National news
India Strengthens Healthcare and Financial Ties with Maldives through Strategic Agreements
In May 2025, HLL Lifecare Limited, a Government of India (GoI) enterprise under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW), signed a strategic agreement with State Trade Organisation Plc (STO), a government-owned entity of the Maldives responsible for importing and distributing essential goods. This partnership falls under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) — a flagship initiative of GoI aimed at delivering affordable, high-quality medicines to the public.
Under this collaboration, India will ensure a steady supply of essential medicines to the Maldives through HLL Lifecare Limited, strengthening healthcare cooperation between the two nations.
Key Highlights:
- PMBJP, launched in November 2008 by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers (MoC&F), focuses on making quality medicines accessible at affordable prices through government-supported pharma PSUs.
- To support Maldives’ fiscal stability, the GoI extended financial assistance by rolling over a USD 50 million Treasury Bill for another year.
- The State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest public sector bank headquartered in Mumbai, subscribed to the treasury bill issued by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) of the Maldives, reinforcing bilateral financial cooperation.
About Maldives:
- President: Mohamed Muizzu
- Capital: Malé
- Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)
State news
Madhya Pradesh & Maharashtra Sign MoU for World’s Largest Groundwater Recharge Project
In May 2025, the Governments of Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Maharashtra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Bhopal for the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project, a groundbreaking initiative valued at Rs 19,244 crore. This project is set to become the world’s largest groundwater recharge effort.
The agreement was finalized during the 28th MP-Maharashtra Inter-State Control Board meeting, attended by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Key Details:
- The Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project aims to address water scarcity, ensure sustainable irrigation, and improve drinking water supply through large-scale groundwater recharge.
- The project will provide permanent irrigation to:
- 1,23,082 hectares in Madhya Pradesh (Burhanpur and Khandwa districts)
- 2,34,706 hectares in Maharashtra (Jalgaon, Akola, Buldhana, and Amravati districts)
- 90% of the project cost will be funded by the Government of India (GoI).
About Madhya Pradesh:
- Chief Minister (CM): Mohan Yadav
- Governor: Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel
- Capital: Bhopal
- Wildlife Sanctuaries: Singhori Wildlife Sanctuary, Son Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary
Adani Group Unveils India’s First Hydrogen-Powered Mining Truck in Chhattisgarh
In May 2025, Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), the flagship firm of the Ahmedabad-based Adani Group, launched India’s first hydrogen-powered fuel cell truck dedicated to mining logistics in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. This groundbreaking initiative aims to promote sustainable transportation by replacing traditional diesel-powered vehicles with clean energy alternatives.
The hydrogen-powered truck was flagged off by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and will be used to transport coal from the Gare Pelma III Block in Raigarh to a state-run power plant. The Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company Limited (CSPGCL) had appointed AEL as the mine developer and operator of the block through a competitive bidding process.
Key Highlights:
- The truck is equipped with three hydrogen tanks and advanced smart technology, capable of transporting up to 40 tonnes of cargo across a 200-kilometre range.
- The vehicle uses a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack for efficient and eco-friendly energy conversion.
- The development of the hydrogen fuel cell truck was a result of collaboration between AEL and leading Indian and global energy tech firms as well as a major auto manufacturer.
- The project is spearheaded by Adani Natural Resources (ANR) and Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL)—both subsidiaries of AEL. ANR sources hydrogen fuel cells from ANIL, which focuses on green hydrogen, solar modules, wind turbines, and battery technologies.
Environmental Significance:
- Hydrogen fuel cell trucks produce only water vapour and warm air, drastically reducing emissions and noise pollution compared to diesel vehicles.
- This initiative supports India’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 and aims to cut down dependence on crude oil imports.
About Chhattisgarh:
- Chief Minister: Vishnu Deo Sai
- Governor: Ramen Deka
- Capital: Raipur
- Prominent Festivals: Hareli Festival, Madai Festival
Rank and report news
India Leads Global PMI Rankings for Manufacturing and Services: J.P. Morgan Report
In May 2025, J.P. Morgan, headquartered in New York, USA, released its latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) report for April 2025, highlighting India as the top performer among both developed and emerging economies in terms of manufacturing and services activity.
