Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 8th May 2025

 

National News 

1. Pakistan has unleashed a disinformation offensive: govt 

• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) said in a statement on Wednesday that following India’s “precision strikes” against terrorist bases, Pakistan had “unleashed a full-blown disinformation offensive” on social media in a “desperate attempt to shift the focus from ground reality”. 
• “Pro-Pakistan social media handles and even influential political figures are deliberately spreading fake news, fabricating stories of miraculous military victories and heroic retaliation that simply do not exist,” the Ministry said. 
• It said Pakistan’s state-awaited accounts had been recycling outdated images, misrepresenting old videos, and inventing completely fabricated claims. 
• It is learnt that a war room was set up on Wednesday within the fact check unit of the Press Information Bureau to crosscheck round-the-clock the information being circulated on various social media platforms. 
• The PIB has flagged at least seven major instances of “propaganda” being spread through “pro-Pakistan” handles making false claims. 
• Describing it all as a coordinated attempt by Pakistan to mislead the media, distort the global narrative, and manipulate public perception in the wake of India’s successful operation, the Ministry said Pakistan was trying to create the “illusion of a strong counter-response” 

2. First attack in Pak.’s Punjab since 1971 

• Four of the nine strikes carried out under Operation Sindoor were on Pakistan’s territory, including its heartland, Punjab — marking the first time India has carried out a strike there since the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, 54 years ago. 
• The targets chosen are connected to a series of terror attacks in India over the years. They are the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the Pathankot attack, the Uri terror attacks, and the Pahalgam attack on April 22, among others. 
• The government deployed two women officers to brief the media, and the world, on the operation — Colonel Sofiya Qureshi from the Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh from the Indian Air Force (IAF) — after the initial statement by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. 
• Colonel Qureshi is an officer from the Corps of Signals, commanding a Unit. She was selected for the role of Military Observer in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006. 
• In March 2016, she became the first and only woman officer to lead an Army contingent at a multinational military exercise, Force 18, hosted by India for interoperability in sustaining peace among the ASEAN nations. Wing Commander Singh is a helicopter pilot flying Cheetah and Chetak, with over 2,500 hours flying hours to her credit. She is currently posted at the Directorate of Operations (Media & Public Relations) at the IAF headquarters in the national capital. 
• Synchronised strikes The strikes were carried out between 1.05 a.m. and 1.30 a.m. on Wednesday. 
• All munitions struck their designated targets and the strikes were synchronised to avoid detection and maximise the element of surprise, sources in the know said. Real-time footage from unmanned aerial vehicles confirmed the destruction of target facilities. 
• “The decision to target deep into Pakistani-administered territory was a departure from prior doctrine and marked a new level of strategic assertiveness,” a source observed. 
• Over the past three decades, Pakistan has systematically built terror infrastructure, Colonel Qureshi said, showcasing a map of the 21 camps identified, of which nine were picked for the strikes. 
• “It is a complex web of recruitment and indoctrination centres, training areas for initial and refresher courses and launch pads with handlers.” 
• Among the targets was Markaz Taiba in Muridke, the headquarters of the Lashkar-e-Taiba led by Hafz Saeed, around 25 km from the International Boundary (IB). 
• “Terrorists trained here have also been associated with many terrorist attacks, including Mumbai attacks in 2008. 
• Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist captured alive after the Mumbai attack, had confessed to having received training at Muridke. 
• As per inputs, it was revealed that David Coleman Headley had also received training at this camp,” Colonel Qureshi said. 
• Another important target was Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur, the headquarters of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, located around 100 km from the IB. 
• This camp was used for recruitment, training, and indoctrinating JeM terrorists and was frequently visited by terrorist commanders, including Masood Azhar, according to Colonel Qureshi. 
• Two other targets in Sialkot of Pakistan were the Sarjal camp and the Mehmoona Joya camp. 
• The Sarjal camp is located about 6 km from the IB, opposite Samba-Kathua sector. 
• It is in this camp where the terrorists who killed four personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Police in March 2025 were trained and launched. 
• The Mehmoona Joya camp is located around 12 km from the IB and is a key training facility of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.
• The camp was being used as the control centre for the revival of terrorism in Kathua and Jammu region, Colonel Qureshi said

