Daily Current Affairs and GK | 16 May 2025

Topic: Important Days

1. Indian government has officially set 23rd September as the annual date for Ayurveda Day.

• This change has been implemented through the gazette notification issued on 23 March 2025.
• Previously, Ayurveda Day was celebrated on Dhanteras, which follows a variable lunar calendar.
• The goal of Ayurveda Day is to promote Ayurveda as a scientific, evidence-based healthcare system.
• The date of Dhanteras changes each year, making it difficult to have a fixed date for Ayurveda Day.
• The Ministry of Ayush pointed out that Dhanteras would continue to vary between 15th October and 12th November.
• This inconsistency created challenges for organizing consistent national and international events.
• To address this, the Ministry of Ayush formed a committee to suggest a suitable date.
• The committee reviewed several options and chose 23rd September as the best choice.
• This date coincides with the autumnal equinox, when day and night are nearly equal in length.
• The equinox symbolizes balance in nature, which aligns with Ayurveda’s emphasis on harmony.
• The equinox represents cosmic balance, reflecting Ayurveda's belief in harmony between mind, body, and nature.
• The Ministry of Ayush encourages individuals, health professionals, and international organizations to celebrate Ayurveda Day on 23rd September each year.

Topic: Personality in News

2. Former Uruguay President Jose Mujica passed away at the age of 89.

• The straight-talking Mujica, known to many Uruguayans by his nickname "Pepe", led the small agricultural country's leftist government from 2010 to 2015.

• As president, Mujica took a leading liberal stance on issues related to civil liberties.
• He signed legislation allowing gay marriage and abortion in the early stages of pregnancy and supported a proposal to legalize the sale of marijuana.
• Mujica once led the Tupamaros rebel group and spent 15 years in prison, much in solitary.
• At 74, Mujica was elected president with 52% of the vote, despite concerns about his age and past as a Tupamaros rebel leader.
• His tenure was praised for prioritizing social justice and democratic values.

(Source: DD News)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

3. The 2025 World Food Prize awarded to a Brazilian microbiologist for her contributions to environmentally friendly agriculture.

• Brazilian scientist Mariangela Hungria has been honoured with the 2025 World Food Prize for her groundbreaking contributions to sustainable agriculture.
• She has been awarded for his pioneering work in developing organic seeds and soil treatments to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and increase crop yield and nutrition.
• The award, carrying a $500,000 prize, was conferred by the World Food Prize Foundation on May 13, 2025.
• Over a 40-year career at Embrapa, Hungria pioneered the development of biological seed and soil treatments to reduce the use of synthetic fertilisers.
• National soybean production in Brazil rose from 15 million tonnes (1979) to 173 million tonnes due to the adoption of her innovations.
• Farmers in Brazil are estimated to save $40 billion annually through her biological nitrogen fixation techniques.
• This technology is a natural process in which naturally occurring microorganisms convert atmospheric nitrogen into forms that plant roots can absorb from the soil, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.
• Hungria's research on rhizobia bacteria demonstrated that annual inoculation of soybeans could yield up to 8% more than synthetic fertiliser use.
• She developed over 30 microbial technologies, which included microbial inoculants to increase productivity in soybeans, maize, rice, beans, and wheat.

Topic: Defence

4. India successfully test-fired the indigenous 'Bhargavastra' counter-swarm drone system.

• The new low-cost counter-swarm drone system. ‘Bhargavastra’ has been successfully tested by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) in Gopalpur.
• The trials were conducted in the presence of Army Air Defence officials at the Seaward Firing Range.
• Bhargavastra, operating in hard-kill mode, is capable of neutralising incoming drones at a distance of up to 2.5 km.
• Unguided micro-rockets form the first layer of the system, with a lethal radius of 20 metres, tested effectively during the demonstration.
• A guided micro-missile layer had been previously tested to offer precise drone neutralisation.
• The system has been designed to operate across various terrains, including high-altitude regions above 5,000 metres.
• Indigenous and modular in design, Bhargavastra allows for the addition of soft-kill features like jamming and spoofing.
• The C4I-based Command-and-Control Centre integrates radar detection and Electro-Optical Infrared sensors for precise targeting.
• The radar component can detect threats within a 6 to 10 km range, offering full layered air defence coverage.

