INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. 2025 World Hydrogen Summit:
Why in news?
2025 World Hydrogen Summit held in Rotterdam, Netherlands
About the Summit and its details in brief:
- Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, Union Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, addressed the Summit on 20 May 2025.
- The World Hydrogen Summit and Exhibition is one of the largest global green hydrogen events.
- It promotes the use of green hydrogen technology and green hydrogen-based fuel worldwide.
- Note: India’s vision is to achieve energy independence by 2047 and to reach Net Zero emissions by 2070.
- To drive this transition, the National Green Hydrogen Mission was launched by India in 2023, with an initial allocation of USD 2.4 billion.
- It aims to achieve 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen production by 2030,
NATIONAL NEWS
2. Amrit Stations:
Why in news?
PM Narendra Modi inaugurates 103 redeveloped Amrit Stations
About the development of this Amrit Stations:
- PM Modi virtually inaugurated the 103 railway stations in 86 districts of 18 states/Union Territories in Bikaner, Rajasthan
- These stations have been developed under the Indian Railways’s Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at a cost of over Rs 1,100 crore
- On this occasion, PM also laid the foundation stone for various development projects worth Rs 26,000 crore.
- Note: Amrit Bharat Station Scheme was launched by the Ministry of Railways in December 2022 to modernise the railway infrastructure and transform over 1,300 stations into modern hubs with multimodal integration and future-ready facilities.
3. Uttar Pradesh made a record in infrastructure development:
Why in news?
Uttar Pradesh sets two world records in infrastructure development
About its achievement in infrastructure field:
- Uttar Pradesh government has set two world records in road construction within just 24 hours by constructing a 10-kilometre crash barrier and laying 34.24 lane kilometres of bituminous concrete road.
- The construction work was carried out on the Ganga Motorway Project between Hardoi and Unnao districts.
- These records were officially recognized by the Golden Book of World Records, Asia Book of Records, and Indian Book of Records.
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
4. Calcium Carbide in Foods:
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a nationwide directive on asking food safety commissioners and regional directors to conduct special enforcement drives to prevent the use of prohibited chemicals, especially calcium carbide, in ripening fruits like mangoes
- FSSAI also urged all Food Business Operators to adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures to ensure safe and compliant ripening practices.
- The Authority reiterated that any violation of norms will lead to strict penal action under the FSS Act, 2006.
INDIAN FESTIVALS
5. Shirui Lily festival:
Why in news?
Shirui Lily festival kicks off in Manipur
About Shirui Lily festival and its cultural importance:
- The Governor of Manipur Ajay Kumar Bhalla inaugurated Shirui Lily Festival at Heritage Ground, Vangayan in Shirui Village of Ukhrul district in Manipur.
- The Shirui Lily Festival is held in honour of the state flower Shirui Lily.
- This flower is found in the hills of the Tangkhul-majority Ukhrul district only.
- This year marks the fifth edition of the festival and the 75th anniversary of the lily’s discovery.
IMPORTANT DAYS
6. World Turtle Day:
Why in news?
World Turtle Day is celebrated of May 23rd
About the day and its importance:
- It was established in 2000 by the American Tortoise Rescue (ATR), a non-profit organization founded by Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson, to raise awareness about the plight of turtles and tortoises.
- The day serves to educate people about these creatures and encourage actions to protect their habitats.
- Theme for year 2025: “Dancing Turtles Rock!”
- Note: Turtles and tortoises are different creatures, even though sometimes they are mistaken for one another.
- Tortoises live on land, while turtles live in water.
- Tortoises can live up to 300 years, while the lifespan of turtles is 40 years.
- However, despite the differences, both turtles and tortoises play significant roles in the ecosystem.
- Turtles feed on dead fish that wash up on the shore while tortoises dig up holes that are inhabited by other creatures.