Daily Current Affairs and GK | 11 and 12 May 2025

Topic: Important Days

1. National Technology Day: 11 May

• National Technology Day is celebrated on 11 May every year in India.
• The theme of National Technology Day 2024 was “From Schools to Startups: Igniting Young Minds to Innovate.”
• National Technology Day is celebrated to celebrate the achievements of innovations and technological excellence in the country.
• Pokharan nuclear test was done on this day in 1998, in honor of which every year since the year 1999, this day is celebrated.
• Also, the first indigenous aircraft ‘Hansa-3’ was successfully tested and also Trishul missile was test fired on this day by DRDO.

Topic: Sports

2. IPL 2025 suspended for a week amid border tensions.

• The BCCI has announced the suspension of IPL 2025 for one week due to rising tensions along the India-Pakistan border.
• On 9 May, the decision was taken after air strikes and drone activity disrupted operations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur.
• On 8 may, a match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at Dharamshala was called off after 10.1 overs due to the situation.
• Players, match officials, broadcasters, and staff were evacuated to Jalandhar and transported to Delhi via a special train.
• The BCCI said a new schedule and venues will be announced following further review and consultation with stakeholders.
• So far, 58 matches have been completed in IPL 2025, with 12 matches in the league stage followed by the playoff matches remaining to be played.

Topic: National News

3. “Bharat Bodh Kendra” inaugurated by Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal to Promote India’s Cultural Legacy.

• On May 10, a new addition to the Habitat Library and Resource Centre—the Bharat Bodh Kendra—was inaugurated by the India Habitat Centre (IHC).
• This is a section dedicated to the purpose of promoting awareness and appreciation of India’s rich cultural and civilizational heritage.
• The Bharat Bodhi Kendra will house a collection of books and resources on Indian art, music, spirituality, history, philosophy, and other related fields.
• Accessible to IHC members, the initiative is conceived as a serene space for exploration and learning about India's timeless traditions and evolving cultural discourse.
• The minister appreciated IHC’s green initiatives and suggested that similar practices be adopted in other institutions.
• He encouraged the center to support other institutions in implementing sustainable initiatives.
• Spread over 9 acres, the IHC campus was highlighted for its unique architectural design, eco-friendly features, and its vibrant role as a hub of cultural and intellectual engagement.

Topic: Space and IT

4. The NASA-ISRO radar satellite is scheduled to be launched next month.

• The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite is expected to be launched next month, as stated by ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan.
• The announcement was made during the 5th Convocation of Central Agricultural University, Imphal, held at the College of Fisheries, Agartala.
• The NISAR satellite is equipped with two primary payloads—one developed by the United States and the other by India.
• It will function as a microwave remote sensing satellite for Earth observation.
• Furthermore, he said that during India's G-20 presidency, PM Modi had announced that India would build a G-20 satellite.
• The G20 satellite will focus on climate monitoring, with 50% of the payload developed in India and the rest by other member countries.
• Data from the G20 satellite will be shared with all G20 nations and launched using an Indian launch vehicle.
• Additionally, the RA-SAT (a C-band radar satellite) will be launched by PSLV on May 18, and the next month, Gaganyatri will be sent to the International Space Station to gain some experience.

Topic: MoUs and Agreements

5. An MoU signed between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra for implementing the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project.

• On 10 May, the agreement was finalized during the Inter-State Control Board meeting in Bhopal.
• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis signed the MoU, marking a new effort to harness interstate river resources for sustainable development.
• The objective of the MoU is to benefit 5.78 lakh acres of land and promote irrigation in Vidarbha and North Maharashtra.
• The Madhya Pradesh government launched the project last year as its third major water initiative after launching the Ken-Betwa Link Project with Uttar Pradesh and the Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal Project with Rajasthan.
• Under the proposed project, water from the Tapti River, originating in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul district, will be diverted to meet the drinking water needs of northeastern Maharashtra, including Nagpur.
• It will also provide irrigation support to the southern and southeastern districts of Madhya Pradesh, such as Burhanpur and Khandwa.
• A total of 31.13 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water will be utilized—11.76 TMC by MP and 19.36 TMC by Maharashtra.
• The project will cover 123,082 hectares in MP and 234,706 hectares in Maharashtra.
• An estimated ₹19,244 crores will be invested as per 2022–23 estimates, with 90% of the cost expected from the center.

Topic: National News

6. Security of scientific establishments will be increased in border states.

• On 10 May, a high-level review meeting was chaired by Dr. Jitendra Singh regarding scientific facility security in border areas in New Delhi.
• The decision was taken to upgrade security at scientific and technical installations located in the border regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Chandigarh, and parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
• Institutions such as CSIR-IIM Jammu, CSIR-CSIO Chandigarh, and Earth Sciences units in Ladakh were reviewed.
• He directed them to pay special attention to IMD facilities in Srinagar and Leh and directed the Director General of IMD to enhance security at these places.
• Scientific institutions were instructed to issue updated Standard Operating Procedures for emergency response, conduct mock drills, and organize sensitization programs on self-defense and evacuation strategies.
• Recognized as the backbone of India's research and disaster response infrastructure, these institutions have been directed to strengthen safety protocols and coordinate closely with local district administrations.
• Dr. Singh advised postponing examination and research proposal deadlines for the convenience of students and researchers affected by the situation.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

7. Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) and SEBI held a strategic planning meeting on May 9, 2025, at SEBI’s BKC office in Mumbai.

