1 Russia’s major attack on Ukraine: Use of hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile
Russia reportedly used its hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile during a large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine , marking the third use of this weapon in the Russia-Ukraine war. The Oreshnik is a Russian hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads and is believed to be attached to the RS-26 Rubezh missile system . Its name means ” hazel tree ” or ” hazelnut tree ” in Russian. Its key feature is its ability to carry multiple warheads , allowing it to strike multiple targets or expand its impact area. This multiple warhead capability can complicate air defense interception and is commonly associated with long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles. Russia claims that the missile can travel at approximately Mach 10, approximately ten times the speed of sound, making it extremely difficult to intercept by existing missile defense systems.
2 India creates history with five medals at the International Association of Ultra Runners 24-Hour Asia & Oceania Championships
India made history at the International Association of Ultra Runners 24-Hour Asia and Oceania Championships in Japan . India won a total of five medals and dominated the men’s category . Amar Singh Devanda won the gold medal , covering an impressive distance of 282.881 kilometers in 24 hours. Gino Antony won the silver medal with a distance of 272.894 kilometers , while India also won the bronze medal . In the women’s category , the Indian team won the bronze medal, covering a total distance of 667.722 kilometers. Tenzin Dolma was India’s best individual finisher, finishing fourth. The championship was held in Hirosaki, Japan, and 81 athletes from nine countries participated in this endurance event.
3 World Thyroid Day
World Thyroid Day is celebrated annually on May 25th with the aim of raising awareness about thyroid diseases , promoting early detection, and encouraging better health policies. World Thyroid Day was launched in 2008 to raise awareness about thyroid diseases globally. The primary goal of this initiative is not only to spread awareness about the disease, but also to ensure early detection, timely treatment, and equitable access to modern medical care. The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck, above the windpipe and below the larynx. It consists of two lobes, connected in the middle by a thin structure, giving it a butterfly-like shape. It is primarily involved in the production of three important hormones: thyroxine (T4) , the most abundant hormone in the body . Triiodothyronine (T3), the more active hormone , regulates cell function. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) , released from the pituitary gland in the brain, regulates the production of thyroid hormones. The thyroid determines the rate of energy production in the body’s cells and controls the conversion of food into energy. It plays an important role in maintaining a balanced heartbeat and blood circulation. The thyroid plays an important role in maintaining normal internal body temperature.
4 President Draupadi Murmu presented the Padma Awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan
On May 25 , President Draupadi Murmu presented the Padma Awards at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan . In the first phase of the ceremony , 66 of the 131 approved Padma Awards were honored. The remaining awardees will be honored in the second phase of the ceremony. The names of the awardees were announced on Republic Day . The Padma Awards are the country’s highest civilian awards , instituted in 1954. They are given in various categories, including art, literature, education, sports, medicine, social work, science and engineering, public relations, and trade and industry. This year, the government has selected 131 individuals for the Padma Awards , 19 of whom are women. Five individuals have been selected for the Padma Vibhushan, 13 for the Padma Bhushan, and 113 for the Padma Shri. Two individuals were awarded the Padma Vibhushan posthumously. These include former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Bollywood actor Dharmendra. President Murmu presented two Padma Vibhushan, six Padma Bhushan, and 58 Padma Shri awards in the first round. Those honored with the Padma Bhushan included actor R. Madhavan, cricketer Rohit Sharma, women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur, hockey player Savita Punia, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar.
5 Sansad Ratna Award to 12 MPs and 4 committees
The names of the winners of the Sansad Ratna Awards were announced on May 24. 12 MPs and 4 parliamentary committees have been selected for the Sansad Ratna Awards . Of these 12, 10 are Lok Sabha MPs and 2 are Rajya Sabha MPs. 4 Lok Sabha members have been selected in the individual category: 1. Jagdambika Pal from Uttar Pradesh 2. P.P. Chaudhary from Rajasthan 3. Nishikant Dubey from Jharkhand 4. Shrikant Eknath Shinde from Maharashtra
6 Lok Sabha MPs have been selected in different categories : 1. Praveen Patel from Uttar Pradesh 2. Vidyut Baran Mahto from Jharkhand 3. Lumbaram Chaudhary from Rajasthan 4. Hemant Vishnu Savra from Maharashtra 5. Smita Uday Wagh from Maharashtra 6. Naresh Ganpat Mhaske from Maharashtra From
the Rajya Sabha, Medha Vishram Kulkarni from Maharashtra and Narhari Amin from Gujarat have been honored. The 4 committees honored are: 1. Agriculture Committee, chaired by Charanjit Singh Channi. 2. The Finance Committee is chaired by Bhartruhari Mahtab. 3. The Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Committee is chaired by Saptagiri Shankar Ulaka. 4. The Coal and Mines Committee is chaired by Anurag Singh Thakur. This award is given by the Prime Point Foundation to MPs who perform best in Parliament. It was established in 2010 on the advice of former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam .
