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KVS BATCH 2025
19 May, 2025
GK Update
Thu 15 May, 2025
National News
Online Short-Term Internship Programme: NHRC
- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has launched a two-week Online Short-Term Internship Programme (OSTI) starting from 13th May 2025.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC):
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Social Media Accounts Blocked
- The Government of India has blocked several foreign media and social media accounts for allegedly spreading Pakistani propaganda.
- Notably, X (formerly Twitter) accounts of Chinese state-run media outlets like Global Times and Xinhua, as well as Turkey's TRT World, have been restricted in India.
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In addition, the Indian government ordered social media platform X to block more than 8,000 accounts, including those from Pakistan, China, and other countries that were spreading false and misleading propaganda against India. |
Economy and Banking
‘Sindoor: The Pride’ Tea
- In May 2025, inspired by the bravery and success of the Indian Army's Operation Sindoor in Pakistan, a local entrepreneur launched a special tea brand named ‘Sindoor: The Pride’ to honor the valor of the Indian soldiers.
Tea:
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CCPA Issues Notice on Sale of Pakistani Flag
- The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued notices to Amazon India, Flipkart, Ubuy India, Etsy, The Flag Company, and Flag Corporation for selling Pakistani flags and related items.
Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA):
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Promotion of Ethanol Production
- The Government of India has allocated an additional 2.8 million tonnes of surplus rice from the central pool at subsidized rates to boost ethanol production.
- This step has been taken for the Ethanol Supply Year 2024–25 (from 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025), raising the total rice allocation to 5.2 million tonnes.
Approval for India's 6th Semiconductor Unit
- In May 2025, the Union Cabinet approved India’s sixth semiconductor unit to be set up in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh.
- The project will be developed as a joint venture between HCL and Taiwan’s Foxconn, with an investment of approximately ₹3,706 crore.
Related Facts:
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Approval for HCL-Foxconn OSAT Joint Venture
- The Union Cabinet has approved the HCL-Foxconn Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) joint venture with an investment of ₹3,706 crore.
- This project is considered a significant step toward strengthening the domestic smartphone manufacturing ecosystem.
Related Facts:
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Samsung and Apple Lead in Q1 Tablet Market
- According to CyberMedia Research (CMR), Samsung and Apple gained market share in India’s tablet segment in the March quarter.
- Shipments grew 15% year-on-year, driven by strong demand for premium and 5G-enabled devices from consumers and enterprises. Sequential growth in shipments was 13%.
Dixon Technologies
- Dixon Technologies announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Paget Electronics, has signed a contract manufacturing agreement with Nextcell India Private Limited to manufacture smartphones in India for the French brand Alcatel.
- This agreement is under the ‘Make in India’ initiative and will strengthen Dixon’s manufacturing capacity and execution capabilities.
| Nextcell aims to be among the top three smartphone brands in India in two years and will start by launching its products in the Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 price range. |
State Special
AI Anchor Ankinta
- Ankinta is Assam’s first AI (Artificial Intelligence) based news anchor, launched on a digital media platform.
Major initiatives related to AI anchors in India:
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Two New Digital Portals Launched: Gujarat
- In May 2025, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched two new digital portals to strengthen Gujarat Police’s crime-fighting capabilities.
- These portals are specifically designed to tackle cybercrime and make the police investigation process more transparent.
Portals launched:
| Cyber Crime Refund Portal : "Tera Tujhko Arpan" | i-Pragati Portal |
Person In News
Dr. Ajay Kumar
- Dr. Ajay Kumar has assumed the charge as the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Union Public Service Commission:
Constitutional Provisions: Articles 315 to 323 of the Indian Constitution
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Anurag Bhushan
- The Central Government has appointed senior Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Anurag Bhushan as India’s next Ambassador to Sweden.
Sweden :
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ICC Men’s Player of the Month Award
- For April 2025, the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award was given to Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
- In the same month, the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award was presented to Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce, who delivered an outstanding performance in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
International Cricket Council (ICC):
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Science and Technology
Indigenous Desalination Process Developed
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an innovative and indigenous desalination process to convert seawater into potable water.
- This technology will be particularly useful for the Indian Army, Navy, and forces deployed in coastal areas where fresh water availability is limited.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
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Third International Conference on ‘India 6G 2025’
- Dr. Chandrashekhar Pemmasani, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, addressed the third international conference on ‘India 6G 2025’.
- The conference was organized to promote the development, research, and global collaboration on sixth-generation (6G) technology in India.
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Dr Pemmasani described 6G as a revolutionary technology for the next phase of Digital India, which will provide higher speeds, lower latency and better connectivity. |