Current Affairs - National

On May 19, 2025, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) celebrated its 8th anniversary, marking eight years of transforming public procurement in India. Launched in 2016, GeM has become a key digital platform for government procurement, promoting inclusivity, transparency, and efficiency. During the anniversary, GeM highlighted its achievements, such as empowering over 10 lakh MSEs, integrating 1.84 lakh women entrepreneurs, and launching GeMAI—India’s first generative AI chatbot in the public sector. The celebration emphasized GeM’s continued evolution and its role in creating a more accessible and technology-driven procurement ecosystem across the nation.

The Miss World 2025 Sports Challenge was held in Hyderabad, where Miss Estonia, Eliise Randmaa, emerged victorious, clinching the gold medal. The event took place at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium and featured 108 participants from around the world. Randmaa's win marked a historic moment for Estonia, propelling them into the quarter-finals of the pageant for the first time in over two decades. The event showcased athleticism, cultural elegance, and global camaraderie, highlighting Hyderabad's growing stature as a host of prestigious international events.

The "Sundays on Cycle" nationwide cyclothon was organized by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in collaboration with the FIT INDIA Movement to commemorate eight years of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The main event took place at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi, with participation from over 100 CGST commissionerates across the country. The event emphasized GST's transformative impact, unifying 30 different indirect taxes under one system. CBIC's active role in hosting such a significant event underlines its central involvement in implementing and celebrating the GST framework.

The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, established in 1899 in Tamil Nadu, India, is one of the oldest and most prestigious solar research institutions in the country. To honour its 125 years of pioneering contributions to solar astrophysics, the Department of Posts released a commemorative stamp on May 17, 2025, at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru. The stamp features the observatory’s historic twin-domed building and highlights its significant scientific legacy, including telescopes dating back to the 19th century and sunspot data spanning over a century. This celebration promotes awareness of India’s role in global solar research.

On May 16, 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the upgraded Multi Agency Centre (MAC) in New Delhi. This high-tech intelligence-sharing hub is part of India’s intensified efforts to enhance counter-terrorism operations. Developed under the Intelligence Bureau (IB) with an investment of ₹500 crore, the new MAC integrates Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Geographic Information Systems to enable real-time coordination between 28 key security and intelligence agencies across the country. By centralizing data and streamlining communication among agencies like RAW, Armed Forces, and State Police, the New Delhi-based MAC is poised to become a cornerstone of India's national security framework.