 3. 21 airports in North India to remain shut till May 10

 

• At least 21 airports across India, primarily in northern and north-western regions, have been closed for passenger flights until May 10, following a government directive amid Indian military strikes near the border with Pakistan. 
•  These airports will remain closed till 5.29 a.m. on May 10, says the notice to airmen (NOTAM) issued to airlines accessed by The Hindu through sources in the Civil Aviation Ministry. 
•  The airports span the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Leh and the States of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. 
•  This has resulted in a large number of flight cancellations by Indian airlines operating on domestic routes. Some international flights were also affected as airlines, including those of the U.S. could not use Pakistan’s airspace. 
• The airports include those in Jammu and Srinagar in J&K and Leh; Amritsar, Chandigarh, Patiala and Halwara airports in Punjab; Shimla and Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh; Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Kishangarh in Rajasthan; and Bhuj, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Mundra, Porbandar, Kandla, Keshod and Bhuj in Gujarat, as per a NOTAM issued by the Airports Authority of India. 
•  The Gwalior and Hindon airports have also been affected, according to information posted by the airlines on X. Many of these airports are used jointly by airlines and the IAF. IndiGo has cancelled over 165 flights across 11 airports until 5.29 a.m. of May 10, according to its press statement. 
• Air India confirmed flight cancellations at nine airports in a post on X for the same time frame. Air India Express also halted flights from Amritsar, Gwalior, Jammu, Srinagar, and Hindon. 
• SpiceJet has cancelled flights to and from Leh, Srinagar, Jammu, Dharamshala, Kandla and Amritsar. Akasa Air said it has cancelled all its flights to and from Srinagar until May 9. The NOTAM came into effect from early morning on Wednesday for most of these airports when flighttracking websites such as FlightRadar24 showed no commercial flights operating in Indian airspace north of New Delhi barring Dehradun. 
•  Airlines have notified passengers via social media about potential delays and cancellations, urging them to check flight statuses and plan accordingly. All affected airlines have offered free rescheduling or full refunds for cancelled flights. 
• While U.S. carriers American and United cancelled their Tuesday departures to Delhi, other aircraft from West Asia and Europe that were already en route to India diverted to other airports due to tensions in the region. 
• “Due to the evolving situation in South Asia and resulting airspace limitations, United has cancelled our flight to New Delhi today. We will continue to monitor the situation and make decisions on upcoming flights,” the airline said in a statement. 

International News 

4. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Abbas Araghchi, has arrived in New Delhi 

• He is on a two-day official visit to India. 
• Dr. Araghchi will co-lead the 20th India-Iran Joint Commission Meeting. 
• This is his first visit to India since becoming Foreign Minister in August last year. 
• The visit marks the 75th anniversary of the India-Iran Friendship Treaty. 
• The meeting will focus on boosting cooperation between the two countries. 
• Leaders will discuss areas of mutual interest. 
• They will also explore new ways to strengthen the partnership. 
• The commission provides a platform to review progress and future plans. 
• India-Iran Relations: 
• India and Iran formally established diplomatic ties on March 15, 1950. 
• On 15th March 1950, India and Iran signed a friendship treaty. 
• In recent years, India has consistently ranked among Iran’s top five trading partners. 
• India and Iran signed a MoU in 2015 to jointly cooperate on the development of the Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar, Iran. 

