🗞 Daily GK One Liners: May 12, 2025
Your quick summary of the day's important events across National, International, Business, Science & Technology, Sports, and Important Days.
🇮🇳 National News
- Union Minister Manohar Lal Inaugurates ‘Bharat Bodh Kendra’: New hub at India Habitat Centre to promote India’s cultural and civilisational heritage.
🌍 International News
- Taliban Suspends Chess in Afghanistan: Ban imposed due to Sharia law concerns regarding gambling and recreational norms.
- India at UNFF20 – Forest & Biodiversity Achievements Showcased: India highlights 25.17% forest cover, 1.4B saplings under 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam', and Green India Mission progress.
- India & UK Conclude Free Trade Agreement: PMs Modi & Starmer finalize FTA to double bilateral trade to $120B by 2030.
💼 Business News
- Govt Mulls Merger of 4 General Insurance Firms: NIAC, NIC, OIC, and UIIC may be combined to improve competitiveness.
- BII to Invest ₹870 Cr in ReNew Solar: UK’s British International Investment acquires 10% stake in ReNew’s solar manufacturing unit.
🔬 Science & Technology News
- TCS Launches GenAI-Powered MasterCraft Tool: Cuts modernization costs by 70% and boosts delivery speed; already used by a North American bank.
- Dream Sports Signs MoU with Microsoft: Partnership to expand India’s sports-tech and AI gaming ecosystem.
🏅 Sports News
- Deepika Kumari Wins Bronze at Archery World Cup: Defeated Korea’s Kang Chae Young 7–3 in Stage 2 of the World Cup in Shanghai.
📅 Important Days
- International Nurses Day – May 12: Theme: “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies.”
- International Day of Plant Health – May 12: Focus on protecting plant life to ensure food and environmental security.
📖 Explore More & Test Your Knowledge
👉 Take the Daily GK Quiz – May 12, 2025
📚 Daily Current Affairs May 12, 2025 – Full updates & article breakdowns.
🌳 Quick Summary: India at UNFF20 – Forest Achievements, Big Cat Alliance & Global Green Leadership
🌟 Key Highlights
- Forest Cover Growth: India now has 25.17% forest cover. Initiatives like Aravalli Green Wall and mangrove conservation fuel gains.
- 1.4 Billion Saplings Planted: Under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ linking afforestation with maternal honor.
- India Leads IBCA: Champions the International Big Cat Alliance to conserve tigers, lions, leopards & snow leopards.
- Innovative Forest Fire Management: Community engagement, satellite alerts, and fire-resilient certifications launched.
- Natural Capital Accounting: Pilots in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and tiger zones quantify forest ecosystems’ value.
- Green Diplomacy: Invited nations to join scalable adaptation models like IBCA and Green Wall of India.
📖 Why Read the Full Article?
- ✔️ Explore India’s green leadership on the global stage.
- ✔️ Learn how tech like AI and GIS is used in forest policy.
- ✔️ Discover India’s blueprint for biodiversity + climate action.
🔗 Explore More
♟️ Quick Summary: Taliban Suspends Chess in Afghanistan – A Ban Rooted in Sharia Concerns
🌟 Key Highlights
- Chess Temporarily Banned: Taliban authorities suspend the game citing Sharia law compliance concerns.
- Religious Reasoning: Believed to encourage gambling and idle behavior — prohibited under Taliban’s interpretation of Islam.
- Wider Ban Pattern: Continues post-2021 crackdown on MMA, music, and women’s sports.
- Impact in Kabul: Chess cafés closed; players and youth report distress over lost recreational space.
- Global Reaction: Condemned by human rights groups and global chess bodies; viewed as regressive and authoritarian.
📖 Why Read the Full Article?
- ✔️ Understand how recreational rights are being curtailed in Afghanistan.
- ✔️ See the socio-cultural fallout of sports bans under ideological regimes.
- ✔️ Explore how international groups are responding to such measures.