Daily Current Affairs- 25th May 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 25th May 2026

Government Unveils BHAVYA Scheme Guidelines to Build 100 World-Class Industrial Parks Across India

In the News: The Union Government released operational guidelines for the BHAVYA Scheme, officially known as Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna. The scheme aims to develop 100 world-class plug-and-play industrial parks across India with an approved outlay of ₹33,660 crore.

Key Points:

• About the BHAVYA Scheme: BHAVYA stands for Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna and focuses on creating ready-to-use industrial parks. These parks will provide land, basic infrastructure, utilities and common services so that industries can begin operations faster.
  • Target and Financial Outlay: The scheme aims to develop 100 industrial parks across states and Union Territories. It has a total financial outlay of ₹33,660 crore and will support industrial parks of different sizes depending on location and land availability. For prelims, remember the target of 100 parks and the focus on plug-and-play industrial development.
  • Challenge-Based Selection: The first phase will invite applications for 50 industrial parks through a competitive selection process. States with better land availability, power supply, water access, connectivity and reform readiness are likely to receive priority.
  • Infrastructure and Connectivity Support: The scheme will support roads, drainage, underground utilities, warehousing, testing labs, treatment facilities and worker housing. It will also focus on improving external connectivity with transport and logistics networks.

Supreme Court’s Revival of Sedition Trials

In the News: The Supreme Court, in Kamran v. State of Madhya Pradesh, clarified that lower courts may proceed with trials, appeals, or other proceedings involving Section 124A of the IPC when the accused explicitly consents. The clarification was issued on 21 May 2026 and creates a limited exception to the 2022 freeze on sedition proceedings. It is important because it connects sedition, Article 21, free speech, criminal procedure, and pending constitutional challenges.

Key Pointers:

• Limited revival of proceedings: The Supreme Court did not fully revive sedition prosecutions. It only allowed courts to proceed where the accused has no objection to the continuation of trial, appeal, or related proceedings.
• Link with 2022 sedition freeze: In 2022, the Supreme Court had directed that pending trials, appeals, and proceedings under Section 124A IPC be kept in abeyance. The 2026 clarification modifies that position only for consenting accused persons.
• Importance of accused consent: The clarification is based on the idea that some accused persons may want their cases to move forward instead of remaining stalled. This is especially relevant where delay affects their right to speedy trial under Article 21.
• Constitutional validity still pending: The ruling does not decide whether Section 124A IPC is constitutionally valid or invalid. The larger constitutional challenge to sedition law continues to remain pending before the Supreme Court.
• Section 124A IPC: Section 124A dealt with sedition and punished acts bringing hatred, contempt, or disaffection against the government established by law. It has long been debated because of its connection with free speech under Article 19(1)(a).
• Kedar Nath Singh precedent: In Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar, 1962, the Supreme Court upheld Section 124A but limited its application to acts involving incitement to violence or public disorder.
• BNS connection: The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has replaced the IPC and does not use the word “sedition.” However, Section 152 of the BNS deals with acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India, making it relevant for current legal debates.

India’s First National AI and Digital Water Summit

In the News: India’s first National AI and Digital Water Summit, officially titled the National AI Summit on Water 2026, is scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on 27 May 2026. It is being organised by Elets Technomedia in strategic collaboration with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board. The summit will focus on using AI, IoT, digital platforms, advanced analytics, and smart infrastructure for urban water management.

Key Pointers:

• Host city and organiser: Bengaluru will host the summit, making it an important current affairs topic linked to urban governance and water security. The key institutional partner is BWSSB, the city’s water supply and sewerage authority.
• Main theme: The summit focuses on “powering intelligent water utilities of the future.” It aims to explore how AI, IoT, digital twins, digital platforms, and advanced analytics can improve water supply and management.
• Digital water technologies: Important technologies discussed include IoT sensors, SCADA systems, smart metering, digital twins, data visualisation, and leakage detection. These tools are useful for monitoring pipelines, reducing water loss, and improving service delivery.
• Governance relevance: The summit is important for public administration because it links technology with accountable water governance. It highlights policy, regulation, compliance systems, and transparent institutional frameworks for urban utilities.
• Climate and sustainability angle: The event will also cover climate-smart water security through groundwater monitoring, wastewater reuse, and lake rejuvenation. This connects the summit with climate resilience, sustainable cities, and SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation.
• Financing of water infrastructure: The summit includes discussions on sustainable investment models, PPPs, blended finance, and technology partnerships.

Kumbhalgarh Fort Recognized as World’s Second Longest Continuous Wall By UNESCO

In the News: Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajasthan has come into focus after its wall was highlighted as the world’s second-longest continuous wall, after the Great Wall of China. The fort is located in Rajsamand district and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Hill Forts of Rajasthan,” inscribed in 2013. The development is important because it connects Indian heritage, UNESCO sites, Rajput architecture, and Rajasthan’s cultural geography.

Key Pointers:

• Location: Kumbhalgarh Fort is located in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, in the Aravalli Hills. Its strategic hilltop position made it an important defensive structure of the Mewar region.
• Second-longest wall: The fort wall stretches for nearly 36 km and is widely known as the “Great Wall of India.” It is ranked after the Great Wall of China among the longest continuous walls in the world.
• UNESCO connection: Kumbhalgarh Fort was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2013 as part of the “Hill Forts of Rajasthan.” This serial site includes six forts representing Rajput military architecture.
• Hill Forts of Rajasthan: The UNESCO-listed group includes Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore, Gagron, Amber, and Jaisalmer forts. These forts reflect the political, military, and cultural power of Rajput kingdoms.
• Historical importance: Kumbhalgarh Fort was built in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha of Mewar. It also holds special importance as the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, one of the most prominent rulers of Mewar.
• Architectural features: The fort has strong defensive walls, fortified gates, temples, palaces, and structures adapted to rugged terrain. Its design shows the importance of geography in Rajput military planning.

