Current Affairs - May 3, 2025 Current Affairs

In the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, India ranks 151st, reflecting ongoing challenges related to press freedom. This marks an improvement from its 159th position in 2024 but still indicates a concerning climate for journalists. The index highlights issues such as economic hardship faced by media outlets, leading to closures, as well as growing threats and restrictions on independent reporting. Globally, the report identifies the Middle East and North Africa as the most dangerous regions for journalists, with severe media suppression, especially in conflict zones like Gaza. India's rank underscores the urgent need for stronger protections for press freedom.

India and Denmark have signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding to deepen their energy cooperation, with a strong focus on clean and sustainable energy solutions. This agreement supports India’s broader climate goals, including its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. The MoU emphasizes mutual knowledge exchange and technological collaboration to drive innovation in the renewable energy sector. Denmark, known for its expertise in wind energy and green technologies, is a key partner in India's green transition, making this renewed partnership a strategic move toward shared sustainability objectives and climate action.

Anuradha Prasad has been appointed as a Member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), bringing with her 37 years of extensive experience in the Indian civil services. She has held influential roles across major ministries such as Defence, Finance, and Labour. Her expertise spans critical areas including defence acquisitions, labour reforms, and welfare initiatives during the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, she has made substantial contributions to policy development in domains like federalism, food safety, and reforms in the unorganized sector. Her appointment is expected to strengthen the UPSC with a wealth of practical administrative knowledge and reformist insight.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) made history by becoming the first Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to successfully scale Mt. Makalu, the fifth-highest mountain in the world. A 12-member team undertook the challenging expedition as part of a dual-peak mission and achieved an impressive 83% summit success rate. In addition to the climbing feat, ITBP also promoted environmental responsibility through the “Clean Himalaya - Save Glacier” campaign, collecting 150 kilograms of waste from high-altitude camps. This achievement marks ITBP’s continued dominance in high-altitude operations, having now climbed six of the world’s 14 eight-thousanders.

World Press Freedom Day is observed every year on May 3. It was established by the United Nations in 1993 as a way to honour and promote the fundamental principles of press freedom globally. The date also commemorates the Windhoek Declaration of 1991, which emphasized the need for a free, independent, and pluralistic press. This day serves as a reminder of the challenges journalists face worldwide, including censorship, harassment, violence, and threats to their safety, even in democratic nations. It encourages efforts to safeguard the rights of journalists and uphold freedom of expression as a cornerstone of democratic societies.

The Khelo India Multipurpose Hall was inaugurated by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya in Kamle, Arunachal Pradesh. This initiative, backed by Rs. 8 crore in central government funding, is part of the broader Khelo India programme aimed at strengthening grassroots-level sports infrastructure. The hall is designed to host multiple indoor sports and serve as a training hub for budding athletes, helping them prepare for national and international competitions. Establishing such infrastructure in remote areas like Arunachal Pradesh highlights the government's commitment to inclusive sports development across all regions of India.

Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR arrived at Port Victoria in Seychelles as part of its ongoing operational deployment across the South-West Indian Ocean Region. This visit came after successfully completing an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance mission around Mauritius in coordination with its National Coast Guard. The arrival in Seychelles marks a significant step in strengthening maritime security cooperation with Indian Ocean island nations. These deployments underline India’s commitment to ensuring maritime safety and regional stability and enhancing bilateral ties with strategic partners such as Seychelles through coordinated naval operations and capacity-building initiatives.

In the financial year 2024-25, India’s non-petroleum exports reached a record 374.08 billion dollars, marking a 6% increase from the previous year. This growth contributed significantly to India’s overall export performance, which hit an all-time high of 824.9 billion dollars. The rise in non-petroleum exports reflects improved competitiveness and diversification in India’s export basket, particularly in manufactured goods and services. This 6% growth is a positive indicator for India’s external sector, helping to reduce the trade deficit and support overall economic momentum amid global challenges in trade and supply chains.

The first National Mediation Conference will take place in New Delhi and will be inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu. The event is a significant step toward promoting mediation as an effective alternative dispute resolution mechanism. Organized by the Attorney General’s office and the Ministry of Law, the conference aims to facilitate the exchange of best practices in mediation and highlight its role in reducing the burden on the judiciary. With participation from key legal figures like Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, the event underscores the government’s commitment to legal reforms and faster justice delivery.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has partnered with Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways to lead a comprehensive AI-driven digital transformation. This initiative aims to enhance the airline’s digital ecosystem by upgrading its website and mobile applications, as well as implementing an AI-powered chatbot to improve customer engagement. TCS will also deploy a retail ancillary platform and a unified payment gateway to boost operational efficiency and drive bookings. The collaboration is focused on delivering a scalable, personalized travel experience while modernizing the airline’s overall digital infrastructure, showcasing TCS's capabilities in leveraging advanced technologies for business transformation.

Ultraviolette, an Indian electric vehicle company, partnered with the Madras Regimental Centre of the Indian Army to conduct a five-day rally across Tamil Nadu. The initiative was undertaken to honour the Veterans and Veer Naris of the Madras Regiment. As part of the collaboration, Ultraviolette provided its F77 electric motorcycles for the rally, which spanned diverse terrains across six districts, including Tirupur, Karur, Dindigul, Madurai, Theni, and Coimbatore. The event highlights a growing synergy between defence institutions and indigenous electric vehicle manufacturers, promoting both national pride and sustainable mobility solutions.

AIIMS Bhopal achieved the second position nationwide for its innovative implementation of a paperless and queue-less OPD registration system under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. The hospital’s 'Scan and Share' service has successfully generated over 1.45 million OPD tokens, significantly streamlining the patient registration process. This digital transformation has notably reduced waiting times and eliminated long queues, greatly enhancing patient convenience and overall experience. The initiative reflects the hospital's commitment to improving healthcare delivery through technological advancements, contributing to the efficiency and modernization of India's healthcare infrastructure.