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Current Affairs 28 May 2025
1. Gulveer Singh Won Gold in Asian Athletics Championships
Gulveer Singh won the gold medal at the Asian Athletics
Championships, bringing pride to India with his outstanding performance. Competing in the long-distance event, he demonstrated remarkable stamina, speed, and determination. His victory reflects the rising standards of Indian athletics on the international stage. Gulveer’s achievement is a result of rigorous training and unwavering dedication. The win has inspired many young athletes across the country to pursue excellence in sports. It also adds to India’s growing medal tally and strengthens the nation’s presence in Asian athletics.
Championships, bringing pride to India with his outstanding performance. Competing in the long-distance event, he demonstrated remarkable stamina, speed, and determination. His victory reflects the rising standards of Indian athletics on the international stage. Gulveer’s achievement is a result of rigorous training and unwavering dedication. The win has inspired many young athletes across the country to pursue excellence in sports. It also adds to India’s growing medal tally and strengthens the nation’s presence in Asian athletics.Foot notes:
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Time: He clocked a time of 28 minutes 38.63 seconds, outperforming Japan's Mebuki Suzuki (28:43.84) and Bahrain's Albert Kibichi Rop (28:46.82).
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Achievement: This victory marked India's first gold medal at the championships and made Singh the third Indian to win the men's 10,000m gold at the Asian level, after Hari Chand (1975) and G Lakshmanan (2017).
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National Records: Gulveer Singh holds national records in the 3000m, 5000m (12:59.77), and 10,000m (27:00.22) events, showcasing his exceptional endurance capabilities.
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Race Strategy: Singh employed a well-calculated strategy, staying in the lead pack before unleashing a decisive sprint in the final lap to secure the gold medal.
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Impact: This win not only boosted India's medal tally but also enhanced Singh's chances of qualifying for the Tokyo World Athletics Championships in September, given his improved world ranking.
2. UN Declares 25th May as World Football Day
The United Nations has officially declared 25th May as World
Football Day, recognizing the global impact and unifying power of the sport. The decision honors football’s role in promoting peace, inclusion, and cultural dialogue worldwide. It also acknowledges the historical significance of the first international football tournament held on 25th May 1924 during the Summer Olympics in Paris. The day aims to celebrate football's contribution to social development and global cooperation. Member states are encouraged to use this occasion to support grassroots football and inclusive sporting initiatives. The declaration has been welcomed by football fans, players, and organizations across the globe.
Football Day, recognizing the global impact and unifying power of the sport. The decision honors football’s role in promoting peace, inclusion, and cultural dialogue worldwide. It also acknowledges the historical significance of the first international football tournament held on 25th May 1924 during the Summer Olympics in Paris. The day aims to celebrate football's contribution to social development and global cooperation. Member states are encouraged to use this occasion to support grassroots football and inclusive sporting initiatives. The declaration has been welcomed by football fans, players, and organizations across the globe.Foot notes:
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UN Resolution: The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring May 25 as World Football Day, recognizing football's global popularity and its power to unite people across cultures and borders.
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Date Significance: May 25 commemorates the 100th anniversary of the first-ever international football tournament, the 1924 Summer Olympics football match between Uruguay and Switzerland, held in Paris.
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Global Celebration: World Football Day aims to promote football's values, such as teamwork, solidarity, and fair play, and to celebrate the sport's ability to bridge cultural divides and foster global understanding.
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Football's Impact: Football is played by over 250 million people in more than 200 countries, making it the world's most popular sport, with a massive following and significant economic and social impact.
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UN's Goals: By declaring World Football Day, the UN seeks to leverage football's global reach to promote peace, development, and social cohesion, aligning with its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
3. Hyderabad is known as the Pharma Capital of India
Hyderabad is widely recognized as the Pharma Capital of India, a
title earned through its substantial contributions to pharmaceutical manufacturing, research, and exports. The city accounts for approximately 30% of India’s pharmaceutical production and nearly 20% of its exports, solidifying its status as a global pharmaceutical hub . Hyderabad is also dubbed the “Vaccine Capital of the World”, producing a significant share of global vaccines. Companies like Bharat Biotech, Biological E, and Shantha Biotechnics have been instrumental in producing affordable vaccines for diseases like polio, hepatitis, and COVID-19 .