State News 

5. Tripura's Rangacherra became the first green village with solar energy and safe water access 

• Rangacherra village under Mohanpur subdivision has been declared Tripura’s first green village, an achievement made possible through the initiative of the state government. 
• A solar plant and solar-based water purification systems were successfully installed in the village, setting an example of improving rural living standards. 
• The Tripura Renewable Energy Development Agency (TREDA) was entrusted with implementing the green village concept as a pilot project under Rangacherra gram panchayat. 
• An investment of ₹1.25 crore was allocated by TREDA to execute the project, which included the provision of solar home lighting systems for local households. 
• The solar plant has been integrated with the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited grid, allowing surplus electricity to be transferred to the state grid while meeting village needs. 
• With the commissioning of the solar-powered water purification plant, safe drinking water is now available to the villagers, many of whom had migrated here from Jharkhand and Bihar several years ago. 
• In the past, villagers had suffered due to contaminated water containing excessive iron, but that issue has now been addressed through purification. 
• The installation of 70 solar-powered street lights and home lighting has enabled children to study after sunset and ensured safer movement within the village at night. 

Defence News 

6. INS Kiltan participated in IMDEX Asia 2025 in Singapore 

• The International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) Asia 2025 was held from 6 to 8 May at Changi Exhibition Centre. 
• The deployment was part of the Indian Navy's ongoing operational mission aimed at reinforcing India's strong maritime cooperation with Singapore and regional partners. 
• A wide range of bilateral and multilateral events were held during the port visit, including professional interactions with the Republic of Singapore Navy and other navies participating in IMDEX Asia. 
• The activities were conducted to enhance naval interoperability, deepen professional relations and promote a spirit of mutual cooperation among the participating countries.
•  Cross-deck visits, industry-focused exhibitions and guided ship tours for school children were organised to spread awareness about maritime security and India's naval capabilities. 
• The participation reflects the Indian Navy’s proactive role in promoting regional peace and stability through consistent maritime presence and collaboration. 
• Since its inauguration in 1997, the Maritime & Defence Exhibition has risen to the top of the industry, becoming a platform for maritime businesses to showcase their latest vessels, systems and technologies. 

Economy News 

7. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved an updated version of the SHAKTI Policy for coal distribution to the power sector 

• The new policy introduces two coal linkage options: Window-I for coal at the official price and Window-II for coal at a premium above the official price. 
• Window-I will continue the current system for providing coal linkages to Central Sector Thermal Power Plants and States. 
• States can use their allocated coal linkages for their own generating companies or Independent Power Producers (IPPs). 
• This can be done through competitive bidding or existing Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). 
• Window-II allows coal-based power producers, including those using imported coal, to acquire coal through auction. 
• Power plants in Window-II have the flexibility to sell the generated electricity as needed. 
• The implementation of the revised policy will be handled by Coal India Limited (CIL) and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).
• The new policy simplifies coal allocation by reducing the previous eight guidelines to just two main windows. 
• The requirement for a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) has been removed for coal obtained through Window-II. 
• This change provides more flexibility to power plants. 
• Imported Coal Based (ICB) plants can access domestic coal through Window-II. 
• The revised policy promotes the establishment of new thermal power projects at pithead locations, closer to coal sources. 
• The rationalization of coal sources will help reduce the cost of coal at thermal power plants. 
• Minor adjustments to the policy can be made by the concerned ministries. 
• Existing Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) holders can acquire coal beyond their contracted quantities under Window-II. 
• Surplus coal from these linkages can be sold in the power market. 
• The policy benefits thermal power plants, railways, Coal India Limited, Singareni Collieries Company Limited, state governments, and electricity consumers. 
• SHAKTI (Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala Transparently in India) Policy: ○ The SHAKTI Policy, introduced in 2017, shifted coal allocation from a nomination-based system to a transparent auction method. ○ It was refined in 2019 and 2023, with this latest revision simplifying the allocation process. 