Topic: International News

5. Denmark launched the first commercial-scale e-methanol plant to promote green shipping.

• On 13 May, the world’s first commercial e-methanol plant was inaugurated in Kasso, Denmark, aimed at providing green fuel to the shipping sector.

• Jointly developed by European Energy and Mitsui, the new plant will produce 42,000 metric tons, or 53 million liters, of e-methanol per year.
• The new plant is estimated to cost 150 million euros ($167 million).
• The plant’s annual output is sufficient to fuel one large 16,000-container vessel on a round trip between Asia and Europe.
• Maersk will be a major customer, as it operates 13 dual-fuel methanol container vessels powered by fuel oil and e-methanol and has ordered 13 more such vessels.
• E-methanol, unlike conventional methanol, is produced using renewable energy and CO2 captured from biogas plants and waste incineration.
• Drugmaker Novo Nordisk and Lego will also use e-methanol for manufacturing injection pens and plastic bricks, respectively.
• Excess heat generated from e-methanol production will be used to heat 3,300 homes in the local area.

Topic: Defence

6. A successful 'Teesta Prahar' exercise conducted by the Indian Army.

• On 15 may, a large-scale integrated field exercise titled 'Teesta Prahar' was successfully conducted at the Teesta field firing range by the Indian Army.
• It demonstrated operational readiness and coordination between combat and support forces in riverine areas.
• The operation focused on combat coordination among Infantry, Artillery, Armoured Corps, Para Special Forces, Engineers, and other arms.
• Newly inducted next-generation weapons, systems, and platforms were deployed and validated during the drill.
• The Army demonstrated its capacity for swift deployment in riverine terrain and adverse weather conditions.
• Additionally, an indigenous nanoporous multilayered polymeric membrane for high-pressure seawater desalination was successfully developed by DRDO.
• The Defence Materials Stores and Research & Development Establishment (DMSRDE), a Kanpur-based laboratory of DRDO, developed technology for a desalination plant in Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ships.
• This technology addresses the serious challenge of stability when exposed to chloride ions in saline water based on operational requirements.
• DMSRDE and ICG successfully conducted initial technical trials on the existing desalination plant of ICG's Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV).

Topic: National News

7. India and the European Union have launched two major joint research programs under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC).

• The total investment for these initiatives is ₹391 crore (approximately €41 million).
• The projects focus on combating marine pollution and producing green hydrogen from organic waste.
• These efforts aim to advance innovation in environmental protection and clean energy.
• The TTC was established in 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
• It serves as a platform to strengthen cooperation in trade and technology between India and the EU.
• The first project targets marine pollution and is co-funded by the EU and India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• It aims to develop tools to monitor, assess, and reduce pollutants such as microplastics, heavy metals, and toxic organics in the ocean.
• The initiative supports global efforts like the UN Decade of Ocean Science and aligns with India’s National Marine Litter Policy and the EU’s Zero Pollution Action Plan.
• India’s Principal Scientific Adviser, Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, stated that global environmental issues require collaborative research.
• EU Ambassador Hervé Delphin said the projects reflect deepening EU-India cooperation on global challenges.
• The second project focuses on producing green hydrogen from agricultural, municipal, and industrial waste.
• It is backed by the EU and India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• The project aligns with the EU Hydrogen Strategy and India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission.
• Calls for research proposals under both projects have been officially opened.

