Judges C. Kumarappan and K. Rajasekar, who were serving as additional judges in the Chennai High Court, have been appointed as permanent judges of the Chennai High Court.

Additionally, the President has approved the Collegium’s recommendation to transfer Justice Hemant Chandan Gouda from the Karnataka High Court and Justice K. Surender from the Telangana High Court to the Chennai High Court.

It is noteworthy that due to the retirement of five judges—S.S. Sundar, Bhavani Subburayan, Hemalatha, Nakkeeran, and Sivagnanam—from the Chennai High Court this month, the number of vacant judge positions has increased to 15.

Chennai High Court Judge Sathya Narayana Prasad (age 56) passed away due to a heart attack.

A statue of Karl Marx, who introduced communist ideology, will be installed at the entrance of the Connemara Library.

Tamil Nadu and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), : 

• In terms of the 16 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), India is lagging in nine indicators and ranks 109th out of 167 countries globally.

• However, Tamil Nadu has scored higher than the national average of 71 points in the Sustainable Development Goals Index and secured the second position in the country. Kerala holds the first position

• India is lagging in nine of the 16 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), falling behind the global average, and overall, it ranks 109th out of 167 countries, according to the Centre for
  
  

• In this report, Tamil Nadu, with 78 points, has secured the second position in the country. Comparatively, since Kerala, which holds the first position, is a smaller state, it can be said that Tamil Nadu holds a highly significant position in the country.

• Based on social, economic, and environmental factors, the NITI Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals Index has evaluated the progress of states and union territories.

• While India’s overall score is 71, Tamil Nadu’s index score is 78. Compared to the national score of 66 for the year 2020-21, this is considered progress, but India still ranks 109th in the overall list.

• Tamil Nadu is lagging in 19 out of 108 indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals. Specifically, SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) are among the indicators where Tamil Nadu is falling behind.

• In SDG 5, Tamil Nadu has scored between 50-64 points, meaning the gender ratio of 929 females per 1,000 males aligns with national data.

• At the same time, in SDG 11 and SDG 15, which cover urban challenges and weak forest conservation, Tamil Nadu has scored lower than the national average.

• Nationally, Bihar ranks last with 57 points, while Kerala and Uttarakhand lead with 79 points. Tamil Nadu, with 78 points, holds the second position.

• For example, Kerala has scored 82 points in SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 80 points in SDG 4 (Quality Education). Similarly, Bihar has scored only 34 points in SDG 1 and 40 points in SDG 2.

• While Tamil Nadu has scored 78 points, Uttar Pradesh has 64 points, and Gujarat has 67 points, indicating that these states have scored below 50 points in 30-43 percent of the indicators.

• Similarly, Tamil Nadu is also lagging in areas such as clean drinking water (SDG 6) and air pollution (SDG 11).

• India is weak in SDG 5 (Gender Equality). It has faced setbacks in all eight metrics under this goal. The country still has a gender ratio of 929 females per 1,000 males. Additionally, 29.2 percent of married women face domestic violence, and only 13.96 percent of women own property, according to the data.

Short film "Thiru" : A short film titled "Thiru," produced and released by the Thoothukudi District Police, won first place in the Tamil language category at the International Film Festival held in Kolkata, achieving a remarkable feat. This short film powerfully addresses the life challenges faced by transgender individuals and their next steps. It was directed by Arundhati Arasu from Thoothukudi.

"Bharat Sanjeevani" App: The Union Dairy Development Minister has launched the "Bharat Sanjeevani" app, which provides free emergency medical assistance and veterinary advice for dairy farmers in Tamil Nadu, along with a toll-free phone number.

Loans for Tamil Nadu Government’s Self-Help Groups

• In the financial year 2023-24, loans worth Rs. 4,875 crore were provided to 76,871 self-help groups.

• In the financial year 2024-25, loans worth Rs. 4,063 crore have been provided to 53,757 self-help groups.

Source: Policy Note 2025 - 2026

Release of the Book "THE MODERN DRAVIDIAN ICON": During the celebration of the fourth anniversary of the Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister Thiru. M.K. Stalin, a book titled "THE MODERN DRAVIDIAN ICON," prepared by The Week magazine, was released. The book highlights the 50-year political and public life of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

The 211th birth anniversary of  Robert Caldwell was observed on 07.05.2025. Caldwell was born on 7 May 1814 in Ireland

• At a time when many believed Sanskrit was the mother of Tamil and other Dravidian languages, as well as Indian languages, Caldwell refuted this and established the antiquity, uniqueness, and richness of Dravidian languages with evidence, bringing the distinct greatness of the Tamil language to the world’s attention. 

