National News
1. Civil Defence Mock Drill conducted in 244 Districts on 7 May
- States had been directed by the Centre to organize mock drills on 7 May for assessing civil defence preparedness nationwide.
- The Civil Defence Exercise and Rehearsal has been scheduled across 244 categorized Civil Defence Districts in the country.
- It is planned to organize this exercise up to the village level.
- The primary aim of the exercise is to evaluate operational coordination and the effectiveness of various civil defence measures.
- During the drill, air raid warning systems, operation of hotlines or radio communication links with the Indian Air Force, as well as testing the functionality of control rooms, etc., are being evaluated.
- Training will be imparted to civilians and students to equip them with civil defence knowledge for hostile attack situations.
- The exercise includes blackout measures, early camouflaging of key installations, and evacuation plan rehearsals, with NCC cadets across the country actively participating.
- The objective of the exercise is to assess and enhance the readiness of civil defense mechanisms in all states and union territories.
2. ‘10 cr. pages of historic documents digitised’
- The National Archives of India (NAI) has digitised more than 10 crore pages of historic documents.
- Making the announcement, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the digitisation project was taken up to make historic documents in possession of the NAI more accessible to the public.
- “Do revisit our glorious past, that has been digitally documented one page at a time, with this mega effort to make Bharat’s archival heritage closer to the public than ever before,” he said. In a post on X, Mr. Shekhawat said the portal Abhilekh Patal has had 1,49,487 unique visitors, and 29,507 registered users
3. Cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims
- Road accident victims all over India will be entitled to cashless treatment for up to ₹1.5 lakh for the first seven days at designated hospitals, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways noticed on Tuesday.
- According to a Gazette notification, the Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025 has come into force from May 5. The scheme is aimed at reducing the number of deaths arising from road accidents every year due to delay in timely medical intervention.
- The National Health Authority shall be the implementing agency for the programme.
International News
4. Friedrich Merz elected the new German Chancellor
- On 6 May, Friedrich Merz, Germany’s conservative leader, has been elected as the country’s new chancellor following a majority in the second round of Lower House voting.
- Out of 630 lawmakers, 325 voted in favour of Mr Merz in the second round, helping him cross the required threshold of 316 votes.
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Mr Merz on assuming office as Federal Chancellor of Germany.
- In the first round, only 310 members had voted for Mr. Merz, which was seen as a significant blow to his prestige.
- It marked the first time since 1949 that a chancellor candidate was not elected on the first attempt.
Germany:
- It is a country in Central Europe known for its strong economy and influential role in the European Union.
- Its capital is Berlin and its currency is the Euro.
- It is the most populous country in the European Union.
- The head of government is the Chancellor, and the current Chancellor is Friedrich Merz.
- The head of state is the President, and the current President is Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
5. The Maldives has announced a major new project worth $8.8 billion to develop the Maldives International Financial Centre in Malé by 2030
- The project is being developed in partnership with Qatari-backed MBS Global Investments.
- The Maldives International Financial Centre is designed to be a sustainable financial freezone.
- The Centre will offer major incentives such as zero corporate tax and no inheritance tax.
- Foreign investors will have full ownership rights and face no residency requirements.
- The facility will support banking in multiple currencies and allow offshore private banking.
- It will also introduce modern regulations for digital assets and green finance.
- The Maldives International Financial Centre is expected to generate over $1 billion in annual revenue within five years.
- The project aims to establish Malé as a major financial hub in the Indian Ocean.
6. India to provide $200 loan to Angola to modernise its Armed Forces
- India has agreed to provide Angola with a $200 million line of credit (loan) to modernise its armed forces. This was announced during Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço’s visit to India on 3rd April 2025.
- Angola will use the amount to buy defence equipment, transport vehicles, ammunition, and other assets from the Indian public and private sector defence companies.
- Angola has also expressed interest in getting India’s help in modernising and servicing Angolan Russian weapon systems, such as SU-30 fighter jets.
About Angola
- Capital- Luanda
- Currency- Angolan kwanza
- President- João Lourenço
- Continent- Africa
7. PM speaks to Emir of Qatar as India steps up outreach
- The Union government on Tuesday stepped up its outreach to West Asia amid tensions with Pakistan. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in Delhi on Wednesday.