According to the report:
- India’s Manufacturing PMI stood at 58.2
- India’s Services PMI reached 58.7
These figures were the highest globally, outperforming major economies in both sectors.
In contrast, the Global Manufacturing PMI fell from 50.3 in March 2025 to 49.8 in April 2025, indicating a contraction in global manufacturing activity.
Key Insights:
- The J.P. Morgan Global Manufacturing PMI is a composite index developed in partnership with S&P Global Market Intelligence, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), and the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM).
- It is based on monthly surveys conducted with purchasing executives from over 30 countries, representing a broad spectrum of global manufacturing output.
About J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.:
- Chairman and CEO: Jamie Dimon
- Headquarters: New York, USA
International news
Sri Lanka Hosts 4th RIMES Ministerial Conference; India Co-Chairs the Event
From May 7 to May 9, 2025, Sri Lanka hosted the 4th Ministerial Conference of the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) in Colombo, with support from the World Bank (USA) through CARE Component-1, and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), UK.
India served as co-chair alongside Sri Lanka at the conference. The Indian delegation was led by Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), while Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, represented India at the RIMES Council Meeting held on the sidelines of the main event.
Conference Theme:
“Actionable Early Warnings and Climate Services for All”
Key Highlights:
- The conference concluded with the adoption of a Ministerial Declaration, reaffirming the commitment of RIMES member states to strengthen multi-hazard early warning systems, climate services, and promote disaster-resilient development across the region.
About Sri Lanka:
- President: Anura Kumara Dissanayake
- Capitals: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (Legislative), Colombo (Judicial and Executive)
- Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (SLR)
Adani Group & Bhutan’s DGPC Sign MoU to Develop 5,000 MW Hydropower Projects
In May 2025, Adani Group (Ahmedabad, India) and Druk Green Power Corporation Limited (DGPC) (Thimphu, Bhutan) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop 5,000 MW of hydropower projects in Bhutan.
Key Details:
- The MoU was signed by Dasho Chhewang Rinzin, MD of DGPC, and Naresh Telgu, COO of Adani Green Hydro, in the presence of Bhutan’s Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay and Energy Minister Lyonpo Gem Tshering in Thimphu.
- The initiative will include hydropower and pumped storage projects, to be identified and executed in phases based on Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).
- This collaboration builds on the ongoing Wangchhu Hydropower Project (570 MW, expandable to 900 MW), in which DGPC holds 51% and Adani holds 49%.
- The MoU supports Bhutan’s Renewable Energy Roadmap, which targets 20,000 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2040.
Banking news
Public Sector Banks Record ₹1.78 Trillion Profit in FY25;
In FY 2024–25, Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in India posted a record cumulative profit of ₹1.78 lakh crore, reflecting a 26% year-on-year growth from ₹1.41 lakh crore in FY24. This marks a ₹37,100 crore increase in absolute terms.
Key Highlights:
- State Bank of India (SBI) led the PSBs with a net profit of ₹70,901 crore, contributing over 40% of the total PSB profits. This represents a 16% growth from FY24.
- Punjab National Bank (PNB) achieved the highest percentage growth, doubling its net profit to ₹16,630 crore (102% increase).
- Punjab & Sind Bank (P&SB) followed with a 71% rise in profits to ₹1,016 crore.
QNB Becomes First MEA Bank to Open Branch in India’s GIFT City
In May 2025, Qatar National Bank (QNB), the largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), became the first MEA-based bank to establish a branch in GIFT City IFSC, Gandhinagar, Gujarat — India’s first international financial services centre and SEZ.
Key Points:
- The branch aims to support Indian corporates seeking international banking partnerships for global expansion.
- QNB operates in 28 markets across three continents, and this branch will strengthen its international presence.
- QNB India Private Ltd, headquartered in Mumbai, has been active since 2017, offering structured credit solutions and full-fledged banking services across India.
Award news
Bhuwan Ribhu Becomes First Indian Lawyer to Receive WJA ‘Medal of Honour’
In May 2025, Bhuwan Ribhu, a prominent Indian child rights lawyer and activist, became the first Indian lawyer to be awarded the ‘Medal of Honour’ by the World Jurist Association (WJA). The award was conferred during the World Law Congress 2025, held from May 4 to 6 in the Dominican Republic, North America.