• He not only proved the existence of a separate language family apart from Sanskrit but also wrote that Tamil, along with Sanskrit and other Indo-Aryan languages, had borrowed words from each other. 

• His book, A Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian Languages (1856), remains an everlasting monument.

• His body was laid to rest in Idaiyankudi, located in Tirunelveli district.

• A statue of Tamil scholar Dr. Robert Caldwell was unveiled in Chennai on 02.01.1968 during the World Tamil Conference. The unveiling was led by Thiru. M.A. Manickavelar, the then Chairman of the Legislative Council, and performed by multilingual scholar Thiru. K. Appathurai. The statue was presented by the Church of South India.

Tamil Nadu Growth Model 

• Tamil Nadu's service sector is diverse, encompassing trade, repair, hotels and restaurants, transport, storage, communication, financial services, real estate, and more. 

• The state is particularly known for its dynamic IT and IT-enabled services, education, healthcare, finance, tourism, hospitality, and entertainment industries. 

• Rapid urbanization drives demand for infrastructure services such as transportation, housing, sanitation, and utilities.

•  In 2023-24, 54.63% of Tamil Nadu's urban workforce was employed in the service sector, close to the national average of 58.07%. Among them, 16.28% were engaged in trade and motor vehicle repair, 7.53% in transport and storage, 6.28% in information and communication, 5% in education, 4.86% in accommodation and food services, 2.84% in financial and insurance services, and 11.84% in other services 

Source: ECONOMIC SURVEY OF TAMIL NADU 2024-25

India (Unit III) 

India and the UK have successfully concluded negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

• This significant agreement was finalized by India (5th largest economy) and the UK (6th largest economy).

• Negotiations for the FTA began in January 2022 and involved 14 rounds of talks.

• The agreement aims to reduce or eliminate tariffs and trade barriers on goods and services between the two nations.

• A related Social Security Agreement (Double Contribution Convention) to avoid double taxation has also been finalized.

• Under the FTA, 99% of Indian goods exported to the UK will benefit from zero tariffs.

• India will initially reduce tariffs on 90% of UK goods, with 85% becoming duty-free within 10 years.

• Key Indian sectors like textiles, jewellery, gems, chemicals, and processed food will receive full tariff exemption in the UK.

• Tariffs on UK vehicle parts imported into India will be significantly reduced from over 100% to 10%.

• Bilateral trade, currently valued at ₹1.79 lakh crore, is projected to double or triple in the next ten years due to the FTA.

H.E. Dr. Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran called on the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu on May 8, 2025.

The tenure of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Praveen Sood was set to end on May 25, 2025. The central government has issued an order extending his tenure by one more year.

Piprahwa Buddhist Relics Auction Postponed due to India’s interference : 

• Sacred bone fragments of the Historical Buddha, excavated in 1898 by William Claxton Peppé at Piprahwa.

• Include soapstone/crystal caskets, sandstone coffer, gold ornaments, gemstones.

• Brahmi script inscription confirms relics as Buddha’s, deposited by Sakya clan.

• Majority transferred to Indian Museum, Kolkata (1899), classified as ‘AA’ antiquities (cannot be removed/sold under Indian law).

• Some relics gifted to King of Siam; funerary gems retained by Peppé’s great-grandson, Chris Peppé, listed for auction by Sotheby’s Hong Kong (scheduled for May 7, 2025). 

•  ASI Director General requested Hong Kong Consulate General to stop the auction. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) engaged Europe West and East Asia Divisions to coordinate with UK and Hong Kong embassies. 

• As a result, Sotheby’s postponed auction, removed relics from website, proposed further discussions.

Dravyaratnākara Nighaṇṭu and Dravyanamākara Nighaṇṭu : Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), under the Ministry of Ayush, has revived two rare and significant Ayurvedic manuscripts—Dravyaratnākara Nighaṇṭu and Dravyanamākara Nighaṇṭu.

• Dravyaratnākara Nighaṇṭu: Authored by Mudgala Paṇḍita in 1480 AD, this previously unpublished lexicon consists of eighteen chapters offering in-depth knowledge on drug synonyms, therapeutic actions, and medicinal properties. A widely referenced text in Maharashtra until the 19th century, it draws from classical Nighaṇṭus like Dhanvantari and Raja Nighaṇṭu while documenting numerous novel medicinal substances from plant, mineral, and animal origins. This critical edition, revived by Dr. S. D. Kamat, is a monumental contribution to Dravyaguna and allied Ayurvedic disciplines.

