Essential May 2025 Week 3 Current Affairs for Competitive Exams
Excel in competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, and Banking with the latest current affairs for May 2025. Week 3 brings pivotal updates, from a global carbon tax on shipping to groundbreaking medical and environmental innovations, offering critical insights for exam success. These detailed updates, tailored for aspirants, cover global and Indian developments to boost your general knowledge.
Global Carbon Tax on Shipping Approved
In May 2025, India endorsed the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) global carbon tax on shipping, set to take effect in 2028, aimed at reducing maritime emissions, which account for 3% of global greenhouse gases (GHG). The tax promotes cleaner fuels like LNG and hydrogen, with projected revenues of $40 billion by 2030 to fund climate initiatives.
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Mechanism: The tax levies charges on ships based on carbon emissions, incentivizing low-emission technologies.
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Environmental Impact: Expected to cut maritime emissions by 10%, contributing to global decarbonization efforts aligned with the Paris Agreement.
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Criticism: Critics argue the 10% reduction is insufficient and the tax excludes broader climate finance, limiting support for developing nations.
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Exam Relevance: Key for questions on international environmental policies and India’s climate commitments.
This move underscores India’s role in global climate action, though debates persist over its economic impact on trade. Learn more about India’s environmental policies at our resources.
International Big Cat Alliance Formed
In May 2025, the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), headquartered in India, was formalized as an intergovernmental treaty to conserve seven big cat species, including tigers and lions. Initiated in 2023 under India’s Project Tiger, the IBCA includes 96 range and non-range countries.
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Objectives: Protects habitats, combats poaching, and promotes sustainable coexistence with local communities.
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Environmental Impact: Enhances biodiversity in critical ecosystems like India’s Sundarbans and supports global climate goals by preserving carbon sinks.
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Context: Builds on India’s success in increasing tiger populations by 30% since 2014 (NTCA, 2024).
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Significance: Strengthens India’s leadership in global conservation, relevant for UPSC environment and international relations topics.
The IBCA’s formation highlights India’s commitment to biodiversity, a key focus for exam aspirants.
Exam Tip: Note the three-stage nuclear program and thorium’s role for UPSC science and energy questions. Check our Updates for more.
Agasthyamalai Biosphere Survey Ordered
In May 2025, the Supreme Court ordered a comprehensive survey of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (3,500 sq km across Kerala and Tamil Nadu) to address encroachments threatening its UNESCO World Heritage status.
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Biodiversity: Hosts rare species like the lion-tailed macaque and supports Kani tribal communities.
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Conservation Impact: Targets illegal non-forestry activities, such as mining, to protect the Western Ghats’ ecological balance.
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Significance: Preserves one of India’s richest biodiversity hotspots, crucial for environmental governance questions.
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Challenges: Balancing conservation with local livelihoods and enforcing survey findings.
This ruling emphasizes judicial intervention in environmental protection, a recurring theme in competitive exams.
Kancha Gachibowli Forest Auction Protests
In May 2025, Telangana’s proposal to auction 400 acres of Kancha Gachibowli forest near Hyderabad’s IT corridor triggered widespread student protests, highlighting tensions between urban development and conservation.
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Ecosystem: The Deccan scrub forest supports unique species like the Hyderabad tree trunk spider.
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Environmental Impact: Auctioning risks a 1.4°C local temperature rise and loss of 30% of native biodiversity (IIT Hyderabad, 2025).
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Public Response: Student-led protests demand preservation, sparking debates on sustainable urban planning.
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Exam Relevance: Key for questions on environmental movements and state policies.
This issue reflects the growing role of youth activism in environmental policy, vital for exam preparation.
North Sentinel Island Intrusion Reported
In May 2025, a US citizen was arrested for illegally entering North Sentinel Island, Andaman, home to the isolated Sentinelese tribe, protected under India’s tribal laws.
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Tribe: The Sentinelese, located 64 km west of Port Blair, remain one of the world’s most isolated communities.
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Legal Impact: Violates the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act, risking tribal health and culture.
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Significance: Reinforces India’s strict isolation policies and raises ethical tourism concerns, relevant for anthropology and governance questions.