title earned through its substantial contributions to pharmaceutical manufacturing, research, and exports. The city accounts for approximately 30% of India’s pharmaceutical production and nearly 20% of its exports, solidifying its status as a global pharmaceutical hub . Hyderabad is also dubbed the “Vaccine Capital of the World”, producing a significant share of global vaccines. Companies like Bharat Biotech, Biological E, and Shantha Biotechnics have been instrumental in producing affordable vaccines for diseases like polio, hepatitis, and COVID-19 .Foot notes:
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Large Pharmaceutical Industry Presence: Hyderabad is home to a large number of pharmaceutical companies, including major players like Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Aurobindo Pharma, and Hetero Drugs.
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Bulk Drug Production: The city is a significant hub for bulk drug production, with many companies manufacturing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for various therapeutic segments.
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Formulation Manufacturing: Hyderabad is also a major center for formulation manufacturing, with companies producing a wide range of dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, and injectables.
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Research and Development: The city has a strong research and development (R&D) ecosystem, with many companies investing in new product development, process innovation, and technology development.
4. India Shines in 2025 Breakthrough Prize for LHC Discoveries
India has made significant contributions to the 2025 Breakthrough
Prize in Fundamental Physics, awarded to the four major Large Hadron Collider (LHC) collaborations: ATLAS, ALICE, CMS, and LHCb for their pioneering work in particle physics. Indian scientists played crucial roles in these collaborations, particularly in the CMS and ALICE experiments. Notable Indian physicists such as Dipanwita Dutta from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Gagan Mohanty of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and J.B. Singh from Panjab University have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of the Higgs boson and exploring the properties of quark-gluon plasma .
Prize in Fundamental Physics, awarded to the four major Large Hadron Collider (LHC) collaborations: ATLAS, ALICE, CMS, and LHCb for their pioneering work in particle physics. Indian scientists played crucial roles in these collaborations, particularly in the CMS and ALICE experiments. Notable Indian physicists such as Dipanwita Dutta from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Gagan Mohanty of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and J.B. Singh from Panjab University have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of the Higgs boson and exploring the properties of quark-gluon plasma .Foot notes:
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Indian Contributions: Indian scientists and researchers played a significant role in the international collaboration for the ALICE and CMS experiments, contributing to detector development, data analysis, and other areas.
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Research Institutions: Several Indian institutions, including the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, and various IITs, were part of the ALICE and CMS collaborations.
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Key Achievements: Indian scientists designed and constructed critical components, such as the Photon Multiplicity Detector and Muon Spectrometer for ALICE, and contributed to Higgs boson searches and supersymmetry studies in CMS.
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Computing and Storage: India played a vital role in the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid (WLCG), providing computing and storage resources through Tier-2 centers at TIFR Mumbai and VECC Kolkata.
5. Arsenal Triumphs Over Barcelona to Won Women’s Champions League 2025
Arsenal Women clinched their second UEFA Women’s Champions
League title with a stunning 1-0 victory over defending champions Barcelona on May 24, 2025, at Lisbon’s Estadio José Alvalade. The decisive moment came in the 74th minute when substitute Stina Blackstenius netted the winning goal, converting a precise pass from Beth Mead just seven minutes after both entered the match .The victory sparked jubilant celebrations among Arsenal fans and players alike, with over 10,000 supporters gathering in North London to welcome the team home .
League title with a stunning 1-0 victory over defending champions Barcelona on May 24, 2025, at Lisbon’s Estadio José Alvalade. The decisive moment came in the 74th minute when substitute Stina Blackstenius netted the winning goal, converting a precise pass from Beth Mead just seven minutes after both entered the match .The victory sparked jubilant celebrations among Arsenal fans and players alike, with over 10,000 supporters gathering in North London to welcome the team home .Foot notes:
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Tactical Brilliance: Arsenal employed a 4-4-2 mid-block, applying pressure to Barcelona's players and disrupting their flow. This strategy limited Barcelona to just 0.87 expected goals.