• Dravyanamākara Nighaṇṭu: Attributed to Bhisma Vaidya, this unique work serves as a standalone appendix to the Dhanvantari Nighaṇṭu, focusing exclusively on homonyms of drug and plant names—a complex area of study vital to Ayurveda. Encompassing 182 verses and two colophon verses, the text has been meticulously edited and commented upon by Dr. Kamat, enhancing its utility for scholars of Rasashastra, Bhaishajya Kalpana, and classical Ayurvedic pharmacology. 

• Dr. Kamat, known for his authoritative work on Saraswati Nighaṇṭu, Bhāvaprakāsha Nighaṇṭu, and Dhanvantari Nighaṇṭu, once again brings his deep scholarship and commitment to preserving India's Ayurvedic heritage

Cabinet approves Revised SHAKTI (Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala Transparently in India) Policy for Coal Allocation to Power Sector.

 Following two windows have been proposed under the Revised SHAKTI policy:

1. Coal Linkage to Central Gencos/States at Notified price: Window–I

2. Coal Linkage to all Gencos at a Premium above Notified price: Window–II

Window-I (coal at notified price):

1. Existing mechanism for grant of coal linkage to Central Sector Thermal Power Projects (TPPs) including Joint Ventures (JVs) & their subsidiary to continue.

2. Coal linkages to be earmarked to States and to an agency authorized by group of States as per existing mechanism, on the recommendation of Ministry of Power. Coal linkage earmarked to States may be utilized by States in its own Genco, Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to be identified through Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) or existing IPPs having Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) under Section 62 of the Electricity Act, 2003 for setting up of a new expansion unit having PPA under Section 62.

Window-II (premium over notified price):

Any domestic coal-based power producer having PPA or untied and also Imported coal-based power plants (if they so require) can secure coal on auction basis for a period upto 12 months or for the period of more than 12 months upto 25 years by paying premium above the notified price and providing the power plants the flexibility to sell the electricity as per their choice.

Background:

With the introduction of SHAKTI Policy, 2017, there was a paradigm shift of coal allocation mechanism from a nomination-based regime to a more transparent way of allocation of coal linkages through an auction / tariff-based bidding. Nomination based allocation continued only for the Central / State Sector power plants. SHAKTI Policy has been amended in 2019 on the recommendations of Group of Ministers. SHAKTI Policy was further amended in 2023. SHAKTI Policy has various Paras for allocation of a coal linkage to the various categories of Power Plants, subject to meeting the eligibility  criteria. With the introduction of Revised SHAKTI Policy, existing eight Paras of the SHAKTI Policy, for coal allocation, have been mapped to only two Windows, in the spirit of ease of doing Business.

Cabinet approves National Scheme for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Upgradation and Setting up of Five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling  as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

• National Scheme for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Upgradation and Setting up of five (5) National Centres of Excellence (NCOE) for Skilling will be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme as per announcement, made under Budget 2024-25 and Budget 2025-26 with outlay of Rs.60,000 crore (Central Share: Rs.30,000 crore, State Share: Rs.20,000 crore and Industry Share: Rs.10,000 crore), with co-financing to the extent of 50% of Central share by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, equally.

• The scheme will focus on upgradation of 1,000 Government ITIs in hub and spoke arrangement with industry aligned revamped trades (courses) and Capacity Augmentation of five (5) National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs), including   setting up of five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling in these institutes. 

• The Scheme aims to position existing ITIs as government-owned, industry-managed aspirational institutes of skills, in collaboration with State Governments and industry. Over a five-year period, 20 lakh youth will be skilled through courses that address the human capital needs of industries. The scheme will focus on ensuring alignment between local workforce supply and industry demand, thereby facilitating industries, including MSMEs, in accessing employment-ready workers.

• Under the scheme, infrastructure upgradation for improved Training of Trainers (ToT) facilities will be undertaken in five National Skill.  Training Institutes (NSTIs), namely Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur, and Ludhiana. Additionally, pre-service and in-service training will be provided to 50,000 trainers. 

