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Daily Current Affairs 15th May 2025 Daily GK Update
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National News
India’s First Hydrogen-Powered Mining Truck Launched by Adani in Chhattisgarh
- Adani Enterprises deployed India’s first hydrogen-powered truck for mining logistics in Chhattisgarh, capable of carrying 40 tonnes over 200 km, equipped with smart technology and triple hydrogen tanks.
- Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai flagged off the truck in Raipur; it will transport coal from the Gare Pelma III Block to the state power plant.
- This marks a major step towards sustainable transport, with Adani planning to replace diesel trucks in logistics operations, aiming to reduce carbon emissions.
- The project is a joint initiative between Adani Natural Resources (ANR) and Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL), promoting green hydrogen, solar energy, and eco-friendly mining practices.
Govt Approves ₹3,700 Crore Semiconductor Unit Near Jewar Airport
- The government has approved the establishment of a semiconductor unit near Jewar Airport in Uttar Pradesh, under the India Semiconductor Mission, as a joint venture between HCL and Foxconn, with an investment of ₹3,700 crore.
- The plant will have a production capacity of 20,000 wafers per month and an output capacity of 36 million units per month, significantly boosting India’s semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.
- With five semiconductor units already in advanced stages, this sixth unit marks further progress in building India’s strategically vital semiconductor ecosystem, involving 270 academic institutions and 70 startups in design innovation.
- The Government of India launched the Semiconductor Mission in December 2022 to build a strong semiconductor ecosystem in the country and to position India as the hub for electronic manufacturing.
Maharashtra Makes Use of Artificial Sand Mandatory in Government Construction Projects
- The Maharashtra government has approved a new policy mandating the use of artificial sand (m-sand) in all government and semi-government construction projects to reduce dependency on river sand and promote environmental sustainability.
- To encourage production, the state will lease government land for crusher installation, allow up to 1,500 crushers across districts, and offer MSME status with subsidies and concessions to involved companies.
- Artificial sand will help curb illegal sand mining, maintain construction quality, and reduce costs, with royalty prices lowered to ₹200 per brass compared to ₹600 for natural sand.
About Maharashtra
- Capital – Mumbai
- Chief Minister – Devendra Fadnavis (3rd time)
- Deputy Chief Minister – Eknath Sindhe & Ajit Pawar
- Governor – C P Radhakrishnan
NLC India & IREL Join Hands for Critical Mineral Collaboration
- NLC India Ltd. (NLCIL) has signed an MoU with Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) to collaborate in the field of critical minerals, focusing on exploration, mining, extraction, and refining activities.
- The partnership aims to identify and acquire mineral assets in India and abroad, develop processing technologies, set up joint ventures, and enhance the critical minerals value chain.
- The MoU includes technical support, feasibility studies, and knowledge sharing to strengthen both companies’ capabilities in the strategic resource sector.
Banking and Financial
Public Sector Banks’ Profit Hits Record ₹1.78 Lakh Crore in FY25
- The combined net profit of all 12 public sector banks (PSBs) rose to a record ₹78 lakh crore in FY25, marking a 26% increase from ₹1.41 lakh crore in FY24 — an absolute jump of ₹37,100 crore.
- State Bank of India (SBI) contributed over 40% of the total PSB profits, clocking a net profit of ₹70,901 crore, up 16% from the previous fiscal year.
- Punjab National Bank posted the highest net profit growth of 102%, reaching ₹16,630 crore, followed by Punjab & Sind Bank with a 71% jump to ₹1,016 crore.
- All 12 PSBs reported profit growth in FY25. Notable performers include Central Bank of India (48.4%), UCO Bank (47.8%), and Bank of India (45.9%).
- This marks a remarkable turnaround from the record losses of ₹85,390 crore in FY18 to a historic profit in FY25, showcasing the sector’s revival.
- The success is attributed to the Modi government’s 4R strategy (Recognition, Resolution, Recapitalisation, Reforms), recapitalisation of ₹1 lakh crore, improved governance, bank mergers, and enhanced credit discipline and technology adoption.
PayU Receives Final RBI Authorization as Online Payment Aggregator Ahead of IPO in 2025
- PayU has received final authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as an online Payment Aggregator, allowing the company to resume onboarding new merchants after a 15-month embargo and marking a key milestone as it prepares for its initial public offering (IPO) in the second half of 2025.
- PayU’s journey towards obtaining the final license began with in-principle approval in April 2024, followed by efforts to align operations with RBI’s stringent compliance standards.
LIC Launches Premium Payment via WhatsApp Bot for Enhanced Customer Convenience
- LIC introduced premium payment via WhatsApp bot providing a convenient new option for customers to pay their policy premiums online.
- Registered users of LIC’s customer portal can send ‘HI’ to 8976862090 on WhatsApp to access services like viewing due policies and making payments through UPI, Net Banking, or Cards—all within the chat.