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Defensive Heroics: Arsenal's defense was solid, with players like Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord making crucial interventions to block Barcelona's attacks. The team's defenders didn't commit a single foul during the match.
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Substitutions: Coach Renee Slegers' tactical substitutions played a significant role, with Beth Mead and Stina Blackstenius bringing fresh energy and a new dynamic that Barcelona struggled to counter.
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Historical Significance: This win marks Arsenal's first European title in 18 years, making them the only English club to have won the Champions League trophy. The victory has been likened to Emma Raducanu's US Open win in 2021, a momentous achievement for British women's sports.
6. Priyank Panchal retires from all forms of cricket
Indian cricketer Priyank Panchal announced his retirement from all
forms of cricket on May 26, 2025, concluding a distinguished 17-year career in domestic cricket .Panchal's retirement marks the end of an era for Gujarat cricket. His dedication, leadership, and contributions to domestic cricket have left an indelible mark, inspiring future generations of cricketers.
forms of cricket on May 26, 2025, concluding a distinguished 17-year career in domestic cricket .Panchal's retirement marks the end of an era for Gujarat cricket. His dedication, leadership, and contributions to domestic cricket have left an indelible mark, inspiring future generations of cricketers.Foot notes:
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Career Statistics: Panchal played 127 First-Class matches, scoring 8,856 runs at an average of 45.18, with 29 centuries and 34 fifties. He also scored 3,672 runs in 97 List A matches and 1,522 runs in 59 T20 matches.
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Domestic Success: Panchal was instrumental in Gujarat's Ranji Trophy win in 2016-17, scoring 1,310 runs, including a highest score of 314 not out. He also led Gujarat to victories in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (2015-16) and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (2012-13 and 2013-14).
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Leadership Roles: Panchal captained India A and Gujarat across various formats, showcasing his leadership skills and prowess as an opening batsman.
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Legacy: Panchal's retirement marks the end of an era for Gujarat cricket, with the Gujarat Cricket Association congratulating him on a fantastic career. He is considered one of the finest domestic cricketers of his generation.
7. LIC Creates History with Guinness World Record in Insurance Sales
The success of the "Bima Utsav" campaign is a testament to LIC's
commitment to increasing insurance awareness and penetration in India. By achieving this record, LIC has set a new benchmark in the industry, showcasing its operational excellence and the effectiveness of its outreach initiatives. This remarkable accomplishment underscores LIC's dominant position in the insurance sector and its ability to mobilize resources effectively to reach a vast customer base in a limited timeframe.
commitment to increasing insurance awareness and penetration in India. By achieving this record, LIC has set a new benchmark in the industry, showcasing its operational excellence and the effectiveness of its outreach initiatives. This remarkable accomplishment underscores LIC's dominant position in the insurance sector and its ability to mobilize resources effectively to reach a vast customer base in a limited timeframe.Foot notes:
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Record Achievement: LIC set a Guinness World Record for selling the most life insurance policies in 24 hours, with 5,88,107 policies issued across India on January 20, 2025.
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Agents' Efforts: A total of 4,52,839 LIC agents participated in the record-breaking effort, showcasing their dedication and work ethic.
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"Mad Million Day" Initiative: The record attempt was part of an initiative by LIC MD and CEO Siddhartha Mohanty, who appealed to every agent to complete at least one policy on January 20, 2025.
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Global Benchmark: This achievement established a new global benchmark for agent productivity in the life insurance industry within 24 hours, demonstrating LIC's commitment to providing financial protection to customers and their families.