- Ribhu was recognized for his 20-year-long legal advocacy against child marriage, trafficking, sexual abuse, and forced labour.
- He received the award from Eddy Olivares Ortega (Labour Minister, Dominican Republic) and Javier Cremades (President, WJA).
- Notable past WJA honorees include Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Kerala’s Water Heritage Museum Added to UNESCO’s Global WAMU-NET List
The Water Heritage Museum operated by the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) in Kozhikode, Kerala, has been added to the WAMU-NET, a global network under UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP).
- It is the third Indian museum on the list, joining JAL Water Museum (Udaipur, Rajasthan) and Living Water Museum (Pune, Maharashtra).
- The museum highlights Kerala’s traditional water practices and includes features like a climate change lab, medicinal plant garden, star garden, and butterfly garden.
- WAMU-NET promotes the cultural significance of water and supports sustainable water management worldwide.
Science And Tech News
Chinese Scientists Develop Asia’s First Rice Pangenome to Boost Climate Resilience
In May 2025, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, China, unveiled the first-ever pangenome of Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.), marking a major milestone in agricultural genomics. This comprehensive genome was derived by decoding 144 wild and cultivated rice varieties from across Asia.
The initiative aims to accelerate the development of high-yielding, disease-resistant, and climate-resilient rice varieties, essential to address rising global temperatures and growing food security concerns.
Key Highlights:
- The pangenome compiles all genes found in rice, including both common (core) and variety-specific (accessory) genes, enabling deeper insights into rice diversity and adaptation.
- Built using PacBio HiFi sequencing and advanced computational tools, the genome revealed:
- 69,531 genes, including 28,907 core genes and 13,728 wild-rice-specific genes.
- 3.87 billion base pairs of genetic sequences not found in previous rice reference genomes.
- The study traced all Asian cultivated rice back to Or-IIIa, a subgroup of Oryza rufipogon, the wild ancestor of japonica rice.
- 20% of the genes found are unique to wild rice, valuable for traits like environmental adaptation, phenotypic plasticity, and regeneration.
Sports news
Asian Blitz Chess Championship 2025 – UAE
On May 11, 2025, Russian Grandmaster (GM) Ivan Zemlyanskii and Kazakhstan’s Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Alua Nurman emerged as champions of the 2025 Asian Blitz Chess Championship, held in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Organized by the Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club under the aegis of the Asian Chess Federation (ACF) and the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the tournament witnessed intense competition.
- Ivan Zemlyanskii remained unbeaten, scoring 8 out of 9 points, and secured the Open title along with a USD 2,500 cash prize.
- WGM Alua Nurman claimed the Women’s title with 7.5 points, edging out Russia’s Valentina Gunina based on a superior opponents’ average rating. She was awarded USD 1,500.
About FIDE:
- President: Arkady Dvorkovich
- Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
- Established: 1924
India Bags 7 Medals at Archery World Cup 2025 Stage 2 in Shanghai
India delivered a stellar performance at the Archery World Cup 2025 Stage 2, held from May 6–11, 2025 in Shanghai, China, finishing second in the overall medal standings.
- India’s Medal Tally: 7 medals – 2 Gold, 1 Silver, and 4 Bronze
- Top Performer: South Korea (7 medals – 5 Gold, 2 Silver)
Indian Highlights:
- Madhura Dhamangaonkar won Gold in Women’s Individual Compound, her first-ever individual World Cup gold.
- The Men’s Compound Team (Ojas Deotale, Abhishek Verma, Rishabh Yadav) clinched Gold after defeating Mexico in the finals.
About World Archery:
- President: Ugur Erdener (Turkiye)
- Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
- Founded: 1931
Important days
International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) 2025 – May 12
The 4th International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) was observed on May 12, 2025, to emphasize the crucial role of plant health in ensuring food security, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable economic growth.
- Theme 2025: “The Importance of Plant Health in One Health”
- IDPH was established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) via resolution A/RES/76/256 in March 2022.
- The first IDPH was commemorated in 2022.
- The observance is supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), which organize awareness campaigns and global initiatives.
