Survivors of the Pollachi sexual assault case will get Rs 25 lakh each as relief assistance from the state government - Chief Minister MK Stalin announced on 14.5.2025. This is in addition to the Rs 85 lakh overall compensation awarded by the Coimbatore Mahila Court.

The 11th National Conference of Women in Police (NCWP), held at the Tamil Nadu Police Academy (TNPA), was jointly organized by the Tamil Nadu Police and the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D). The conference, attended by delegates from various States, Central organizations, passed a resolution advocating for a 30% reservation for women in all police recruitments and emphasized the need for flexible work schedules for women personnel.  Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin,  highlighted that 43% of law and order police stations in Tamil Nadu are led by women Station House Officers (SHOs).

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated the 127th annual flower show at the Government Botanical Garden in Udhagamandalam on 15.05.2025.

Tamil Nadu Leads in Composite Cylinder Connections

• Tamil Nadu ranks 1st in India for providing composite cylinder connections, as per Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) data.

• 1.06 lakh connections provided in Tamil Nadu by IOCL between April 2024 and March 2025.

• Karnataka, the closest competitor, provided 60,000 connections during the same period.

• Over 60% of 1.06 lakh connections were new customers, with the rest being existing customers switching to Xtralite composite cylinders.

• Total Indane consumers in Tamil Nadu: 1.34 crore, of which 1.85 lakh have composite connections.

• Top urban centres for connections: Chennai (1st), followed by Coimbatore, Tiruchi, and Madurai.

• Composite cylinders available in 10 kg and 5 kg capacities, lighter and safer than 14.2 kg cylinders (weighing ~30 kg with gas).

• Same regulator and hose compatible with composite cylinders, enhancing ease of use.

Tamil Nadu government issued guidelines  for granting ‘pouthi pattas’ (succession pattas) to legal heirs of deceased pattadhars.

• Legal heirs applying for pattas must submit death certificate (of deceased pattadhar), legal heir certificate, death certificate (if any legal heir is deceased), encumbrance certificate, settlement (if any), and court order (if any).

• For patta applications after property purchase, applicants need death certificate (of deceased pattadhar), legal heir certificate, death certificate (if any legal heir is deceased), encumbrance certificate, and property registration documents.

• If patta transfer does not involve subdivision in survey number, Village Administrative Officers (VAOs) approve, followed by clearance from Deputy Zonal Tahsildars.

• If subdivision in survey numbers is involved, surveyors verify and approve, followed by clearance from concerned Tahsildars.

Tamil Nadu’s crude birth rate declines at 2.35% annually from 2016-2021, twice the national average of 1.12%, per Sample Registration System (SRS) 2021 Report.

• Tamil Nadu is among 13 large States/UTs with birth rate decline faster than the national average, alongside other southern states.

• Tamil Nadu ranks among top states like Delhi (2.23%) and Kerala (2.05%) for rapid birth rate decline.

• All-India crude birth rate in 2021 was 19.3, declining at 1.12% annually from 2016-2021, per Sample Registration System (SRS) 2021 Report.

• Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Kerala show faster decline: 2.35%, 2.23%, and 2.05% annually, respectively, twice the national average.

• Slowest decline in birth rates: Rajasthan (0.48%), Bihar (0.86%), Chhattisgarh (0.98%), Jharkhand (0.98%), Assam (1.05%), Madhya Pradesh (1.05%), West Bengal (1.08%), Uttar Pradesh (1.09%).

• Uttarakhand is the only state with a rise in birth rate during 2016-2021.

• 13 large States/UTs have birth rate decline faster than national average, including all southern states: Andhra Pradesh (1.26%), Telangana (1.67%), Karnataka (1.68%), Kerala (2.05%), Tamil Nadu (2.35%).

• Other states with faster-than-average decline: Maharashtra (1.57%), Gujarat (1.24%), Odisha (1.34%), Himachal Pradesh (1.29%), Haryana (1.21%), J&K (1.47%); Punjab matches national average.

• SRS is India’s largest demographic survey, providing annual fertility and mortality data like birth and death rates.

• Civil Registration System (CRS) 2021 shows rising registered births in 11 States/UTs: Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep.

• Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and Gross Reproduction Rate (GRR) higher than national average in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh.

• TFR measures average children per woman in reproductive years; GRR measures average surviving daughters per woman who reach reproductive age.

The Tamil Genocide Memorial has been unveiled in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. It was established to commemorate those who lost their lives in the final battle of the military conflict in May 2009.

Commemorative Stamp Honours 125 Years of Kodaikanal Solar Observatory

• Department of Posts released a commemorative postage stamp celebrating 125 years of Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KSO).

• Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, located in Palani Hills, Tamil Nadu, was established on 1 April 1899.

• Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, operated by  Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, is India’s longest-running astronomical observatory.

• KSO maintains one of the world’s most extensive daily records of the Sun.

Tamil Nadu Growth Model in School Education : 

Tamil Nadu Growth Model Tamil Nadu is one of the most literate states in India.

Currently, 1.29 crore students are enrolled in 58,722 schools across the state, accounting for 5.24% of the total student enrolment in India. 

The state's Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) stands at 98.4% for elementary schools, 97.5% for secondary schools, and 82.9% for higher secondary schools, compared to the national averages of 91.7%, 77.4%, and 56.2%, respectively.

 Tamil Nadu ranks second in the School Education Quality Index (SEQI) by NITI Aayog, with a score of 73.4%, behind only Kerala (82.2%). Additionally, the state has the lowest dropout rate in secondary education at 4.5%, compared to the national average of 12.6%. 

Source: ECONOMIC SURVEY OF TAMIL NADU 2024-25.

  

India (Unit III) 

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in by President Droupadi Murmu as the 52nd Chief Justice of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 14.05.2025.  

• Chief Justice Gavai, who was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019 from the Bombay High Court, has a tenure of over six months till November 23.

• Justice B.R. Gavai will be the country's second Dalit Chief Justice. Before Justice Gavai, Justice K.G. Balakrishnan became the first Dalit Chief Justice in 2007.

•  Article 124(1) provides for a Supreme Court (SC) of India consisting of  Chief Justice of India (CJI)  and not more than 33 other Judges.  Article 124 (2) provides for the appointment of Chief Justice of India (CJI) by the President.

Former Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar took charge as Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Thursday. He was administered the oath of secrecy by Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla (Retd.), the senior-most member of the Commission. Mr. Kumar belongs to the 1985 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) of Kerala Cadre.

Key Findings of Sample Registration System Report 2021 :  

• Life expectancy in India  for males has been estimated at 68.2 years and that for females, at 71.6 years. Other: Proportion of the economically active population between 15-59 years has reached to 66.2%

• Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): Declined from 130 per lakh live births in 2014–16 to 93 in 2019–21. (SDG 2030 target is <=70 ) . MMR is Number of maternal deaths during a given time period per 100 000 live births during the same time period. 

• Child Mortality Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR): Declined from 26 in 2014 to 19 in 2021. (SDG 2030 target is <=12 ). NMR is number of neonatal deaths that from birth to 29 days per 1,000 live births.

• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): Declined from 39 in 2014 to 27 in 2021. IMR is number of infants deaths from birth to the 1 year old per 1,000 live births. 

• Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR): Declined from 45 in 2014 to 31 in 2021. (SDG 2030 target is <=25 ). U5MR is Number of deaths of children under 5 years of age per 1,000 live births. 

• Sex Ratio at Birth: Improved from 899 in 2014 to 913 in 2021. Total Fertility Rate (TFR): 2.0 in 2021 (2.3 in 2014) Bihar reported the highest TFR at 3.0. TFR is  Average number of children a woman would have at the end of their reproductive period

• Life-expectancy at birth: 69.8 years (for period 2017-21), registering a decline of 0.2 years from 2016-20.  

Central Government Bans Cold Drug Combo for Kids Under Four : In April 2025, the Central government prohibited the use of a common cold drug combination for children below four years, directing manufacturers to add a warning on the drug’s label, package insert, or promotional materials.

This fixed drug combination (FDC), found in many well-known children’s cough syrup brands, includes chlorpheniramine maleate and phenylephrine hydrochloride. Chlorpheniramine, an antihistamine, helps relieve allergy symptoms like runny nose, watery eyes, and sneezing, while phenylephrine, a decongestant, narrows small blood vessels to temporarily reduce inflammation. The Union Ministry of Health noted that this FDC poses potential risks to children under four and safer alternatives are available.

India and the European Union (EU) have launched two major research and innovation initiatives under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC). The TTC was established in 2022, by Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen to strengthen the bilateral partnership on trade and technology. With a joint investment of ₹391 crore (~ €41 million), the initiatives focus on two coordinated calls in the areas of Marine Plastic Litter (MPL) and Waste to Green Hydrogen (W2GH), co-funded by Horizon Europe—the EU’s research and innovation framework programme—and the Government of India.

