Current Context : The International Energy Agency (IEA) released its Global EV Outlook 2025, highlighting significant growth in electric vehicle (EV) adoption worldwide, with notable trends and projections for the coming years.

Key Findings

• Global Sales: In 2024, global EV sales reached a record 17 million units, accounting for over 25% of total car sales.
• Regional Leaders:
  • China: Continues to lead with 11 million EVs sold in 2024, representing nearly 50% of global sales.
  • Southeast Asia & Latin America: Countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Brazil are emerging as new growth hubs for EV adoption.
• Market Projections: EVs are expected to comprise over 40% of global car sales in the near future, despite market uncertainties.
• Manufacturing Dominance: China remains the global leader in EV production, contributing over 70% of total output.
• Two & Three-Wheelers: These segments are the most electrified, with significant growth observed, particularly in developing countries.

India’s Position

• Adoption Rate: India’s EV growth trails behind Southeast Asia and Latin America, despite some progress in increasing sales.
• Three-Wheelers: India leads in electric three-wheeler adoption, with approximately 20% year-on-year growth in 2024, supported by initiatives like PM E-DRIVE.
• Challenges: The country faces hurdles such as inadequate charging infrastructure and the need for stronger policy support to accelerate EV adoption.

Current Context : In May 2025, the central United States experienced a series of severe weather events, including multiple tornado outbreaks, resulting in significant fatalities and widespread destruction across several states.

About Twisters

• Definition: “Twister” is a colloquial term for a tornado—a rapidly rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.
• Formation: Tornadoes form when warm, moist air collides with cold, dry air, creating atmospheric instability. This leads to strong updrafts and wind shear, causing the air to spin vertically.
• Characteristics: Tornadoes can reach wind speeds up to 250 miles per hour (approximately 400 km/h) and are often funnel-shaped.
• Geographical Prevalence: The majority of tornadoes in the U.S. occur in “Tornado Alley,” particularly around the Gulf of Mexico, which provides a significant moisture source.

Current Context: The World Health Organization has confirmed a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea, marking the first such occurrence since 2018.

About Polio:

• A highly infectious disease caused by the poliovirus.
• Transmitted person-to-person through the fecal-oral route, contaminated water or food.
• Primarily affects children under 5 years of age.
• Symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness of the neck, and pain in limbs.
• Can lead to total paralysis in severe cases.

Current Context: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), in collaboration with the World Monuments Fund India and the TCS Foundation, has completed the restoration of Rajon ki Baoli, a 16th-century stepwell located in Mehrauli Archaeological Park, New Delhi.

About Rajon ki Baoli:

• Built by: Daulat Khan, an Amir in the court of Sikander Lodhi, in 1506 AD.
• Architecture: Four-tiered stepwell exemplifying Indo-Islamic architecture.
• Purpose: Originally constructed to store water for drinking and cooking purposes.

Restoration Efforts:

• Part of the Historic Water Systems of India initiative, aligning with the World Monuments Fund’s Climate Heritage Initiative.
• Involved cleaning, desilting, structural repairs, and water quality improvements using traditional materials and techniques.

Current Context: Recently, Israel conducted airstrikes on the Hodeida and Al-Salif ports in Yemen, which are under Houthi control, in response to missile attacks launched towards Israel.

About the Ports:

• Location: Western Yemen on the coast of the Red Sea.
• Significance: Together with Ras Issa, these ports handle about 70% of Yemen’s imports and 80% of humanitarian assistance.

Background:

• The Houthi rebels have been involved in ongoing conflicts in the region and have launched missile attacks towards Israel.
• The Israeli strikes aimed to disrupt the Houthis’ capabilities to carry out further attacks.

Current Context: The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) has announced the establishment of its first overseas campus in Dubai, marking a significant step in the internationalization of Indian higher education.

About IIFT:

• Established in 1963 as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• Offers specialized programs in international business, trade policy, and economics.
• Currently operates from two main campuses in Delhi and Kolkata.

Significance:

• Aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes the internationalization of higher education.
• Aims to create global learning hubs and enhance India’s soft power in education.
• Facilitates cross-border academic collaborations and student exchange programs.

Internationalization of Higher Education in India:

• NEP 2020 envisions two approaches:
  • Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) establishing campuses abroad (e.g., IIT Madras in Tanzania).
  • Foreign HEIs setting up campuses in India (e.g., Deakin University in GIFT City, Gujarat).

Current Context: On 18 May 2025, the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) 101^st mission, PSLV-C61 carrying the EOS-09 satellite, failed due to a technical anomaly during the third stage of flight.

About:

• Launch Vehicle: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C61).
• Payload: Earth Observation Satellite-09 (EOS-09), intended for sun-synchronous polar
• Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
• Mission Objective: To enhance India’s surveillance and remote sensing capabilities.
• Cause of Failure: A technical anomaly during the third stage of the PSLV rocket led to the mission’s failure.
• Historical Context: This marks the third failure of the PSLV in its operational history, with previous failures occurring in 1993 and 2017.

Current Context: New Caledonia, a French territory in the Pacific, has experienced renewed unrest following electoral roll changes and the collapse of political talks.

About:

• Location: Southwestern Pacific Ocean, east of Australia.
• Political Status: French collectivity under the 1998 Nouméa Accord, which promised increased autonomy and a path to potential independence.
• Recent Developments: Despite rejecting independence in referendums held in 2018, 2020, and 2021, pro-independence sentiments among the indigenous Kanak population remain strong.

Key Issues:

• Electoral roll changes have been perceived as undermining the political influence of the indigenous Kanak people.
• The collapse of political talks has led to increased tensions and unrest in the region.

Observed on 21 May.

Aim : to recognize the cultural and economic significance of tea worldwide.

• Established by: United Nations General Assembly in December 2019.
• First observed: 21 May 2020.
• Purpose: To raise awareness of the long history and the deep cultural and economic significance of tea around the world.

Observed on 21 May annually.

• Purpose: To spread awareness about the dangers of terrorism and to promote unity and peace among the people.
• Significance: Marks the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated on 21 May 1991 in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, by a suicide bomber from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).