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Current Affairs 01 May 2025
1. Chirag Shetty, Satwik Rankireddy Honoured With Khel Ratna 2023
Indian badminton stars Chirag Shetty and
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy were honored with the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for 2023 in a ceremony held in New Delhi on May 1, 2025. The duo had been announced as recipients last year but missed the original ceremony due to tournament commitments and personal reasons, including the passing of Satwik’s father . Their achievements include becoming the first Indian men's doubles pair to reach the world No. 1 ranking, winning gold at the 2022 Asian Games, and clinching the 2023 Asian Championships title . Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya presented the award, praising their dedication and exceptional performances on the court .
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy were honored with the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for 2023 in a ceremony held in New Delhi on May 1, 2025. The duo had been announced as recipients last year but missed the original ceremony due to tournament commitments and personal reasons, including the passing of Satwik’s father . Their achievements include becoming the first Indian men's doubles pair to reach the world No. 1 ranking, winning gold at the 2022 Asian Games, and clinching the 2023 Asian Championships title . Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya presented the award, praising their dedication and exceptional performances on the court . Foot notes:
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Award Details: Satwik-Chirag received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, India's highest sporting honor, from Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on May 1, 2025.
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Reason for Honor: The duo was recognized for achieving the World No. 1 ranking in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings in 2023 and clinching the Asian Games gold medal in Hangzhou.
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Government Support: Chirag Shetty and Satwik Rankireddy credited the Government of India's support for their success, highlighting initiatives like Khelo India and Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
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Delayed Ceremony: Although they were shortlisted for the Khel Ratna award in 2023, they couldn't receive it then due to tournament commitments and finally got the award in 2025.
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Future Tournaments: The Indian badminton pair is set to participate in upcoming tournaments, including the Singapore Open (May 27 - June 1) and Indonesia Open (June 3-8).
2. Ministry of Labour Signs MoU with Rapido
The Ministry of Labour & Employment signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rapido in New Delhi to enhance employment opportunities in the logistics sector through the National Career Service (NCS) portal. This partnership aims to create 50 lakh job opportunities over the next 1.5 years, benefiting over 5 crore registered job seekers. Rapido will regularly post verified openings for roles such as bike taxi, auto, and cab drivers on the NCS portal, with real-time application tracking enabled through API integration. The initiative places a strong emphasis on inclusive hiring, particularly focusing on youth, women, and individuals seeking flexible work arrangements, including the creation of 5 lakh jobs specifically for women.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rapido in New Delhi to enhance employment opportunities in the logistics sector through the National Career Service (NCS) portal. This partnership aims to create 50 lakh job opportunities over the next 1.5 years, benefiting over 5 crore registered job seekers. Rapido will regularly post verified openings for roles such as bike taxi, auto, and cab drivers on the NCS portal, with real-time application tracking enabled through API integration. The initiative places a strong emphasis on inclusive hiring, particularly focusing on youth, women, and individuals seeking flexible work arrangements, including the creation of 5 lakh jobs specifically for women.Foot notes:
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Employment Opportunities: Rapido will regularly post verified job opportunities for driving bike taxis, autos, and cabs on the NCS portal and conduct hiring through it, focusing on inclusive hiring and promoting employment opportunities for youth and women.
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Women's Employment: The partnership specifically targets women's employment, with Rapido's "Pink Rapido" initiative aiming to provide 5 lakh job opportunities for women, promoting gender inclusivity in the workforce.
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API Integration: The MoU includes API-based integration for real-time job postings and seamless application tracking, making it easier for job seekers to find and apply for opportunities.
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Structured Onboarding: The partnership aims to support structured onboarding, digital empowerment, and awareness of worker welfare schemes, ultimately enhancing employment outcomes across sectors through the NCS portal.
3. Government launched Indian Institute of Creative Technology
The Government of India has launched the Indian Institute of
Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai, marking a significant step towards advancing the country's creative and digital industries. Announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at the WAVES 2025 summit, the institute is established by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with FICCI and CII, aiming to become a National Centre of Excellence modeled after IITs and IIMs. With an allocation of 400 crore from the central government and land provided by the Maharashtra government, IICT's first phase is situated at the NFDC Building on Pedder Road, featuring state-of-the-art facilities including gaming labs, animation labs, and immersive studios.
Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai, marking a significant step towards advancing the country's creative and digital industries. Announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at the WAVES 2025 summit, the institute is established by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with FICCI and CII, aiming to become a National Centre of Excellence modeled after IITs and IIMs. With an allocation of 400 crore from the central government and land provided by the Maharashtra government, IICT's first phase is situated at the NFDC Building on Pedder Road, featuring state-of-the-art facilities including gaming labs, animation labs, and immersive studios.Foot notes:
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Partnerships and Funding: The institute has strategic support from major tech companies like NVIDIA, Google, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Star India, and Adobe. The government has allocated 400 crore for the institute, and the Government of Maharashtra has provided land for its setup.
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Infrastructure and Phases: The IICT has started operations in its first phase at the NFDC Building on Pedder Road, Mumbai, with advanced infrastructure like Gaming Labs and Virtual Production Studios. The second phase will witness the development of a 10-acre campus at Film City, Goregaon.
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Core Focus Areas: The institute will focus on five core areas: training, incubation, innovation, research & development, and policy formulation. This will create transformative opportunities for creators, technologists, and entrepreneurs in India's creative economy.
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National and Global Impact: The IICT aims to strengthen India's position as a global leader in creative and digital content, solidifying Mumbai's status as a global creative capital.
4. India Beat England 3-2 In Final Group Match of Sudirman Cup
The Government of India has launched the Indian Institute of
Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai, marking a significant step towards advancing the country's creative and digital industries. Announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at the WAVES 2025 summit, the institute is established by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with FICCI and CII, aiming to become a National Centre of Excellence modeled after IITs and IIMs. With an allocation of 400 crore from the central government and land provided by the Maharashtra government, IICT's first phase is situated at the NFDC Building on Pedder Road, featuring state-of-the-art facilities including gaming labs, animation labs, and immersive studios.
Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai, marking a significant step towards advancing the country's creative and digital industries. Announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at the WAVES 2025 summit, the institute is established by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with FICCI and CII, aiming to become a National Centre of Excellence modeled after IITs and IIMs. With an allocation of 400 crore from the central government and land provided by the Maharashtra government, IICT's first phase is situated at the NFDC Building on Pedder Road, featuring state-of-the-art facilities including gaming labs, animation labs, and immersive studios. Foot notes:
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India's Win: India beat England 3-2 in their final group match, showcasing the team's emerging badminton potential and finishing third in Group D.
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Young Players Shine: Youngsters Anupama Upadhyaya and Satish Karunakaran led the charge with crucial singles victories, demonstrating India's bench strength in the singles categories.
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Key Wins: Anupama Upadhyaya beat Miu Ngan 21-16, 21-12, while Satish Karunakaran came back from a game down to defeat Harry Huang 18-21, 22-20, 21-13.
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Women's Doubles Win: Tanisha Crasto and Shruti Mishra wrapped up the tie for India with a 21-17, 21-17 win over Lizzie Tolman and Estelle van Leeuwen in women's doubles.
5. Quartet Of Gurindervir, Animesh, Manikanta, Amlan Rewrites Men’s 4x100m National Record
At the 2nd Indian Open Relay Competition in Chandigarh, the
men's 4x100m relay team comprising Gurindervir Singh, Animesh Kujur, Manikanta Hoblidhar, and Amlan Borgohain set a new national record of 38.69 seconds, surpassing the previous mark of 38.89 seconds established during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This achievement is particularly noteworthy as it was the quartet's first competitive outing together, with all members training under the Reliance Foundation's High-Performance Centre. Individually, each sprinter has made significant strides: Gurindervir holds the national 100m record at 10.20 seconds, Animesh recently set the 200m national record at 20.40 seconds, Manikanta boasts a 100m best of 10.22 seconds, and Amlan is renowned for his powerful finishing sprints.
men's 4x100m relay team comprising Gurindervir Singh, Animesh Kujur, Manikanta Hoblidhar, and Amlan Borgohain set a new national record of 38.69 seconds, surpassing the previous mark of 38.89 seconds established during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This achievement is particularly noteworthy as it was the quartet's first competitive outing together, with all members training under the Reliance Foundation's High-Performance Centre. Individually, each sprinter has made significant strides: Gurindervir holds the national 100m record at 10.20 seconds, Animesh recently set the 200m national record at 20.40 seconds, Manikanta boasts a 100m best of 10.22 seconds, and Amlan is renowned for his powerful finishing sprints.Foot notes:
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New Record Time: The Reliance Foundation team comprising Gurindervir Singh, Animesh Kujur, Manikanta Hoblidhar, and Amlan Borgohain achieved a record-breaking time of 38.69 seconds in the men's 4x100m relay.
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Previous Record: The previous national record was set in 2010 at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi with a time of 38.89 seconds, which stood for 15 years.
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Competition Details: The record-breaking performance took place at the 2nd Indian Open Relay Competition held at the Sector 7 Sports Complex in Chandigarh on April 30, 2025.