- The moves came even as the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation Mission at the United Nations in New York issued a statement expressing concern about the “deteriorating security environment” in South Asia, and criticising India for “hostile rhetoric”, while condemning the terror attack in Pahalgam.
- In a sharp response to the OIC statement, which had also expressed support for Pakistan and called for Kashmiri “self determination”, the External Aairs Ministry said the statement had been issued at the behest of Pakistan, and called it “absurd”.
- The Ministry rejected any interference by the 57- nation grouping in India’s “internal affairs” In a statement, the Ministry said the Emir of Qatar had conveyed condolences for the victims of the attack and “expressed full support in India’s fight against terrorism and all its actions to bring the perpetrators to justice”.
- The statement of support to India came even as Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met with visiting Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Doha.
- A statement released by the Qatari PMO said that they had discussed “bilateral cooperation relations and ways to support and develop them, along with several issues of joint interest”.
- Iran FM’s visit The External Affairs Ministry announced that the Iranian Foreign Minister would arrive in Delhi on Wednesday afternoon. He will hold talks with Mr. Jaishankar on Thursday, and co-chair the Joint Commission Meeting on economic issues.
- He will also call on President Droupadi Murmu during his visit, indicating the importance South Block is giving to the visit. However, the government is unlikely to take up Mr. Araghchi’s offer to mediate between Iran’s two “brotherly neighbours” India and Pakistan.
- During a visit to Islamabad on Monday, the Iranian Foreign Minister, who met with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and Army chief General Asim Munir, told reporters that his mission in the region was to “get a clear understanding of the current situation”.
- The engagement with Iran and Qatar follows Mr. Modi’s conversations with leaders of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the UAE in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack.
- However, as India began preparations and drills for a possible military strike on Pakistan, in response to the attack, many countries, including Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, along with the U.K., the U.S., and the European Union, had also issued statement calling for de-escalation and resolving issues through dialogue and diplomacy, which New Delhi has not responded to. New Delhi did not respond to a statement by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday calling for an “independent and transparent investigation” into the attacks.
State News
8. The Thrissur Pooram festival celebrated at the historic Vadakkumnathan Temple in Thrissur, Kerala
- It is widely considered the most spectacular temple festival in the state.
- Large numbers of devotees and visitors have gathered to take part in the celebrations.
- This morning (6 May 2025), processions from eight nearby temples reached the Vadakkumnathan Temple.
- Deities from the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu temples also joined the procession.
- All the participating groups offered prayers to Lord Shiva, the temple’s main deity.
- The temple grounds were filled with the vibrant sounds of traditional percussion music.
- Performances included Panchavadyam and Chenda Melam, both key elements of the festival.
- A major highlight is the ceremonial exchange of colorful umbrellas on decorated elephants.
Thrissur Pooram Festival:
- Thrissur Pooram is a major Hindu temple festival. It is celebrated every year in Thrissur, Kerala.
- The festival takes place at the Vadakkunnathan Temple.
- It is held on the day when the moon aligns with the Pooram star. This occurs in the Malayalam calendar month of Medam.
- Thrissur Pooram is the largest of all pooram festivals in India.
9. A.P. CM Naidu launches a slew of temple initiatives
- Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu approved a proposal to implement ‘Annadanam’ (free food offering) at 16 temples in the State.
- He also cleared another proposal to take up recruitment for 137 vacant posts in the Endowments Department, including that of Deputy Commissioners and Grade 1 & 3 Executive Officers.
- He suggested setting up ‘Balaji Temple Construction Fund’ to construct at least one new temple per constituency.
Defence News
10. India and Japan rearmed strategic defense relations.
- On 5 May, a bilateral defence meeting was held between India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Japanese counterpart General Nakatani in New Delhi.
- Both leaders condemned all forms of terrorism and reaffirmed their commitment to the Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
- The need for stronger maritime cooperation and expansion of joint military exercises was mutually agreed upon.
- Their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and contributing to regional peace was reaffirmed.
- The scope and complexity of defence exercises and maritime cooperation between India and Japan were agreed to be enhanced.
- Mr Singh underlined the potential of the Indian defence industry, especially its ability to cooperate with the Japanese side in new areas including tank engines and aero engines.