6 Raghav Chadha appointed chairman of Rajya Sabha’s Petitions Committee
Recently, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha was appointed the new Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Petitions Committee . The Petitions Committee is one of the oldest committees of Parliament , tracing its origins to a resolution passed in the Council of State on September 15, 1921 , which provided for the formation of a “Public Petitions Committee” with the power to take evidence . The Committee acquired its current name, ” Committee of Petitions, ” in 1933. The Rajya Sabha Petitions Committee was first constituted in 1952 with a Chairman and four other members. In 1964, its membership was increased to ten, a position it continues to hold . It is a standing committee of the Rajya Sabha , constituted under Rule 147 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Rajya Sabha . Its members are nominated by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, who also appoints the Chairman of the Committee. The Committee’s quorum is five members, and it is generally reconstituted annually. The Committee’s primary functions are to examine petitions referred to it, report to the House on specific complaints, and recommend individual solutions or comprehensive corrective measures. The Committee may take evidence, call for documents, obtain comments from ministries or departments, examine witnesses, hear petitioners, and suggest corrective measures to resolve complaints or prevent their recurrence.
7 Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill introduced in Assam Assembly
The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill was introduced in the Assam Assembly on May 25th . The bill will be discussed in the House on May 27th. After the bill is passed, Assam will become the third state in India to implement the UCC, after Uttarakhand and Gujarat . The UCC aims to abolish separate personal laws and establish a uniform civil code for all citizens. The main provision of the bill is to give equal rights to both sons and daughters in ancestral property. The bill makes registration mandatory for couples living in live-in relationships. After the UCC is implemented, a single law will apply to all communities in the state in personal matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance.
8 Egyptian vulture, believed to be extinct, found in Chanderi
On May 24th , the endangered Egyptian Vulture was found in Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh . It is also known as the white vulture . The Chanderi Forest Department conducted a special vulture census from May 22nd to 24th . The Egyptian Vulture was found along with a total of 45 vultures. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had classified this bird as endangered . The Egyptian Vulture is also known as nature’s scavenger. It helps clean the environment by eating the flesh of dead animals. The presence of the Egyptian Vulture in Chanderi shows that the ecosystem here is still conducive for the flourishing of these rare birds.
9 IIT Madras’s hi-tech marine research will provide new strength
India is continuously strengthening its maritime power . To further this mission, IIT Madras has launched a new initiative in collaboration with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited . This initiative will establish a state-of-the-art research facility that will make Indian ships, submarines, and naval technology more powerful, safe, and modern . Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders is a leading warship-building company in the country, having built 33 warships and 8 submarines to date. With the assistance of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, IIT Madras has developed this hi-tech circulating water tunnel facility, costing ₹4.5 crore (approximately $45 million USD). It will become a new hub for marine research and indigenous technology development. This facility has been established at IIT Madras’s Discovery satellite campus and is now fully operational. This is not just a simple research lab, but a high-tech marine engineering laboratory where scientists will use controlled water and air flow to understand the behavior of ships, propellers, marine vehicles, and underwater structures. Tests here will assess how ships and equipment perform in strong currents, ocean pressure, and harsh conditions. The most significant feature of this facility is that it will play a major role in developing indigenous maritime technology in India.
10 Lights will create a protective shield, making it easier to identify counterfeit currency and products.
Counterfeit currency notes, forged documents, and the counterfeiting of branded products have become a global challenge. Science has now developed a new “light shield” against counterfeiting. Researchers at IIT Guwahati have developed a cutting-edge light-emitting perovskite nanomaterial that can create security patterns that are nearly impossible to copy using conventional printing or imaging techniques . This technology could play a major role in preventing and detecting counterfeit currency, government documents, and high-end products in the future. This technology could be widely used in all areas where product authentication and security are crucial. It can be used in industries ranging from the security of currency notes, passports, identity cards, and legal documents to luxury goods and consumer products. Significantly, this research has received global recognition. Its findings have been published in the prestigious journal Advanced Optical Materials. The paper was authored by IIT Guwahati Assistant Professors Professor Saikat Bhowmick, Professor P.K. Giri, and their research fellows Latika Juneja and Garima Chaudhary.
11 ICMR launches country’s largest biomedical innovation and technology transfer programme
The Indian Council of Medical Research, under the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, organized the country’s largest biomedical innovation and technology transfer program, ” Medical Innovation Patent Mitra: Innovators-to-Industry Connect, ” at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi on Monday. This initiative launched the country’s first structured platform for biomedical innovation and technology transfer . A major achievement of the program was the handover of inactivated KFD and Chandipura virus biomaterials to industry partners for the first time . This is expected to strengthen the country’s biomedical research and vaccine manufacturing ecosystem. The event showcased over 100 technologies developed by ICMR institutes, researchers, and startups, including technologies related to diagnostics, therapeutics, and medical devices. The program also facilitated direct interaction between innovators and industry stakeholders.