Best Current Affairs Questions

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The first Olympic Esports Games will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027. This is part of a 12-year deal with Saudi Arabia signed last year. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) aims to engage a younger audience through Esports, as its traditional fanbase ages. In 2021, the Olympic Virtual Series was launched as a pilot for Esports. A six-member committee will decide which games will be included in the first Olympic Esports Games. Saudi Arabia has invested billions in sports, facing criticism for “sportswashing” due to human rights concerns.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings on Thaipusam. Thaipusam is named after the Tamil month “Thai” and the star “Poosam.” It honors Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war, victory, and wisdom. The festival marks the day when Goddess Parvati gave Lord Murugan the divine vel (spear) to defeat the demon Surapadma. It is celebrated on the full moon day of the Tamil month Thai. It is widely observed by Tamils in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, and other countries.

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India ranked sixth in the Climate Risk Index 2025 by Germanwatch, highlighting its climate vulnerability. It was among the 10 most affected countries by extreme weather events from 1993 to 2022. India accounted for 10% of global fatalities and 4.3% of economic losses due to such events. The country faced floods, heatwaves, and cyclones, with major floods in 1993, 1998, and 2013. Severe heatwaves occurred in 2002, 2003, and 2015. More than 400 extreme events caused $180 billion in losses and at least 80,000 deaths in India.

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Forest rights activists and lawyers raised concerns over Madhya Pradesh’s order for surveillance of nomadic tribes, including the Pardhi community. Pardhis are a nomadic tribe historically involved in hunting since the Mughal era. They were hired for hunting by the British and Indian landlords. They primarily live in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, with small groups in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. The name “Pardhi” comes from “paradh,” meaning hunter in Marathi.

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ISRO recently conducted a successful hot test on the semi-cryogenic engine (SE2000), advancing towards finalizing the cryogenic stage. The semi-cryogenic engine (SCE) uses liquid oxygen (LOX) as an oxidizer and refined kerosene (RP-1) as fuel. ISRO is developing the 2000 kN thrust SCE for future heavy-lift launch vehicles. Kerosene is more cost-effective and easier to handle than liquid hydrogen, simplifying storage and reducing mission costs. The engine will enhance ISRO’s launch vehicle payload capacity and is planned for use in the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV).

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A rare sighting of the Sarus Crane was reported in Saikhowa, Tinsukia, Assam, drawing bird lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. The Sarus Crane (Grus antigone) is the tallest flying bird in the world. It is found in Southeast Asia, northern India, and northern Australia. In India, it is mainly seen along the Gangetic plain and eastern Rajasthan, with fewer in southern regions. The species is non-migratory. It primarily inhabits wetlands like canals, marshes, and ponds, sometimes near human settlements.

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Health authorities in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, have issued a public alert after a rise in Legionnaires’ disease cases in Sydney, raising fears of contamination in air conditioning systems. Legionnaires’ disease is a serious lung infection caused by Legionella bacteria, usually found in natural water bodies but can also grow in man-made systems like cooling towers. The bacteria can lead to two illnesses: Legionnaires’ disease, a severe pneumonia, and Pontiac fever, a mild flu-like illness. Common symptoms include cough, fever, muscle pain, shortness of breath, and sometimes confusion or diarrhea. It spreads by inhaling contaminated water droplets, not from person to person. There is no vaccine, but antibiotic treatment is effective once diagnosed.

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In the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), India ranks 151 out of 180 countries. This is a slight improvement from 159th in 2024 and 161st in 2023, but India still remains in the “very serious” press freedom category. India ranks lower than neighbours like Nepal (90th), Maldives (104th), Sri Lanka (139th), and Bangladesh (149th). Norway, Estonia, and the Netherlands are the top three performers in press freedom globally. For the first time, global press freedom is seen as in a “difficult situation” due to rising economic pressures.

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The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided to begin repair work on the damaged mihrab structure around the old water tank at Safa Masjid in Ponda, Goa. Safa Masjid, also called Safa Shahouri Masjid, is a historic mosque built in 1560 by Sultan Adil Shah of Bijapur. It is one of the few Islamic monuments in Goa that survived the Portuguese colonial period, during which many religious sites were destroyed. The mosque is known for its architectural and cultural value and is declared a national monument under the protection of ASI. The recent decision by ASI follows months of delay and brings hope for the preservation of this heritage site.

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Recently, L.R. Srihari from Tamil Nadu became India’s 86th Grandmaster (GM) in chess. He crossed the required 2500 Elo rating in May 2023 at the Dubai Open. He earned his first Grandmaster norm at the Sixdays Budapest Grandmaster Round-Robin in August 2023, and the second at the 2023 Qatar Masters. After nearly a year and nine tournaments, he finally achieved his third and final Grandmaster norm at the ongoing Asian Individual Championships in Al-Ain, Abu Dhabi.