Stay updated with the top headlines from 12th May 2025. This GK update covers national, international, state, banking, appointments, science, sports, and important days — curated for aspirants preparing for UPSC, SSC, Banking, and other competitive exams.
National News
1. What cultural initiative was launched at India Habitat Centre?
Answer: Union Minister Manohar Lal inaugurated the Bharat Bodh Kendra at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, to promote India’s civilisational heritage through resources on art, philosophy, and history.
State News
2. What defense facility was launched in Uttar Pradesh?
Answer: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the BrahMos missile production facility in Lucknow, aiming to produce 80–100 missiles annually with ₹300 crore investment.
3. What education outreach was launched by Delhi Police?
Answer: ‘Nayi Disha – A Path Back to Learning’ was launched to reintegrate school dropouts through NGO and school collaboration, offering emotional and academic support.
International News
4. What progress was made in India–EU trade talks?
Answer: India and the European Union entered the 11th round of FTA negotiations, adopting a two-phase strategy to fast-track trade liberalisation.
5. What trade agreement was reached between the US and China?
Answer: On May 11, 2025, the US and China concluded a promising trade deal in Geneva to reduce the $1.2 trillion US trade deficit and stabilize global markets.
Agreements News
6. What inter-state water project was signed between MP and Maharashtra?
Answer: The Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project was launched via MoU to irrigate 3.57 lakh hectares using 31.13 TMC water, with ₹19,244 crore investment and 90% Central funding.
Appointments News
7. Who was appointed Executive Chairman of NALSA?
Answer: Justice Surya Kant was appointed as Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), effective May 14, 2025.
Ranks & Reports
8. What did the Global Methane Tracker 2025 reveal?
Answer: Methane emissions from the energy sector remain high and underreported, with abandoned infrastructure and fossil fuel operations as major contributors.
Sports News
9. Which Indian cricketer retired from Test cricket?
Answer: Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, ending a 14-year career with 9230 runs and 30 centuries.
10. Who won bronze at Archery World Cup Stage 2?
Answer: Deepika Kumari won bronze in Shanghai, defeating Kang Chae Young in the playoff match.
11. What sports ban was imposed by the Taliban in Afghanistan?
Answer: The Taliban suspended chess nationwide, citing concerns over gambling and Sharia law compliance.
Science & Technology News
12. What AI tool was launched to predict biological age?
Answer: FaceAge, an AI tool trained on 58,000 portraits, uses selfies to estimate biological age and improve cancer outcome predictions.
13. What new TTS model was launched by Sarvam AI?
Answer: Sarvam AI launched Bulbul-v2, a text-to-speech model with realistic Indian accents across 11 languages.
14. What genetic breakthrough was achieved in rice research?
Answer: Scientists created the first pangenome of Asian rice using 144 varieties, aiding drought resistance and crop resilience.
Important Days
15. What is the theme of International Nurses Day 2025?
Answer: “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies,” emphasizing nurse well-being and healthcare resilience.
16. What does National Technology Day 2025 commemorate?
Answer: Celebrates India’s 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests and scientific achievements under the theme “Empowering a Sustainable Tomorrow Through Innovation”.
17. What is the focus of UN Global Road Safety Week 2025?
Answer: Promoting safer walking and cycling infrastructure to reduce road traffic deaths by 2030.
18. What does the International Day of Plant Health highlight?
Answer: Emphasizes plant protection to ensure food security and biodiversity, addressing crop loss due to pests and climate change.