On May 21, 2025, India and the world witnessed significant developments across various sectors. Rising oil price tensions have stirred concerns about inflation and energy security, while Operation Olivia continues its crucial role in protecting the endangered Olive Ridley turtles along India's eastern coast. In the realm of justice delivery, the introduction of the e-Zero FIR initiative marks a significant step towards making the legal system more accessible and technology-driven. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court's decision to strike down retrospective environmental clearances reinforces the judiciary's commitment to environmental accountability and the rule of law.

Awareness regarding daily UPSC current affairs is crucial for cracking the UPSC Prelims, excelling in UPSC Mains. It helps perform well in the UPSC personality test, thus becoming an informed and effective UPSC civil servant.

Below are the current affairs and headlines of the day taken from The Hindu, Indian Express, Press Information Bureau & All India Radio as required for UPSC preparation:

Mizoram Achieves Full Functional Literacy

Source: PIB

Syllabus: GS Paper II (Governance) 

In News

• On 20th May 2025, Mizoram was officially declared a fully literate state by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Lalduhoma, marking a historic achievement in the field of education.

• With this, Mizoram becomes the first state in India to attain full functional literacy, surpassing the benchmark of 95% literacy as per the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

About the Achievement

The declaration was made at a special function in Aizawl, in the presence of Union Minister Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Mizoram’s Education Minister Dr. Vanlalthlana, and other dignitaries. The success comes under the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme), a centrally sponsored scheme aimed at adult literacy.

Significance of this Achievement

Mizoram’s achievement sets a national benchmark in inclusive education and demonstrates the effectiveness of decentralized, volunteer-led literacy programs. It underscores the power of community engagement in realizing the vision of a literate and empowered India.

Survey and Results

A door-to-door survey conducted in August–September 2023 identified 3,026 non-literate individuals across Mizoram. Of these, 1,692 were actively engaged in literacy activities. As per PFLS (Periodic Foundational Literacy Survey) 2023–24, Mizoram recorded a literacy rate of 98.20%, qualifying it for full literacy status.

Know more about Literacy and School Education!

Oil Price Tensions

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper III (Economy) 

In News:

• OPEC+ announced a collective output increase of 4,11,000 barrels per day (bpd) starting June 2025.

• This was the third consecutive monthly hike, partially reversing the 2.2 million bpd “voluntary” production cuts from 2023.

• The announcement led to an immediate 2% drop in Brent crude prices, falling to $60.23/barrel, the lowest since the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The issue has broader ramifications due to geopolitical motivations, market oversupply, and the looming plateau in global oil demand.

What is the Issue?

• OPEC+ producers, especially Saudi Arabia, are reversing earlier production cuts to reassert dominance over a fragmented oil market.
• Saudi Arabia is retaliating against overproducing members (e.g., Iraq, Kazakhstan, UAE, Nigeria) by adopting a market share strategy, akin to an oil price war.
• Despite lower prices, global demand is stagnant, undercutting earlier assumptions of a post-COVID demand surge.
• The market is grappling with:
  • Oversupply
  • Weak economic forecasts

Know more about Crude Oil Pricing!

Status of the Oil Market at Present

Oil Prices:

• Brent crude: Dropped to $60.23/barrel, now recovering around $65/barrel.
• Nowhere near the triple-digit target of OPEC+.

Demand:

• Global demand growth estimated at only 0.73% in 2025 (IEA).
• Signs of “peak demand” emerging earlier than predicted.

Supply:

• Increased production from Brazil, Guyana, and U.S. shale producers.
• Sanctioned oil from Russia, Iran, Venezuela may return to markets.

Economic Climate:

• S&P Global: Global GDP forecast 2.2% (2025) and 2.4% (2026).
• WTO: Predicts 0.2% drop in global trade in 2025.
• Uncertainty due to Trump’s tariff wars and slowing global growth.

Key Decisions Taken

Production Increase:

• OPEC+ increased crude oil output by 4,11,000 bpd starting June 2025.
• Further rollback of 2.2 million bpd voluntary cuts expected by October 2025.

Strategic Shift by Saudi Arabia:

• Shift from price stability to market share dominance.

Motivated by:

• Frustration over non-compliance by other producers.
• Need to maximize revenue before global transition from oil.
• Political signaling to the U.S. ahead of President Trump’s state visit.

Operation Olivia

Source: PIB

Syllabus: GS Paper III (Environment)

In News:

• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has successfully protected over 6.98 lakh Olive Ridley turtles during the 2024–25 nesting season under Operation Olivia.

• A record mass nesting event occurred at the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha in February 2025.

• The initiative is part of India's marine conservation efforts and has shown significant results in ensuring safe nesting grounds for Olive Ridley turtles.

