Period Covered: May 1, 2025 – May 31, 2025
Report Focus: National Security Operations, Judicial Reforms, and Literary Achievements.
Target Examinations: UPSC CSE (Mains focus on Internal Security & Polity), SSC CGL, RBI Grade B, and State PSCs.
SECTION 1: DEFENCE & INTERNAL SECURITY
Domain: Military Operations & Strategy | Relevance: GS-III (Internal Security)
1.1 Operation Sindoor: A Strategic Strike
Event Date: May 6–7, 2025
- Context: In a decisive response to the Pahalgam terror attack (April 2025), the Indian Armed Forces executed Operation Sindoor.
- Operational Details:
- Target: Nine terrorist launchpads across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
- Assets Used: Indigenous stealth drones and precision-guided munitions.
- Outcome: Neutralization of over 100 operatives; hailed as a milestone for technological self-reliance in drone warfare.
- Strategic Impact: This operation led to the postponement of the Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC), originally scheduled for late May in Kolkata, to ensure heightened alertness.
- Exam Relevance: Useful for questions on India’s “Zero Tolerance” policy against cross-border terrorism and the integration of technology in kinetic operations.
1.2 New Chief of Integrated Defence Staff
Appointment: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumed the charge of Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) on May 1, 2025.
- Role: Critical for fostering jointness among the three services (Army, Navy, Air Force) and supporting the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
SECTION 2: POLITY, JUDICIARY & GOVERNANCE
Domain: Constitution & Governance | Relevance: GS-II, Law Optionals
2.1 Landmark Supreme Court Judgments (May 2025)
The Supreme Court delivered two pivotal verdicts in May that redefine legal practice and arbitration.
| Case Name | Date | Key Ruling & Impact |
|---|---|---|
| All India Judges Assn. v. Union of India | May 20 | Restored the 3-Year Practice Rule: The SC mandated that a minimum of 3 years of legal practice at the Bar is essential for eligibility in Civil Judge (Junior Division) examinations, reversing trends where fresh graduates could apply directly. |
| Gayatri Balasamy v. ISG Novasoft Technologies | May 2025 | Arbitral Award Modification: A 5-judge Constitution Bench (4:1 majority) clarified that while courts generally cannot modify awards under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act, they can modify in specific cases like severing invalid parts or correcting clerical errors to prevent injustice. |
2.2 Nationwide Caste Census Notification
- Policy Shift: In May 2025, the Central Government issued a notification for a Nationwide Caste Census.
- Timeline:
- Phase 1: Begins October 2026 in Ladakh and snow-bound areas.
- Phase 2: Begins March 2027 for the rest of India.
- Significance: This will be the first comprehensive collection of caste data (beyond SC/ST) since 1931. It will be conducted digitally.
2.3 Administrative Appointments
Dr. Ajay Kumar (Former Defence Secretary) took charge as the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on May 15, 2025.
SECTION 3: AWARDS & CULTURE
Domain: Literature & Arts | Relevance: SSC, Banking, UPSC Prelims
3.1 International Booker Prize 2025
Event: Announced on May 20, 2025, at Tate Modern, London.
- Winner: Banu Mushtaq (Author) and Deepa Bhasthi (Translator).
- Book: Heart Lamp.
- Significance:
- First book translated from Kannada to win this prestigious award.
- Banu Mushtaq is the second Indian author (after Geetanjali Shree) to win.
- The book is a collection of short stories chronicling the lives of women in patriarchal communities in southern India.
3.2 Other Notable Awards
- World Food Prize 2025: Awarded to Brazilian scientist Mariangela Hungria for her work in soil microbiology and nitrogen fixation.
- International Buddha Peace Award 2025: Conferred upon social worker Mustafa Yusufali Gom.
SECTION 4: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT
Domain: Innovation & Space | Relevance: GS-III, Science & Tech
4.1 Polar Bhavan Inauguration
- Date: May 22, 2025.
- Location: Inaugurated by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- Facilities: Houses advanced laboratories and South Asia’s first Polar and Ocean Museum.
- Objective: To strengthen India’s research capabilities in the Arctic, Antarctic, and Himalayas (The Third Pole).
4.2 Global Scientific Breakthroughs
- May 4: First successful human bladder transplant performed at UCLA.
- May 5: MIT physicists captured the first images of individual atoms interacting freely.
- May 16: Discovery of MoM-z14, the most distant galaxy ever detected (redshift 14.44).
- May 21: NHS England launched the world’s first gonorrhoea vaccine.
SECTION 5: SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
Domain: Sports | Relevance: SSC, Railways, State Exams
5.1 Khelo India Beach Games 2025
Event: The inaugural edition was held from May 19–24, 2025.
- Host: Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu (Specifically at Nagoa Beach, Diu).
- Mascot: Pearl (A Dolphin).
- Medal Tally Topper: Manipur (14 Medals: 5 Gold, 6 Silver, 3 Bronze).
5.2 Kalinga Super Cup 2025
- Date: Final played on May 3, 2025.
- Venue: Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar.
- Winner: FC Goa (Defeated Jamshedpur FC 3-0).
- Significance: FC Goa qualified for the AFC Champions League 2 playoffs.
SECTION 6: IMPORTANT DAYS (MAY 2025)
Domain: General Awareness
| Date | Occasion | Theme / Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| May 1 | International Labour Day | Celebrates workers’ contributions. |
| May 11 | National Technology Day | Commemorates the 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests. |
| May 21 | Anti-Terrorism Day | Death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi. |
| May 22 | International Day for Biological Diversity | Theme: “Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development”. |
| May 31 | World No Tobacco Day | Focus on protecting youth from industry manipulation. |
RAPID FIRE REVISION BANK: MAY 2025
- New UPSC Chairman: Dr. Ajay Kumar (May 15).
- Operation Sindoor: Strike on terror camps in PoK (May 6-7).
- International Booker Winner: Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq (Kannada).
- First Human Bladder Transplant: Performed at UCLA on May 4.
- Khelo India Beach Games Winner: Manipur.
- Kalinga Super Cup Winner: FC Goa.
- Mizoram: Declared fully literate under ULLAS initiative.
- Kerala: Made robotics compulsory for Class X.
- SC Ruling: Minimum 3 years practice mandatory for Civil Judges.
MOST EXPECTED EXAMINATION QUESTIONS
Q1. Who won the International Booker Prize 2025?
A. Geetanjali Shree
B. Banu Mushtaq
C. Perumal Murugan
D. Arundhati Roy
Answer: B (Banu Mushtaq for Heart Lamp)
Q2. Operation Sindoor, conducted in May 2025, was related to:
A. Evacuation of citizens from a conflict zone
B. Counter-terror strikes across the LoC
C. Anti-piracy operations in the Red Sea
D. Disaster relief in Myanmar
Answer: B
Q3. Which state topped the medal tally at the inaugural Khelo India Beach Games 2025 held in Diu?
A. Maharashtra
B. Tamil Nadu
C. Manipur
D. Kerala
Answer: C (Manipur)
Q4. Who took charge as the Chairman of UPSC in May 2025?
A. Manoj Soni
B. Preeti Sudan
C. Dr. Ajay Kumar
D. Rajiv Kumar
Answer: C
Q5. The Supreme Court judgment in All India Judges Assn. v. Union of India (May 2025) mandated what requirement for Civil Judge exams?
A. Minimum age of 25
B. 3 years of legal practice
C. Master’s degree in Law
D. Qualifying a physical fitness test
Answer: B
