Daily Current Affairs Quiz: June 20, 2025

Notes:
The Bajau tribe, also known as the Sama-Bajau, lives in coastal areas of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines and depends entirely on the sea. They are excellent free divers, diving 20–30 meters deep and holding their breath for 5–13 minutes without equipment. Recent research shows that the Bajau have spleens that are 50% larger than average, helping them dive longer and deeper. This adaptation is linked to a variation in the PDE10A gene.

Notes:
Kannampadi, a tribal settlement in the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala, is getting three new libraries to support tribal students and residents. This marks a new chapter in education and learning opportunities for the local community. Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kerala. The region features steep mountains, valleys, and hills with altitudes between 450 to 1272 meters. Vanjur Medu is the highest peak at 1272 meters.

Notes:
After 250 years, the long-lost ship of Captain James Cook, HMS Endeavour, has been found off Newport Harbour, Rhode Island. The ship was the first European vessel to reach eastern Australia during Cook’s 1768–1771 expedition. It was later renamed Lord Sandwich and sank in 1778 during the American War of Independence. The Australian National Maritime Museum confirmed the wreck after 25 years of underwater exploration and global research. The shipwreck, labeled RI 2394, was identified by matching its structure with Cook’s 1768 plans.

Notes:
World Sickle Cell Day is observed every year on 19 June to spread awareness about sickle cell disease. It aims to educate people about early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of this inherited blood disorder. Sickle cell disease is a common monogenic disease, with over 3,00,000 births affected each year worldwide. Most cases are found in low- and middle-income countries, including India, which has the world’s second-highest burden. The 2025 theme is “Global Action, Local Impact: Empowering Communities for Effective Self-Advocacy.”

Notes:
The Ministry of Education released the Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 report for 2022–23 and 2023–24 to assess school education. Chandigarh secured the top rank while Meghalaya was ranked lowest. PGI 2.0 is an evidence-based tool to evaluate the performance of States and Union Territories in school education. PGI 2.0 has a total weightage of 1000 points spread over 73 indicators under two categories: Outcome and Governance & Management.