Current Affairs - May 12, 2025 Current Affairs

Adani Power has secured a contract through competitive bidding to supply 1500 MW of thermal power to Uttar Pradesh. The power will be generated from a newly planned 2x800 MW ultra-supercritical power plant developed under the Design, Build, Finance, Own, and Operate (DBFOO) model. This project has been officially approved by the Uttar Pradesh cabinet. In addition to meeting the state's growing energy demands, the initiative is expected to provide a significant employment boost, with over 9,000 jobs created during the construction phase and approximately 2,000 jobs during its operational stage.

On May 12, 2025, the Taliban administration in Afghanistan suspended the game of chess nationwide, citing concerns that it may promote gambling, which is against Sharia law according to their interpretation. This decision is part of a broader trend of increased regulation on recreational activities and cultural expression in Afghanistan under the current regime. Chess, a popular activity in Kabul cafes, was temporarily banned, with the move subject to further review by Islamic scholars. This suspension reflects the Taliban’s stricter approach since regaining control of the country in 2021.

India extended financial support to the Maldives by offering a $50 million Government Treasury Bill to help the island nation with its fiscal reforms and move toward greater economic stability. This gesture reflects the strong diplomatic and strategic relationship between the two countries. The Maldives is a vital maritime neighbour to India and plays a significant role in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and its broader maritime initiative, Vision ‘MAHASAGAR’. The financial support is not only economic in nature but also underlines India’s commitment to strengthening ties with key regional partners.

The ‘Nayi Disha’ initiative was launched by the Delhi Police in New Delhi as a community-driven effort to bring school dropouts back into formal education. The program focuses on addressing root causes such as poverty, domestic instability, and lack of academic support. Through door-to-door outreach, emotional counselling, collaboration with NGOs, and facilitation of school admissions, the police are actively transforming their role from law enforcers to social enablers. This holistic approach is already yielding positive outcomes, with children rejoining schools and further expansion of the initiative planned across other districts of the city.

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), under the Department of Telecommunications, has entered into a partnership with Synergy Quantum India Private Limited to develop drone-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology. This initiative aims to achieve a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6 or higher, using the decoy-based BB84 protocol with polarization encoding—a key method for secure quantum communication. This collaboration is expected to pave the way for highly secure data transmission systems in India's future telecom and defence networks by leveraging emerging quantum technologies.

Deepika Kumari delivered a standout performance at the Archery World Cup, earning India’s first women’s recurve medal of the year. She secured the bronze by defeating South Korea’s Kang Chaeyoung 7-3 in the bronze medal match. Remarkably, she was the only non-Korean archer to reach the semifinals, thereby preventing a complete Korean dominance in the recurve event. Her achievement not only added to India's overall medal tally but also reaffirmed her status as one of the country's premier archers. Alongside her, Parth Salunkhe also made a mark by winning his first World Cup medal in the men’s recurve category.

Maharashtra partnered with Madhya Pradesh to implement the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project, aiming to tackle water scarcity and enhance irrigation infrastructure in both states. The MoU was signed on May 10, 2025, in Bhopal during an Inter-State Control Board meeting. The project is particularly significant for regions like Vidarbha and North Maharashtra, which often face water shortages. With a projected cost of ₹19,244 crore and a plan to secure 90% central funding, the project also involves equitable water utilization, with Maharashtra allocated 19.36 TMC of the total 31.13 TMC. This collaborative initiative underscores the importance of interstate cooperation in water resource management.

The government of Andhra Pradesh has introduced a welfare initiative granting property tax exemption for houses owned by Indian Defence personnel within the gram panchayat areas of the state. In addition to this tax relief, the state announced significant support for the family of Murali Naik, including an ex gratia payment of ₹50 lakh, five acres of agricultural land, and a 300-square-yard house site. Actor-politician Pawan Kalyan also extended his support by announcing ₹25 lakh for the family. These measures highlight the state's commitment to honouring and supporting the armed forces and their families.

International Nurses Day is observed every year on May 12 to acknowledge and celebrate the vital role nurses play in healthcare systems around the world. The date marks the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, born in 1820, who is widely regarded as the founder of modern nursing. Her groundbreaking work during the Crimean War and the establishment of the Nightingale School of Nursing in 1860 transformed nursing into a respected and essential profession. This day serves both to commemorate her legacy and to recognize the tireless efforts of nurses in providing care, compassion, and expertise across diverse medical settings.

Sonu Sood was recognized with the Humanitarian Award at the 72nd Miss World Festival held in Hyderabad on May 31, 2025. He was honoured for his extensive relief work during the COVID-19 pandemic, including assistance to migrant workers and students. His organization, the Sood Charity Foundation, has made impactful contributions across multiple areas such as healthcare, education, skill development, and disaster relief. These efforts have earned him widespread admiration and this notable recognition by the Miss World Organisation.

Justice Surya Kant, a senior judge of the Supreme Court of India, has been appointed as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), effective May 14, 2025. This appointment follows the convention of naming the second senior-most judge of the apex court to the post. He succeeds Justice BR Gavai and will lead NALSA in its mission to provide free legal services to the underprivileged and promote access to justice across the country. Justice Kant's vast experience, including his tenure as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, underpins his capacity to strengthen legal aid frameworks in India.

On May 9, 2025, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched two key initiatives—UP AGREES and AI Pragya—with support from the World Bank. UP AGREES is aimed at transforming agriculture in 28 districts through climate-resilient and technology-driven practices, addressing both productivity and sustainability. AI Pragya focuses on digital skilling by training 10 lakh youth in artificial intelligence and related technologies, helping to build capacities across critical sectors like education, healthcare, and governance. The involvement of the World Bank highlights the global collaboration behind these transformative efforts for economic and social development in the state.

Virat Kohli has officially retired from Test cricket after a remarkable 14-year career that redefined India’s presence in the format. With 123 Test matches, 9230 runs, and 30 centuries to his name, Kohli ranks among the greatest in Indian cricket history. As captain, he brought an aggressive, fitness-focused style that elevated India to the No. 1 Test team and led them to a historic series win in Australia. Though recent form saw a dip, especially in the 2025 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, his contributions with both bat and leadership have left an indelible mark on the sport.