Schemes and Committees News 

8. Cabinet approved a ₹60,000-crore scheme for ITI Upgradation and National Skilling Centres

•  A new National Scheme for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Upgradation and Setting up of Five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling has been approved by the Union Cabinet as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. 
• The scheme, announced under the Budget 2024–25 and 2025–26, will be implemented with an outlay of ₹60,000 crore (Central Share: ₹30,000 crore; State Share: ₹20,000 crore; Industry Share: ₹10,000 crore). 
• It will also be co-financed by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, sharing 50% of the central contribution. 
• Under the scheme, 1,000 government ITIs will be upgraded in a hub-and-spoke arrangement with industry-aligned revamped trades (courses) and capacity augmentation of five (5) National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs). 
• The scheme is designed to make ITIs government-owned but industry-managed aspirational institutes, ensuring better alignment between local workforce supply and industrial demand. 
• A target to skill 20 lakh youth over five years has been set, with a focus on enhancing employability through industry-focused courses and training. 
• The scheme will adopt an industry-led Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) model for a result-based implementation strategy, making it distinct from previous attempts to reform the ITI ecosystem. 
• Infrastructure at five NSTIs—Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur, and Ludhiana—will be upgraded to improve Training of Trainers (ToT) facilities, with training provided to 50,000 trainers.
• The scheme aims to address the existing gaps in infrastructure and curriculum relevance and make vocational training aspirational. 
• This will support the developed India 2047 and meet the needs of sectors like electronics, automotive, and renewable energy

Appointment and Resignation News

 9. Praveen Sood's tenure as CBI Director extended by one year 

• The tenure of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Praveen Sood has been extended by one year beyond April 24, 2025, as per an order issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). 
• The extension was approved after a high-level committee — comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi — could not arrive at a consensus.
•  The move marks a deviation from the standard two-year fixed tenure for CBI and ED directors as mandated under the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act. 
• However, under amendments passed in 2021, the government is empowered to grant up to three one-year extensions. 
• Sood, a 1986-batch IPS officer of the Karnataka cadre, took over as the 34th Director of CBI on May 25, 2023, after serving as the DGP of Karnataka. 
• During his term, major cases such as the NEET-UG paper leak, Delhi excise policy scam, and cash-for-jobs scandal involving former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav were brought to conclusion. 

Banking News 

10. The Reserve Bank of India has introduced a new framework to streamline the process of making regulations 

• This framework applies to all regulatory documents issued by the Reserve Bank of India, including guidelines, orders, and policies. 
• Under the new process, the Reserve Bank of India must publish draft regulations on its official website. 
• The publication must include a detailed explanation of the regulation. 
• This explanation should outline the regulation’s objectives and, when possible, an impact assessment. 
•  It must also refer to global standards and best practices, if applicable. 
• The RBI will invite public feedback, providing at least 21 days for comments. 
• After reviewing the feedback, the Reserve Bank of India must publish a summary of responses. 
• The final version of the regulation must also be posted on the website. 
• This process will be followed for any amendments to existing regulations. 
• The Reserve Bank of India must regularly assess whether current regulations remain relevant. 
• This review will consider supervision outcomes, global practices, and any redundant provisions. 

Science and Technology News 

11. C-DOT and CSIR-NPL signed MoU to promote indigenous research in quantum and classical communications

 

• An MoU has been signed between the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and the CSIR–National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) to promote collaborative research in classical and quantum communication technologies. 
• The agreement is aimed at establishing a long-term research framework, focusing on the development, standardization, and deployment of next-generation secure communication systems. 
• Joint work will be undertaken in areas such as Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), single-photon sources and detectors, EIT-based systems, FPGA-based control electronics, and standardization of quantum systems. 
• Research infrastructure and technical expertise will be jointly leveraged, and both institutions have committed to pursuing external funding for expanding collaborative projects. 
• There will also be emphasis on academic exchange and knowledge sharing through workshops, seminars, guest lectures and collaborative learning efforts to enhance capacity building. 
• The MoU includes provisions for intellectual property rights and data governance to ensure transparent ownership and publication norms for jointly developed technologies. 
• The MoU was formally signed during a ceremony attended by senior leadership from both institutions, including Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO, C-DOT, and Prof. Venugopal Achanta, Director, CSIR-NPL. 
• This strategic collaboration is expected to play a pivotal role in achieving technological sovereignty and will also boost the Government’s initiatives like “Make India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.