On May 12, 2025, India and the world witnessed significant developments across various sectors. In today's important news, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a $2.4 billion loan to support Pakistan’s economic recovery. Meanwhile, India has taken a major step towards water security with the announcement of the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project. In Kerala, health officials are on high alert due to a fresh outbreak of the Nipah virus, raising concerns about public safety and disease control. These headlines reflect key developments in international finance, environmental planning, and public health.

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:

IMF approves $2.4 billion funding to Pakistan

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper III (Economy) 

In News:

• The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved $2.4 billion funding to Pakistan.
• This includes $1 billion under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and $1.4 billion under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
• Pakistan has received 25 loans from the IMF since 1948, making it one of the most frequent borrowers.

What is the Issue?

• India raised objections about IMF lending to Pakistan, which has been a frequent borrower and allegedly uses resources irresponsibly.
• The IMF Executive Board’s structure and rules do not allow a “No” vote, only “Yes” or “Abstain”.
• The loan package was a continuation of previous agreements, further restricting India's ability to oppose it formally.
• India, despite being a key IMF member, has a limited vote share (3.05%), reducing its influence compared to countries like the US (16.49%).

India’s Position and Reasons for Abstention

• India opposed the funding due to:
  • Pakistan’s persistent failure to meet IMF programme conditions.
  • Risk that loans may be misused for terrorism or military purposes.
  • Pakistan being a“prolonged borrower”, having taken loans in 28 of the last 35 years.
  • IMF’s repeated bailouts fostering dependency, making Pakistan "too big to fail".
• Why India couldn’t vote “No”:
  • The decision involved continuation of a pre-existing loan (EFF).
  • Procedurally, this is not open to fresh vote unless IMF staff object.
  • Therefore, the only option available to India was to abstain.

Know more about the IMF's World Economic Outlook Report 2025!

Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: Geography (GS Paper I)

In News:

• Governments of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra signed an MoU to jointly implement the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project.

Project Features:

• Water Utilization:
  • Total planned usage: 31.13 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet)
• Allocation:
  • Maharashtra: 19.36 TMC
  • Madhya Pradesh: 11.76 TMC
• Land Requirement:
  • 3,362 hectares in M.P.
  • No displacement or rehabilitation needed
• Irrigation Benefits:
  • M.P.: Irrigation for 1,23,082 hectares
  • Maharashtra: Irrigation for 2,34,706 hectares
• Funding:
  • Expected 90% funding by the Central Government
• Significance of the Initiative
  • Described as the world’s largest groundwater recharge scheme.
  • Follows two other major water agreements involving Madhya Pradesh:
    • Ken-Betwa River Link with Uttar Pradesh
    • Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link with Rajasthan
  • Marks revival of a project originally proposed in the 1990s by Devendra Fadnavis, then Mayor of Nagpur.
  • Demonstrates cooperative federalism in river basin management.

Read the article on the Important Cities on the Banks of Rivers!

Nipah Virus Outbreak in Kerala

Source: PIB

Syllabus: GS Paper III (Science & Technology)

In News:

• A 42-year-old woman from Valanchery, Kerala is critically ill after being infected with the Nipah virus.

• Despite receiving monoclonal antibody therapy, her condition has not improved.

• This marks the seventh recorded Nipah outbreak in Kerala since 2018.

• The incident has raised public health concerns due to Nipah's high fatality rate and zoonotic nature.

What is Nipah Virus?

• Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus (transmitted from animals to humans).
• Belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus.
• First identified in 1998–99 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore.
• Causes severe respiratory illness and acute encephalitis in humans.
• First outbreak in India: 2001 in Siliguri, West Bengal.
• Mortality Rate: 40% to 75%, varies by outbreak and region

Causes and Transmission

• Natural host: Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, particularly Pteropus genus.
• Transmission routes:
  • Animal-to-human: Direct contact with infected bats or pigs
  • Human-to-human: Close contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals
  • Consumption of contaminated fruits or date palm sap

Symptoms

• Incubation period: 4–14 days, can extend to 45 days
• Initial symptoms:
  • Fever, headache, sore throat, vomiting
• Severe progression:
  • Dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, neurological signs
  • It can progress to acute encephalitis and coma
• Respiratory symptoms can also be prominent, resembling dengue or influenza

Read the article on the HMPV Virus!

Read the article on the Chandipura Virus!