China Launches Shenzhou 23 Mission with Three Astronauts for Major Tiangong Space Station Mission

In the News: China launched the Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft on 24 May 2026, sending three astronauts to the Tiangong space station from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The mission was carried by a Long March-2F rocket and is important because one astronaut is expected to undertake China’s first year-long human spaceflight. The mission also supports China’s long-term goal of a crewed lunar landing by 2030.

Key Pointers:

• Mission crew: The Shenzhou-23 crew includes commander Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Li Jiaying, also known as Lai Ka-ying in Cantonese. Li Jiaying is significant as the first astronaut from Hong Kong to join a Chinese space mission.
• Launch vehicle and site: The spacecraft was launched aboard the Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. This launch centre is a major base for China’s human spaceflight missions.
• Tiangong docking: Shenzhou-23 docked with the Tiangong space station on 25 May 2026. It completed a fast automated rendezvous and docking with the nadir (Earth- facing) port of the Tianhe core module.
• Crew handover: After entering Tiangong, the Shenzhou-23 astronauts met the Shenzhou-21 crew, beginning a new in-orbit handover. Such crew rotations are important for maintaining continuous human presence aboard the space station.
• Year-long stay experiment: One major objective is to conduct a one-year in-orbit stay experiment. This will help China study long-duration human spaceflight, astronaut health, and life-support systems for future deep-space missions.

Rajnath Singh Launches India’s First 300-km Rocket System Suryastra in Major Defence Boost

In the News: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently inaugurated the NIBE Defence Manufacturing Complex in Shirdi, Maharashtra, and flagged off India’s first 300-km Universal Rocket Launching System, Suryastra. The system is being highlighted as a major step in India’s indigenous long-range precision strike capability.

Key Points:

• About Suryastra: Suryastra is described as India’s first indigenous Universal Rocket Launching System with a strike range of around 300 km. It is meant to strengthen long-range surface-to-surface strike capability.
• Developer and Manufacturing Link: The system has been developed by Pune-based private defence firm NIBE Limited. Rajnath Singh flagged it off during the inauguration of NIBE’s defence manufacturing complex at Shirdi in Ahilyanagar district.
• Recent Testing: NIBE reportedly tested Suryastra rockets at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha. Reports mentioned two rocket variants, including EXTRA with 150-km range and Predator Hawk with 300-km range. For prelims, remember Chandipur as a major missile and rocket testing location.
• Defence Manufacturing Push: The Shirdi facility will work on artillery systems, missile and space technologies, rocket systems, energetic materials and autonomous defence platforms. This supports India’s push for domestic defence production and reduced import dependence. For mains, connect this with Atmanirbhar Bharat and defence industrial corridors.
• Private Sector in Defence: Rajnath Singh said the government wants to raise the private sector’s share in defence production. This shows a shift from government-dominated defence production towards greater industry participation.

Sansad Ratna Awards 2026 Explained: Full Winners List and Why the Parliamentary Honour Matters

In the News: The Sansad Ratna Awards 2026 were announced on May 23, 2026, with 12 MPs and 4 Parliamentary Standing Committees selected for recognition. The awards will be presented during the 16th Sansad Ratna Awards ceremony in New Delhi in July 2026. The award is important because it links parliamentary performance, legislative accountability, committee system and civil society monitoring of democracy.

Key Points:

• About the Sansad Ratna Awards: The Sansad Ratna Awards were instituted in 2010 by Prime Point Foundation on the suggestion of former President Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. They recognise top-performing Members of Parliament and Parliamentary Committees.
• Full Winners List of MPs: The 2026 awardees include Jagdambika Pal, P. P. Chaudhary, Nishikant Dubey, Dr Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Praveen Patel, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Lumbaram Chaudhary, Dr Hemant Vishnu Savara, Smita Uday Wagh, Naresh Ganpat Mhaske, Dr Medha Vishram Kulkarni and Narhari Amin. These MPs were selected for parliamentary performance up to the end of the Budget Session 2026.
• Parliamentary Committees Selected: Four Parliamentary Committees were selected for the honour in 2026. These are the Committee on Agriculture, Finance Committee, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Committee, and Coal and Mines Committee.
• Maharashtra’s Strong Representation: Maharashtra secured five awards through Dr Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Dr Hemant Vishnu Savara, Smita Uday Wagh, Naresh Ganpat Mhaske and Dr Medha Vishram Kulkarni. This makes the state one of the most visible contributors in the 2026 list. For prelims, remember Maharashtra’s five awardees and two women awardees in the list.
• Selection Criteria: The winners are selected by a jury consisting of senior award-winning parliamentarians, retired constitutional authorities and academicians. Selection is based on performance data of MPs and committees, with inputs from PRS Legislative Research, Lok Sabha Secretariat and Rajya Sabha Secretariat.
• Why the Honour Matters: The award encourages MPs to take Parliament seriously through questions, debates, private member initiatives and committee participation. It also helps citizens understand that parliamentary performance is measurable beyond elections. For mains, connect this with transparency, accountability, representative democracy and strengthening legislative institutions.