Table of Contents

Current Affairs Report: 19 May 2025

India’s dynamic landscape on 19 May 2025 was marked by significant developments across politics, economy, science, international relations, environment, defense, and sports. This comprehensive report, tailored for students preparing for UPSC, SSC, Banking, and other government exams, draws from credible sources like The Hindu, The Indian Express, Times of India, Hindustan Times, Business Standard, Livemint, The Economic Times, Press Information Bureau (PIB), PRS Legislative Research, BBC News, Reuters, and Down To Earth. The following sections provide an in-depth analysis of the day’s key events, formatted to enhance readability and retention for exam preparation.

Politics and Governance

The political narrative in India on 19 May 2025 was heavily influenced by the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April 2025, which claimed 26 civilian lives, mostly Hindu tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir (Pahalgam Attack). The attack, attributed to The Resistance Front (TRF), a group linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, prompted a decisive military response through Operation Sindoor on 7 May 2025. This operation targeted nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, destroying training camps and launchpads of groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed (Operation Sindoor).

In response to global scrutiny, India launched a robust diplomatic campaign. Seven all-party delegations, comprising leaders from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the INDIA bloc, were dispatched to key partner nations, including UN Security Council members, to convey India’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism. Leaders such as Shashi Tharoor (Congress), Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), and Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (DMK) spearheaded these efforts, each delegation visiting approximately five countries to project a unified national consensus (Diplomatic Outreach).

On the judicial front, the Supreme Court issued a landmark directive ordering states and union territories to reclaim reserved forest lands allotted to private parties for non-forest activities. The court mandated the formation of Special Investigation Teams (SITs) to investigate these allotments and transfer the lands back to forest departments within one year. If reclamation is not in the public interest, states must recover the land’s cost for forest development. This ruling also invalidated a specific case in Pune, where 11.89 hectares of reserve forest land were illegally allotted in 1998 (Supreme Court Ruling).

Political Event	Details
Pahalgam Terror Attack	22 April 2025, 26 civilians killed by TRF in Jammu and Kashmir.
Operation Sindoor	7 May 2025, targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and PoK.
Diplomatic Outreach	Seven all-party delegations sent to global partners to explain India’s anti-terrorism stance.
Supreme Court Directive	Ordered reclamation of reserved forest lands, with SITs to complete the process by May 2026.

Economy

India’s economic trajectory remained a focal point, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projecting that India would surpass Japan to become the fourth largest economy in 2025, with a GDP of approximately $4,187.02 billion (IMF Projection). This growth is driven by robust domestic demand and consistent government spending, with inflation expected to stabilize at 4.3% within the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s target range (PIB Economic Note). However, potential U.S. policies under President Donald Trump, including a proposed 5% excise tax on outward remittances by non-U.S. citizens, could increase costs for Indian families reliant on overseas transfers (Business стандарт).

The Indian stock market experienced volatility on 19 May 2025, with the Sensex and Nifty declining due to profit-taking in IT and FMCG sectors, exacerbated by Moody’s downgrade of the U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA1. Despite this, the Indian rupee gained against the dollar, supported by a weaker U.S. dollar index and lower crude oil prices (Stock Market Update).

Economic Indicator	Status
GDP Projection	$4,187.02 billion, 4th largest globally in 2025.
Inflation	Expected at 4.3% in 2025.
Stock Market	Sensex and Nifty fell due to IT/FMCG sell-off and U.S. credit downgrade.
Rupee	Strengthened against the dollar.

Science and Technology

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) faced a significant setback with the failure of its PSLV-C61 mission on 18 May 2025. Launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, the mission aimed to deploy the EOS-09 Earth observation satellite into a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO). Despite normal performance in the first two stages, a technical glitch in the third stage’s flex nozzle system led to mission failure, marking only the third such incident in 63 PSLV launches (ISRO Mission Failure).

In artificial intelligence, the IndiaAI Mission is advancing India’s capabilities by developing a domestic large language model (LLM). This initiative, backed by a Rs 10,370 crore investment, aims to reduce reliance on foreign AI technologies and support applications in agriculture, education, and climate change (IndiaAI Strategy).

Science & Tech Event	Details
PSLV-C61 Failure	18 May 2025, third-stage glitch prevented EOS-09 deployment.
IndiaAI Mission	Developing domestic LLM to enhance AI applications.