- Both sides agreed to enhance industry cooperation, focusing on niche domains like automation, AI, and emerging areas such as Cyber and Space.
- India and Japan have a long-term friendship that has gained qualitative momentum since their collaboration was elevated to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014.
11.‘OPERATION SINDOOR’ launched by the Indian Armed Forces on nine terror targets in Pakistan.
- ‘OPERATION SINDOOR’ was launched by the Indian Armed Forces after midnight on 7 May, and terrorist infrastructure located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir was targeted, from where attacks against India were being planned and directed.
- According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence, a total of nine sites were struck during the operation.
- The terror camps targeted are linked to various banned organisations, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen.
- The Ministry stated that the action taken was focused, measured and non-incremental in nature.
- It was further clarified that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted in the course of the operation.
- The Defense Ministry emphasized that considerable restraint had been exercised by India in choosing both the targets and the methods of execution.
- These actions were undertaken in response to the barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were killed.
12. IAF to hold ‘pre-planned’ exercise in Rajasthan
- The Indian Air Force is set to conduct a ‘pre-planned’ two-day exercise on Wednesday and Thursday in Rajasthan and other areas close to the International Border with Pakistan, according to an IAF spokesperson.
- Incidentally, it coincides with the civil defence drills planned across the country on Wednesday. A NOTAM (Notice To Airmen) was issued by the Airports Authority of India from 3.30 p.m. on Wednesday to 9.30 p.m. on Thursday.
- Responding to questions on the issue, the IAF spokesperson said, “The IAF is conducting a preplanned routine training exercise.”
- The Union Home Ministry has announced a civil defence blackout drill, to be conducted across 244 civil defence districts across the country, on May 7.
- The drills are being conducted against the backdrop of tensions with Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack in which 26 people were killed.
Business News
13. India and the United Kingdom have finalized a landmark Free Trade Agreement
- They have also signed a Double Contribution Convention.
- Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Keir Starmer discussed the agreements over a phone call.
- They expressed satisfaction over the successful conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement.
- Modi said the deals will strengthen the India-UK Strategic Partnership.
- Both leaders agreed the agreements will open up new business opportunities.
- Minister Piyush Goyal praised the agreements as a new model for fair and ambitious trade.
- India will benefit from the removal of tariffs on around 99% of goods.
- Sectors like textiles, leather, footwear, toys, gems, jewellery, and engineering will see export growth.
- Indian products will become more competitive in the UK and other markets.
- The agreements will also support the joint development of goods and services for global markets.
- The Double Contribution Convention was announced alongside the finalization of the Free Trade Agreement between India and the UK.
- Both nations declared the completion of talks for a bilateral social security arrangement.
- This agreement aims to exempt Indian professionals temporarily employed in the UK from making double contribution to social security funds.
14. FMCG major Marico extends CEO Saugata Gupta’s tenure for two years
- Home-grown FMCG major Marico has extended the tenure of its Managing Director & CEO, Saugata Gupta, for two more years, from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2028.
- The decision was made during a Board of Directors meeting held on May 2, 2025.
- The board also approved the continuation of Harsh Mariwala as Non-Executive Director, following the Nomination and Remuneration Committee’s recommendation.
15.Goldsikka Unveils AI-Powered Gold-Melting ATM
- Goldsikka launched an AI-powered Gold-Melting ATM, allowing users to buy, sell, exchange, digitise, and monetise gold and gold jewellery without human interference.
- The machine includes an Augmented Reality (AR) feature, enabling customers to virtually try on jewellery before purchasing.
- Gold deposited in the ATM is melted, its purity tested, and the value displayed, with the customer receiving the amount transferred directly to their bank account in about 30 minutes.
- Security features include Aadhar and ID verification, with the ATM automatically reporting suspicious transactions to the police if a crime record is detected.
Economy News
16. The UNDP’s latest Human Development Index report shows that global development progress slowed significantly in 2024.
- After a brief rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023, improvements in income and life expectancy have stalled.
- Conflicts are becoming more frequent and severe around the world.
- UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner warned that this slowdown could reverse many years of human development.
- He noted that cuts to international aid are making the situation worse.
- These reductions are led by the United States under President Donald Trump.
- The report highlights a growing threat of global instability and division.
- It also warns of increased vulnerability to economic shocks and environmental crises.
