NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Dr. Jitendra Singh Launches Digital Civil List 2025 with Enhanced AI Features: Jitendra Singh launched the 70th edition of the Civil List, 2025 as an e-book, marking the fifth fully digital version; the list is a comprehensive directory of serving IAS officers across India, published by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).The e-Civil List features enhanced digital tools, including embedded hyperlinks and searchable options, with proposed AI-based domain-specific search functionalities for better officer identification in mission-mode governance.The 2025 edition includes new additions such as officers’ photographs and details like batch, cadre, posting, pay level, educational qualifications, and retirement dates; it also offers historical data from 1969 and projected retirements over the next five years.Aligned with the Digital India mission, this eco-friendly initiative discontinues hard copies to reduce government expenditure and promote digital governance, reflecting the Centre’s focus on modernization and transparency.
2. Tenure of ‘Superspy’ Tapan Kumar Deka Extended as Intelligence Bureau Chief: Tapan Kumar Deka, a veteran Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, has been granted a one-year extension as Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), India’s premier domestic intelligence agency. The extension, effective until June 2026, was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and comes in recognition of his critical contributions to national security. His continued leadership has been sanctioned under a special provision allowing service extensions in the public interest beyond the typical retirement age of 60 years. Deka, an IPS officer of the 1988 batch from the Himachal Pradesh cadre, is widely regarded as one of India’s foremost intelligence operatives. Popularly referred to as a “superspy,” he has earned a formidable reputation over decades of service, especially for his role in counterterrorism and internal security. Appointed IB chief in 2022, his original two-year term was extended in 2024, with the current extension marking continued trust in his capabilities at the highest levels of government.
3. Indus And Sutlej Rivers: The Indus River begins at the Seng Khabab glacier near Mount Kailash in Tibet. It flows through Ladakh and into Pakistan, covering around 3,180 kilometres. The Sutlej River starts at the Longchen Khabab glacier and travels approximately 1,450 kilometres. Both rivers are essential for agriculture and hydroelectric power in the region. China has constructed hydroelectric plants near the sources of these rivers. Facilities like Senge Tsangpo and a barrage at Zada Gorge can manipulate water flow. This capability raises concerns about potential shortages for India and Pakistan. China has previously halted river flows as a geopolitical strategy, as seen in the Brahmaputra case.
4. India’s Total Fertility Rate Trends: Total Fertility Rate is a demographic measure. It estimates the average number of children a woman will have during her reproductive years, typically aged 15 to 49. The TFR is derived from age-specific fertility rates, which assess the number of children born to women in specific age groups. The SRS survey is the largest demographic study in India, involving about 84 lakh individuals across various states and Union Territories. The SRS report includes several fertility indicators. These include the Crude Birth Rate (CBR), General Fertility Rate, Age-Specific Fertility Rate, and Gross Reproduction Rate. The CBR measures live births per 1,000 people, while the General Fertility Rate focuses on births per 1,000 women of reproductive age. The report indicates that India’s CBR is 19.3 for 2021, reflecting a consistent decline of 1.12% annually since 2016.
5. Revamped Multi Agency Centre: Recently inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the revamped MAC serves as a national intelligence-sharing fusion centre. It aims to improve coordination among various state and central agencies in combating terrorism and other security threats. The MAC was initially established in 2001 following the Kargil conflict and was strengthened after the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The MAC is designed to facilitate the sharing, storing, collating, and analysis of intelligence inputs related to terrorism. It focuses on four main areas – Jammu & Kashmir, Northeast India, Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), and the Rest of India. The centre integrates 28 organisations, including the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and armed forces, to ensure real-time intelligence sharing.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. TCS ranked among World’s top 100 most valuable brands in Kantar BrandZ 2025 Report: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s most valued information technology services company by market capitalisation and also one of the largest private sector employers, has been named one of the 100 most valuable brands globally in the 2025 Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Global Brands Report.In the special 20th edition of the Kantar BrandZ report unveiled at a ceremony in New York, TCS was assigned a brand value of $57.3 billion, reflecting a strong 28% year-on-year growth.TCS now holds the 45th position in the global rankings, which feature the most recognised and influential brands across industries.This year’s growth underscores a significant surge in brand equity, favorability, and global recognition. According to an independent brand audit by Momentum-ITSMA, TCS has achieved 95% aided brand awareness among business decision-makers across 26 countries—an extraordinary rise from just 29% in 2010.
2. Honduras Opens Embassy in New Delhi: The Republic of Honduras officially inaugurated its embassy in New Delhi, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina García leading the ceremony.The opening of the embassy marks a significant milestone in India-Honduras bilateral relations, aimed at boosting trade, development cooperation, and strategic collaboration.The new diplomatic mission is expected to strengthen political, economic, and cultural exchanges between the two countries, expanding India’s outreach in Central America.
3. Arunabha Ghosh Appointed South Asia Envoy for COP-30 Climate Summit in Brazil: Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of the Delhi-based think tank CEEW (Council on Energy, Environment and Water), has been appointed as the South Asia envoy for the upcoming UN Climate Conference (COP-30) to be held in Brazil in November 2025.He is one of eight international envoys selected to represent strategic global regions and will work to ensure strong representation of South Asian perspectives in climate negotiations.Other prominent envoys include global figures like Jacinda Ardern, Patricia Espinosa, Laurence Tubiana, and Adnan Amin, highlighting the significance of the role.
