Daily Current Affairs and GK | 29 May 2025

Topic: Important Days

1. World Football Day: 25 May

• In 2024, resolution proclaiming 25 May as World Football Day each year was passed by UN General Assembly.
• The resolution acknowledged the global reach of football and its impact in various spheres.
• It also recognizes role of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) as well as regional and national soccer federations in promoting the game of football.
• The year 2024 marked 100th anniversary of the first international football tournament in history with representation of all regions.
• This was held on May 25, 1924, at the time of the summer Olympic games held in Paris.
• This year, FIFA World Football Week (21-25 May 2025) theme is ‘Together, We Are Stronger'. 

Topic: Miscellaneous

2. Miao Lijie appointed as FIBA ​​Women's Asia Cup 2025 Ambassador.

• Chinese basketball legend and FIBA Hall of Famer Miao Lijie has been named the official ambassador for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025.
• The 31st edition of the tournament is scheduled to be held in Shenzhen, China, from July 13 to 20, 2025.
• Miao expressed her pride in representing an event hosted by China after a decade-long gap.
• She made her FIBA debut in 1999 and led China to multiple championship wins in the early 2000s.
• Miao was the spearhead of China's three consecutive title campaigns – leading the team to championships in 2001 (Bangkok), 2003 (Sendai) and in front of a home crowd in Qinhuangdao in 2005.
• She also played for the WNBA champion Sacramento Monarchs in 2005, a rare feat for Asian players.
• Miao scored over 6,000 points in the WCBA and led her team to a championship in 2011.
• She also led the campaign when China won gold medals in three Asian Games (2002, 2006, 2010).
• Her career highlights include three consecutive Asia Cup titles and three Asian Games gold medals.
• In 2024, she was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame and became the third Chinese player to receive the honor.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

3. The Government approved the continuation of the interest subsidy scheme for farmers.

• On May 28, 2025, the continuation of the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) for 2025-26 was approved by the government.
• The scheme ensures that short-term agricultural credit is made available to farmers through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) at subsidized interest rates.
• As per the decision taken by the Cabinet, the interest subsidy of 1.5% will continue.
• The continuation of the scheme will entail a financial burden of ₹15,640 crore on the government.
• Under MISS, farmers get short-term loans up to Rs 3 lakh through KCC at a concessional interest rate of 7%, with a 1.5% interest subsidy to eligible lending institutions.
• Additionally, farmers who repay their loans on time are eligible for an incentive of up to 3% as Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI), effectively reducing their interest rate on KCC loans to 4%.
• For fisheries and animal husbandry loans, interest benefits are extended for loans up to ₹2 lakh.
• No changes have been proposed to the structure or features of the existing scheme.
• The total number of operational KCC accounts across the country exceeds 7.75 crore.
• Institutional credit disbursement through KCC increased from Rs. 4.26 lakh crore in 2014 to Rs. 10.05 lakh crore by December 2024.
• Overall agricultural credit flow also rose from Rs.7.3 lakh crore in FY 2013-14 to Rs.25.49 lakh crore in FY 2023-24.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

4. PM Modi chaired the PRAGATI meeting for infrastructure and governance review.

• On 28 May, the PRAGATI meeting, the ICT-based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, chaired by PM Narendra Modi.
• Three major infrastructure projects with a combined worth exceeding ₹62,000 crore were reviewed during the meeting.
• The reviewed projects spanned the sectors of Road Transport, Power, and Water Resources, covering several States and Union Territories.
• The Prime Minister emphasized on removing implementation bottlenecks to ensure timely completion.
• Public grievances under the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) were also examined.
• The need for mandatory registration of all eligible real estate projects under RERA was stressed to protect homebuyers.
• Best practices in the development of India’s semiconductor ecosystem were discussed as a potential model for national adoption.
• Till the current progress meetings, 373 projects with a total cost of about Rs 20.64 lakh crore have been reviewed.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