- India is ranked 130th on the UNDP’s 2025 Human Development Index.
- Its HDI score increased from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023.
- This places India closer to the high human development threshold of 0.700.
- The country remains in the medium human development category.
- India’s HDI has grown by more than 53% since 1990.
- This growth rate is higher than both the global and South Asian averages.
- Iceland tops the 2025 HDI rankings with a score of 0.972.
- Norway and Switzerland follow in second and third place.
- South Sudan ranks last at 193rd, with an HDI of 0.388.
- Among neighboring countries, China ranks 75th, Sri Lanka 78th, and Bhutan 127th.
- Bangladesh shares the 130th position with India.
- Nepal is ranked 145th, Myanmar 149th, and Pakistan 168th, all below India.
Schemes and Committees News
17.India, U.K. conclude landmark trade deal
- India and the United Kingdom have concluded a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that will see 99% of Indian exports to the U.K. benefiting from zero duties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday.
- “In a historic milestone, India and the U.K. have successfully concluded an ambitious and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement, along with a Double Contribution Convention,” Mr. Modi said on X, following a phone conversation with Mr. Starmer.
- According to the Commerce and Industry Ministry, the FTA ensures comprehensive market access in the U.K. for Indian goods, covering all of India’s export interests.
18. Government to Launch ‘Depot Darpan’ Portal for Real-Time Monitoring of Food Storage Warehouses
- The Ministry of Consumer Affairs will launch the “Depot Darpan” portal and mobile app enable real-time monitoring of food storage depots, aiming to improve quality, safety, and transparency in warehousing.
- Depot Darpan will use geo-tagged data, automated ratings, and supervisory validation to assess infrastructure and operational efficiency, with each depot receiving a star rating based on performance.
- The platform integrates smart technologies such as CCTV, IoT sensors (for CO₂, humidity, fire hazards, etc.), and AI tools like ANPR, FRS, and automated bag counting to enhance security and operational control.
- Around 2,278 warehouses—managed by FCI, CWC, and other agencies—will be covered under the initiative, empowering officials with mobile-based monitoring and automated performance insights.
Appointment and Resignation News
19. Prakash Magdum Appointed as MD of National Film Development Corporation
- Prakash Magdum has been appointed as the Managing Director of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
- Prior to his appointment at NFDC, Magdum served as the Additional Director General of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) in Ahmedabad, contributing significantly to public information.
Important Day News
20. World Athletics Day: 07 May
- World Athletics Day is observed annually on May 7 to promote the importance of physical fitness.
- World Athletics Day is celebrated globally in May to raise awareness among children and young people about fitness and encourage participation in sports, especially athletics.
- The day was first introduced in 1996 by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF), now known as World Athletics.
- The first World Athletics Day took place in 1996, launched by Primo Nebiolo.
- On World Athletics Day, both the IAAF and World Athletics organize sporting events.
- In 2001, the IAAF changed its name to the International Association of Athletics Federations.
- In 2019, the name was further changed to World Athletics.
- World Athletics was founded in 1912 in Stockholm, Sweden, and is headquartered in Monaco.
Award News
21. The 2025 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to novelist Percival Everett and playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.
- The Pulitzer Prize is given for achievements in the fields of newspaper, magazine, and online journalism, literature, and musical composition.
- It was started in the name of Joseph Pulitzer in 1917.
- It is given in twenty-one categories, and each winner receives a certificate and a US$15,000 cash award.
- The winners of the 2025 Pulitzer Prizes are given below.
Science and Technology News
22. Gaganyaan’s manned mission likely in first quarter of 2027: ISRO chief
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) expects the Gaganyaan mission to launch Indian astronauts into space to take place in the first quarter of 2027, V. Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO, said at a press conference on Tuesday.
- While it will be preceded by three test launches (two uncrewed and one with a robot), this is the latest extension of the launch date, in this most anticipated of ISRO’s missions.
- The crewed mission was initially proposed for 2022 but kept being pushed further, with early 2027 being the latest timeline. Delay due to pandemic Union Minister of State for Space Jitendra Singh and Mr. Narayanan said the delays had been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the tests required to train astronauts, extra test flight of the launch vehicle, and a revamped Gaganyaan programme under which eight missions, both crewed and uncrewed, would be executed till 2028.
