Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 6th May 2025

 National News 

1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting in New Delhi to discuss the appointment of the next CBI Director 

• The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Office. 
• Chief Justice of India Justice Sanjiv Khanna was present at the meeting. 
• eader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also attended. 
• The discussion was caused by the upcoming end of CBI Director Praveen Sood’s term. 
• His two-year tenure concludes on May 25. 
• The Central Government appoints the CBI Director based on recommendations from a selection committee. 
• This committee includes the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. 

2. India to Join Australia, Japan, and US in Talisman Sabre 2025 Military Drill 

•  India will participate for the first time alongside Australia, Japan, and the United States in the multilateral Talisman Sabre 2025 military exercise. 
•  The 2025 edition will be the 11th iteration of this joint military exercise, which involves complex operations across land, air, sea, cyber, and space domains.
• The war games, traditionally held in Australia, will also take place in Papua New Guinea in July 2025, marki Recent Exercise. 

International News 

3. Advanced non-invasive blood flow monitoring technology developed by UAE University 

• An enhanced technology for monitoring blood flow without surgery has been created by researchers from the United Arab Emirates University using piezoelectric pressure sensors. 
• Crucial physiological parameters, including blood flow velocity and viscosity, are measured by the innovation by utilizing materials that generate electric fields when subjected to mechanical stress. 
• Improved accuracy and cost-effectiveness have been achieved, making the device suitable for use in clinics and households. 
• Real-time monitoring features have been added to detect serious conditions such as blood clots. 
• The innovation was supervised by Professor Mahmoud Al Ahmad, who emphasized its practical utility for both patients and healthcare professionals. 
• The technology is aligned with the UAE's goals to reduce reliance on imported healthcare tools and promote domestic medical innovation. 

4. The reopening of Alcatraz prison ordered by President Trump 

•  The reopening and expansion of Alcatraz prison has been directed by US President Donald Trump. 
• The island facility, which lies off the coast of California near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, had been closed in 1963 and repurposed for tourism. 
• The President stated that repeat offenders and violent criminals continue to plague the nation. 
• Alcatraz’s revival has been described as a symbol of restoring law, justice, and order in America. 
•  Established as a fort since the 1850s, the main building of this prison was constructed in 1910-12 as a US Army military prison. 
• The Justice Department took control in the 1930s, and it began taking in convicts from the federal prison system. 

5. 100% tari on Foreign-made films announced by Trump. 

•  A 100% tariff on all movies produced outside the United States has been ordered by US President Donald Trump. 
•  The Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) have been authorized to begin the process of imposing a 100% tariff on all foreign-made films entering the United States. 
•  The film industry in America is dying at a rapid pace, as other countries are offering all kinds of incentives to pull our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. 
•  Trump claimed the American film industry is being deliberately undermined through foreign subsidies and propaganda. 
•  The policy was described as a necessary step to protect national security and cultural sovereignty. 

State News 

6. Tamil Nadu Launches India’s First Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme to Boost Exports and Employment 

•  Tamil Nadu becomes the first state in India to introduce a dedicated Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme, aiming to attract Rs 30,000 crore in investments and generate 60,000 jobs. 
•  The state government will offer matching grants to complement Union government incentives, targeting manufacturers in sub-segments like HDI boards, display assemblies, and lithium-ion cells. 
• Tamil Nadu’s electronics exports have surged from $1.66 billion in FY21 to over $14.6 billion in FY25, establishing the state as India’s largest electronics manufacturing export base. 
• The scheme is part of Tamil Nadu’s broader policy framework, including the Tamil Nadu Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy (2024), aiming to attract global and Indian firms in the electronics sector. 

7. Renowned physicist and PSA (Padma Shri Award) recipient, Prof Ajay K Sood, has been inducted into the prestigious American Academy of Arts & Sciences. 

•  The election recognizes Prof Sood’s significant contributions to the field of physics and his impactful research in condensed matter and nanoscience. 
•  Sood, elected as PSA in April 2022, is also the Chairperson of the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology & Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC). 