• Background:  Vocational education and training can be an immense driver of economic growth and productivity, as India embarks on its aspirational journey towards a developed nation by 2047. Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) have been the backbone of vocational education and training in India since the 1950s, operating under State Governments. While ITI network has expanded by nearly 47% since 2014, reaching 14,615 across with 14.40 lakh enrolment, vocational training via ITIs remains less aspirational and have also suffered from lack of systemic interventions to improve their infrastructure, and appeal.

‘Arnala’, the first of the eight ASW SWCs (Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft), indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, was delivered to the Indian Navy on 08 May 25 at M/s L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli.

• The warship has been designed and constructed as per the Classification Rules of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) of GRSE with M/s L&T Shipyard, thus demonstrating the success of collaborative defence manufacturing.

• Arnala is named after the historic fort ‘Arnala’ located off Vasai, Maharashtra, a reflection of India’s rich maritime heritage. The 77 m long warship, is the largest Indian Naval warship propelled by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet combination. The ship has been designed for underwater surveillance, search & rescue operations and Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO). 

• Arnala’s delivery is yet another milestone in the Indian Navy’s quest for indigenous shipbuilding and upholding the Government’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ with over 80% indigenous content.

INS SUNAYNA (IOS SAGAR) returns to kochi on successful completion of month long deployment. 

• INS Sunayna (as IOS Sagar) returned to Kochi on May 8, 2025, after a successful month-long deployment in the southwest Indian Ocean Region.

• This was the Indian Navy’s maiden initiative, jointly crewed by personnel from nine Indian Ocean Region (IOR) navies, marking a new era in maritime cooperation.

• The mission was flagged off by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from Karwar on April 5, 2025.

• IOS Sagar made port calls at Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria, and Male during the deployment.

• Key mission highlights included joint naval exercises, professional and cultural exchanges, and joint EEZ surveillance in Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Seychelles.

• The ship participated in the Africa India Key Maritime Exercise (AIKEYME) 2025, alongside INS Chennai and INS Kesari, jointly hosted by India and Tanzania.

• Collaborative activities and community engagements were held in Mozambique, enhancing operational synergy with the Mozambique Navy.

• The deployment fostered strong engagement with Mauritius Police Force and Coast Guard, and included joint activities in Seychelles and Maldives.

• The crew comprised 44 international members from nine partner nations, working seamlessly with the Indian Navy under the motto 'One Ocean One Mission'.

• The mission underscores India’s commitment to regional maritime security, capacity building, and its role as a preferred security partner in the IOR

International Maritime Defence Exhibition (Imdex) - 2025  was held during 6-8 May 2025 at at the Changi Exhibition Centre, Singapore.  Indian Naval Ship INS Kiltan  participated in IMDEX Asia 2025.   

UN Vesak Day 2025 

• The United Nations Day of Vesak is an internationally recognized observance that commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing (parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. The day is celebrated annually on the full moon of the month of Vesakha (usually in May), and is considered the most sacred Buddhist festival. 

• In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 54/115, officially recognizing the Day of Vesak to acknowledge the profound contributions Buddhism has made to human spirituality and culture for over two and a half millennia

World Thalassemia Day 2025 was observed globally on May 8 to raise awareness about thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, and to promote prevention, early diagnosis, and patient-centered care.

• Coal India Limited (CIL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Coal and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, celebrated the milestone success of its Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY) on World Thalassemia Day 2025 at a special event in New Delhi. The scheme, launched as a CSR initiative in 2017, provides free bone marrow transplants to children suffering from thalassemia and aplastic anemia, transforming the lives of over 700 children so far and significantly reducing the financial burden on their families

• heme: The theme for 2025 is “Together for Thalassaemia: Uniting Communities, Prioritising Patients,” emphasizing unity, community support, and a patient-first approach in managing thalassemia

Operation Sindoor : 

• Operation Sindoor was a significant precision strike operation launched by the Indian Armed Forces in the early hours of May 7, 2025, targeting nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This operation was a direct and calibrated response to the barbaric terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which resulted in the tragic loss of 26 civilian lives. Executed through a coordinated effort by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force using advanced precision-guided munitions like SCALP, HAMMER, and loitering munitions launched from within Indian territory, the strikes aimed to dismantle facilities linked to proscribed terrorist outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen.

• "Operation Sindoor" holds symbolic meaning from an Indian perspective. 'Sindoor' is the vermilion powder worn by married Hindu women.  The name was reportedly chosen as a poignant tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, particularly the married women who tragically lost their husbands. 