• The meeting focused on preparations for the launch of the “Niveshak Shivir” campaign.
• This initiative is meant to simplify the process of recovering unclaimed dividends and shares.
• Senior officials attended the session. Representatives from NSE, BSE, NSDL, CDSL, Link Intime, and KFin Technologies also participated.
• “Niveshak Shivir” will set up helpdesks to support investors throughout the claim process.
• These helpdesks will allow investors to directly interact with company representatives and RTAs.
• Investors with dematerialized shares nearing transfer to IEPFA should contact the concerned company for assistance.
• Those with physical share certificates must check the IEPFA website to verify the status of their shares.
• They may also contact the company’s Registrar and Transfer Agent for help.
• The IEPFA portal has a search tool to check whether the shares are still with the company or have been transferred.
• “Niveshak Shivir” will begin in Mumbai and Ahmedabad later this month.
• It will expand to other cities with large volumes of unclaimed investor assets.
• IEPFA operates under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• It works to raise investor awareness and ensure easier access to financial redress.
• Initiatives like “Niveshak Shivir” support these goals by improving outreach and transparency.

Topic: Banking/Finance

8. The Reserve Bank of India has imposed a fine of Rs 1.72 crore on the State Bank of India.

• This was due to SBI’s failure to comply with specific regulatory guidelines.
• The violations involved norms related to loans, customer liability in unauthorized digital transactions, and rules for opening current accounts.
• Jana Small Finance Bank has also been fined Rs 1 crore by the RBI.
• This penalty was issued for breaching certain provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• The RBI stated that these penalties are based on compliance failures.
• They are not meant to question the validity of any customer transactions or agreements made by the banks.

Topic: Reports and Indices

9. India is steadily reducing maternal and child mortality.

• This progress aligns with its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2030.
• The Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2021 was released on May 7, 2025. It was released by the Registrar General of India.
• It shows that India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) dropped from 130 to 93 per 100,000 live births between 2014–16 and 2019–21.
• The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) declined from 39 to 27 per 1,000 live births from 2014 to 2021.
• The Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) reduced from 26 to 19 per 1,000 live births in the same period.
• The Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) fell from 45 to 31 per 1,000 live births between 2014 and 2021.
• India’s fertility rate reached 2.0 in 2021, down from 2.3 in 2014.
• The sex ratio at birth improved from 899 in 2014 to 913 in 2021.
• Eight states have met the SDG target for MMR of 70 or fewer.
• These include Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and five others.
• Twelve states and union territories have achieved the U5MR goal of 25 or fewer deaths per 1,000 live births.
• Six states and UTs have reached the NMR target of 12 or fewer.
• India’s performance in reducing mortality outpaces global trends.
• The United Nation Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group (UN-MMEIG) Report 2000-2023 shows an 86% drop in MMR in India from 1990 to 2023.
• Globally, the average decline in that period was only 48%.
• According to the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) Report 2024, India reduced U5MR by 78%.
• IMR declined by 71%, and NMR by 70%, from 1990 to 2023.
• These rates are better than the global averages of 61%, 58%, and 54%, respectively.
• The Indian government’s policies have played a major role in this progress.
• Ayushman Bharat provides ₹5 lakh annual health coverage per family.
• It is the world’s largest public health insurance program.
• The scheme ensures free institutional deliveries, including C-sections.
• It also covers medicines, diagnostics, transport, and nutrition.
• Public healthcare facilities offer these services at no cost.
• India supports around 30 million pregnancies and 26 million live births each year.
• Quality of care is ensured through certification, training, and supervision.
• Skilled birth attendants and community health workers are being deployed widely.
• Efforts are also focused on reaching underserved areas.

Topic: Defence

10. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually launched the BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

• He stated that Operation Sindoor represents India’s political, social, and strategic resolve, especially against terrorism.
• Singh emphasized that the operation highlights India’s military capability and strong stance against terrorism.
• He mentioned that Indian actions send a clear message that even territories across the border are unsafe for terrorists and their supporters.
• The Defence Minister explained that Operation Sindoor was aimed at destroying terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, while avoiding civilian harm.
• He criticized Pakistan for targeting Indian civilians, including religious sites such as temples, gurudwaras, and churches.
• The new BrahMos facility is expected to strengthen India’s defence manufacturing and testing capabilities.
• Singh noted the importance of the inauguration coinciding with National Technology Day, which commemorates India’s 1998 nuclear tests in Pokhran.
• Rajnath Singh described BrahMos as one of the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles.
• He stated that BrahMos is not just a weapon, but also a symbol of India’s military strength, deterrence, and commitment to national security.