Current Affairs - National

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 Bhakra Nangal Dam, comprising the Bhakra Dam in Himachal Pradesh and the Nangal Dam in Punjab, is central to the water-sharing conflict between Punjab and Haryana. Managed by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), the project plays a vital role in distributing water to multiple northern states, including Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. The current controversy arose when Haryana demanded an additional 4,500 cusecs of water, leading to Punjab's opposition and Haryana's threat to approach the Supreme Court. This decades-old issue reflects deep political and regional tensions, particularly concerning the implementation of the Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, which remains incomplete.

The Union Cabinet has approved a substantial investment of ₹11,828.79 crore under a Phase-B construction plan aimed at expanding five new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). These IITs are located in Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Palakkad (Kerala), Bhilai (Chhattisgarh), Jammu (Jammu & Kashmir), and Dharwad (Karnataka). The expansion plan is designed to strengthen academic infrastructure and improve the overall capacity of these institutions, enabling them to better serve the growing demand for quality technical education in India. This move highlights the government's ongoing commitment to enhancing the higher education sector.

Operation Hawk 2025 was launched by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to dismantle global online child sexual exploitation networks. Working in coordination with international law enforcement agencies, the CBI acted on intelligence inputs, especially from the United States, leading to the registration of cases against individuals exploiting minors via platforms like Discord and Arisu. This operation builds on the success of earlier missions such as Operation Carbon (2021) and Operation Megh Chakra (2022), underscoring India’s ongoing commitment to tackling cybercrimes involving minors. Operation Hawk exemplifies the importance of international collaboration in addressing complex digital threats across borders.

According to the International Monetary Fund's latest World Economic Outlook, India is expected to rise to the position of the world’s fourth-largest economy in 2025, surpassing Japan. The projection is based on nominal GDP estimates, with India anticipated to reach $4,187.02 billion, slightly ahead of Japan’s $4,186.43 billion. This milestone reflects India's rapid economic growth and resilience, reinforcing its position as a major global economic power. The shift also highlights the broader trend of emerging markets gaining prominence in the global financial landscape, with India at the forefront of that transition.