May 2025 Current Affairs Notes – UPSC, SSC, RRB &Other competitive exams

1. Census Notification

Centre issued notification for Census 2026–27.
- To begin in October 2026 in Ladakh and March 2027 across the rest of India.
- Will include a Caste Census.

Key Points:

First since Independence – marks the first time since Independence that caste data (beyond SCs & STs) will be collected.
Discrepancies in State Caste Surveys – States like Bihar, Karnataka conducted their own caste surveys, but these lacked uniformity, transparency and credibility → leading to doubts about reliability and comparability.
Difference: A Caste Survey is different from a Caste Census. Census is constitutionally mandated, while surveys are not.
Digital Mode: Census to use a mobile application for digital recording, alongside traditional pen-paper mode.

2. Private Members’ Bill – Decline in Space

(PRS Legislative Research Report)

Private Member: Any MP (elected/nominated) who is not a Minister.
Private Member’s Bill (PMB): A bill introduced by such a member. Responsibility of drafting lies with the member.

Mechanism:

At least 1 month’s notice before introduction.
Taken up on Fridays, when “Private Members’ Business” is conducted.
Speaker/Chairman decides whether to allow introduction.
If introduced → debated. But due to time limits, very few are discussed in detail.
If passed by both Houses → sent to President for assent → becomes law. (Very rare).

3. SC Judgments – Digital Access & Arbitration

Amar Join vs Union of India (2025):
- Held that inclusive and meaningful digital access to e-governance & welfare delivery is part of Fundamental Right to Life & Liberty (Article 21).
Gayatri Balaswamy vs IS, Novasoft Technology Ltd (2025):
- SC held that courts can modify arbitral awards in limited situations under Sec. 34/37, Arbitration Act.
- Permitted for:
  - Clerical/computational errors,
  - Post-award interest,
  - Severable parts of an award.
- 4:1 Majority – Justice V. Viswanathan dissented, saying courts should only “set aside” and not “modify.”

4. Rohingya Refugees Case

SC ruled: Rohingyas in India cannot claim legal protection merely due to UNHCR refugee cards.
India is not a member of the 1951 Refugee Convention → UNHCR cards have no legal value in Indian law.
Rights:
- Only citizens have right to reside (Art. 19(1)(e)).
- Foreigners (including Rohingyas) do not.
- However, they are protected under Article 21 → Govt. must follow due legal process before deportation.

5. Pedestrian Rights

SC affirmed constitutional rights of pedestrians.
Article 21 includes:
- Safe, unobstructed, and disabled-friendly footpaths.
- Removal of encroachments.
- Mandatory provision of footpaths on all public roads.

6. Sikkim Statehood – 50th Anniversary

Sikkim became a full-fledged State under the 36th Amendment Act, 1975.
Earlier → 35th Amendment Act, 1974 granted it status of an “Associate State” (Art. 2A).
Article 2A repealed by 36th Amendment.
Became 22nd State of India.
Article 371F gives special provisions to Sikkim.

7. India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

After 3 years of talks, India & UK announced FTA conclusion.

Highlights:

India → tariff cuts on 90% of UK exports (e.g., whisky, cars).
UK → tariff cuts on 99% of Indian exports (e.g., textiles, jewellery).
Expected to boost bilateral trade by £25 billion/year by 2040.
Social Security Relief: Indian professionals in UK exempt from paying into UK social security for 3 years.
Covers goods, services, digital trade, investment & mobility.

India–UK Trade:

Bilateral trade: USD 60 billion (2023–24).
UK = India’s 16th largest trading partner.
Trade balance in India’s favour.

8. China–Pakistan–Afghanistan Corridor

Foreign Ministers of China, Pakistan & Afghanistan agreed to extend CPEC to Afghanistan.

About CPEC:

Launched 2015 – Flagship of Belt & Road Initiative (BRI).
Links Gwadar Port (Pakistan) → Kashgar (China).
3,000 km network: roads, railways, pipelines.
Focus: Energy & infrastructure projects.

9. India–Turkey Relations

Relations worsened after Turkey criticised India’s counter-terror strikes in Pakistan (post-Pahalgam attack).

10. IMF & Pakistan

IMF completed 1st review of Pakistan’s reform program (EFF).
Approved:
- $1 billion disbursement under EFF.
- $1.4 billion loan under RSF (Resilience & Sustainability Facility).
India criticised the lending & abstained from vote.

11. UN Peacekeeping

UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 concluded in Berlin, Germany.

12. New Development Bank (NDB)

Algeria became 9th member.

About NDB:

Founded 2015 by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, S. Africa).
HQ: Shanghai, China.
Members now: Brazil, Russia, India, China, S. Africa, Bangladesh, UAE, Egypt, Algeria.
Founding members hold 55% voting power.

13. IAEA Oversight of Pakistan Nukes

Defence Minister urged IAEA monitoring of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.

About IAEA:

HQ: Vienna, Austria.
Founded: 1957.
Motto: Atoms for Peace and Development.
Members: 180+ (India is a member).

14. UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee

Indian officials briefed the monitoring team.
Focus: Terrorism linked to ISIS, Al-Qaeda & affiliates.
Committee set up in 1999, includes all UNSC members.

15. Rising North-East Summit 2025

Hosted by Ministry of DONER.
PM highlighted: Bio-economy, bamboo, tea, petroleum, sports, eco-tourism as growth areas.

16. Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) – Revamped

Revamped in Jan 2025 by NSO (MoSPI).
Objectives:
- Reliable estimates of employment/unemployment.
- Capture informal employment trends (self-employment, contract work, gig economy).
- Better input for policy-making.

17. Vizhinjam International Seaport, Kerala

India’s 1st deep-water container transshipment port.
Developed by Govt. of Kerala.
Will handle container transshipment + multipurpose cargo.

18. Road Safety – SC on Section 215B, MVA 1988

SC asked Govt. why National Road Safety Board not constituted.
Report 2023–24 (MORTH):
- 1.5 lakh killed in 2022 (66.5% aged 18–35).
- Deaths up 177% (2005–12) vs global declining trend.
- NHs & Expressways = 39% of accidents, 36% deaths.

19. DMF Fund Review

Parliamentary Standing Committee reviewed DMF Fund & PM Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana.
DMF created in 2015 amendment to MMDR Act, 1957.
Objective: Benefit people & areas affected by mining.

20. Exports Data (RBI)

India’s total exports (Merchandise + Services) in 2024–25 = $824.9 bn (↑ 6% from $778.1 bn in 2023–24).
Growth achieved despite Red Sea crisis, Ukraine war, Panama drought, NTBs, high energy prices.

21. Operation Sindoor – New Security Doctrine

PM announced new National Security Doctrine post Operation Sindoor.

Three Core Pillars:

Decisive Retaliation
No tolerance for Nuclear Blackmail
No distinction between terrorists & sponsors

Strategies: Deterrence by denial, Strategic decapacitation, Economic measures (e.g., cancelling IWT), Tech-driven responses, Geopolitical signalling.

22. Airspace Capabilities – Operation Sindoor

India showcased tech superiority through:
1. IAF Integrated Air Command & Control System
2. BMD Network MCC
3. Indian Army’s Akashteer
4. Indian Navy’s TRIGUN
5. Satellite monitoring via NavIC

23. Defence – BrahMos Facility

BrahMos Aerospace testing facility inaugurated in Lucknow, UP.
Also launched a BrahMos missile production unit under UP Defence Corridor.

24. US “Golden Dome” Missile Defence

New US system → multi-layered missile defence against hypersonic & cruise threats.
Components: Patriot, THAAD, Aegis BMD, Ground-based Midcourse Defence.

25. Largest Anti-Naxal Operation

Conducted at Karreguttalu Hill, Chhattisgarh–Telangana border.
Goal: Naxal-free India by Mar 2026.
Stats:
- LWE districts ↓ from 126 (2018) → 38 (2024).
- 81% reduction in violence (2010–24).

26. Supreme Court on Bitcoin Trading

SC observed: Bitcoin trading resembles hawala.
Flagged absence of clear regulatory framework.
Recalled 2020 judgment quashing RBI’s 2018 circular banning banks from servicing crypto.

27. Environmental Conventions

17th Basel, 12th Rotterdam, 12th Stockholm Conventions – held in Geneva.

28. Biological Diversity Rules 2025

NBA issued new Access & Benefit Sharing Regulations (2025).

29. Sagarmatha Sambaad

India represented by MoEFCC Minister at Kathmandu, Nepal.

30. Urban Flooding

Heavy pre-monsoon rain in Bengaluru led to flooding.
Similar cases in Hyderabad (2020), Chennai (2021), Bengaluru & Ahmedabad (2022), Delhi (2023).
Shows urban flooding is recurring in Indian cities.

31. Snow Leopards in Ladakh

Ladakh Wildlife Dept. estimated 477 snow leopards.
Represents 68% of India’s snow leopard population.

32. Operation Olivia

Protected 8 lakh Olive Ridley turtles on Odisha coast.
Focus sites: Gahirmatha, Rushikulya, Devi river mouths.

33. World’s 1st E-Methanol Plant

Commercial-scale plant operationalised in Denmark.

34. UNDP HDI Report (2023)

India improved rank: 133 → 130 (out of 193).
Concerns:
- 30.7% loss in HDI due to inequality.
- Poorest 40% → 20.2% income share; Richest 10% → 25.5%.
MPI: 16% poor, 4.2% severe poverty.
GII: Rank 102/193.

35. Sample Registration System (SRS)

RGI released SRS 2021 Report.
Provides reliable estimates of birth rate, death rate, fertility & mortality at national/subnational levels.
Sample refreshed every 10 yrs (aligned with Census).

36. Mizoram Declared Fully Literate

Mizoram CM declared it India’s 1st fully functional literate state.
Literacy rate: 98.2% (PLFS 2023–24).
Earlier: Ladakh (2024) became 1st UT with full literacy.

37. Satellite Internet Deal

Airtel & Jio signed deal with SpaceX to bring Starlink internet to India.

38. ISRO PSLV Failure

ISRO’s 63rd PSLV Mission (EOS-09) failed due to malfunction.
EOS-09 had C-band SAR technology for continuous remote sensing data.

39. Sports – Khel Ratna

Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty awarded Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna.
World No.1 in Badminton doubles, Asian Games 2023 gold.

40. Pulitzer Prize 2024

NYT won 4, New Yorker won 3.

41. World Metrology Day 2025

Celebrated 20 May 2025.
150th Anniversary of the Metre Convention (1875).