5. Para-archer Harvinder Singh awarded the Padma Shri for sporting excellence.

• Para-archer Harvinder Singh was honoured with the Padma Shri award by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 27 May.
• His journey began in a small village in Haryana, where he overcame a childhood disability to become a world-class archer.
• Started archery in 2012 under the guidance of coach Jivanjot Singh Teja and made her international debut in 2017.
• Harvinder clinched India’s first gold medal in para-archery at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta.
• A historic bronze medal was secured by him at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in the Men’s Recurve event.
• Another bronze was won at the 2022 Asian Para Games in the Men’s Team Recurve category.
• His most iconic moment came with a gold medal in the Men’s Recurve Open at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
• His contributions have previously been recognised with the Arjuna Award in 2021 and the Bhim Award in 2022 by the Haryana government.

Topic: Personality in News

6. The nation paid tribute to Veer Savarkar on his birth anniversary.

• On May 28, Union ministers paid tribute to freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on his 142nd birth anniversary.
• The birth anniversary of freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was celebrated as 'Swatantrya Veer Gaurav Diwas'.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tribute to freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on his birth anniversary.
• Savarkar’s contributions to the freedom struggle were acknowledged for their continued relevance in nation-building.
• Vinayak Damodar Savarkar:
  • He was born in the Nashik district of Maharashtra on 28 May 1883.
  • Savarkar was a freedom fighter, politician, lawyer, and writer and was known for coining the term 'Hindutva.'
  • He was sentenced to 50 years in jail in 1911 for revolting against the Morley-Minto reforms.
  • He was part of the Hindu Mahasabha. He wrote the famous book ‘The Indian War of Independence 1857.’

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

7. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a new highway project in Andhra Pradesh.

• The project will create a four-lane corridor between Badvel and Nellore.
• It will span a total length of 108.134 kilometers.
• The highway will be built under the Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) model.
• The estimated cost of the project is ₹3,653.10 crore.
• It will link Gopavaram on NH-67 in YSR Kadapa District to Guruvindapudi on NH-16.
• Guruvindapudi is located near Krishnapatnam Port in SPSR Nellore District.
• The new road will strengthen connections to key industrial zones.
• These include Kopparthy on the VCIC, Orvakal on the HBIC, and Krishnapatnam on the CBIC.
• The project will provide direct access to Krishnapatnam Port.
• This port is a major logistics hub and a priority node under the CBIC.
• The new corridor will shorten the travel distance to the port by 34 kilometers.
• This reduces the route from 142 kilometers to a little over 108 kilometers.
• Commuters may save up to one hour of travel time.
• Fuel consumption and vehicle operating costs will also go down.
• The project will help cut carbon emissions as well.
• It is expected to create about 20 lakh man-days of direct employment.
• Another 23 lakh man-days of indirect jobs are also anticipated.
• The highway is likely to stimulate local economic growth.
• It will encourage more industrial and commercial activity in the surrounding areas.

Topic: Art and Culture

8. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah took part in the 150th anniversary celebrations of Shri Laxmi Narayan Mandir.

• The event was held at Madhavbag in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also attended the ceremony.
• Amit Shah said the temple has served the community through both spiritual and social efforts for 150 years.
• He praised Shri Varjivandas and Shri Narottambhai for founding the temple in 1875 during British rule.
• He said their efforts reflected a deep sense of social awareness and dedication.
• Shah noted that the temple once supported religious education, Gita recitation, and even ran a Sanskrit school.
• He described the Madhavbag Trust as a symbol of purity, balance, and selfless service.
• He encouraged everyone to think about the future of the trust as it approaches its 200th year.
• He proposed turning it into a center that can support the middle class and ease their daily challenges.
• He suggested setting up a Sanjeevani Center to offer healthcare services to those in need.
• He cited the completion of the Ram temple in Ayodhya as a major achievement.
• He also mentioned the restoration of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor as another example.
• Shah said that Modi took yoga to a global stage and inspired pride in Indian culture.
• He mentioned a recent military strike named "Operation Sindoor" by the Indian forces.
• He said the name highlighted the cultural and symbolic value of sindoor.

Topic: Indian Economy

9. India’s industrial growth in April 2025 was moderate.

• The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rose by 2.7 per cent compared to April 2024.
• This was lower than the 3.94 per cent growth recorded in March 2025.
• It was also slower than the growth seen in April last year.
• The IIP reached 152.0 in April 2025, up from 148.0 a year earlier.
• Manufacturing, the largest component of the index, grew by 3.4 per cent.
• This was slightly higher than the 3.0 per cent growth seen in March.
• Electricity generation increased by 1.1 per cent during the month.
• Mining activity shrank slightly, falling by 0.2 per cent.
• Out of 23 industry groups in manufacturing, 16 showed positive growth.
• The manufacture of machinery and equipment grew the most, with a 17.0 per cent rise.
• The motor vehicles and trailers segment expanded by 15.4 per cent.
• The basic metals sector reported a 4.9 per cent increase.
• Infrastructure and construction goods output rose by 4.0 per cent.
• Capital goods production jumped by 20.3 per cent in April. Intermediate goods output increased by 4.1 per cent.
• Consumer durables saw a 6.4 per cent growth. Consumer non-durables declined by 1.7 per cent.
• Primary goods output contracted by 0.4 per cent.
• The index for primary goods was 151.6 in April. Capital goods were recorded at 114.3.
• Intermediate goods stood at 164.2. Infrastructure and construction goods were indexed at 191.6.
• Consumer durables had an index of 127.2. Consumer non-durables had an index of 148.4.
• The final data for March 2025 was revised upward.
• The weighted response rate for March rose from 88 per cent to 93 per cent.
• The quick estimate for April 2025 was based on an 88 per cent response rate.
• Detailed data by sector and use-based category is provided in Statements I, II, and III.
• Statement IV includes monthly indices for the last 13 months to show trends.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

10. NITI Aayog hosted a two-day national consultation on enhancing the research and development (R&D) ecosystem in India.

• The event was held on 27th–28th May 2025 at Raj Bhawan in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
• The consultation was jointly chaired by Uttar Pradesh Governor Smt. Anandiben Patel and NITI Aayog Member Dr. V.K. Saraswat.
• Academic leaders, research directors, and institutional heads from various central government ministries and departments attended the meeting.
• More than 50 universities, research institutions, and laboratories participated in the discussions.
• This wide participation ensured diverse representation from India’s scientific and academic sectors.
• Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary of DSIR, was among the key participants.
• Prof. Vinod Kumar Singh, President of The National Academy of Sciences, India, also took part in the meeting.
• Governor Smt. Anandiben Patel stressed the importance of partnerships among academia, government, and industry.
• She emphasized that such collaboration is essential to realize India’s full scientific and technological potential.
• Prof. Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Adviser at NITI Aayog, presented an overview of the “Ease of Doing R&D” initiative.
• The meeting focused on identifying key barriers to building a strong research culture in India.
• Participants highlighted the bureaucratic challenges involved in securing project approvals.
• Concerns were raised over limited government spending on R&D and slow release of funds.
• Difficulties in procuring specialized equipment were also discussed.
• Attendees pointed out the lack of private sector investment in research.
• Time-consuming ethical and regulatory clearance processes were identified as major delays.
• The ongoing brain drain of researchers was noted as a serious issue.
• Many professionals seek better infrastructure, funding, and career prospects abroad.
• NITI Aayog is carrying out an in-depth analysis to tackle these issues.
• The focus is on removing bottlenecks, especially in government-supported research organizations.
• The event ended with a collective agreement on the need for immediate reform.
• NITI Aayog will compile the insights and recommendations gathered during the consultation.
• These will be converted into actionable steps for policy changes and system improvements.