Best Current Affairs Questions

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The Sample Registration System (SRS) 2021 report released by the Registrar General of India (RGI) on May 7 shows that India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR), the average number of children per woman, stayed constant at 2.0 in both 2020 and 2021. Bihar recorded the highest TFR at 3.0, while Delhi and West Bengal had the lowest at 1.4. The share of children aged 0-14 dropped from 41.2% in 1971 to 24.8% in 2021. The working-age population (15-59 years) increased from 53.4% to 66.2% in the same period. The elderly population aged 65+ rose from 5.3% to 5.9%, and those aged 60+ increased from 6% to 9%. Kerala had the highest elderly population at 14.4%, followed by Tamil Nadu at 12.9% and Himachal Pradesh at 12.3%. Bihar, Assam, and Delhi had the lowest elderly population with 6.9%, 7%, and 7.1% respectively. The average age at effective marriage for women has increased from 19.3 years in 1990 to 22.5 years in 2021.

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The ‘Understanding Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Sector: Progress and Challenges’ report was released by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). It highlights key challenges faced by MSMEs, including access to finance, technology adoption, competition, compliance, market access, infrastructure, supply chain issues, and availability of skilled labor across 19 sectors in manufacturing, services, and trading. MSMEs contributed 30.1% to Gross Value Added in FY 2022-23 and 45.79% to exports in FY 2024-25 (up to May 2024). Challenges include inadequate access to credit, high competition, technology adoption issues, and complex regulations. Other difficulties involve poor infrastructure and sourcing raw materials and skilled workers.

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India has developed a new low-cost weapon called Bhargavastra to destroy enemy drones, especially drone swarms. It is made by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) and supports the ‘Make in India’ mission. On May 13, 2025, three successful tests were conducted at the Seaward Firing Range in Gopalpur, Odisha. Bhargavastra uses unguided micro-rockets to hit multiple drones in a 20-meter area and guided micro-missiles for precise strikes. It also includes jammers and spoofers to confuse enemy drones. The system has radar, cameras, sensors, and a command centre to detect and track drones from 6–10 km away. It works in tough terrains and can be used by the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

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Recently, Google launched the AI First India 2025 Startup Accelerator to support AI-based startups in India. The program is designed for startups in the Seed to Series A funding stages. It focuses on emerging areas like Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Multimodal Artificial Intelligence (AI). Selected startups will get mentorship from Google experts and access to Cloud Tensor Processing Units (TPUs). They will also receive advanced AI development tools and help in using AI models like Gemini and Gemma. This initiative highlights Google’s strong commitment to building innovation and AI talent in India’s technology ecosystem.

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The Punjab government banned hybrid paddy and the Pusa-44 variety to tackle groundwater depletion and environmental harm. These varieties consume more water and take longer to mature, worsening Punjab’s groundwater crisis. The ban is based on research by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. Out of 150 blocks, groundwater is overexploited in 114, with only 17 stable. Hybrid paddy is prone to diseases like bacterial blight and smut, which affect yields and nearby crops. Hybrid seeds are costly for small farmers, requiring more pesticides and fertilizers. Taller hybrid plants cause more stubble burning, worsening air pollution. The ban faces legal challenge in Punjab and Haryana High Court on May 19, 2025. Farmers and seed companies oppose the ban, citing uncertainty ahead of sowing season.

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India topped the medal table at the first Junior International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup 2025 held in Suhl, Germany. India won 3 gold, 4 silver, and 4 bronze medals, finishing ahead of the People’s Republic of China. The Suhl meet started on May 19 and was the first Junior ISSF World Cup of 2025. A total of 638 athletes from 59 countries participated in the event. The next Junior ISSF World Cup will be held in New Delhi from September 24 to October 2, 2025.

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The 26th Asian Athletics Championships 2025 takes place in Gumi, South Korea, from May 27 to 31. More than 60 Indian athletes are competing across 30 medal events – 15 for men, 14 for women, and one mixed team event. The championship features participation from more than 2000 athletes representing 43 nations. Servin Sebastian secured India’s first medal at Gumi by winning bronze in the men’s 20km race walk event on the opening day.

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Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the Sanchar Mitra Scheme to improve the connection between the telecom sector and citizens. The scheme focuses on building better communication and understanding between telecom users and service providers. The scheme supports skill development in digital and telecom sectors. It aligns with current government efforts to strengthen digital connectivity across India. The initiative promotes youth participation in technology-driven growth and digital inclusion.

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Telangana Formation Day, also called Telangana Statehood Day, is celebrated every year on June 2. It was formed by dividing the northwestern part of Andhra Pradesh under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. The day is marked by cultural programs, official ceremonies, and public celebrations across Telangana.

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Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma launched the ‘Vande Ganga’ water conservation campaign on June 5, 2025, coinciding with World Environment Day and Ganga Dussehra. The campaign will run till June 20 to raise public awareness and promote water-saving efforts across all 41 districts. Activities include cleanliness drives, Tulsi plant distribution, plastic-free pledges, tree plantation, and worship of rivers and water bodies.