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Team Background: The quartet is part of the Reliance Foundation's High-Performance Centre in association with the Government of Odisha in Bhubaneswar, highlighting the impact of structured training programs.
6. India Concludes Asian U-15 & U-17 Boxing Championships
India concluded its campaign at the inaugural Asian U-15 &
U-17 Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan, with a commendable haul of 15 gold, 6 silver, and 22 bronze medals, securing second place overall behind Kazakhstan . The Indian U-15 contingent, particularly the girls' team, delivered an outstanding performance by clinching 10 out of the 15 available gold medals, achieving a perfect record in their finals . In the U-17 category, the girls added four more golds on the final day, with notable victories from Khushi Chand (46kg), Ahaana Sharma (50kg), Jannat (54kg), and Anshika (80+kg) .
U-17 Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan, with a commendable haul of 15 gold, 6 silver, and 22 bronze medals, securing second place overall behind Kazakhstan . The Indian U-15 contingent, particularly the girls' team, delivered an outstanding performance by clinching 10 out of the 15 available gold medals, achieving a perfect record in their finals . In the U-17 category, the girls added four more golds on the final day, with notable victories from Khushi Chand (46kg), Ahaana Sharma (50kg), Jannat (54kg), and Anshika (80+kg) . Foot notes:
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U-17 Medals: In the U-17 category, India won 4 gold medals and a total of 18 medals, showcasing the country's growing boxing talent.
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Medal Winners: Although specific names of all medal winners aren't available, notable performances came from Indian boxers like Rudraksh Singh, who advanced to the semifinals in the boys' 46kg category.
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Championship Highlights: Indian boxers secured medals in 25 out of 30 weight categories in U-15 and 18 out of 26 weight classes in U-17 across both genders, demonstrating the country's depth in boxing.
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Future Championships: The top performers in the championships, including 20 male and female boxers who won gold medals, will qualify for the upcoming Under-19 Asian Boxing Championship 2025.
7. Crocs onboards Rashmika Mandanna as global ambassador
Crocs has appointed Indian actress Rashmika Mandanna as
its global brand ambassador from India, marking a strategic move to deepen its presence in the Indian market. The collaboration kicks off with the "Your Crocs. Your Story. Your World." campaign, which emphasizes the brand's Classics collection and customizable Jibbitz™ charms as tools for personal expression. The campaign features a visually rich film that blends CGI and live-action to depict Mandanna's daily life, showcasing how Crocs can be a canvas for individuality and style. Mandanna expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting her connection to Crocs' fun colors, quirky silhouettes, and the brand's celebration of unapologetic individuality.
its global brand ambassador from India, marking a strategic move to deepen its presence in the Indian market. The collaboration kicks off with the "Your Crocs. Your Story. Your World." campaign, which emphasizes the brand's Classics collection and customizable Jibbitz™ charms as tools for personal expression. The campaign features a visually rich film that blends CGI and live-action to depict Mandanna's daily life, showcasing how Crocs can be a canvas for individuality and style. Mandanna expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting her connection to Crocs' fun colors, quirky silhouettes, and the brand's celebration of unapologetic individuality.Foot notes:
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Campaign Launch: The collaboration launches with the "Your Crocs. Your Story. Your World." campaign, promoting the Classics collection and Jibbitz charms as everyday style essentials that celebrate individuality.
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Brand Alignment: Rashmika Mandanna embodies the values of Crocs, including authenticity, confidence, and personal expression, making her a perfect fit for the brand. She loves the brand's fun colors, quirky silhouettes, and unapologetic individuality.
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360-Degree Campaign: The campaign will roll out across digital, social, retail, and exclusive brand experiences, showcasing Crocs as a canvas for self-expression and individuality. It features magical surrealism and CGI visuals, highlighting the customization options with Jibbitz charms.
About Crocs
CEO: Andrew Rees
Founded: 2002
Headquarters: United States
8. Ex-RAW Chief Alok Joshi Appointed Head of Revamped National Security Board
Former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Alok Joshi
has been appointed as the Chairman of the reconstituted National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) by the Indian government. This strategic move follows the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in 26 fatalities and heightened tensions with Pakistan. The revamped NSAB comprises seven members, including retired senior officers from the military, police, and foreign services, such as Air Marshal PM Sinha, Lt Gen AK Singh, Rear Admiral Monty Khanna, IPS officers Rajiv Ranjan Verma and Manmohan Singh, and former diplomat B Venkatesh Varma. The board's primary role is to provide long-term assessments and policy recommendations on national security issues to the National Security Council, which is headed by the Prime Minister.