About LIC:
CEO: Siddhartha Mohanty
Founded: 1956
Headquarters: Mumbai
8. Rashtrapati Bhavan Hosts Artists-in-Residence Programme to Promote Folk Art
In a significant cultural initiative, Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted the
“Artists-in-Residence” programme from May 20 to 27, 2025, as part of the Kala Utsav, to promote and preserve India’s rich folk and tribal art traditions. This edition spotlighted two of the country’s most celebrated art forms: Madhubani from Bihar and Gond from Madhya Pradesh. Renowned artists such as Shanti Devi, Ambika Devi, and Manisha Jha represented Madhubani art, while Durgabai Vyam, Subhash Vyam, and Japani Shyam Dhurwey showcased Gond art. During their week-long residency, these artists created and exhibited their works within the historic premises of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
“Artists-in-Residence” programme from May 20 to 27, 2025, as part of the Kala Utsav, to promote and preserve India’s rich folk and tribal art traditions. This edition spotlighted two of the country’s most celebrated art forms: Madhubani from Bihar and Gond from Madhya Pradesh. Renowned artists such as Shanti Devi, Ambika Devi, and Manisha Jha represented Madhubani art, while Durgabai Vyam, Subhash Vyam, and Japani Shyam Dhurwey showcased Gond art. During their week-long residency, these artists created and exhibited their works within the historic premises of Rashtrapati Bhavan.Foot notes:
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Participating Artists: Nine Madhubani artists, including Shanti Devi, Ambika Devi, and Manisha Jha, and eight Gond artists, including Durgabai Vyam, Subhash Vyam, and Nankusia Shyam, showcased their traditional art forms.
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President's Interaction: President Droupadi Murmu interacted with the artists on May 26, 2025, and witnessed the artworks created during their stay. She appreciated their contribution to India's traditional art forms and wished them success in their future endeavors.
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Objectives: The programme aims to preserve and promote India's traditional, tribal, and folk art forms, give national recognition to local artists, and foster artistic exchange and awareness among audiences.
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Art Forms: Madhubani art, characterized by intricate patterns and mythological themes, and Gond art, known for depicting nature and folklore using dots and lines, were showcased during the programme.
9. Miao Lijie Named Ambassador for FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025
Miao Lijie, a legendary figure in Chinese basketball, has been
appointed as the official ambassador for the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup. This prestigious tournament is scheduled to take place from July 13 to 20, 2025, in Shenzhen, China . As ambassador for the 2025 Women’s Asia Cup, Miao Lijie will play a pivotal role in promoting the tournament and inspiring the next generation of female basketball players. Her appointment underscores FIBA's commitment to celebrating the legacy of influential athletes and enhancing the visibility of women's basketball across Asia.
appointed as the official ambassador for the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup. This prestigious tournament is scheduled to take place from July 13 to 20, 2025, in Shenzhen, China . As ambassador for the 2025 Women’s Asia Cup, Miao Lijie will play a pivotal role in promoting the tournament and inspiring the next generation of female basketball players. Her appointment underscores FIBA's commitment to celebrating the legacy of influential athletes and enhancing the visibility of women's basketball across Asia.Foot notes:
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WNBA Achievement: Miao played for the Sacramento Monarchs, winning the 2005 WNBA championship, and became the first player to score 6,000 points in the WCBA (China's professional league).
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Role as Ambassador: Miao aims to promote the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2025, encouraging fans to attend and support the event, which features top national women's teams from Asia and Oceania.
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Tournament Details: The FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2025 will take place in Shenzhen, known as the "City of the Future," marking the tournament's return to China after a 10-year gap.
10. Vineet Satyanarayanan Nair appointed as Director in the Ministry of Home Affairs
Vineet Satyanarayanan Nair has been appointed as a Director in the
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India. This appointment was confirmed through an official Office Memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on May 28, 2025, which announced his selection for the position. Vineet Satyanarayanan Nair is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 2011 batch. Prior to this appointment, he served in various capacities within the Central Government, contributing to the administration and policy implementation across different sectors.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India. This appointment was confirmed through an official Office Memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on May 28, 2025, which announced his selection for the position. Vineet Satyanarayanan Nair is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 2011 batch. Prior to this appointment, he served in various capacities within the Central Government, contributing to the administration and policy implementation across different sectors. Foot notes:
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Central Staffing Scheme: The appointment was made under the Central Staffing Scheme, with the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) issuing formal orders on May 26, 2025.
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Recommendation: Nair was recommended for central deputation by the Ministry of Defence, highlighting his expertise and capabilities.
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Concurrent Appointment: Another officer, Madhur Agrawal, a 2009-batch officer of the Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS), was also appointed as Director in the Ministry of Home Affairs for a similar tenure.
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Immediate Assumption: Both officers have been directed to report to their new assignments immediately, underscoring the government's intent to utilize their skills effectively.
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