- This service will boost customer convenience, allowing anytime-anywhere payments, improving operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
- LIC’s customer portal has over 2.2 crore registered users, with 3 lakh+ daily logins, showing strong adoption of digital services that this WhatsApp facility aims to build on
Bhutan Becomes First Country to Launch Nationwide Crypto-Powered Tourism Payment System
- Bhutan has launched the world’s first nationwide tourism payment infrastructure using cryptocurrency, in partnership with Binance Pay and the state-owned DK Bank, marking a major milestone in blockchain adoption at the national level.
- The system enables international tourists to pay for services like visa fees, travel, accommodation, tours, and local market purchases using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB, and stablecoins, accepted by over 100 merchants across Bhutan.
- This initiative supports Bhutan’s goals of financial inclusion and digital innovation by expanding crypto access beyond traditional banking, helping local businesses connect to global capital flows and promoting sustainable economic growth.
About Bhutan
- Capital- Thimphu
- Currency- Nagultram
- Language spoken in Bhutan-Dzongkha
- Prime Minister- Tshering Tobgay
Appointment
Vibhor Jain Appointed Acting CEO of ONDC Amid Leadership Transition
- Vibhor Jain has been appointed as the acting CEO of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) following the departure of Thampy Koshy, the founding Managing Director and CEO.
- ONDC is now in the process of searching for a permanent successor to lead the government-backed initiative into its next phase of growth and development.
- Since its launch in late 2021 under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), ONDC has quickly emerged as a major player in the Indian digital economy, surpassing 200 million transactions across various sectors in under three years.
PM Mark Carney appoints Anita Anand as Foreign Minister of Canada
- The newly sworn-in government of Mark Carney in Canada has appointed Anita Anand of Indian origin as the country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney and his 28-member Council of Ministers were sworn in after his Liberal party emerged as the largest party in the recently held Parliamentary election.
- Four people of Indian origin, including Anita Anand, have been included in Mark Carney’s government.
- Other Indian origin Minister
- Maninder Sidhu – Minister of International Trade
- Ruby Sahota – Combating Crime
- Randeep Sarai, international development
- Anita Anand was born on 20 May 1967 in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Her parents – her father Tamil and mother Punjabi – were Indian doctors who migrated to Canada in the early 1960s. Anand received first-class degrees from Dalhousie University, the University of Toronto, and Oxford University.
Kuhoo Finance Appoints Vineet Mahajan as CFO Amid Expansion in Education Loans
- Tech-driven NBFC Kuhoo Finance has appointed Vineet Mahajan as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to drive its mission of making quality education more accessible across India.
- Vineet Mahajan, a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years of experience in the banking and financial services sector, has held key roles at Aavas Financiers, Edelweiss, and Deutsche Postbank, with expertise in strategy, governance, and fundraising.
Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector
- CEO of Home Credit India – Vivek Singh
- Included in the World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab initiative – Sunil Bharti Mittal
- Deputy CFO of IndusInd Bank – Santosh Kumar
- Vice President of Investment Solutions at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) – Ajay Bhushan Pandey
- Chairperson of Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) – Sivasubramanian Ramann (replace Deepak Mohanty)
Bandhan Bank Names DK Das as Senior EVP to Drive Digital Transformation Under Bandhan 2.0
- Bandhan Bank has appointed Dibyendu Kumar Das (DK Das) as Senior Executive Vice President and Head of the Digital Transformation and Excellence Unit, reinforcing its commitment to digital innovation and operational excellence.
- With over 30 years of experience in banking and IT, Das has held key leadership roles at Axis Bank, TCS, Siemens Nixdorf, and Tata Elxsi, renowned for his expertise in digital convergence and business scaling.
Dr Manoj Kr Jhawar Takes Charge as CMD of PTC India Ltd
- Dr Manoj Kumar Jhawar has officially assumed the role of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of PTC India Ltd.
- He brings over 30 years of experience in the power sector and holds a PhD in Management Sciences, along with degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering & Management; he is also a qualified Cost Accountant.
BillDesk’s M N Srinivasu appointed IAMAI chairperson
- BillDesk co-founder M.N. Srinivasu was appointed chairperson of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), succeeding Dream Sports CEO Harsh Jain.
- Razorpay CEO Harshil Mathur was elected vice-chairperson, and PhonePe founder Sameer Nigam took over as treasurer, replacing previous office bearers from MakeMyTrip and Times Internet.
- The new 24-member IAMAI governing council will serve a two-year term until 2027, reflecting the increasing influence of the fintech sector in India’s digital industry.
Important day
15 May – International Day of Families
- International Day of Families is observed every year on May 15th. The day highlights issues relating to families, such as social, economic, and demographic challenges, and promotes awareness of their role in development and well-being.
- Theme – Family-Oriented Policies for Sustainable Development: Towards the Second World Summit for Social Development
- The International Day of Families was officially declared by the United Nations in 1994, following a series of resolutions aimed at supporting the social and economic well-being of families worldwide.
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