8. Andhra Pradesh will build India's first Transmedia Entertainment City in collaboration with Creativeland Asia 

•  The Andra Pradesh State Government has entered into an MoU with Creativeland Asia Private Limited to establish India’s first “Transmedia Entertainment City.”
•   The MoU was signed in Amaravati on May 1, 2025, with representatives from both parties formalizing the agreement. 
•  The WAVES Summit 2025, organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, provided the momentum for this significant collaboration. 
•  Through this project, Andhra Pradesh will become a center for creative economy, tourism, skill development, employment generation and digital innovation. 
• The city, called "Creator Land", will be home to state-of-the-art facilities for cinema, gaming, advertising, virtual production and technology-based story. 
•  The project will feature a state-of-the-art Virtual Studio Complex with AI-based real-time rendering and volumetric capture systems. 
•  Immersive Entertainment Zones will offer theme parks with AR, VR, and MR experiences, along with dedicated gaming zones and e-sports arenas. 
• It will also include a Global Cinema Co-Production Hub for international collaborations, Creator Land Academy for specialized youth training in VFX, AI, gaming, and virtual production, and efforts to attract global investment through partnerships with studios and gaming companies. 
•  The foundation stone of this project will be laid in the next 24 months. 

9. The new excise policy approved by the Haryana Cabinet 

•  On 5 May, a new Excise Policy has been approved by the Haryana Cabinet under the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. 
•  The visibility of liquor shops or theka from National and State Highways has been prohibited under the new rules. 
•  Apart from this, any kind of advertisement or signboard will not be allowed at the liquor shops opened at a proper distance from the main roads. 
•  Violators will face fines of Rs 1 lakh for the first time, Rs 2 lakh for the second time and Rs 3 lakh for the third time, after which the license of the liquor shop will be cancelled. 
•  Distance requirements for liquor outlets from schools, colleges, and religious places have been increased to 150 meters. 
•  No changes have been made to the total number of liquor shops, which will remain at 2400 in 1200 zones. 
•  There is also a provision in this policy that no liquor shop will be opened in a village with a population of less than 500, due to which 152 liquor shops in more than 700 villages will be closed. 
•  Under the new policy, to open an alcohol outlet (AHATAS), 4% of the license fee will have to be paid in Gurugram, 3 % of the license fee in Faridabad, Sonipat, Panchkula and 1% of the license fee in the rest of the districts. 
•  In the new policy, it has been made mandatory to have an area of 1000 square meters for an alcohol outlet. 

Defence News 

10. Air Marshal N Tiwari takes charge as Vice Chief of Air Sta 

• Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari took charge as the new Vice Chief of the Air Staff. 
• He succeeded Air Marshal S P Dharkar. 
• Before taking charge as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Tiwari served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Gandhinagar-based South Western Air Command (SWAC). 
•  He was commissioned in the fighter stream in June 1986. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he passed out as the President’s Gold Medallist. 

Recent Appointment in Defence Sector 

• DG of Border Security Force (BSF) – Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal 
•  DG of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) – Gyanendra Pratap Singh 
•  Chief of Indian Air Force’s Western Air Command – Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra (replace Pankaj Mohan Sinha) 
•  DG of Medical Services (Navy) – Surgeon Vice Admiral Kavita Sahai 
•  Director General of Indian Coast Guard – Paramesh Sivamani (26th) 

11.The Indian Navy and DRDO have jointly completed a successful combat trial of the indigenous Multi-Influence Ground Mine (MIGM) 

•  Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commended the Navy, DRDO, and industry partners for this achievement. 
• He said the mine will play a key role in enhancing India’s underwater warfare capabilities. 
•  The MIGM is a sophisticated underwater naval mine developed to detect and respond to stealth submarines and warships. 
•  It is equipped with a variety of sensors to identify acoustic, magnetic, and pressure signatures from marine vessels.
• The system includes advanced onboard electronics with ARM-based processors. 
•  These electronics process sensor data and trigger specific actions based on the input. 
•  DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat confirmed that the system has passed its validation trials. 
•  He stated that it is now ready for induction into the Indian Navy. 

12. Indian Air Force Joins Multinational ‘Desert Flag-10’ Exercise in UAE 

•  6th edition of DUSTLIK exercise between India and Uzbekistan – Foreign Training Node, Aundh in Pune, Maharashtra 
•  Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in the multinational air exercise INIOCHOS-25 in Greece’s Hellenic Air Force. 
•  14th edition of Exercise Indra between India and Russia -Chennai
•   23rd edition of bilateral naval exercise, Varuna 2025 between India and France – Arabian Sea. Economy News 13. At the 58 th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank in Milan, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met with ADB President Masato Kanda 
• She reaffirmed India’s commitment to private sector-driven economic growth. 
•  India is actively enhancing its business environment through ongoing policy and regulatory reforms.
•  She highlighted key measures such as the Goods and Services Tax, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, and the reduction in corporate tax rates. 
•  Other major initiatives include the Production-Linked Incentive scheme, the GatiShakti National Master Plan, and the Startup India program.
•   President Kanda expressed ADB’s full support for India’s development priorities.
•   58th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank in Milan, Italy began on May 4, 2025. It began with the theme “Sharing Experience, Building Tomorrow”