Topic: Defence

8. DRDO has developed a new indigenous membrane for seawater desalination.

• The membrane is nanoporous and multilayered, made from advanced polymers.
• It is designed to operate under high pressure.
• The innovation was created by DMSRDE, a DRDO lab based in Kanpur.
• The technology was developed to meet the Indian Coast Guard’s specific needs.
• It addresses the problem of instability caused by chloride ions in salty water.
• The development was completed in just eight months.
• Initial trials were conducted on a desalination unit aboard an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV).
• These tests were carried out jointly by DMSRDE and the Indian Coast Guard.
• The membrane passed early performance and safety evaluations.
• Final clearance will be granted after 500 hours of operational testing.
• The membrane is currently being tested on an OPV.
• With minor changes, it could be used for water purification in coastal regions.
• This breakthrough contributes to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• It reduces reliance on imported desalination technologies.
• DRDO is the research and development wing of the Ministry of Defence.
• Its mission is to create advanced defence technologies for India.
• DRDO aims to equip the armed forces with modern and self-reliant systems.
• It works to fulfill the needs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force through indigenous innovation.
• Defence Materials Stores and Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE) is a Kanpur-based laboratory of DRDO.

Topic: Reports and Indices

9. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the first Monthly Bulletin of the updated Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for April 2025.

• The report presents revised employment and unemployment data using the new survey framework.
• It includes indicators like Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Unemployment Rate (UR).
• These figures are based on the Current Weekly Status of people aged 15 and above.
• The national LFPR in April 2025 was 55.6 per cent. Rural areas reported a LFPR of 58.0 per cent.
• Urban areas recorded an LFPR of 50.7 per cent. Male LFPR was 79.0 per cent in rural regions.
• In urban areas, male LFPR stood at 75.3 per cent. Female LFPR in rural regions was 38.2 per cent.
• The national WPR was 52.8 per cent. Rural WPR was higher at 55.4 per cent. Urban WPR was recorded at 47.4 per cent.
• The WPR for rural women was 36.8 per cent. In urban areas, the female WPR was 23.5 per cent.
• Overall, the female WPR stood at 32.5 per cent.
• The unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 and above was 5.1 per cent.
• Male unemployment was slightly higher at 5.2 per cent. Female unemployment stood at 5.0 per cent.
• These figures are the first released under the revamped PLFS methodology.
• The new system was introduced in January 2025. It uses a rotational panel design to gather data.
• Each selected household is visited once a month for four consecutive months.
• There is a 75 per cent overlap in first-stage sampling units from one month to the next.
• This approach increases the consistency and comparability of data.
• In April 2025, the survey covered 7,511 first-stage sampling units.
• Out of these, 4,140 were in rural areas. The remaining 3,371 were in urban areas.
• A total of 89,434 households were surveyed nationwide.
• The survey reached 3,80,838 individuals. Of these, 2,17,483 were from rural areas. Another 1,63,355 were from urban areas.
• The redesigned PLFS now provides quarterly labour data for rural India.
• Previously, quarterly estimates were only available for urban areas.
• The sample size per unit was increased from 8 households to 12.
• This change enhances the scope and depth of the survey.

Topic: Indian Economy

10. India is expected to grow by 6.3 per cent this fiscal year.

• This makes it the fastest-growing large economy.
• The UN’s mid-year update on the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) projects India’s growth to slightly rise to 6.4 per cent next year.
• However, this is 0.3 per cent lower than the January projection.
• The UN report warns that the global economy is at a "precarious moment."
• This is due to rising trade tensions and uncertain policies.
• The WESP report showed that global economic prospects have worsened since January.
• India’s growth contrasts with the global rate of 2.4 per cent and the performance of other major economies.
• China is projected to grow by 4.6 per cent, and the US by 1.6 per cent.
• Germany’s economy is expected to shrink by -0.1 per cent.
• Japan’s growth is forecast at 0.7 per cent, and the EU’s growth rate is 1 per cent.
• India’s economic growth is driven by strong private consumption, public investment, and growing services exports.
• Inflation in India is expected to decrease from 4.9 per cent in 2024 to 4.3 per cent in 2025. This is within the central bank’s target range.
• Unemployment in India remains stable amid steady economic conditions.
• However, the report points to persistent gender disparities in employment.
• It stresses the need for more inclusivity in workforce participation.
• The WESP also highlighted risks to India’s export sector from potential US tariffs.
• Certain sectors, such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, semiconductors, energy, and copper, are currently exempt from these tariffs.
• However, these exemptions may not last.
• The IMF has projected India’s economy will grow by 6.2 per cent this year and 6.3 per cent next year.