International Relations

India’s international relations were shaped by the diplomatic fallout from Operation Sindoor. The all-party delegations, led by figures like Shashi Tharoor and Ravi Shankar Prasad, engaged with global partners to explain India’s military actions and seek support against terrorism. This effort was critical in the context of India’s plan to apprise the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of evidence regarding Pakistan’s terror infrastructure, particularly bases destroyed during Operation Sindoor (FATF Plan).

Preparations for the Quad Summit, to be hosted by India in 2025, were also underway. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s engagements with U.S. officials aimed to secure an early date for Donald Trump’s visit to India for the summit, reinforcing India’s role in the Quad alliance with Australia, Japan, and the United States (Quad Summit Plans).

International Event	Details
Diplomatic Outreach	Seven delegations to global partners post-Operation Sindoor.
Quad Summit	India to host in 2025, with planning for Trump’s visit.
FATF Engagement	India to share evidence of Pakistan’s terror infrastructure.

Environment

India faced significant environmental challenges, with early heatwave conditions reported in April 2025, where temperatures in Delhi exceeded 40°C, up to 5°C above the seasonal average. This was attributed to human-driven climate change, highlighting the need for urgent action (Heatwave Conditions).

The Supreme Court’s directive to reclaim reserved forest lands was a pivotal move for conservation. The court’s order to form SITs and complete the reclamation process by May 2026 aims to protect forest ecosystems and prevent unauthorized development (Forest Reclamation).

Environmental Issue	Details
Heatwave	April 2025 temperatures in Delhi hit 40°C, 5°C above average.
Forest Reclamation	Supreme Court orders SITs to reclaim forest lands by May 2026.

Defense

India’s defense sector achieved a milestone with the successful test of the Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) on 13 April 2025. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), this 30-kilowatt laser system can neutralize drones, missiles, and surveillance sensors at ranges up to 5 km. The test placed India among a select group of nations with advanced DEW capabilities. On 16 May 2025, DRDO announced plans to transfer the technology to private industry for mass production, with the Indian Army expressing interest in additional units (DEW Test).

The ongoing India-Pakistan tensions following Operation Sindoor also highlighted India’s military preparedness, with advanced air defense systems protecting key sites during the conflict (Defense Readiness).

Defense Development	Details
Mk-II(A) DEW	Tested on 13 April 2025, capable of neutralizing targets at 5 km.
Technology Transfer	DRDO to transfer DEW technology for mass production by 2027.
Operation Sindoor	Demonstrated India’s advanced air defense capabilities.

Sports

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 was a major focus, with a high-profile match on 19 May 2025 between Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad drawing significant attention. Lucknow Super Giants scored 205/7 in 20 overs, with Sunrisers Hyderabad chasing the target (IPL Match). Earlier, Sai Sudharsan’s unbeaten 108 runs against Delhi Capitals on 18 May 2025 propelled Gujarat Titans to the playoffs, sparking discussions about his potential inclusion in the Indian national team (Sudharsan Performance).

Other sports events included preparations for the South Asian Athletics Championships in Ranchi (3-5 May 2025) and the World Athletics Relays in China (10-11 May 2025), with potential follow-up results influencing the sports narrative (Athletics Calendar).

Sports Event	Details
IPL 2025	Lucknow Super Giants vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad on 19 May 2025.
Sai Sudharsan	Scored 108* vs. Delhi Capitals, boosting Gujarat Titans to playoffs.
Athletics	South Asian Championships and World Athletics Relays in May 2025.

Key Citations

Daily quiz on current affairs with answers

Question 1: What was the primary target of India’s Operation Sindoor conducted on 7 May 2025?
Option 1: Retaking illegally occupied Indian land in Ladakh
Option 2: Neutralizing cyber threats from hostile states
Option 3: Evacuating Indian nationals from conflict zones
Option 4: Destroying terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK
Option 5: Assisting allies in the Indian Ocean region
Answer: Option 4
Explanation: Operation Sindoor was launched by India on 7 May 2025 as a direct military response to the Pahalgam terror attack of April 2025, in which 26 civilians were killed. The operation focused on eliminating terror infrastructure of groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed across Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PoK), targeting nine identified camps and launchpads.

Question 2: According to IMF projections, which country is India expected to surpass to become the world’s fourth-largest economy in 2025?
Option 1: Germany
Option 2: Japan
Option 3: United Kingdom
Option 4: France
Option 5: Brazil
Answer: Option 2
Explanation: The IMF projected that India’s GDP would reach approximately $4,187.02 billion in 2025, making it the fourth-largest economy globally. This milestone places India ahead of Japan, driven by strong domestic demand, policy support, and resilient consumption trends.

