Asia Current Affairs — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Sun, 18 May 2025
Fires in Hyderabad's Gulzar Houz and a Solapur textile mill kill 25; PM announces ex-gratia
Seventeen members of a family died in a fire in a building at Gulzar Houz near Charminar, Hyderabad, and eight died in a fire at a textile mill in Solapur MIDC on 18 May 2025; the PM announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia per deceased from PMNRF.
NCC cadets scale Mount Everest in NCC's third successful expedition
A National Cadet Corps team of 10 novice cadets — five girls and five boys, average age 19 — scaled Mount Everest on 18 May 2025, the NCC's third Everest ascent after 2013 and 2016.
International Museum Day 2025: 'The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities'
International Museum Day, organised every year on 18 May by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), was observed on 18 May 2025 with the theme 'The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities'.
'Sagar Mein Samman' launched on International Day for Women in Maritime
Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal unveiled 'Sagar Mein Samman', a policy initiative to raise women's participation in the maritime sector, at International Day for Women in Maritime celebrations in Mumbai on 18 May 2025.
National Soil Spectral Library inaugurated; Maharashtra becomes first State with a soil map
At a Krishi Samvad in Nagpur on 18 May 2025, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the National Soil Spectral Library, making Maharashtra the first State to have a soil map.
Khelo India Annual Calendar launched to build year-round competition structure
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched an Annual Calendar under Khelo India on 18 May 2025 to create a year-round competition structure, with an eye on the Commonwealth Games 2030 and Olympic Games 2036.
IIT Ropar's Pragati Founder Forum: nearly 50% of startups now from Tier 2 and 3 towns
Addressing the Pragati Founder Forum hosted by IIT Ropar on 18 May 2025, Union Minister Jitendra Singh praised the institute for promoting agri-startups and said nearly 50% of India's startups now come from Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns.
Foundation laid for ₹42.4 crore Integrated Aquapark at Kailashahar, Tripura
Union Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh laid the foundation stone of a ₹42.4 crore Integrated Aquapark under PMMSY at Kailashahar, Tripura, at an event in Agartala on 18 May 2025.
CBIC holds nationwide 'Sundays on Cycle' cyclothon ahead of 8 years of GST
CBIC, with the Fit India Movement, held a nationwide 'Sundays on Cycle' cyclothon on 18 May 2025 in the run-up to eight years of GST, with the flagship event at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi.
Cooperation Minister: PACS in every panchayat by 2029; 57 initiatives in International Year of Cooperatives
Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, addressing a cooperative Maha Sammelan in Ahmedabad on 18 May 2025, said a PACS will be set up in every panchayat by 2029 and about 57 initiatives have been taken in the International Year of Cooperatives 2025.
Sat, 17 May 2025
PMAY-G in Assam: 55,000 houses handed over, 3.76 lakh more sanctioned; 'Lakhimi Mistri' launched
At a virtual Grihapravesh of 55,000 PMAY-G houses in Guwahati on 17 May 2025, Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan sanctioned 3.76 lakh more houses for Assam and launched 'Lakhimi Mistri', a women mason initiative.
Seven all-party delegations named to carry India's message against terrorism to partner countries
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs announced on 17 May 2025 that seven all-party delegations, led by MPs including Shashi Tharoor and Ravi Shankar Prasad, would visit key partner countries, including UN Security Council members.
DGFT imposes port restrictions on certain imports from Bangladesh
DGFT Notification No. 07/2025-26 of 17 May 2025 restricts imports of readymade garments from Bangladesh to Nhava Sheva and Kolkata seaports and bars several other goods through land ports in the Northeast and two West Bengal LCSs.
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2025: 'Gender equality in digital transformation'
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, observed every 17 May to mark ITU's founding, was observed on 17 May 2025 with the theme 'Gender equality in digital transformation', as ITU marked its 160th anniversary.