What is Operation Olivia?

Operation Olivia is an annual conservation initiative by the Indian Coast Guard, started in the 1980s, operational from November to May each year.

• Its primary objective is to protect Olive Ridley turtles during their nesting season along the Odisha coastline, especially at:
  • Gahirmatha Beach
  • Rushikulya river mouth
  • Devi river mouth
• The operation is named after the Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) turtles, known for mass nesting or arribada events.

Key Details Related to Operation Olivia

Patrolling & Surveillance

• 5,387 surface patrol sorties and 1,768 aerial surveillance missions have been conducted to monitor the coastal areas.
• Surveillance is done using ICG ships, aircraft, drones, and radars to prevent illegal activities.

Enforcement

• 366 boats involved in illegal fishing have been detained since inception.
• Strict enforcement of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Marine Fishing Regulation Acts.

Community Engagement

• Promotes the use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) among local fishermen.
• Conducts awareness campaigns and has partnered with NGOs via MoUs.
• Ensures coordination with Forest Departments, State Fisheries, and conservationists.

e-Zero FIR

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper II (Governance)

In News:

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the e-Zero FIR initiative as a pilot project in Delhi.

• This initiative, developed by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), will automatically convert financial cybercrime complaints (with fraud amounts above ₹10 lakh) lodged via 1930 helpline or cybercrime.gov.in into First Information Reports (FIRs).

• Aimed at creating a "Cyber Secure Bharat", the initiative intends to speed up cybercrime investigations, improve recovery of lost money, and ensure timely punitive action.

What is e-Zero FIR Initiative?

• The e-Zero FIR initiative is a technology-driven mechanism where eligible cyber financial crime complaints are automatically registered as FIRs, bypassing delays due to jurisdictional barriers.
• Initially applicable to frauds above ₹10 lakh, reported through:
  • National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP)
  • Cybercrime Helpline 1930
• It is being piloted in Delhi and will be rolled out to other States and Union Territories.

Supreme Court struck down Retrospective Environmental Clearance

Source: The Indian Express

Syllabus: GS Paper III (Environment)

In News:

Supreme Court of India struck down:

• The 2017 notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) allowing ex-post facto (retrospective) environmental clearances.

• The 2021 Office Memorandum (OM) which laid down Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for streamlining post-facto clearances.

• The judgment came in response to a series of petitions challenging the legality of these instruments.

• The apex court restrained the government from issuing any similar future orders, terming them violative of constitutional and environmental principles.

What is the Issue?

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 mandates prior environmental clearance before starting any industrial or infrastructure project.

• However, in 2017, the Centre issued a notification allowing a “one-time” six-month window for industries that had:
  • Already begun operations, or
  • Expanded production, or
  • Changed product mix without prior clearance, to apply retrospectively for approval.
• The Centre’s rationale:
  • Bring violators under the compliance net.
  • Impose remediation and penalty costs to neutralize economic gains.
• In 2021, an Office Memorandum (OM) introduced SOPs for handling such post-facto clearances.
• Critics and environmentalists argued that these measures undermined the EIA process and rewarded non-compliance.

Key Points from the Supreme Court Judgement

Violation of Fundamental Rights

• Held that both the 2017 notification and 2021 OM violate:
  • Article 21: Right to life includes the right to a pollution-free and healthy environment.
  • Article 14: Right to equality; cannot create special exceptions for violators.

Rejection of Post-Facto Clearances

• Reaffirmed that ex-post facto environmental clearances are illegal and contrary to:
  • Environmental jurisprudence, and
  • Statutory framework under EIA 2006.
• Cited key cases:
  • Common Cause v. Union of India (2017): Emphasized pre-approval necessity.
  • Alembic Pharmaceuticals v. Rohit Prajapati (2020): Declared post-facto clearance as “anathema” to environmental laws.

Critique of the Government's Conduct

• Criticized the Centre for trying to protect polluters rather than upholding environmental laws.
• Noted the Centre’s misleading conduct:
  • It had previously assured the Madras High Court that the 2017 measure was a one-time exception.
  • However, it continued to operationalize a post-facto regime through the 2021 SOP.

Practical Implications

• About 100 projects had been granted retrospective clearances under the 2017-2021 regime.
• The SC judgment invalidates the mechanism, raising questions over the future legality of such clearances.

Future Direction

• The Court barred the Centre from issuing any future notifications or OMs that would effectively reintroduce post-facto clearance mechanisms, regardless of terminology.
• Reasserted the need for prior scrutiny through EIA as per law, including:
  • Impact Assessment,
  • Public consultation, and
  • Expert appraisal.