 Appointment News 

14. Arvind Shrivastava Assumes Charge as Revenue Secretary, to Oversee Key Tax Reform 

•  Arvind Shrivastava, a 1994-batch IAS officer of Karnataka cadre, has officially taken charge as Revenue Secretary in the Union Ministry of Finance. 
• He brings extensive experience from key roles in the PMO, Ministry of Finance, Karnataka government, and international development institutions like the Asian Development Bank. 
•  Shrivastava will play a pivotal role in implementing the upcoming Income Tax Bill, 2025, aimed at simplifying tax laws, reducing litigation, and boosting compliance. 

Science and technology News 

15.Parachutes for uncrewed ISRO mission flagged of 

•  A set of parachutes developed for the first uncrewed mission of India’s Gaganyaan human space- flight programme was shipped from Agra on Monday. 
• The parachutes were developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), a laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). 
•  “Indigenously developed parachutes for the safe return of the astronauts under the proposed Gaganyaan Programme are set to undergo unmanned missions by the ISRO,” the ADRDE stated. 
•  Under the Gaganyaan programme, the ISRO aims to send two or three astronauts into Low Earth Orbit.

 Important Day News 

16. 6 May – International No Diet Day

•   International No Diet Day (INDD) is celebrated annually on 6th May to promote body acceptance, raise awareness of the dangers of dieting, and challenge the societal obsession with thinness. 
•  International No Diet Day was launched in 1992 by British feminist Mary Evans Young, who founded the Diet Breakers organization after her personal struggle with anorexia. 
•  The idea behind the day was to challenge the harmful messages promoted by diet culture and to encourage people to embrace and respect their bodies. 

17.World Asthma Day 2025: 06 May 

• World Asthma Day is observed every year on the second Tuesday of May to raise awareness about asthma and its risks. 
•  In 2025, it is being observed on May 6. 
•  The theme for World Asthma Day 2025 is 'Make inhaled treatments accessible for all'. 
•  This emphasizes the need for universal access to inhaled medications for asthma control and treatment. 
•  The first World Asthma Day took place in 1998, organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA).
• It coincided with the first World Asthma Meeting in Barcelona and involved over 35 countries. 
•  Asthma is a chronic condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways. 
•  This leads to excess mucus production, making it difficult to breathe. 
• More than 250 million people around the world live with asthma. 
•  In 2019, asthma was responsible for around 455,000 deaths globally, according to the World Health Organization. 

Miscellaneous News 

18. Legend Kapil Dev joins Sobo Mumbai Falcons as brand ambassador for T20 Mumbai League 

• Former Indian cricket captain, Kapil Dev, has been named the brand ambassador for the Sobo Mumbai Falcons team for the 2025 T20 Mumbai League season.
•  The third edition of the T20 Mumbai League will commence on May 26 at Wankhede Stadium, with eight teams competing in 20 matches until June 8, featuring cricket stars like Suryakumar Yadav, Ajinkya Rahane, and others.

 Recent Brand Ambassador- 

• Kriti Sanon – Dreame Technology India 
• Ananya Panday – French luxury brand Chanel 
•  Kartik Aaryan – Thomas Cook India Limited for its foreign exchange business 
•  Salman Khan – 10X Zarda King rices 
•  Vidya Balan – Federal Bank 
•  Shubman Gill – Tyre brand MRFs Sports News 

19. Subhasish Bose won the Men’s Player of the Year at the AIFF Awards 2025

•   Soumya Guguloth was named the Women’s Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season. 
•  Khalid Jamil was awarded Best Men’s Coach. Sujata Kar received the Best Women’s Coach honor. 
•  Vishal Kaith and Elangbam Panthoi Chanu were recognized as the Best Goalkeepers in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively. 
•  Brison Fernandes and Toijam Thoibisana Chanu were named the Most Promising Players of the Year. 
•  AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey praised Odisha for its support of football. 
•  Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo attended the award ceremony.He praised rising stars like Brison Fernandes and Thoibisana Chanu for their achievements.