UPPSC Current Affairs — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Thu, 15 May 2025
India to conduct first space biology experiments on ISS under BioE3 policy
Dr Jitendra Singh announced on 15 May 2025 that India will conduct its first biological experiments aboard the International Space Station during the Axiom-4 mission, with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as a crew member, under the BioE3 policy.
DPIIT clears 187 startups for income tax exemption under Section 80-IAC
DPIIT said on 15 May 2025 that 187 startups were approved for income tax exemption under Section 80-IAC — 75 at the 79th and 112 at the 80th Inter-Ministerial Board meeting (30 April 2025) — taking the total past 3,700.
India and EU launch joint research calls on marine plastic litter and waste-to-green-hydrogen
India and the European Union launched two coordinated research calls under the India–EU Trade and Technology Council on 15 May 2025, on marine plastic litter and waste to green hydrogen, with a joint investment of ₹391 crore (about €41 million).
NHRC asks states to implement Supreme Court's 14 directives against manual scavenging
The NHRC wrote to all States and UTs on 15 May 2025 asking for immediate implementation of the Supreme Court's 14 directives in Dr. Balram Singh v. Union of India (2023) to end manual scavenging and hazardous sewer cleaning, with action taken reports within eight weeks.
PM reviews fisheries sector with focus on fishing in the EEZ and high seas
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level review of the fisheries sector on 15 May 2025, focusing on fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone and high seas, and called for satellite technology, drones for fish transport and wider use of seaweed.
DRDO develops indigenous high-pressure polymeric membrane for seawater desalination
DRDO's Kanpur-based Defence Materials Stores and Research & Development Establishment (DMSRDE) developed an indigenous nanoporous multilayered polymeric membrane for high-pressure seawater desalination on Indian Coast Guard ships, DRDO said on 15 May 2025.
Former Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar takes charge as UPSC Chairman
Dr Ajay Kumar, former Defence Secretary and a 1985-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, took oath as Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission on 15 May 2025.
PLFS monthly bulletin: unemployment rate 5.1% in April 2025
MoSPI's Periodic Labour Force Survey monthly bulletin for April 2025, released on 15 May 2025, put the unemployment rate (Current Weekly Status, age 15+) at 5.1% and the labour force participation rate at 55.6%.
BCAS revokes security clearance of Celebi and its associated companies
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) revoked the security clearance of M/s Celebi and its associated companies on 15 May 2025 on grounds of national security.
India's total exports in April 2025 estimated at US$ 73.80 billion, up 12.70%
India's total exports (merchandise and services) in April 2025 were estimated at US$ 73.80 billion, 12.70% higher than the US$ 65.48 billion of April 2024, the Commerce Ministry said on 15 May 2025.
Defence Ministry opens fourth round of registration for new Sainik Schools in partnership mode
The Ministry of Defence opened an online portal for the fourth round of registration of schools as new Sainik Schools in partnership mode, from 15 May to 14 June 2025, under the plan to set up 100 new Sainik Schools.
Wed, 14 May 2025
Justice B.R. Gavai sworn in as 52nd Chief Justice of India
Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 14 May 2025, succeeding Justice Sanjiv Khanna.
Cabinet approves HCL–Foxconn semiconductor unit near Jewar in Uttar Pradesh
The Union Cabinet on 14 May 2025 approved a sixth semiconductor unit under the India Semiconductor Mission — an HCL–Foxconn joint venture near Jewar airport in YEIDA, Uttar Pradesh — to make display driver chips, with an investment of ₹3,700 crore.
WPI inflation eases to 0.85% in April 2025
Annual inflation based on the all-India Wholesale Price Index was 0.85% (provisional) in April 2025, down from 2.05% in March, the Commerce Ministry said on 14 May 2025.
ECI trains 371 field-level electoral officials from Bihar, Haryana and Delhi at IIIDEM
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar inaugurated a two-day training at IIIDEM, New Delhi, on 14 May 2025 for 371 field-level electoral officials — 306 BLOs from Bihar and EROs and BLO Supervisors from Haryana and Delhi.
NHRC invites entries for 11th short film competition on human rights
The National Human Rights Commission invited entries on 14 May 2025 for its 11th annual short film competition on human rights, with a last date of 31 August 2025.
Ayush Ministry outlines 'Samyoga' and 'Yoga Unplugged' as signature events of IDY 2025
The Ministry of Ayush said on 14 May 2025 that 'Samyoga' and 'Yoga Unplugged' are signature events of International Day of Yoga 2025, which marks the 10th anniversary of IDY on 21 June.
NCPCR holds national consultation on awareness of POCSO Act and Child Labour Act
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights held an online national consultation on 14 May 2025 on dissemination and awareness of the POCSO Act, 2012 and the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, with about 300 participants.
Tue, 13 May 2025
CPI inflation falls to 3.16% in April 2025, lowest since July 2019
All-India CPI inflation was 3.16% (provisional) in April 2025, the lowest year-on-year rate since July 2019, and food inflation fell to 1.78%, the lowest since October 2021, MoSPI said on 13 May 2025.
India's first 3nm chip design centres of Renesas inaugurated in Noida and Bengaluru
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated two design facilities of Renesas Electronics India in Noida and Bengaluru on 13 May 2025, described as India's first design centres to work on 3-nanometre chip design.
PM reviews TB elimination programme and 100-day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the National TB Elimination Programme on 13 May 2025, including the 100-day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in which 12.97 crore people were screened and 7.19 lakh TB cases detected.
India's Major Ports handle about 855 million tonnes of cargo in FY 2024-25
India's Major Ports handled about 855 million tonnes of cargo in FY 2024-25, up 4.3% from 819 million tonnes in FY 2023-24, the Ports Ministry said on 13 May 2025.
Ayurveda Day to be observed on 23 September every year
The Ministry of Ayush said on 13 May 2025 that, by a Gazette Notification of 23 March 2025, Ayurveda Day will be observed on 23 September every year instead of on Dhanteras.
India's coal imports fall 9.2% in April 2024–February 2025
India's coal imports fell 9.2% to 220.3 million tonnes in April 2024–February 2025, from 242.6 million tonnes a year earlier, saving about US$ 6.93 billion in foreign exchange, the Coal Ministry said on 13 May 2025.
Mon, 12 May 2025
PM addresses the nation on Operation Sindoor; outlines three pillars of response to terrorism
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on 12 May 2025 on Operation Sindoor, which he said was carried out on 6-7 May after the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, and outlined three pillars of India's response to terrorism.
Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket after 123 Tests
Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on 12 May 2025, ending a 14-year career of 123 Tests with 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries.
International Nurses Day 2025 observed; State of the World's Nursing 2025 report released
International Nurses Day was observed on 12 May 2025 with the ICN theme 'Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies', and the State of the World's Nursing 2025 report put the global nursing workforce at 29.8 million in 2023.
C-DOT and Synergy Quantum sign MoU to develop drone-based Quantum Key Distribution
The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) signed an MoU with Synergy Quantum India on 12 May 2025 to jointly develop drone-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems at Technology Readiness Level 6 or above.
Ethiopian delegation of Governors and Ministers calls on Dr Jitendra Singh; to train at NCGG
A high-level Ethiopian delegation of Governors, Vice-Governors and Ministers called on Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on 12 May 2025 and is undergoing a week-long capacity-building programme at the National Centre for Good Governance under MEA's ITEC.
Temporary closure of 32 airports for civil flights lifted
The Ministry of Civil Aviation said on 12 May 2025 that the temporary closure of 32 airports for civil aircraft operations, earlier in force till 05:29 hrs of 15 May 2025, had been lifted with immediate effect.