Current Affairs 20 May 2025

In Current Affairs for 20 May 2025, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article. Let us now see the Current Affairs.

Current Affairs 20 May 2025

GeM Celebrates 8 Years

• Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has emerged as one of the world’s largest and most efficient public e-procurement platforms, setting new benchmarks in accessibility and affordability.
• The Chief Executive Officer of GeM, Mihir Kumar, said this while addressing a press conference in New Delhi on the occasion of the 8th incorporation Day of GeM yesterday. Mr. Kumar added that Gems has onboarded over 10 lakh Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, 1.3 lakh artisans and weavers, 1.84 lakh women entrepreneurs and 31 thousand startups.

• He said, in just 8 years, the GeM has emerged as a transformative force in public procurement, scaling unprecedented heights in both volume and value and has evolved into a robust digital ecosystem The CEO further asserted that the platform currently boasts over 1.64 lakh primary buyers and 4.2 lakh active sellers and offers more than 10 thousand product categories and more than 330 services. He informed that 97 per cent of all transactions on GeM are now free of any transaction charges. GeM has been adopted across all 36 States and Union Territories.
• Government e-Marketplace, shortly known as GeM, is a digital platform that enables buying and selling of goods and services.

• It is the Public Procurement Portal for procurement of goods and services for all Central Government and State Government Ministries, Departments, Public Sector Units (PSUs) and affiliated.
• The portal was launched in August 2016, by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. The purchases through GeM by Government users have been authorised and made mandatory by Ministry of Finance by adding a new Rule No. 149 in the General Financial Rules, 2017.
• The sole purpose of GeM is to enhance efficiency; transparency and speed in public procurement.

‘Sagar Mein Samman’

• Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has launched the ‘Sagar Mein Samman’ (SMS) policy in Mumbai to promote a gender-equitable maritime workforce, aiming to enhance women’s participation in all maritime roles—from seafaring to leadership positions.

• The SMS initiative aligns with the Government’s DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) objectives and covers areas like training, governance, safety, skill development, and leadership to create a more inclusive maritime environment.
• From 2014 to 2024, the number of registered women seafarers surged by 739% (from 1,699 to 14,255), and those receiving financial aid rose from 45 to 732 annually, showing significant growth driven by government support.
• The event marked the International Day for Women in Maritime and included the felicitation of 10 outstanding women from the Indian maritime sector, showcasing India’s progress and commitment to gender inclusion in the industry.
• The policy sets an ambitious target of 12% female representation in technical maritime roles by 2030, reflecting India’s resolve to empower women and reshape the maritime sector with sustainability and transformation at its core.

Gyan Bharatam Mission

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch the revamped National Manuscripts Mission (NMM) on June 9, 2025, under the new title ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’, aiming to preserve India’s vast manuscript heritage. With a significant budget increase from ₹3.5 crore to ₹60 crore, this initiative will survey, document, digitize, and conserve over one crore manuscripts lying in academic institutions, libraries, museums, and private collections.
• Gyan Bharatam Mission is a comprehensive national initiative under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, dedicated to the systematic survey, documentation, conservation, and digitisation of India’s vast manuscript heritage.

• The mission builds upon and revamps the earlier National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM), which was established in 2003 and functions under the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).

• Objective of Gyan Bharatam Mission
• To survey, document, conserve, and digitize over one crore (10 million) manuscripts housed in academic institutions, museums, libraries, and private collections across India.
• To create a National Digital Repository of Indian Knowledge Systems, making ancient wisdom accessible to researchers, students, and the public worldwide.

Full Pension To All High Court Judges

• In a landmark judgment delivered on May 19, 2025, the Supreme Court of India ruled that all High Court judges, including additional judges, are entitled to full pension and retirement benefits, irrespective of their appointment timing or designation. The decision marks a major step in upholding the constitutional right to equality and removing disparities that existed in the judiciary’s post-retirement benefits.

• High Court judges in India are either appointed as permanent judges or additional judges. Additional judges are often appointed to address a temporary increase in workload. Until now, only permanent judges were eligible for full pension, creating a disparity.
•  Key Rulings by the Supreme Court
• Full pension and retirement benefits to all High Court judges, including those who served as additional judges.
• No distinction based on,
• Date of appointment.
• Status as permanent or additional judge.
• Mode of elevation (from Bar or district judiciary).
• Families of deceased additional judges will also be entitled to full benefits.
• Judges under the New Pension Scheme (NPS) will also receive full pension.

•  Constitutional Basis
• The decision relies on Article 14 (Right to Equality) of the Indian Constitution.
• The court also referred to Article 200, which deals with the pension for retired High Court judges.
•  Financial Ruling
• Former Chief Justices of High Courts to receive ₹15 lakh per annum.
• Other High Court judges to receive ₹13.5 lakh per annum.

Madku Island

• Madku Island is located in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district. It lies on the banks of the Shivnath River, which is the longest tributary of the Mahanadi River. The island is known for its natural beauty, ancient temples and historical importance. It is a peaceful place surrounded by water and greenery.
• People say Madku Island is where two great gods, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, met. Because of this, the island is also called Harihara-Kshetra and Kedar Dweep. These names connect to the two religions Shaivism (worship of Shiva) and Vaishnavism (worship of Vishnu).
• The island is linked to Sage Mandukya. He is famous for writing the Mandukya Upanishad, a sacred text. The name ”Madku” comes from ”Mandukya.”

• In 2011, experts found many old things on Madku Island. They discovered the remains of temples, sculptures and old writings from the 11th century. These belong to the Kalachuri period.
• The writings found were in Brahmi and Shankhalipi scripts, which are very old types of writing.
• There are 20 temples rebuilt on the island. Inside, statues of gods like Shivling, Nandi, Ganesh, Radha-Krishna and Vishnu can be seen. Near the island, tools from the Stone Age were found. This shows that people lived here a very long time ago.