4. 17 May – World Hypertension Day: World Hypertension Day is observed on 17th May every year to spread awareness about high blood pressure and encourage early detection and management.Theme 2025 – Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live LongerThis year marks the 20th anniversary of this observance, under the compelling theme, Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer.World Hypertension Day was started in 2005 by the World Hypertension League (WHL), a non-governmental organisation focused on fighting high blood pressure worldwide.
5. 20 May – World Bee Day: World Bee Day is observed every year on 20th May to raise awareness about the importance of bees and other pollinators for the ecosystem and food security.Theme 2025 -Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all The date marks the birth anniversary of Anton Janša, a Slovenian beekeeper who is considered a pioneer of modern beekeeping. The day emphasizes the crucial role bees play in pollination, biodiversity, and agriculture.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Indian Army Conducts Teesta Prahar Exercise in West Bengal: The Indian Army conducted a large-scale field exercise named ‘Teesta Prahar’ at the Teesta field firing range, demonstrating high operational readiness in riverine terrain with participation from various combat and support arms.The exercise involved Infantry, Artillery, Armoured Corps, Mechanised Infantry, Para SF, Army Aviation, Engineers, and Signals, showcasing synergy and jointness among forces.A major highlight was the deployment and validation of next-gen weapon systems and battlefield technologies, reflecting the Army’s push towards modernization and readiness for dynamic combat scenarios.
SPORTS
1. Max Verstappen wins Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2025: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took a dominant victory in the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.Verstappen took his second win of the season, and first since last month’s Japanese Grand Prix.He competes under the Dutch flag in Formula One for Red Bull Racing.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. GeM Celebrates 8th Incorporation Day with Launch of GeMAI: On its 8th Incorporation Day, GeM unveiled GeMAI, India’s first generative AI-powered chatbot in the public sector. It supports both voice and text interactions in 10 Indian languages, enhancing user experience and accessibility.GeM’s inclusive approach has led to the onboarding of over 10 lakh MSEs, 1.84 lakh women entrepreneurs, 1.3 lakh artisans/weavers, and 31,000+ startups, strengthening its role as a bridge between government buyers and grassroots-level sellers.With 1.64 lakh primary buyers, 4.2 lakh sellers, and over 10,000 product categories, GeM has grown threefold in recent years and helped achieve nearly 10% cost savings in government procurement, validated by the World Bank and Economic Survey.
2. Kerala Becomes First State to Mandate Robotics Education for All Class 10 Students: Kerala becomes the first state in India to make robotics education mandatory for all 4.3 lakh Class 10 students, starting June 2, 2025, through the ICT textbook chapter “The World of Robots.”The curriculum includes hands-on activities like circuit building, sensor integration, and coding using robotic kits (29,000 already distributed) with components like Arduino, IR sensors, and servo motors.Students will also develop AI-powered smart home projects, including face-recognition smart doors using Pictoblocks software, webcams, and Arduino kits.KITE (Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education) is spearheading the initiative, having trained nearly 9,924 teachers and planning more training and support for unaided schools in July.
3. Breakthrough in Sodium-Ion Battery Technology: The race for efficient energy storage has intensified as the world moves towards electrification. Traditional lithium-ion batteries have been the backbone of this shift. However, their high costs and limited lithium resources pose challenges. Recently, a team of researchers in Bengaluru has developed an innovative sodium-ion battery that promises faster charging and greater longevity. They engineered a new anode material, Na₁.₀V₀.₂₅Al₀.₂₅Nb₁.₅(PO₄)₃, optimising it through three critical enhancements. This new technology could reshape the future of energy storage. The innovations included reducing particle size to the nanoscale. This increases the surface area available for sodium ions. A thin carbon coating was also added to improve conductivity. Additionally, a small amount of aluminium was incorporated to enhance the anode material. These changes allow sodium ions to move more quickly and safely.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. SEBI mandates e-book mechanism for pvt debt securities above ₹20 cr: SEBI mandates the Electronic Book Provider (EBP) platform for private placement debt issues of ₹20 crore or more, including debt securities, non-convertible redeemable preference shares, and municipal bonds, reducing the earlier threshold of ₹50 crore.The EBP platform now covers Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Small and Medium REITs (SM REITs), and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) for private placement of units, as well as securitised debt instruments, security receipts, commercial papers, and certificates of deposit.Issuers must submit a placement memorandum and term sheet two working days (three for first-time users) before the issue opens, detailing base issue size, green shoe option (capped at five times base size), and past green shoe allocations.
2. ICRA Projects India’s GDP Growth at 6.3% for FY2024- 25: ICRA projected India’s GDP growth at 6.9% for Q4 FY2025 and 3% for the full fiscal year 2024-25, below the National Statistics Office’s (NSO) earlier estimate of 6.5% for FY25.To meet the NSO’s 6.5% growth target for FY25, Q4 GDP growth needed to reach 7.6%, but ICRA expects it to fall short at 6.9%, indicating a slowdown from earlier quarters.
3. SBM Bank India Partners with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance to Expand Retail Banking and Insurance Offerings: SBM Bank India has formed a strategic partnership with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance to enhance retail banking by offering a wide range of insurance, savings, and wealth creation products.The collaboration follows a bancassurance model, enabling customers to buy insurance easily via SBM Bank’s 22 branches and digital platforms, simplifying access to life insurance and financial solutions.SBM Bank’s dual strategy of expanding physical branches and leveraging digital channels complements this alliance, strengthening its position as the first universal bank licensed under the WOS model in India.Both institutions expect the partnership to boost product diversity, deepen customer engagement, and extend ICICI Prudential’s reach, providing customers with convenient, trusted financial protection through SBM Bank.
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