Union Cabinet approved a display driver chip manufacturing unit in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh on May 14, 2025.

• The unit involves an investment of ₹3,700 crore and is a joint venture between HCL (Hindustan Computers Limited) and Foxconn (Taiwanese electronics giant).

• This is the sixth semiconductor unit under the ₹76,000 crore India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) Phase 1.

• The plant will produce 36 million chips per month from 20,000 wafers, focusing on display driver chips for mobile phones, laptops, automobiles, and PCs.

• It is the first semiconductor plant in Uttar Pradesh, located near Jewar Airport in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA).

• The facility is expected to create 2,000 jobs and start production in 2027.

• The plant will meet 40% of India’s domestic demand for display driver chips, supporting Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India) vision.

Pakistan handed over Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw to India On 14.05.2025, 21 days after he was detained by Pakistani forces for inadvertently crossing the international border in Punjab.

Indian Delegation Pushes for UN Listing of The Resistance Front as Terror Outfit : 

• An Indian delegation met with top officials of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) which claimed responsibility for the deadly Pahalgam terror attack.  TRF is a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as a UN-listed terrorist organization. 

• The Resistance Front (TRF), a front for the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was banned by India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in January 2023.

• On April 22, 2025, a terror attack in a tourist area near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists.

"Bhargavastra"  : India successfully tested an indigenous counter-drone system called "Bhargavastra", marking a major advancement in tackling emerging aerial threats such as drone swarms.

• Developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL), the low-cost system is designed to neutralise large-scale drone incursions using a Hard Kill Mode and was tested at the Seaward Firing Range in Odisha's Gopalpur.
•  The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, has announced the establishment of its first overseas campus in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
• Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully developed indigenous nanoporous multilayered polymeric membrane for high-pressure sea water desalination. Defence Materials Stores and Research & Development Establishment (DMSRDE), the Kanpur-based laboratory of DRDO, has developed the technology for desalination plant in Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ships, based on their operational requirement to address the serious challenge of stability when exposed to chloride ions in saline water.  

 

Economy (Unit V)

India’s Total Trade Deficit (Merchandise + Services): Widened to $8.65 billion in April 2025, up from $5.77 billion in April 2024 (Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry).

• Total Exports (Merchandise + Services): Reached a record $824.9 billion in 2024-25, a 6% increase from 2023-24, as stated by Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal.

• Merchandise Exports: Grew 9% to $38.49 billion in April 2025, compared to April 2024.

• Merchandise Imports: Surged 19.1% to $64.91 billion in April 2025, compared to April 2024.

• Merchandise Trade Deficit: Increased to $26.4 billion in April 2025, from $19.19 billion in April 2024.

• High-Growth Merchandise Exports (April 2025): Tobacco (66.43%), Coffee (47.85%), Electronic Goods (39.51%), Mica, Coal, Ores & Minerals (34.43%), Fruits & Vegetables (30.72%), Marine Products (17.81%).

• Services Exports: Estimated at $35.31 billion in April 2025, up 17% from April 2024 (final data pending from Reserve Bank of India).

• Services Imports: Grew 4.6% to $17.54 billion in April 2025.

• Services Trade Surplus: Stood at $17.77 billion in April 2025.

Science  & Technology (Unit I)

 The world's first commercial-scale e-methanol plant began operations in Denmark on 13.5.2025. 

World 

Colombia formally agreed to join China’s vast Belt and Road infrastructure initiative on 15.5.2025  as Beijing draws Latin America closer in a bid to counter the United States.

In Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet, four Indian-origin individuals, including Anita Anand (Foreign Affairs Minister) with Tamil Nadu ancestry, Maninder Sidhu (International Trade Minister), Ruby Sahota (Secretary of State for Combatting Crime), and Randeep Sarai (Secretary of State for International Development), have been appointed.

Others- Sports, Dates, Books

Tamil Nadu’s Chennai-based player L.R. Srihari on 15.5.2025  became India’s latest and 86th Grandmaster.  

Neeraj Chopra, a two-time Olympic medalist and World Javelin Champion, received the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. The appointment was effective from April 16.   He joins cricket World Cup-winning captains Kapil Dev and M.S. Dhoni, and Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra, who also hold the same honorary rank.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day  -  May 15  

On the occasion of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) on May 15, 2025, the Inclusive India Summit was organized by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment at the India International Centre, New Delhi.