MoS Harsh Malhotra inspects 210-km Delhi–Saharanpur–Dehradun Expressway
Union MoS for Road Transport Harsh Malhotra inspected the entire 210-km Delhi–Saharanpur–Dehradun Expressway on 17 May 2025; the ₹12,000 crore road will cut Delhi–Dehradun travel time from 6.5 to 2.5 hours.
World Hypertension Day 2025: 'Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer'
World Hypertension Day, an initiative of the World Hypertension League first held on 14 May 2005, was observed on 17 May 2025 with the theme 'Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer'.
DPIIT–GEAPP MoU to back climate-tech startups; ENTICE challenge with up to $500,000 in rewards
DPIIT signed a two-year MoU with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), announced on 17 May 2025, to support early-stage climate-tech startups; GEAPP will launch the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE) with up to $500,000 in rewards.
ASI announces free entry to monuments and museums on International Museum Day
The Archaeological Survey of India announced on 17 May 2025 free entry to all its ticketed monuments and 52 site museums on 18 May, International Museum Day; Sarnath (1910) is the earliest ASI site museum.
DGTR marks 8th Foundation Day; e-filing platform for trade remedy cases coming
The Directorate General of Trade Remedies marked its 8th Foundation Day on 17 May 2025; India has initiated over 1,200 trade remedy investigations since 1995 and a digital e-filing platform is to go live soon.
'Yoga Unplugged' youth initiative for IDY 2025 gains support; 10 signature events announced
The Ministry of Ayush said on 17 May 2025 that leading institutions such as Kaivalyadhama have joined 'Yoga Unplugged', the youth-centric initiative for the 11th International Day of Yoga, which will feature 10 signature events including Yoga Sangam at 1 lakh locations.
Fri, 16 May 2025
8th meeting of India–US Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation held in India
The 8th India–US Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation (JWGACTC), set up under the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), met in Delhi and Goa from 13 to 16 May 2025.
Neeraj Chopra crosses 90 m for the first time with 90.23 m national record at Doha Diamond League
Neeraj Chopra threw 90.23 m at the Doha Diamond League on 16 May 2025, a new Indian record and his first throw beyond 90 m, finishing second behind Germany's Julian Weber (91.06 m).
Sikkim marks 50th anniversary of statehood on 16 May 2025
Sikkim celebrated its Statehood Day on 16 May 2025, marking the 50th anniversary of its statehood; Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people of the state.
IIFT announces its first overseas campus in Dubai
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, announced on 16 May 2025 the establishment of its first overseas campus in Dubai, UAE.
Bhupender Yadav outlines five-point call for mountain ecosystems at first Sagarmatha Sambaad in Kathmandu
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav represented India at the inaugural Sagarmatha Sambaad in Kathmandu on 16 May 2025, themed 'Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity', and set out a five-point call for global action on mountain ecosystems.
President confers 58th Jnanpith Award on Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya
President Droupadi Murmu conferred the 58th Jnanpith Award on Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on 16 May 2025; co-awardee Gulzar could not attend.
ASI, World Monuments Fund India and TCS Foundation complete restoration of Rajon ki Baoli
The Archaeological Survey of India, with World Monuments Fund India and the TCS Foundation, completed conservation of Rajon ki Baoli, a 16th-century Lodi-era stepwell in Mehrauli Archaeological Park, New Delhi.
MoSPI releases National Accounts Statistics 2025
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released the 'National Accounts Statistics – 2025' publication on 16 May 2025, with detailed GDP, GVA, consumption, savings and capital formation estimates at current and constant (2011-12) prices.
Department of Posts releases stamp marking 125 years of Kodaikanal Solar Observatory
The Department of Posts released a commemorative postage stamp on 16 May 2025 at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru, marking 125 years of the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, established on 1 April 1899.
Aadhaar authentication transactions cross 150 billion
Cumulative Aadhaar authentication transactions crossed 150 billion (15,011.82 crore) by the end of April 2025, UIDAI data released on 16 May 2025 showed.