sikkim.

Source: IE PIB

2. World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 2025 – May 21

• This day is also known as Dialogue and Diversity Day.

Source: UN

3. National Anti-Terrorism Day 2025 – May 21

4. International Day for Biological Diversity 2025 – May 22

• Theme: “Harmony with nature and sustainable development”

Source: WHO

Memorandum of Understanding

1. DPIIT and GEAPP Partner to Boost Clean Energy Startups

• What:
  • The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) signed an MoU with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in clean energy and manufacturing sectors.
• Why:
  • The partnership aims to support early-stage climate-tech startups in India and help achieve the country’s net-zero goals.
• Tell me more:
  • The MoU is for two years and can be extended in the future.
  • The collaboration will provide startups with funding, mentorship, pilot opportunities, and market connections.
  • GEAPP will launch the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE) offering up to USD 500,000 in rewards for impactful climate-tech solutions.
  • Investment support will be provided through partners like Spectrum Impact and Avana Capital.
  • DPIIT will link the program to the Startup India network and promote it through major government schemes.

Source: ET GEAPP

Appointments

1. Geeta Samota Becomes First CISF Personnel to Scale Everest

• What:
  • Sub Inspector Geeta Samota became the first Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel to climb Mount Everest in the 56-year history of the force.
• Tell me more:
  • Geeta Samota summited the 8,849 m tall Mount Everest on Monday.
  • She joined CISF in 2011 and is currently posted at the Udaipur airport unit.
  • She previously became the first woman from any Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to scale Mount Satopanth and Mount Lobuche.
  • She has completed the “Seven Summits” challenge on four continents in just six months and 27 days, making her the fastest Indian woman to do so.
  • She also climbed five peaks in Ladakh’s Rupshu region in three days, including three peaks over 6,000 m.
  • Geeta Samota hails from Chak village in Rajasthan’s Sikar district and started as a hockey player.

Source: ET

2. Yuko Oga Named Ambassador for FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025

• Japanese basketball icon and FIBA Hall of Famer Yuko Oga has been appointed as the ambassador for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025, which will be held in Shenzhen, China from July 13-20, 2025.

Source: FIBA

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