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Context: Follows similar incidents, like the 2018 missionary case, highlighting enforcement challenges.
This incident underscores the need to protect indigenous communities, a key exam topic.
- Related Topics: Explore our Science & Technology, Security Issues, and Sustainable Development sections for exam-relevant content.
Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Advances
In May 2025, clinical trials confirmed the safety of stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease, using induced pluripotent and embryonic stem cells to replace dopamine neurons.
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Method: Targets motor symptoms by restoring dopamine production in the brain.
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Challenges: Requires immunosuppression to prevent rejection; high costs (₹5-10 lakh per treatment) limit accessibility.
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Significance: Marks a breakthrough in neurodegenerative disease treatment, paving the way for regulatory approvals by 2027.
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Exam Relevance: Important for science and technology sections in competitive exams.
This advancement highlights India’s growing role in medical research, a key focus for aspirants.
Dire Wolf De-Extinction Claimed
In May 2025, Colossal Biosciences claimed to revive dire wolves using CRISPR, inserting 20 dire wolf traits into grey wolf embryos implanted in domestic dogs.
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Process: Combines ancient DNA with modern gene-editing techniques.
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Controversy: Critics argue the animals are modified grey wolves, not true dire wolves, raising ethical concerns about genetic manipulation.
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Significance: Advances de-extinction science but sparks debates on ecological impacts, relevant for science and ethics questions.
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Context: Follows similar efforts like mammoth de-extinction, pushing biotech boundaries.
This development is a hot topic for exam questions on biotechnology and environmental ethics.
Type 5 Diabetes Recognised
In May 2025, Type 5 diabetes was officially recognized, affecting lean, undernourished youth in low-income nations like India and Ethiopia due to poor pancreatic growth.
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Traits: Characterized by insulin deficiency, unlike Type 2’s insulin resistance.
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Treatment: High-protein diets and precise medications improve outcomes, with trials showing 40% better glucose control (Lancet, 2025).
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Significance: Addresses a unique health challenge, guiding public health policies in India.
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Exam Relevance: Key for health and social issues in competitive exams.
This recognition highlights India’s public health challenges, crucial for exam aspirants.
HPV Test Kits Launched in India
In May 2025, India launched Truenat and Patho Detect HPV test kits, using RT-PCR to detect eight HPV genotypes for cervical cancer screening.
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Technology: Cheaper than DNA or Pap smear tests, costing ₹500-800 per test.
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Health Impact: Enhances early detection, complementing India’s Cervavac vaccine rollout.
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Significance: Targets cervical cancer, a leading cause of cancer deaths among Indian women (WHO, 2024).
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Exam Relevance: Important for public health and science sections.
These kits strengthen India’s healthcare infrastructure, a vital exam topic.
Eden Wrap: Edible Plastic Alternative
In May 2025, Kerala innovators launched Eden Wrap, a cellulose-based, edible food wrapper with antimicrobial oils, replacing single-use plastics.
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Material: Decomposes in 30 days, extends food shelf life by 20%.
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Environmental Impact: Could reduce 40% of global plastic use, supporting India’s plastic ban initiatives.
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Significance: Promotes a circular economy, with potential for global scalability.
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Exam Relevance: Key for environmental innovation and sustainability questions.
Eden Wrap showcases India’s leadership in green technology, a must-know for aspirants.
128 New Saturn Moons Discovered
In May 2025, the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope identified 128 new moons orbiting Saturn, bringing the total to 274, surpassing Jupiter’s 219 moons.
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Details: Includes major moons like Titan and Enceladus, known for its subsurface ocean.
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Scientific Impact: Enhances understanding of Saturn’s system, fueling research into Enceladus’ potential for life.
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Context: Guides future NASA and ESA missions, relevant for space science questions.
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Significance: Highlights advancements in planetary science, a growing exam topic.
This discovery underscores the importance of space exploration in competitive exams.
Conclusion
These current affairs for May 2025 are essential for competitive exam aspirants. From environmental policies to medical breakthroughs, these updates shape global and Indian priorities. Explore our exam prep resources and share your insights in the comments to strengthen your preparation!
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