Question 3: Which satellite mission failed due to a technical glitch in the PSLV’s third stage on 18 May 2025?
Option 1: Gaganyaan Test Module
Option 2: RISAT-3B
Option 3: Cartosat-2E
Option 4: EOS-07
Option 5: EOS-09
Answer: Option 5
Explanation: The PSLV-C61 mission aimed to deploy the Earth observation satellite EOS-09 into a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit. However, a malfunction in the flex nozzle of the third stage led to mission failure. This was only the third failure in 63 PSLV launches, reflecting ISRO’s generally reliable track record.

Question 4: Who among the following was part of India’s diplomatic delegations after Operation Sindoor?
Option 1: Shashi Tharoor
Option 2: S Jaishankar
Option 3: Nirmala Sitharaman
Option 4: Rajnath Singh
Option 5: Ajit Doval
Answer: Option 1
Explanation: Shashi Tharoor (Congress), along with Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) and Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (DMK), led diplomatic delegations sent to various countries. Their mission was to garner international support and convey India’s unified political stand against terrorism following Operation Sindoor.

Question 5: What major judicial directive did the Supreme Court issue in May 2025 regarding environmental governance?
Option 1: Ban on construction near wetlands
Option 2: Mandating urban tree cover audits
Option 3: Reclaiming reserved forest lands allotted for non-forest use
Option 4: Creation of a National River Authority
Option 5: Crackdown on single-use plastic at the state level
Answer: Option 3
Explanation: The Supreme Court ordered all states and union territories to reclaim reserved forest lands that had been illegally allotted to private parties. SITs were directed to investigate the allotments, and the land had to be returned to the forest department by May 2026, unless recovery of cost was deemed more beneficial for forest development.

Question 6: Which Indian-developed defense technology was successfully tested in April 2025 and is capable of neutralizing drones and missiles?
Option 1: Akash-NG Missile System
Option 2: Astra Mk-I Air-to-Air Missile
Option 3: Arjun Mk-II Tank
Option 4: Pralay Tactical Missile
Option 5: Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW)
Answer: Option 5
Explanation: On 13 April 2025, DRDO successfully tested the Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon system. With a power rating of 30 kilowatts, the DEW can eliminate aerial threats like drones and missiles up to 5 km away. DRDO announced plans to transfer this technology to private industry for mass production.

Question 7: What is the key focus of India’s Rs 10,370 crore IndiaAI Mission launched in 2025?
Option 1: Building quantum computing infrastructure
Option 2: Promoting blockchain in agriculture
Option 3: Developing a domestic large language model (LLM)
Option 4: Establishing satellite-based AI monitoring
Option 5: Enhancing AI-driven military surveillance
Answer: Option 3
Explanation: India’s IndiaAI Mission is a strategic investment aimed at developing a domestic large language model (LLM). This is part of a broader effort to strengthen India’s AI ecosystem across sectors like education, agriculture, and climate change without depending heavily on foreign technologies.

Question 8: Which factor caused the Sensex and Nifty to decline on 19 May 2025 despite the rupee strengthening?
Option 1: Announcement of GST rate hike
Option 2: Moody’s downgrade of U.S. credit rating
Option 3: Surge in global oil prices
Option 4: RBI interest rate hike
Option 5: Disappointing corporate earnings in Q4
Answer: Option 2
Explanation: The Indian stock markets witnessed a decline due to profit-taking in IT and FMCG sectors, compounded by Moody’s downgrade of the U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA1. However, the Indian rupee strengthened owing to a weaker U.S. dollar index and declining crude oil prices.

Question 9: Who scored a century in the IPL match that helped Gujarat Titans reach the playoffs?
Option 1: Sai Sudharsan
Option 2: Ruturaj Gaikwad
Option 3: Rahul Tripathi
Option 4: Deepak Hooda
Option 5: Mayank Agarwal
Answer: Option 1
Explanation: Sai Sudharsan scored an unbeaten 108 runs against Delhi Capitals on 18 May 2025, helping Gujarat Titans secure a spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs. His performance sparked discussions around his possible selection for the national team due to his consistent form.

Question 10: Which major multilateral event is India preparing to host in 2025, aiming to strengthen strategic alliances in the Indo-Pacific?
Option 1: BRICS Summit
Option 2: SCO Summit
Option 3: G20 Trade Ministers’ Meet
Option 4: Quad Summit
Option 5: SAARC Leaders’ Conference
Answer: Option 4
Explanation: India is preparing to host the 2025 Quad Summit, an alliance comprising India, the United States, Japan, and Australia. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is engaged in discussions to finalize U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit, signaling India’s increasing strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific.