1. e-Zero FIR: automatic FIRs for big cyber frauds
- I4C launched e-Zero FIR, converting cyber fraud complaints of ₹10 lakh or more into FIRs.
- It is being piloted in Delhi.
- Complaints come via the 1930 helpline or cybercrime.gov.in.
Daily Current Affairs: 20 May 2025
Current affairs of 20 May 2025: Panchayat Advancement Index: Data for Local Governance; e-Zero FIR: automatic FIRs for big cyber frauds; MGNREGA FY25 Findings: LibTech India Report on Delays and Gaps, and 14 more topics. Key facts for every exam, with a quiz.
In this issue: 17 topics
National Affairs
Government Schemes
Banking & Finance
- SEBI Action Warning to Two Mauritius FPIs in Adani Probe
- SEBI Anchor Investor Limits for Low-Rated Bond Issues Raised
- NSDL Electronic Bidding Platform: Debt Private Placements
- SEBI Audit Committee and Internal Audit Norms for MIIs
- TCS BaNCS to Modernise Mongolia’s Khan Bank Core Banking
- RBI Nod for Emirates NBD to Convert India Branches to WOS
Economy
Agriculture & Rural
- Uttar Pradesh Draws ₹6,772 Crore Ethanol Investment
- Rent-a-Bee: Hired Pollination as Wild Bees Decline
- Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan 2025: Dates, Goals, Six-Point Plan
- AI in Agriculture: Uses, Savings and Adoption Hurdles
Environment & Ecology
Reports & Indexes
- Panchayat Advancement Index: Data for Local Governance
- MGNREGA FY25 Findings: LibTech India Report on Delays and Gaps
Awards & Persons
National Affairs
Government Schemes
2. Sagar Mein Samman Policy: Women in Maritime Sector
- Sarbananda Sonowal launched Sagar Mein Samman on the International Day for Women in Maritime, Mumbai.
- Target: 12% women in technical maritime roles by 2030.
- Registered women seafarers rose from 1,699 in 2015 to 14,255 in 2024.
Banking & Finance
3. SEBI Action Warning to Two Mauritius FPIs in Adani Probe
- SEBI is probing 13 offshore investors in the Adani Group after Hindenburg Research's 2023 allegations.
- It warned Mauritius-based FPIs Elara India Opportunities Fund and Vespera Fund over missing beneficial-owner details.
- Possible outcomes include penalties and cancellation of FPI licences.
4. SEBI Anchor Investor Limits for Low-Rated Bond Issues Raised
- SEBI lifted anchor allocation to up to 50% for bonds rated BBB and below.
- Bonds rated A+ to A- can allot 40% to anchors; earlier cap was 30%.
- EBP pricing is now mandatory from ₹20 crore, down from ₹50 crore.
5. NSDL Electronic Bidding Platform: Debt Private Placements
- NSDL-EBP is a digital platform for issuing debt securities such as NCDs through private placement.
- It is mandatory for issues of ₹200 crore or more, including any green shoe option.
- A 2018 SEBI circular superseded the 2016 one on the electronic book mechanism.
6. SEBI Audit Committee and Internal Audit Norms for MIIs
- SEBI barred executive directors, including the MD, from audit committees of market infrastructure institutions.
- Auditors and KMPs may be heard but cannot vote.
- MIIs need an internal audit at least yearly by an independent firm reporting only to the audit committee.
7. TCS BaNCS to Modernise Mongolia’s Khan Bank Core Banking
- TCS renewed its 25-year tie-up with Khan Bank, among Mongolia's biggest lenders.
- TCS BaNCS Global Banking Platform will replace the bank's legacy core banking system.
- Khan Bank serves 82% of Mongolia's population.
- Modules include CIF, trade finance, treasury, international payments, and retail lending and deposits.
8. RBI Nod for Emirates NBD to Convert India Branches to WOS
- Emirates NBD won RBI's in-principle nod to turn its Indian branches into a WOS.
- WOS framework: introduced 2013, minimum capital ₹500 crore, Basel III from inception.
- DBS (Singapore) and SBM (Mauritius) already run as WOS banks.
Economy
9. Anchor Investors in IPOs: Role, SEBI Rules and Benefits
- Anchor investors must be Qualified Institutional Buyers such as mutual funds, banks, insurers and pension funds.
- SEBI rules: minimum ₹10 crore per anchor, 30-day lock-in and at most 60% of the QIB quota reserved for anchors.
- Anchors are allotted shares one day before the IPO opens, which helps gauge demand and set price.
- Their participation signals confidence, aids price discovery and reduces listing-day volatility.
Agriculture & Rural
10. Uttar Pradesh Draws ₹6,772 Crore Ethanol Investment
- UP made over 1.50 billion litres of ethanol in FY2023-24 from 102 distilleries.
- ₹6,772 crore private investment will add 1.06 billion litres capacity.
- India targets 20% blending by 2025.
11. Rent-a-Bee: Hired Pollination as Wild Bees Decline
- India's bee numbers fell 20%, up to 80% in places like Odisha.
- Nitin Kumar Singh of Barabanki runs 600+ rentable bee boxes.
- Rent is Rs 2,500 per box a month; pollination can lift yields 20-35%.
12. Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan 2025: Dates, Goals, Six-Point Plan
- Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan 2025 ran from 29 May to 12 June 2025.
- It was launched by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
- The campaign aims to support a Viksit Bharat by 2047 through stronger agriculture.
- 16,000+ agricultural scientists and 731 KVKs are involved.
13. AI in Agriculture: Uses, Savings and Adoption Hurdles
- AI precision irrigation can save 20-30% of water.
- One Minnesota farmer saved $32 per acre with targeted herbicide use.
- Hurdles: connectivity, old machines, talent gap, data ownership.
Environment & Ecology
14. Operation Olivia 2025: Coast Guard Protects Olive Ridley Turtles
- Operation Olivia is an Indian Coast Guard initiative protecting Olive Ridley turtles in the November to May nesting season.
- Its focus is the Odisha coast, mainly Gahirmatha Beach and Rushikulya river mouth.
- Over 6.98 lakh turtles nested at Rushikulya in February 2025, the highest mass nesting there.
- Olive Ridleys are Schedule I under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Reports & Indexes
15. Panchayat Advancement Index: Data for Local Governance
- The Ministry of Panchayati Raj released the Panchayat Advancement Index in April 2025, covering 2.16 lakh+ gram panchayats.
- It uses 435 local indicators (331 mandatory, 104 optional) and 566 data points across 9 LSDG-aligned themes.
- Only 23,207 of 57,702 Uttar Pradesh panchayats (40%) submitted data.
16. MGNREGA FY25 Findings: LibTech India Report on Delays and Gaps
- LibTech India found MGNREGA registrations up 8.6% in FY25 while employment delivery fell 7.1%.
- Only 7% of households got 100 days; average person-days fell from 52.42 to 50.18.
- Only 3.76% of eligible delayed payments were compensated.
Awards & Persons
17. Scottie Scheffler Wins 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow
- Scottie Scheffler, the World No. 1, won the 2025 PGA Championship, his third Major title.
- The tournament was played at Quail Hollow.
- He finished at 11-under 273 after a level-par 71 on the last day.
- Winning margin was five strokes over Harris English, Davis Riley and Bryson DeChambeau.
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