- “There are thousands of components and at least 10 lakh lines of code that need to be written for ensuring that the crew in the launch vehicle is safe, can escape in case of an emergency, [and] they can be brought back safely to earth after the mission is completed,” Mr. Narayanan said. “About 10,000 people working for four-ve years have to be credited with the progress so far.” Mr. Narayanan also said the Axiom-4 private space mission to carry Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station was scheduled for the first week of June.
- Officially, this launch, according to Axiom, is scheduled for May 29. India has paid ₹550 crore to Axiom for taking the first Indian astronaut to space after Rakesh Sharma’s journey of 1984.
- “This mission will allow Mr. Shukla will conduct sevgain extremely valuable experiences, which will be useful to us,” he said. For the first uncrewed mission expected later this year, with a robot called Vyom-mitra on board, all propulsion systems for the human-rated launch vehicle are ready, and about 90% of the necessary infrastructure and tests are also ready.
23. Dr. Jitendra Singh set to inaugurate Global Space Exploration Summit GLEX 2025
- The 12th Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX 2025) will be held from 7th to 9th May 2025 in New Delhi, with the theme “Reaching New Worlds: A Space Exploration Renaissance.”
- Over 1,800 attendees, including 233 international delegates from 36 countries, will participate; a record 1,275 research abstracts were submitted from 57 countries, with 64% from India.
- The event will feature plenary sessions by global space leaders from ESA, ISRO, USA, China, Japan, and UAE, along with an astronaut outreach program featuring 10 astronauts, including Rakesh Sharma and Hazzaa AlMansoori.
- Jointly organised by IAF, ISRO, and ASI, GLEX 2025 will also showcase a space exhibition with stalls from 22 top organisations, including Indian startups and global space companies. Sports News 24. China wins the 19th Sudirman Cup 2025
- Badminton powerhouse China has won the BWF Sudirman Cup for the fourth consecutive time, beating South Korea 3-1 in the final of the 19th edition of the Sudirman Cup 2025.
- It was the 14th title win for the Chinese in the Sudirman Cup’s history. Only three countries, China, Indonesia, and South Korea, have won the Sudirman Cup.
- The Indian team failed to qualify for the quarter-finals and finished 9th amongst the 16 teams participating in the tournament.
- The Sudirman Cup is a biennial mixed-team badminton competition organised by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). China hosted the 19th edition of the Sudirman Cup Finals in Xiamen.
- The Chinese team defeated Japan, while South Korea defeated Indonesia to reach the final. This was the Chinese team’s 16th consecutive final.
25. Goa wins 2025 Kalinga Super Cup
- FC Goa defeated Jamshedpur FC 3-0 in the final, winning the 5th edition of the Kalinga Super Cup football tournament 2025.
- The Kalinga Super Cup 2025 final was played at Bhubaneshwar, Odisha.
- FC Goa, also known as Gaurs, became the first team in the Kalinga Super Cup history to win it twice. It won the Kalinga Super Cup in 2019.
- FC Goa has also qualified for the playoff stages of next season’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League 2. If FC Goa fail to win that playoff game, they will play in the AFC Challenge League.
- The tournament name is Super Cup, but as the Odisha government sponsors it, it has been known as the Kalinga Super Cup since the 2024 edition. It is held at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Obituary News
26. Padma Shri Awardee K V Rabiya Passes Away
- K V Rabiya, a physically challenged social worker from this district who rose to prominence through her active role in the Kerala state literacy campaign, died at the age of 59.
- Rabiya had won the Padma Shri for her contributions in the field of social work in 2022.
- Rabiya, who was crippled by polio at the age of 14, had to continue her studies from home on a wheelchair.
- In June 1992, she began a campaign for adult literacy for illiterate people of all ages at Tirurangadi, near her native place of Vellilakkad in Malappuram district. Through her dedicated work, she introduced hundreds of illiterate people to the world of letters.
- Rabiya received her first national recognition in 1994 when she won the national youth award from the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
Tags:
CHSL
Current affairs
daily current affairs
Delhi police
Government Exams
Government jobs
ias current affairs
March 2025
SSC
SSC NEWS
top current affairs daily
UPSC
UPSC Current affairs
UPSC news