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved expansion of academic and infrastructure capacity (Phase-`B' construction) of five new IlTs which had been established in the States/UT of Andhra Pradesh (IIT Tirupati), Kerala (IIT Palakkad), Chhattisgarh (IIT Bhilai), Jammu & Kashmir (IIT Jammu) and Karnataka (HT Dharwad).  The total cost for the same is Rs.11,828.79 crore over a period of four years from 2025-26 to 2028-29.Student strength in these IITs will be increased by more than 6500 in the next four years with enhancement of 1364 students in 1st year, 1738 students in 2nd year, 1767 students in 3rd year and 1707 students in 4th year across Under Graduate (UG), Post Graduate (PG) and PhD program put together.

India showcased SVAMITVA at the World Bank Land Conference 2025: This is happening at the World Bank Land Conference 2025 in Washington DC, which is taking place from May 5th to May 8th, 2025. India is participating as a Country Champion to highlight its innovative approach to rural land governance.

• SVAMITVA stands for Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas. It is a Central Sector Scheme 1  of India's Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Its primary aim is to provide a "Record of Rights" to rural household owners in 'Abadi' areas (inhabited rural areas) by mapping land parcels using drone technology. This involves creating accurate land records and issuing legal ownership cards (Property Cards or Title Deeds) to residents. The scheme seeks to provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India, enabling residents to use their property as a financial asset, reducing property disputes, facilitating better village-level planning, and ultimately contributing to the economic empowerment of rural communities.   

• The SVAMITVA Scheme was nationwide launched by the Prime Minister of India on National Panchayati Raj Day, April 24, 2021, after a successful pilot phase conducted during 2020-2021 in nine states.

• The primary beneficiaries of the SVAMITVA Scheme are the rural household owners in the 'Abadi' areas of villages across India. By providing them with clear legal ownership documents (Property Cards), the scheme empowers them with formal rights to their residential properties. This enables them to leverage their property as a financial asset for obtaining loans and other financial benefits, reduces property-related disputes, and provides a foundation for better rural planning and development. The scheme aims to cover approximately 6.62 lakh villages across the country.

The Ministry of Education, Government of India, has approved the establishment of an off-campus centre of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi, at GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The centre will be set up in accordance with the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2023.

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rhenus Logistics India Private Limited,  to operate their barge services in various national waterways in India. Rhenus Logistics is a Germany-based international logistics service provider operating globally in more than 70 countries.

India ranks  130th out of 193 countries in Human Development Index  : 

The 2025 Human Development Report, titled “A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI” places a strong emphasis on how artificial intelligence is reshaping human development globally, with a particular focus on the choices and opportunities available to people. India’s performance and prospects are a central part of this narrative.

India’s HDI Ranking and Progress

• India ranks 130th out of 193 countries in the 2023 Human Development Index (HDI), an improvement from 133rd in 2022.

• HDI score: India’s HDI value rose from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023, keeping it in the medium human development category but edging closer to the high development threshold of 0.700.

• Comparative context: India now shares its HDI score with Bangladesh (0.685), is ahead of Nepal (0.622) and Pakistan (0.544), but trails Sri Lanka (0.776), Bhutan (0.698), and other BRICS nations.

Key Human Development Indicators

• Life expectancy: Increased to 72 years in 2023, up from 67.7 in 2022, marking the highest since the index’s inception.

• Education: Expected years of schooling rose to 13, with average years of schooling at 6.9.

• Income: Per capita Gross National Income (GNI) increased from $6,951 to $9,047 (PPP 2021).

• Inequality: When adjusted for inequality, India’s HDI drops to 0.475-a 30.7% reduction, highlighting persistent disparities, especially in income and gender.

Challenges and Opportunities

• Gender inequality: India’s Gender Development Index is 0.874, with a significant gap between men (0.722) and women (0.631). The country ranks 102nd on the Gender Inequality Index (GII) at 0.403, reflecting ongoing challenges in reproductive health, political representation, and workforce participation.

• Income disparities: India’s GNI per capita rank is lower than its HDI rank, indicating income remains a relative weakness compared to health and education.

• Inequality’s impact: Inequality significantly reduces India’s HDI, one of the highest losses in the region, despite improvements in health and education.

Regional and Global Context

• South Asia: India’s HDI growth has outpaced both the global and South Asian averages since 1990, with a 53% increase in its HDI value.

• Global slowdown: The report notes that global HDI progress has slowed to its weakest pace since 1990 (excluding pandemic years), with widening gaps between very high and low HDI countries.

World