IMPORTANT DAYS

International Labour Day 2025 celebrated on 1st May

• International Labour Day, celebrated on May 1st, honours the contributions of workers worldwide.

• The origins of this day trace back to 1886 when 200,000 American workers protested for an 8-hour workday.

• The protests escalated into a violent incident in Chicago, which became known as the Haymarket Affair.

• May 1st, 1889, marked the first official observation of International Labour Day, organized by a coalition of European socialist parties.

• Since then, this day has been commemorated annually, highlighting workers' rights and solidarity.

• Labour Day is also referred to as May Day or Workers' Day in various regions.

• The day serves as a reminder of the struggles faced by workers and their fight for better working conditions.

• International Labour Day continues to be a global movement, advocating for workers’ rights and fair treatment.

Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day celebrated on 1st May

• Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day are celebrated annually on May 1st to mark the formation of these two states.

• In 2025, both states will commemorate their 65th foundation day since their creation in 1960.

• The formation of Maharashtra and Gujarat resulted from the division of the Bombay province into two states based on linguistic lines.

• Maharashtra was created for Marathi-speaking people, while Gujarat was formed for Gujarati-speaking regions.

• The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 played a key role in defining the boundaries of the newly formed states.

• Prior to 1960, both Maharashtra and Gujarat were part of the Bombay State, which also included parts of present-day Madhya Pradesh.

• Maharashtra is the third-largest state in India by area and the second-most populous, with Mumbai as its capital.

• Gujarat, the fifth-largest state by area, is bordered by Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, with Gandhinagar as its capital.

Foundation Day of Ramakrishna Mission - 1st May

• The Ramakrishna Mission was founded by Swami Vivekananda on May 1, 1897.

• The mission was established at the residence of Balaram Basu in North Kolkata, a devoted disciple of Thakur Ramakrishna.

• Thakur Ramakrishna, a prominent spiritual leader, played a crucial role in the Ramakrishna movement, which the mission aimed to spread.

• The mission's primary objective was to promote the teachings and values of Thakur Ramakrishna.

• The foundation day celebrations were observed at Belur Math and Balaram Mandir, with special prayers and ceremonies.

• Ramakrishna Mission is a spiritual and philanthropic organization based in Belur Math, West Bengal.

• The mission follows the philosophy of Vedanta, specifically Advaita Vedanta, in its teachings.

• It operates on the core principles of Karma Yoga, focusing on selfless service and spiritual growth.

LEGAL NEWS

Election Commission Resolves 20-Year-Old EPIC Number Duplication Issue

• The Election Commission has addressed a 20-year-old problem of duplicate EPIC numbers issued since 2005.

• Similar EPIC numbers were assigned due to different alphanumeric series used by Electoral Registration Officers across constituencies.

• Chief Electoral Officers and Electoral Registration Officers conducted a comprehensive search of over 99 crore voter records.

• Genuine voters holding identical EPIC numbers from different constituencies and polling stations were identified.

• Unique and new EPIC cards have been reissued to all affected electors to eliminate duplication.

• This initiative is part of the Election Commission’s efforts to update and improve the accuracy of voter lists.

• The duplication issue originated from decentralized EPIC numbering practices by various states and UTs.

• The correction ensures better electoral integrity and reduces confusion during elections.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Angola Joins International Solar Alliance During Historic Presidential Visit to India

• On May 3, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with Angolan President Joao Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço in New Delhi to deepen strategic cooperation.

• Angola signed the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement and became its 123rd member during President Joao Lourenco’s visit to India.

• President Lourenço’s visit to India, which began on May 2, marks the first presidential visit from Angola to India in 38 years.

• The visit takes place in the year when India and Angola are celebrating the 40th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties.

• On May 4, President Lourenço will attend a business event in New Delhi, aimed at boosting trade, investment, and commercial links between the two nations.

• Bilateral trade between India and Angola has been growing steadily, reaching over four billion dollars in the 2023-2024 period.

• The visit underscores the growing partnership and mutual interest in strengthening ties between India and Angola.

• The high-level talks also highlighted opportunities for increased collaboration in key areas such as trade, energy, and infrastructure.

NATIONAL NEWS

National Seminar on Road Safety Policy 2025

• On May 1st, a one-day National Seminar on Road Safety Policy 2025 was held in New Delhi, organized by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

• The seminar's primary goal was to improve road safety, promote proactive measures, and encourage behavioral changes among road users.

• The event focused on eight key thematic areas, which were designed to create an actionable road safety plan.

• Panel discussions involved stakeholders and experts from various sectors, addressing topics like accident site improvements, hazard mitigation, and enhancing the role of District Road Safety Committees.

• Key discussions also covered road safety in school zones, highway rescue operations, and the introduction of cashless remedies for accident victims.

• Union Minister Nitin Gadkari emphasized the importance of addressing critical engineering issues, such as school zone safety, during the Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage of road projects.

• The seminar also aligned with India’s objective to cut road accident fatalities by 50% by 2030, focusing on actionable policy measures for safer roads.

• The seminar played a pivotal role in shaping the policy framework to ensure better road safety measures and improved road user behavior across the country.

STATE NEWS

Yoga Mahotsav 2025 Celebrated in Nashik, Marking Countdown to International Day of Yoga

• Yoga Mahotsav 2025 was held in Nashik, Maharashtra, on May 2, 2025, to begin the 50-day countdown to the 11th International Day of Yoga.

• The event was organized by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, under the Ministry of Ayush.

• A large-scale yoga session was conducted, adhering to the Common Yoga Protocol, to promote health and wellness.

• The session took place at Gauri Maidan, Ramkund Parisar, in the Panchavati area of Nashik.

• Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav attended and participated in the celebration.

• The United Nations officially designated June 21 as International Day of Yoga in 2014.

• This global recognition followed a proposal put forward by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• The event serves as a precursor to the upcoming celebrations of the 11th International Day of Yoga.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE

World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit 2025 Inaugurated by PM Modi

• The inaugural World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 was launched by Prime Minister Modi in Mumbai on May 1st.

• This summit, marking its first edition, is being hosted in India at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai from May 1 to 4, 2025.

• WAVES 2025 serves as a global platform for discussions about the future of the entertainment and audio-visual sectors.

• The event carries the tagline "Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries," emphasizing the importance of international collaboration.

• India is being showcased as a global hub for media, digital innovation, and entertainment through this summit.

• The summit brings together various key sectors, including films, OTT, gaming, comics, broadcasting, AI, and digital media.

• A special zone, called "Creatosphere," was visited by PM Modi during the summit, focusing on the creative industries.

• During his visit, PM Modi interacted with creators selected through the 32 ‘Create in India’ challenges, showcasing India's talent.

First National Mediation Conference Inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu to Promote Dispute Resolution

• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the inaugural National Mediation Conference on May 3, 2025, in New Delhi, to emphasize mediation as an essential tool for resolving disputes.

• The conference is being organized jointly by the Office of the Attorney General of India and the Ministry of Law and Justice.

• Key speakers at the event include Chief Justice of India Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal.

• The conference has attracted numerous mediation and arbitration institutions that are participating to share insights and best practices.

• One of the main objectives of the conference is to encourage litigants to consider mediation for resolving disputes, reducing the burden on courts.

• The event aims to highlight the advantages of mediation, such as quicker resolution and cost-effectiveness, compared to traditional litigation.

• By promoting mediation, the conference hopes to contribute to the reduction of the growing number of pending cases in Indian courts.

• The initiative reflects India’s commitment to enhancing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to foster a more efficient judicial system.