has been appointed as the Chairman of the reconstituted National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) by the Indian government. This strategic move follows the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in 26 fatalities and heightened tensions with Pakistan. The revamped NSAB comprises seven members, including retired senior officers from the military, police, and foreign services, such as Air Marshal PM Sinha, Lt Gen AK Singh, Rear Admiral Monty Khanna, IPS officers Rajiv Ranjan Verma and Manmohan Singh, and former diplomat B Venkatesh Varma. The board's primary role is to provide long-term assessments and policy recommendations on national security issues to the National Security Council, which is headed by the Prime Minister.Foot notes:
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Background: Joshi has a distinguished career in intelligence, having served as the Secretary of R&AW from 2012 to 2014 and holding various positions in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and RAW.
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NSAB Revamp: The NSAB has been revamped with six new members inducted, including retired military officers like Air Marshal P.M. Sinha, Lieutenant General A.K. Singh, and Rear Admiral Monty Khanna, as well as retired IPS officers Rajiv Ranjan Verma and Manmohan Singh.
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Security Context: The appointment comes after a recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, and a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review the situation.
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Expertise: As head of NSAB, Alok Joshi will leverage his experience in counter-terrorism and strategic intelligence to advise the government on national security matters, enhancing India's security apparatus.
9. International Labour Day observed on 1st May
International Labour Day, also known as May Day, is
observed on 1st May every year to honour the contributions and achievements of workers worldwide. It originated from the labour union movement in the late 19th century, especially the Haymarket affair in Chicago, which advocated for fair working conditions and an eight-hour workday. In India, Labour Day was first celebrated in 1923 in Chennai by the Labour Kisan Party. The day is marked by rallies, seminars, and public events highlighting workers’ rights and welfare. Governments, trade unions, and organizations use this occasion to reaffirm their commitment to improving labour standards and ensuring social justice.
observed on 1st May every year to honour the contributions and achievements of workers worldwide. It originated from the labour union movement in the late 19th century, especially the Haymarket affair in Chicago, which advocated for fair working conditions and an eight-hour workday. In India, Labour Day was first celebrated in 1923 in Chennai by the Labour Kisan Party. The day is marked by rallies, seminars, and public events highlighting workers’ rights and welfare. Governments, trade unions, and organizations use this occasion to reaffirm their commitment to improving labour standards and ensuring social justice.Foot notes:
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Global Significance: International Labour Day, also known as May Day or Workers' Day, is celebrated worldwide to recognize the contributions and achievements of workers and the labor movement.
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Historical Roots: The day originated from the labor union movement in the late 19th century, particularly the Haymarket affair in Chicago in 1886, where workers protested for an eight-hour workday.
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Indian Context: In India, Labour Day is also celebrated as Antarrashtriya Shramik Diwas or Kamgar Din, acknowledging the hard work and dedication of Indian workers.
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Themes and Events: The day is marked by various events, rallies, and campaigns, often focusing on workers' rights, fair wages, safe working conditions, and social justice.
10. Former national shooting coach Prof Sunny Thomas passed away
Former national shooting coach Prof. Sunny Thomas passed
away on April 30, 2025, at the age of 84 in Kottayam, Kerala, following a cardiac arrest. A former English professor and accomplished shooter, Thomas served as India's national shooting coach from 1993 to 2012, during which Indian shooters secured 108 gold, 74 silver, and 53 bronze medals at major international events, including the Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games. He mentored several of India's top shooters, including Abhinav Bindra, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Vijay Kumar, and Gagan Narang, and was honored with the Dronacharya Award in 2001 for his contributions to the sport.
away on April 30, 2025, at the age of 84 in Kottayam, Kerala, following a cardiac arrest. A former English professor and accomplished shooter, Thomas served as India's national shooting coach from 1993 to 2012, during which Indian shooters secured 108 gold, 74 silver, and 53 bronze medals at major international events, including the Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games. He mentored several of India's top shooters, including Abhinav Bindra, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Vijay Kumar, and Gagan Narang, and was honored with the Dronacharya Award in 2001 for his contributions to the sport.Foot notes:
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Coaching Legacy: Thomas was the national coach of the Indian shooting team for 19 years (1993-2012) and played a pivotal role in shaping Indian shooting. He mentored Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra and other top shooters.
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Achievements: Under his leadership, Indian shooters won medals at the Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games. Notably, Abhinav Bindra won India's first individual Olympic gold medal in 2008 under Thomas's guidance.
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Awards and Recognition: Thomas was honored with the Dronacharya Award in 2001, India's highest sporting honor for coaches, recognizing his contributions to Indian sports.
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