NATIONAL NEWS

Government Launches Depot Darpan, Anna Mitra and Anna Sahayata Apps

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, has launched three apps—Depot Darpan, Anna Mitra, and Anna Shayata—to modernise the country's agricultural infrastructure and Public Distribution system through digital innovation.

These apps were launched by the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, in New Delhi on 20th May 2025.

These Apps will help increase transparency in the entire Public Distribution System, from procurement to distribution to beneficiaries.

Depot Mobile App

The Depot Darpan mobile app will help supervisory officials track warehouse performance anytime.

The app will help better monitor the warehouse where the food grains are stored and reduce pilferage.

Anna Sahyata app

The app is a grievance-registering mechanism where citizens can register complaints in their local languages, with real-time tracking and feedback.

The message can be registered in both text and voice message formats.

Anna Mitra app

It will act as the real-time command centre for ration distribution for FDS dealers, Food Inspectors, and District Officials.

It will also provide information on monthly sales, inspection reports and government updates.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Himalayan Yala Glacier in Langtang, Nepal, Officially Declared Dead

The Yala Glacier in Langtang, Nepal has been officially declared dead, marking a significant loss in the global climate crisis.

The declaration took place on May 12, 2025, with a memorial ceremony attended by scientists, local communities, and monks.

This is the first glacier in Asia to receive a memorial plaque.

The Yala Glacier has lost 66% of its mass and retreated 784 meters since the 1970s.

The memorial plaque features messages in English, Nepali, and Tibetan, authored by Andri Snaer Magnason and Manjushree Thapa.

Over 50 people attended the glacier funeral, including representatives from Nepal, India, China, and Bhutan.

Yala Glacier is the third glacier worldwide to be memorialized after OK Glacier (Iceland) and Ayoloco Glacier (Mexico).

It served as a crucial training site for over 100 glaciologists and provided in-situ data for cryosphere research.

The glacier is one of 38 glaciers with detailed measurement records and one of 7 glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) with decadal monitoring.

The ceremony was coordinated by ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development).

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ISRO Set Up A Committee To Investigate The PSLV C-61 Failure

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has set up a committee to identify the causes of the PSLV C-61 rocket's failure.

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced this on 18 May 2025 in Bengaluru.

This was the third failure of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The first failure was on 20 September 1993, when a developmental rocket, PSLV-D1, failed. Another failure was on 31st August 2017 when the PSLVC-39 mission failed.

PSLV C-61 rocket was launched on 18 May 2025 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

This was ISRO's 101st launch from Sriharikota. The first rocket was launched from Sriharikota in 1971.

It was also the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle's 63rd flight and the 27th using the PSLV-XL configuration (used for carrying heavier payloads).

It carried an Earth Observation Satellite or remote sensing satellite, EOS-09, which was to be placed into a sun-synchronous polar orbit.

The 1696.24 kg EOS-9 satellite was a radar imaging satellite with all-weather capability to capture images of Earth for various applications in agriculture, industry, urban planning, etc.

According to ISRO, the first two stages of the PSLV rocket performed perfectly, but an error in the third stage led to the rocket's failure and its mission  

 

BANKING

RBI Fines Deutsche Bank India andYes Bank For Violating Its Guideline

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 50 lakhs on Deutsche Bank India and Rs 29.60 lakhs on Yes Bank for non-compliance with the RBI's regulatory guidelines.

The RBI fined these banks under the provisions of Section 47A(1)(c) and Section 46(4)(i) of the Banking Regulation Act 1949.

The Banking Regulation Act 1949 makes the RBI the regulator and supervisor of the banks in India.

RBI has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 50 lakhs on Deutsche Bank India.

According to the RBI, the bank did not report the credit information of certain borrowers to the Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC) managed by the RBI.

Scheduled commercial banks, cooperative banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), and all India Financial Institutions are required to report to the CRILC loans of Rs 5 crore or above given to customers.

RBI has imposed a fine of Rs 29.60 lakh on the private sector bank Yes Bank.

According to the RBI, the bank did not disclose the correct and complete information about customer complaints in its 2023-24 Annual Financial Statements.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

Government Honours 10 women on International Day for Women in Maritime 2025

On the occasion of the International Day for Women in Maritime 2025 on 18 May 2025, the government of India honoured 10 Indian women in the maritime sector.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal also unveiled the ‘Sagar Mein Samman’ policy, which aims to increase women's participation in the maritime sector and create an equitable maritime workforce.

