NATIONAL NEWS

Goa Becomes The 2nd State To Achieve Full Functional Literacy

Goa has become the second state after Mizoram to achieve full functional literacy status. This was announced by the Goa Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant, at a function in Panaji on 30 May 2205 to celebrate the 39th anniversary of Goa’s statehood.

Goa is the third State/Union Territory after the Union Territories of Ladakh and Mizoram to achieve full functional literacy status.

If 95 % of the population of a state/Union territory is functionally literate, then the state/union Territory is considered fully functionally literate.

The Government of India aims to achieve full functional literacy by 2030.

Full functional literacy includes both basic and foundational literacy, as well as numeracy literacy.

Basic literacy refers to a person’s ability to read, write, do simple arithmetic, or possess numeracy skills (3R).

To achieve the goal of functional literacy, the government of india launched ULLAS - Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram or the New India Literacy Programme in 2022.

The ULLAS scheme targets people aged 15 and above who cannot attend formal school for various reasons.

The ULLAS scheme has five components: Basic Education, Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Vocational Skills, Critical Life Skills, and Continuing Education.

The ULLAS scheme focused on community involvement and voluntary participation.

Nationwide Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan Launched On 29 May 2025

The government of India has launched a nationwide agricultural campaign, “Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan,” to empower around 1.3 crore farmers with knowledge and tools for the forthcoming Kharif season.

During the Abhiyan period, a team of experts and government officials will visit farmers' doorsteps to accomplish this.

The Vikshit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan was formally launched by the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology campus in Bhubaneswar on 29 May 2025 in the presence of the Odisha Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi.

The following are the aims and objectives of the Vikshit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan:

Make farmers aware of the government scheme and policies regarding financial assistance, insurance, subsidies for agriculture and allied sectors.

Educate farmers on the major crops suitable for the Kharif season in their specific agroclimatic regions and suggest improved agronomic practices.

Promote suitable, cost-effective natural farming practices.

Educate farmers about crop-specific management practices, improved seed varieties, and integrated nutrient/pest management.

Create awareness about modern techniques related to animal husbandry, sheep/pashmina goat, poultry, and fisheries.

Educating farmers on the effective use of Soil Health Cards.

The team will document the farmer's experience, which the government will use for agricultural research and policy formulation.

UP Tourism to Launch Bodhi Yatra

The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department will launch a ‘Bodhi Yatra’ from 2-7 June 2025, which will take tourists to the site associated with Lord Buddha.

The Department has organised the Bodi Yartra for the delegates of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation member countries of Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam and Myanmar.

The inclusion of travel agents and influencers will help promote Uttar Pradesh as a major destination of the international Buddhist circuit.

It will also showcase the State’s rich Buddhist heritage and archaeological sites to the world.

It will also deepen cultural relations between India and these five Southeast Asian countries.

The Yatra will start on 2 June 2025 and conclude on 7th June at Sarnath.

The 50-member delegation will visit six sites associated with Lord Buddha: Shravasti, Kushinagar, Kapilvastu, Sarnath, and Varanasi.

Government Launches Battery Aadhaar Project At The Battery Summit 2025

The government of India has launched the Battery Aadhaar project at the Battery Summit 2025 in New Delhi to promote transparency and safety in the battery system.

Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, launched the Battery Aadhaar Project at the 2025 Battery Summit.

The government's move comes amid growing concerns over safety hazards posed by unregulated charging stations for electric vehicles.

It will provide information about the battery manufacturing company's identity, usage history, and battery material composition.

It will promote transparency, help users maintain or safely dispose of used batteries, and deter the sale of counterfeit products.

It will help ensure compliance with regulatory standards and promote sustainable practices within the battery industry.

The Battery Aadhaar project is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.

The NITI Aayog is implementing the initiative in partnership with the DST.

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

IIT Kharagpur and Singapore’s IME Partner for Semiconductor Research

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur and Singapore’s Institute of Microelectronics (IME), under A*STAR, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on semiconductor research and talent development.

The agreement was formalized during SEMICON Southeast Asia 2025 and supports India’s India Semiconductor Mission aimed at enhancing the country’s global semiconductor capabilities through innovation and international cooperation.

Joint research will focus on cutting-edge areas such as post-Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) technologies, advanced transistor designs, heterogeneous integration, chip packaging, AI-driven hardware accelerators, quantum devices, photonic systems, thermal management, and reliability diagnostics.

The MoU includes bilateral exchange programmes, specialized training, and joint workshops to develop the skills of researchers, engineers, and students, aligning with the evolving demands of the semiconductor industry.

IIT Kharagpur views this collaboration as a significant step in its global ambitions to lead semiconductor research

 

BANKING

IEPFA Launches 'NiveshakShivir' Pilot Initiative        

The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, in collaboration with SEBI, has launched a new pilot initiative titled "NiveshakShivir", to be held for the first time in Pune on June 1, 2025.

Objective is to provide a one-stop solution for investors to resolve issues related to:

Unclaimed dividends held for 6–7 years

On-the-spot KYC and nomination updates

Resolution of pending IEPFA claim issues

Companies with large unclaimed dividend accounts and RTAs will be present through dedicated kiosks.

it allows direct interaction between investors and stakeholders eliminating intermediaries.

It strengthens investor grievance redressal, foster transparency, and ensure investor empowerment through proactive engagement.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

Sadhguru Receives ‘Global Indian of the Year’ Award from Canada India Foundation

Spiritual leader and Isha Foundation founder Sadhguru was honoured with the ‘Global Indian of the Year’ award by the Canada India Foundation (CIF) for his work in raising human consciousness and promoting ecological sustainability through the Conscious Planet movement.

The award included a CAD 50,000 cash prize and was presented on May 22, 2025, in Toronto by CIF Chair Ritesh Malik and National Convenor Sunita Vyas.

Sadhguru dedicated the prize to the ‘Cauvery Calling’ initiative, aimed at revitalising the Cauvery River through large-scale tree planting and improving regional livelihoods.

The Canada India Foundation is a public policy think tank focused on strengthening Canada-India relations. Its Global Indian Award honours Indians making significant global impact.

 

SPORTS

Shubman Gill Becomes Oakley Brand Ambassador for “Artifacts from the Future” Campaign

Indian Test captain Shubman Gill has been named the brand ambassador for Oakley, aligning with their new “Artifacts from the Future” eyewear campaign.

At 25 years old, Gill adds off-field style to his on-field elegance, embodying the values of performance, innovation, and resilience.

Gill’s elegant batting, composed temperament, and consistent performance across formats made him a natural fit.

Oakley sought an athlete who personifies passion, progress, and peak performance.

“Artifacts from the Future” celebrates Oakley’s 50th anniversary with futuristic designs—Plantaris, Lateralis, and Masseter—that blend heritage with cutting-edge innovation. The collection launches in May 2025.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

World No Tobacco Day

World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on May 31.

This day is also known as World Anti-Tobacco Day.

World No Tobacco Day is to spread awareness to the people about the harmful effects of tobacco which causes cancer, lung disease, etc.

It is an initiative taken by the World Health Organisation against the use of tobacco.

The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2025 is 'Bright products. Dark intentions. Unmasking the Appeal' which focuses on highlighting the hidden dangers of tobacco products that come in appealing flavours and packaging.

World No Tobacco Day is one of the public health campaigns organized by the World Health Organization.

In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution called “World No Smoking Day”.

The main objective of this day was to urge tobacco users to withdraw tobacco products.