NATIONAL NEWS

India Unveils World's First Genome-Edited Rice Varieties

India has developed the world’s first genome-edited rice varieties. Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the development of the DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice 1 at a function in New Delhi.

The new varieties are expected to boost India’s rice production by 25-30 % and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Flooded paddy fields are a major source of methane and nitrous oxide.

India has joined select countries in the world to develop gene-edited, non-genetically modified crops.

Both rice varieties have been developed by the research units of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), a premier government-owned agricultural institution.

The Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, developed the Kamala variety.

Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi, developed the Pusa DST-1 rice variety.

The Kamla variety has been developed by gene editing the popular Samba Mahsuri. It will replace its cultivation in major rice-producing areas. The newly developed variety will have more grain per panicle and mature early.

The Pusa DST Rice-1 was developed by gene editing the popular Cottondora Sannalu variety. It is more productive and can be grown in saline and alkaline soils.

India’s First AI-Powered Gold-Melting ATM Launched by Goldsikka

Hyderabad-based fintech firm Goldsikka has introduced India’s first AI-integrated Gold-Melting ATM, revolutionising the way gold is bought, sold, and monetised.

This advanced machine, equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR), allows users to perform a variety of gold-related transactions, including virtual jewellery trials, with no human intervention.

The ATM enables users to buy, sell, exchange, lease, digitise, and monetise gold securely and instantly.

Gold deposited into the machine is melted and tested for purity on-site, ensuring real-time valuation.

After user confirmation, the machine transfers the value of the pure gold directly to the user's bank account within 30 minutes.

AR lets users virtually try on jewellery, while AI verifies identity using Aadhaar, captures user images, and ensures transaction safety.

The ATM features automatic crime detection that flags suspicious transactions and alerts authorities.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India to Showcase SVAMITVA Scheme at World Bank Land Conference 2025

India is set to take center stage at the 2025 World Bank Land Conference, which will be held from May 5th to 8th in Washington, D.C.

The Indian delegation, led by Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), will highlight the country’s groundbreaking SVAMITVA Scheme and the Gram Manchitra platform.

These initiatives, leveraging advanced geospatial technologies and drones, are revolutionizing rural land governance while supporting climate action and sustainable development.

The scheme aims to provide legal ownership of rural properties through drone mapping, benefitting over 24.4 million households in 1.6 lakh villages.

This platform utilizes SVAMITVA’s data to enhance village-level planning, disaster preparedness, and sustainable development.

India’s involvement in the conference highlights its commitment to digital land reforms, rural empowerment, and climate-responsive governance.

Key sessions will focus on land tenure, climate action, and leveraging geospatial data for disaster management and rural development.

 

BANKING

Aditya Birla Capital Digital Introduces Digital Gold Systematic Investment Plan

Aditya Birla Capital Digital Limited (ABCDL) has launched Digital Gold SIP, a systematic investment plan (SIP) that allows users to invest in digital gold.

The investment amount starts at ₹50 for weekly SIPs and ₹100 for monthly SIPs.

The feature is available on the ABCD mobile app.

Systematic Investment Plan (SIP)is an investment route offered by Mutual Funds wherein one can invest a fixed amount in a Mutual Fund scheme at regular intervals– say once a month or once a quarter, instead of making a lump-sum investment.

SIPs are primarily used for investing in mutual funds, which pool money from many investors to invest in a variety of assets like stocks, bonds, and other securities.

Digital Gold SIP enables automated, regular investments, helping investors navigate market fluctuations and benefit from the power of compounding.

The digital gold is backed by 24-Karat physical gold, which is stored in secure, insured vaults managed by MMTC-PAMP, a joint venture between Swiss bullion brand PAMP and Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation Limited (MMTC), a Government of India undertaking.

The ABCD app integrates both gifting and SIP features under the Digital Gold offering, allowing customers to plan, save, and gift gold easily through a structured investment model.

The app eliminates issues related to storage, security, or making charges traditionally associated with gold investments.

 

ECONOMY

Nirmala Sitharaman Attends The 58th ADB Board Of Governors Meeting

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the 58th annual Board of Governors meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Milan, Italy, from 5 to 7 May 2025. Nirmala Sitharaman represents India on the Board of Governors of the ADB.

The annual meetings of the Board of Governors are held in the member countries of the ADB.

Italy is the founding member of the ADB.