The International Day for Women in Maritime has been celebrated on the 18th of May every year since 2022

The theme of the ceremony was -Women in Maritime: Leading Transformation and Sustainability.

The theme of the 2025 International Day for Women in Maritime is - An Ocean of Opportunities for Women.

Sarabanad Sonowal honoured 10 women on the occasion: Sumita Banerji, Bharati Bhandarkar, Kalpana Desai, Poonam Nagpal, Yen Pinto, Archana Saxena Sangal, Rupali Raj Joshi, Capt Deepti Singh, and Amarjeet Rewari.

He unveiled the government's Sagar Mein Samman policy, which encourages women's participation in the maritime sector.

The government has set a target of 12% female representation in technical maritime roles by 2030.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Anurag Bhushan Named India’s New Envoy to Sweden

Anurag Bhushan, a 1995 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Sweden.

Currently, he is serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), heading the Emigration Policy and Welfare (EP&W) Division.

His posting to Stockholm is considered important due to the growing ties between India and Sweden in the areas of innovation, sustainability, and education.

The appointment order was issued by the MEA on May 15, 2025.

Bhushan has been actively involved in India’s labour and migration diplomacy, notably co-chairing the India-Saudi Arabia Joint Committee Meeting on Labour Cooperation.

He served as Regional Passport Officer (RPO) between 2010 and 2013, showcasing his administrative acumen.

His academic excellence and experience equip him with the ability to navigate complex diplomatic challenges with clarity and strategic foresight.

 

SPORTS

Khelo India Beach Games 2025

According to the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the first Khelo India Beach Games will be held in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu from 19-25 May 2025.

Six competitive and two demonstration sports will be held in the first edition of the Khelo India Beach Games 2025.

No medals are awarded in the demonstration sport.

Competitive sports -Beach soccer, Pencak silat, Sepaktakraw or kick volleyball, Beach kabaddi, Beach volleyball, and open water swimming.

Demonstration sports - Tug of War and Mallakhamb

The games will be held at Ghoghla Beach and Diu Beach.

Over 1000 athletes from 22 states/Union Territories are expected to participate in the first Khelo India Beach Games 2025.

 

OBITUTARY

Dr Jayant Narlikar, Renowned Astrophysicist

One of the country’s foremost astrophysicists, Dr Jayanat Narlikar, passed away in Pune, Maharashtra, on 20 May 2025.

He was 86 years old. Dr Jayant Narlikar, who worked to popularise science in the country through his stories, is also known worldwide for proposing an alternate model to the Big Bang theory of the origin of the Universe.

He graduated from Benaras Hindu University and studied at Cambridge University in England.

Though he did his Ph.D. in Mathematics, his specialisation was in astronomy and astrophysics.

Dr Jayant Narlikar joined the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in 1972.

On the invitation of the University Grant Commission, Dr Narlikar set up the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune. He was the founder-director and held the post until 2003.

Under his stewardship, the IUCAA has become a centre for excellence in teaching and research in astronomy and astrophysics.

Dr Jayant Narlikar was honoured with various prizes and awards.

Padma Vibhushan - India’s second-highest civilian award in 2004

Padma Bhushan -India’s third highest civilian award in 1965 when he was 26 years old.

Maharashtra Bhushan - Maharashtra government’s highest award in 2011.

UNESCO Kalinga Award for science popularisation in 1996.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

NCC Cadet Successfully Climbs Mount Everest

A National Cadet Corps (NCC) contingent successfully scaled Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain peak, on 18 May 2025. This was the third successful expedition of the NCC to Mount Everest after 2013 and 2016.

The Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the NCC expedition on 3rd April 2025.

The NCC contingent comprised 10 NCC cadets selected from all over India, 5 boys and girls each. They were trained at the Army Mountaineering Institute, Siachen Base Camp.

The 10 cadets were accompanied by four Officers, two Junior Commissioned Officers, One Girl Cadet Instructor and 10 Non-Commissioned Officers.

The average age of the NCC contingent was 19, and the youngest member was 16.