Asia Current Affairs — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Fri, 16 May 2025
Tripura holds 'AI for Good Governance' workshop with NeGD in Agartala
Tripura's Directorate of Information Technology and MeitY's National e-Governance Division held a workshop on 'AI for Good Governance: Driving Transparency, Efficiency & Impact' at Pragna Bhawan, Agartala, on 16 May 2025.
NADA India hosts WADA Intelligence and Investigations workshop in New Delhi
NADA India hosted the World Anti-Doping Agency's Intelligence & Investigations workshop in New Delhi from 12 to 16 May 2025, organised with INTERPOL and Sport Integrity Australia.
Karnataka seeks electric buses under PM E-DRIVE; Centre assures phased allocation
The Ministry of Heavy Industries said on 16 May 2025 that Karnataka had formally sought electric buses under PM E-DRIVE, and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy assured phased allocation; 14,000 e-buses are to be allocated to 9 major cities under the scheme.
IICA and DGR conclude second independent-directorship programme for senior defence officers
The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs and the Directorate General Resettlement concluded the second batch of their certification programme on independent directorship for 30 senior defence officers at IICA Manesar on 16 May 2025.
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.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan opens veterinary college buildings at Jalukie, Nagaland; announces ₹338.83 crore for state's agriculture
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the administrative-cum-academic block of the Central Agricultural University (Imphal) College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry at Jalukie, Nagaland, on 15 May 2025 and announced ₹338.83 crore for Nagaland's agriculture sector.
Sugamya Delhi Abhiyan launched on Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2025
The Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities launched the Sugamya Delhi Abhiyan in Dwarka, New Delhi, on Global Accessibility Awareness Day, 15 May 2025, to make the capital accessible for persons with disabilities.
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.
New ATC tower, technical block and fire station opened at Kolhapur Airport; Kolhapur–Nagpur flight flagged off
MoS Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol inaugurated a new ATC Tower cum Technical Block cum Fire Station at Kolhapur Airport on 15 May 2025 and flagged off the inaugural Star Air flight between Kolhapur and Nagpur.
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.
Security forces recover bodies of 31 Naxalites after 21-day operation at Karreguttalu Hill
The Chhattisgarh Police and Central Armed Police Forces recovered the bodies of 31 uniformed Naxalites and 35 weapons after 21 encounters over 21 days (21 April–11 May 2025) at Karreguttalu Hill on the Chhattisgarh–Telangana border, MHA said on 14 May 2025.
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.
'Bharat 6G 2025' international conference held in New Delhi
MoS Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani addressed 'Bharat 6G 2025', the 3rd International Conference and Exhibition, in New Delhi on 14 May 2025, recalling that the Bharat 6G Vision launched on 23 March 2023 aims to design, develop and deploy 6G by 2030.
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.
CeNS Bengaluru develops iron-doped nickel selenide catalyst for oxygen electrocatalysis
Researchers at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, developed an iron-doped nickel selenide catalyst that outperformed ruthenium- and platinum-based catalysts in oxygen evolution and reduction reactions, DST said on 14 May 2025.
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.
NRFMTTI Hisar gets CMVR testing approval for agricultural tractors
The Northern Region Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institute (NRFMTTI), Hisar, became an approved agency for Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) testing of agricultural tractors and received NABL accreditation for CMVR testing of tractors and combine harvesters, the Agriculture Ministry said on 14 May 2025.