The 58th Board of Governors meeting theme was Sharing Experience, Building Tomorrow.

The 58th Board of Governors meeting was inaugurated by the ADB President Masato Kanda on 5th May 2025. The bank will provide financing facilities up to $40 billion in the region by 2030 to address the vulnerability of the region’s food systems.

The bank will increase its investment in digital technologies to improve access to education, finance, and markets.

The Bank will invest up to $10 billion to support the ASEAN power grid and will also help modernise the electricity grid in the region.

ADB will invest in the region to build resilience by strengthening infrastructure, restoring and protecting ecosystems, and helping vulnerable communities adapt to climate change impacts.

The Bank will increase its support to the private sector in the region to $13 billion per year by 2030.

The next 59th Board of Governors meeting will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 3- 6 May 2026.        

 

DEFENCE

DRDO Conducts First Flight Trials of High-Altitude Stratospheric Airship Platform

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out the maiden flight-trials of the Stratospheric Airship Platform on May 03, 2025.

The trial took place at the Sheopur Trial site in Madhya Pradesh.

The airship was developed by Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra.

The airship was launched carrying an instrumental payload to an altitude of around 17 kilometers.

Data from onboard sensors was received and will be used to develop high-quality fidelity simulation models for future high-altitude airship flights.

The envelope pressure control and emergency deflation systems were deployed during the flight for performance evaluation.

The total flight duration was 62 minutes.

This system will enhance India's earth observation and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)

The system will make India one of the few countries in the world with such indigenous high-altitude platform systems.  

 

RANKS, INDICES & REPORTS

World Press Freedom Index 2025

The World Press Freedom Index 2025 was published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

For the first time, RSF has described the situation for press freedom as a "difficult situation," highlighting a significant decline in independent journalism worldwide.

The report emphasizes that economic hardships, ownership concentration, and repressive political climates are severely undermining the free flow of information, even in countries traditionally known for strong media independence.

India has seen a modest improvement in its ranking, rising 8 places to 151st in 2025 from 159th in 2024.

Despite this rise, India remains in the lower tier with a total score of 32.96.

Norway remains the top performer in press freedom with exceptional scores in political independence, media diversity, and journalist safety.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Managing Director of NDFC

Praksah Magdum has assumed the office of the Managing Director of the National Film Development Corporation (NDFC).

Prior to his appointment as Managing Director, Prakash Magdum served as the Additional Director General of Press Information Bureau (PIB) and Central Bureau of Communication in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

A 1999 batch officer of the Indian Information Service, Praskah Magdum, has a distinguished service record.

Prakash Magdum has also been the Director of the National Film Archive of India, Pune, Maharashtra and the registrar of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.

The Government of India established the National Film Development Corporation (NDFC) in 1975 under the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The NDFC, with its tagline of ‘Cinemas of India’, underlines its role in promoting Indian cinema, especially parallel or art cinema.

       

SPORTS

Prime Minister Inaugurates Khelo India Youth Games 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the seventh edition of the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) in Patna, Bihar.

This edition, with 27 medal disciplines and over 10,000 participants, marks Bihar’s first major multi-sport event, showcasing its growing sports infrastructure and talent development.

The Games, running until May 15, also introduced esports as a demonstration event.

This is the first time Bihar is hosting the Khelo India Youth Games, marking a significant milestone in the state’s sports journey.

New disciplines such as sepaktakraw are included as medal sports, while esports is featured as a demonstration event.

The Games see over 10,000 participants, including more than 6,000 athletes, competing in 27 sports across five cities.

Bihar has developed 38 Khelo India Centres and has seen improvements in its sports performance, including a successful showing at the National Games.

The Khelo India program is expanding to include school games, beach sports, and regional indigenous and tribal games.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Asthma Day

Every year World Asthma Day is celebrated on the First Tuesday of May. This year, World Asthma Day was celebrated on May 6.

This day is celebrated to raise awareness among people about Asthma. Asthma is a disease that affects the human lungs.

This year, 2025, the World Asthma Day theme is "Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL".

The first Asthma Day was organized in 1998 in more than 35 countries. It is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma(GINA).

Every year this day was celebrated to raise awareness among people and how to get control over this disease.

This disease causes respiratory problems in the Lungs of humans. The first Asthma disease meeting was held in Barcelona, Spain.

The meeting was conducted in more countries to get the control of Asthma. It causes difficulty in breathing in humans