Daily Current Affairs 18th May 2025: Your guide for daily General Knowledge Preparation
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This post contains daily current affairs 18th May 2025. It includes all National, International, Business & Sports related current affairs 18th May 2025. A brief explanation of every current affair is provided to further enhance your general knowledge. Once you have gone through these current affairs we would recommend to you to try 18th May, 2025 Current affairs test.
National News
Justice Bela M. Trivedi Retires from Supreme Court After Distinguished Career
Justice Bela M. Trivedi, who became the eleventh woman to serve on the Supreme Court of India, retired on May 16, 2025.
Her legal career began in 1995 and is marked by a series of influential rulings and significant contributions.
She played a vital role in major judgments including those on the EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) quota, the interpretation of the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, and classification within Scheduled Castes.
Beyond her judicial decisions, Justice Trivedi held crucial administrative roles within Gujarat’s judiciary.
Her tenure is notable for advocating gender inclusivity, safeguarding constitutional integrity, and delivering socially progressive verdicts focusing on economic justice and child rights.
President Droupadi Murmu Seeks Supreme Court’s Opinion Under Article 143
President Murmu invoked Article 143 of the Indian Constitution to request an advisory opinion from the Supreme Court.
This action follows the Court’s April 8, 2025 ruling which deemed the Tamil Nadu Governor’s delay in giving assent to state legislation as unconstitutional.
The reference involves 14 important constitutional queries concerning the scope of authority held by Governors and the President under Articles 200 and 201 in relation to state bills.
Honduras Establishes Embassy in New Delhi, Enhancing Bilateral Ties
The Republic of Honduras inaugurated its new embassy in New Delhi.
The ceremony was jointly led by India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Honduras’ Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina García.
This development signifies a pivotal moment in India–Central America relations, aiming to strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade, development, and strategic alliances.
Pushkar Kumbh Returns to Keshav Prayag After Over a Decade
The 2025 edition of the Pushkar Kumbh commenced at Keshav Prayag in Mana village, located in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district.
The sacred event is taking place after a 12-year hiatus and aligns with the celestial event of Jupiter entering Gemini.
It is a major religious congregation, especially for Vaishnavite pilgrims from southern India, held at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Saraswati rivers.
International News
Honduras Opens Embassy in Delhi, Strengthening India-Central America Bonds
Honduras formally launched its diplomatic mission in India, highlighting expanding bilateral relations.
This step aims to promote collaboration in trade, development efforts, technological exchange, and climate resilience.
India has actively supported Honduras in recent years through humanitarian assistance, health-related aid, and infrastructure projects like the IT Centre at UNAH and various irrigation programs.
Indian enterprises such as Bajaj and TVS are already operational in the country, marking Honduras as a vital link for India in the Central American region.
Russia and Ukraine Resume Direct Peace Talks After Three Years
Russia and Ukraine engaged in their first face-to-face dialogue in three years, hosted in Istanbul.
The discussions resulted in a mutual agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners from each side.
Although Turkey facilitated the talks, no ceasefire deal was reached due to continued disagreements—particularly Russia’s territorial claims and Ukraine’s opposition.
Nevertheless, both sides expressed willingness to continue diplomatic negotiations, signaling a cautious move toward resolving the prolonged conflict.
Appointments News
Anurag Bhushan Appointed as India’s Ambassador to Sweden
Anurag Bhushan, an Indian Foreign Service officer from the 1995 batch, has been designated as the new Ambassador to Sweden.
He currently serves as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, overseeing the Emigration Policy and Welfare Division.
His new assignment in Stockholm is seen as strategically important, considering the rising collaboration between India and Sweden in innovation, sustainability, and educational sectors.
Economy News
India’s Exports Rise by 9% in April 2025 Amidst U.S. Tariff Concerns
India’s merchandise exports surged by 9% in April 2025, providing a strong start to the new fiscal year.
The boost was mainly led by the engineering and electronics sectors.
A notable factor in this increase was the uncertainty regarding tariffs in the U.S., which led to a 27% rise in exports to that country.
Although a concurrent increase in imports widened the trade deficit, the robustness in service exports and positive performance in sectors like pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, and textiles underscores India’s evolving and diversified trade portfolio.
Science & Technology News
India-Japan LUPEX Mission Advances to Design Stage
The LUPEX (Lunar Polar Exploration) mission, a joint venture between India and Japan (also referred to as Chandrayaan-5), has entered the design phase.
The mission aims to study the lunar south pole for the presence of water and water-ice.
Scheduled for launch during 2027–28 aboard Japan’s H3 rocket, the mission will feature a 6.5-tonne lander and a 350-kg rover.
The scientific payload will include seven instruments from international space agencies including ISRO, JAXA, ESA, and NASA.
This collaboration follows the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission and reflects a global commitment to space research and innovation.
India Embarks on Space Biology Mission Under BioE3 Policy
India is set to launch its first biological experiments in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the AXIOM-4 mission.
The project, spearheaded by ISRO and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), will investigate the role of microalgae and cyanobacteria under microgravity.
The goal is to assess their potential as renewable and sustainable food sources for long-duration space journeys.
This initiative aligns with India’s BioE3 Policy, which integrates biotechnology with economic growth, environmental sustainability, and employment generation.
It also highlights India’s progress in the field of biomanufacturing and space
Books & Authors News
Nagaland Launches PMAY-U Coffee Table Book Titled “Transforming Lives”
The Government of Nagaland released a Coffee Table Book under the PMAY-U scheme.
Titled “Transforming Lives”, the publication illustrates the program’s impact on affordable housing and urban development within the state.
It shares inspiring stories of community empowerment and upliftment enabled by the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban, a flagship mission launched in 2015.
The initiative has significantly benefitted urban poor communities in Nagaland through its sustainable and inclusive development framework.
