Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 5th May 2025

 International News 

1. A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck near the southern coast of Chile and Argentina on 2 May 2025 

• The US Geological Survey confirmed the event. The US National Weather Service issued a tsunami warning shortly after. 
• Chilean authorities ordered the evacuation of coastal areas in the remote Magallanes region. Later, officials lifted the evacuation order. 
•  Residents were told it was safe to return and resume normal activities.
•  Chile’s disaster agency, SENAPRED, warned of possible tsunami waves. 
•  The waves were expected to be between one and three meters high. 
• The quake’s epicenter was located 219 kilometers offshore in the Drake Passage. 
• This passage lies between South America’s southern tip and Antarctica. 
• The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers. 
• Chile experiences frequent earthquakes due to its tectonic setting. 
• It sits at the intersection of the Nazca, South American, and Antarctic plates. 

2. Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP) has won in the general elections 

• This result extends the party’s continuous rule to 66 years. 
• Prime Minister Lawrence Wong led the PAP in this election. 
• The PAP secured 82 parliamentary seats through the vote count. 
• They also gained five additional seats that were uncontested. 
• This brings their total to 87 out of 97 seats in Parliament. 
• The Workers’ Party, the main opposition, retained its 10 seats. 
• The PAP’s share of the popular vote rose to 65.6 percent. 
• This is an increase from the 61 percent it received in the 2020 elections.
•  Singapore is an island country in Southeast Asia. 
• Singapore is a parliamentary republic. Tharman Shanmugaratnam is its President.

 3. The United States has approved the sale of HawkEye 360 technology to India 

• This sale aims to improve India’s surveillance capabilities. 
• It will enhance India’s ability to monitor the maritime domain in the Indo-Pacific region. 
• The technology will improve India’s maritime monitoring, data analysis, and strategic positioning. 
• HawkEye 360 uses a network of satellites in Low Earth Orbit to detect radio frequency signals. 
• The $131 million deal includes software, training, and support. 
• With this technology, India will be able to monitor illegal activities and protect its Exclusive Economic Zone. 
• It can detect ships that turn off their tracking systems to avoid detection. 
• Indian forces will be able to identify illegal fishing, smuggling, and other unlawful maritime activities.
• The system will expand India’s surveillance capacity in the Indian Ocean. 
• It will complement the P8i reconnaissance aircraft and other current assets. 

4. Iran FM to visit Pak., will arrive in Delhi later this week

• Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will arrive in Islamabad on Monday, ahead of a visit to Delhi later this week. 
• His India visit had been planned weeks ago, but coupled with the trip to Pakistan, it takes on an added mission, after he offered to mediate between the two “brotherly neighbours of Iran” over the Pahalgam attack. 

State News 

5. The 7th edition of the Bihar Khelo India Youth Games 2025 inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi 

• For the first time, Bihar is hosting the Khelo India Youth Games from May 4 to May 15, with events scheduled across five districts—Patna, Nalanda (Rajgir), Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Begusarai. 
•  More than 8,500 athletes with 1,500 technical officials across the country will participate in competitions spread in 28 different sports subjects. 
•  The Prime Minister emphasized that a strong sports culture has been promoted in India through government initiatives like Khelo India. 
•  Over one thousand Khelo India Centres have been established across the country to nurture young athletes. 
•  Traditional games such as Gatka, Kalaripayattu, and Kho Kho have been included under the Khelo India platform to ensure wider participation from rural talent. 
•  The Prime Minister stated that India's sports development reflects the nation’s soft power and its ambition to host the 2036 Olympics. 
•  PM Modi appreciated Bihar's efforts in sports infrastructure, such as the International Sports Complex in Rajgir and the state’s first Sports University, during the ceremony held at the Pataliputra Sports Complex in Patna. 

Appointment News 

6. Anthony Albanese has been re-elected as Prime Minister of Australia 

• He is the first leader in several decades to win a second consecutive term. 
•  About 70.8% of the votes have been counted so far. 
•  Labor is leading in 85 seats in the 150-seat lower house. 
• This is well above the 76 seats required for a majority. 
• The Liberal National Coalition is expected to secure 36 seats. 
•  Independent candidates are likely to win around 10 seats. 
•  Peter Dutton, leader of the Liberal Party, has conceded defeat. 
•  Before the election, Labor held a narrow majority with 77 seats. 
•  Albanese's re-election is a significant turnaround. 
•  Earlier in the year, his approval ratings were at historic lows. 
•  Voters were concerned about the rising cost of living, healthcare, and housing. 

 Australia: 

• Australia is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy.
•  The House of Representatives is the lower house of the Parliament of Australia. The upper house is the Senate.
•  Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world. Its capital is Canberra. Its currency is Australian dollar. 

Important Day News 

7. Coal Miners Day 2025: 4 May 

•  Coal Miners Day is celebrated annually on 4th May. 
•  It is celebrated to highlight the conditions of people working in coal mines and appreciate their sacrifices and efforts. 
• Coal mining is one of the toughest and dangerous jobs. 
•  Coal mining began in India in 1774 when East India Company started commercial exploitation in the Raniganj coalfield. 
•  Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel on Earth. The four main varieties of coal are – Peat, Lignite, Bituminous, Anthracite. 
•  Coal is used in power generation, production of steel and cement. 
•  Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL), a major subsidiary of Coal India, celebrated Miners Day 2025 with great pomp and enthusiasm at NCL Stadium, Singrauli. 
•  Every year on 4 April, the International Day for Mine Awareness is observed. 

Science and Technology News 

8. India became the first country to develop genome-edited rice varieties 

• India has achieved a global milestone by becoming the first nation to develop genome-edited rice varieties. 
• The first two genome-edited rice varieties were launched by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi. 
• The varieties have been developed by ICAR institutions to meet the nutritional demands of the growing population. 
• The first rice variety, DRR Dhan 100 Kamala, has been derived from Samba Mahsuri and matures 15–20 days earlier with a 25% higher yield. 
• The second variety, Pusa DST Rice 1, is tolerant to salinity and alkalinity, giving 30% more yield under saline conditions. 
• These varieties have been developed for Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh. 
• An estimated 4.5 million tons of extra paddy can be produced if these are cultivated across 5 million hectares of recommended areas. 
• The development is considered a major step toward climate-resilient farming and is expected to boost India’s second green revolution. 

9. DRDO has successfully completed the first flight test of its Stratospheric Airship Platform 

• The test was conducted in Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh. 
• The airship was developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment. 
•  Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment is located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. 
• During the trial, the airship reached an altitude of about 17 kilometers. 
• It carried a payload fitted with various sensors. 
• The data collected from these sensors will be used for further research. 
•  It will help create advanced simulation models for future airship missions. 
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO on the achievement. 
•  He said the system will greatly improve India’s earth observation capabilities. 
•  It will also enhance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations. 
•  The successful trial places India among a few countries with this indigenous technology 

Sports News 

10. Anarghya Panchwatkar shined at the Budankar International Karate Championship in Dubai 

• Anarghya Abhishek Panchawatkar from Gurugram clinched the gold medal in the kumite category at the 11th Budokan International Karate Championship held in Dubai. 
• Representing India under the banner of the Sports Shitokai Karate Federation, Anarghya gave a great performance, leading to the top podium status. 
• Anarghya also earned a bronze medal in Kata, which underlines his well-grazing expertise and command over both forms of karate. 
• The prestigious 11th Budarkar International Karate Championship was held on 26 April in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. 
• More than 900 participants from about 17 different countries participated in different age and weight categories. 

Obituary News 

11. Padma Shri Yoga Sant Baba Shivanand passed away in Varanasi at the age of 128 on 3 May 

•  He had been admitted to Banaras Hindu University Hospital on April 30 due to health complications, where he was under medical care. 
•  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conveyed their deep condolences over his demise. 
•  In his tribute, PM Modi said Baba Sivanand’s lifelong devotion to yoga and sadhana served as an enduring inspiration for generations. 
•  Baba Sivanand was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2022 for his significant service to society through the promotion of yoga. 
•  Additionally, he was also awarded the Yoga Ratna Award in Bangalore in 2019.