• The temples are made from sandstone. Many parts of the old temples and idols are still visible today. Experts also found sculptures of kings, donors and teachers (acharyas) with folded hands, showing respect.
• One important temple has a Shivling and Ganesh idol from the 9th century. This place is believed to be where Sage Mandukya did his meditation.
• Since 1909, the island holds a special fair every year called the Masihi Mela. This is a Christian fair, but it also celebrates how Hindu and Christian cultures live together peacefully on the island.
• An American missionary named George E. Miller visited this fair and wrote a novel called Prem Masih of Damoh, which tells stories about life on Madku Island.

Khelo India Beach Games

• Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the first-ever Khelo India Beach Games at Ghoghla Beach in the Union territory of Diu. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mandaviya said, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several steps have been taken to promote sports in the country.

• More than 1000 athletes from across the country will compete in six medal events and two demonstration sports over the next six days. This is the first time the Beach Games are being held under the ever-expanding Khelo India umbrella. The medal events include beach soccer, beach volleyball, beach kabaddi, beach sepak takraw, pencak silat, and open water swimming.

• Two traditional demonstration sports – mallakhamb and tug-of-war will also be staged during the games. Minister of State for Sports Raksha Khadse, administrator of the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Praful Patel, along with several top sportspersons, graced the opening ceremony, which showcased rich culture of the region, including Gujarat’s folk dance Garba. The games will culminate .

Current Affairs 20 May 2025 Question

1. Madku Island Located In
   A. Tamil Nadu
   B. Chattisgarh
   C. Kerala
   D. Karnataka
   ANSWER: B
2. What Is The New Name Given To National Manuscript Mission
   A. Bharat Gyan Mission
   B. Sanskriti Samvardhan Mission
   C. Manuscript Preservation Program
   D. Gyan Bhartam Mission
   ANSWER: D
3. How Many Manuscripts Will Be Covered Under The Gyan Bharatam Mission
   A. 10 Million
   B. 20 Million
   C. 30 Million
   D. 40 Million
   ANSWER: A
4. What Is The Budget Of The Manuscript Mission
   A. 20 Crore
   B. 30 Crore
   C. 50 Crore
   D. 60 crore
   ANSWER: D
5. Khelo India Beach Games Inaugurated In
   A. Goa
   B. Diu
   C. Puri
   D. Kovalam
   ANSWER: B
6. Who Officially Inaugurated The Newly Opened Corporate Bhavan In Kolkata
   A. Piyush Goyal
   B. Amit Shah
   C. Nirmala Sitharaman
   D. Dharmendra Pradhan
   ANSWER: C
7. Rajon Ki Baoli Belongs To Which Historical Era
   A. Lodi-era
   B. Mughal era
   C. Gupta era
   D. Maurya era
   ANSWER: A
8. On Which Date Is World Telecommunication And Information Society Day
   (WTISD) Observed Every Year
   A. 15 May
   B. 16 May
   C. 17 May
   D. 18 May
   ANSWER: C
9. What Is The Name Of The Board Room Inaugurated In Honor Of Sunil Gavaskar
   At The BCCI Headquarters
   A. 10000 Gavaskar
   B. Gavaskar Legends Room
   C. Test Titan Room
   D. Gavaskar Hall of Fame
   ANSWER: A
10. Multi Agency Centre (MAC) Operates Under Which Organization
    A. Intelligence Bureau (IB)
    B. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
    C. National Investigation Agency (NIA)
    D. Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)
    ANSWER: A
11. Which Organisation Has Launched The ‘Campus Calling’ Programme To
    Promote Gender Sensitivity And Student Safety
    A. University Grants Commission (UGC)
    B. National Commission for Women (NCW)
    C. Ministry of Education
    D. All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
    ANSWER: B
12. Rajon Ki Baoli, Is A 16th-century Stepwell Located In Which City
    A. Delhi
    B. Indore
    C. Patna
    D. Varanasi
    ANSWER: A
13. World Hypertension Day Is Observed Every Year On Which Day
    A. May 15
    B. May 16
    C. May 17
    D. May 18
    ANSWER: C
14. Shingles disease, is caused by which agent
    A. Bacteria
    B. Virus
    C. Fungus
    D. Protozoa
    ANSWER: B
15. On Which Date Is World AIDS Vaccine Day Observed Annually
    A. 19 May
    B. 17 May
    C. 18 May
    D. 21 May
    ANSWER: C
16. Which Union Minister Recently Launched ‘Sagar Mein Samman’ (SMS) Policy
    A. Nitin Gadkari
    B. Mansukh Mandaviya
    C. Sarbananda Sonowal
    D. Dharmendra Pradhan
    ANSWER: C
17. In Which District Of Tripura Was The Foundation Stone For The Integrated
    Aqua Park Laid By Rajiv Ranjan Singh
    A. West Tripura
    B. Gomati
    C. Unakoti
    D. Dhalai
    ANSWER: C
18. Who Won The Superbet Chess Classic In Bucharest, Romania, After A Three
    way Tiebreak
    A. R Praggnanandhaa
    B. Alireza Firouzja
    C. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
    D. D Gukesh
    ANSWER: A
19. What Was Neeraj Chopra’s Best Throw Distance In The 2025 Doha Diamond
    League
    A. 90.23 meters
    B. 91.06 meters
    C. 89.50 meters
    D. 88.75 meters
    ANSWER: A
20. Dashkumarcharitam Was Composed By Whom
    A. Bharavi
    B. Dandin
    C. Varahmihira
    D. Kalidas
    ANSWER: B