Current Affairs Quiz – June 2025

Notes:
China recently launched the Tianwen-2 probe to collect samples from the asteroid 2016HO3 and explore the distant main-belt comet 311P. It was launched using the Long March 3-B rocket. The mission will continue till the end of 2027. Earlier in 2021, China’s Tianwen-1 mission landed on Mars with an orbiter, lander, and the Zhurong rover. Tianwen-3 is planned for launch around 2028 to collect and return samples from Mars. Tianwen-4 is expected to explore Jupiter around 2030.

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The Ministry of Ayush launched the AyushSuraksha Portal to boost consumer protection and regulation in traditional medicine. Union Minister of State Shri Prataprao Jadhav unveiled it at Ayush Bhawan, New Delhi, highlighting its role in ensuring transparency and safety. The portal allows citizens and professionals to report misleading advertisements and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in real time. Developed with support from the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS), it aligns with the National Pharmacovigilance Program. It connects State Licensing Authorities, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoI&B), Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH), Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

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In a bid to boost and expedite investments in agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare launched the Krishi Nivesh Portal. The portal acts as a one-stop platform for farmers, entrepreneurs and industries. It provides easy access to Central and State Government schemes in the agriculture sector. Currently, it gives information on 17 key schemes like Agriculture Infrastructure Fund and Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund.

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India’s External Affairs Minister recently greeted Samoa on its Independence Day, celebrated every year on 1st June. Samoa is a Polynesian island nation located in the central South Pacific Ocean. It lies about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii and consists of nine islands, with four inhabited. Its capital and main commercial centre is Apia, located on Upolu. Samoa gained independence from New Zealand in 1962 as the first Pacific island nation to do so.

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Recently, Lieutenant General Dinesh Singh Rana took charge as the 18th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN). The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is India’s first integrated theatre command, established in 2001. It is headquartered in Port Blair and integrates the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The command plays a crucial role in securing India’s strategic interests in the Indian Ocean Region. The post of Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) rotates among the three armed services.

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A rare migratory bird called the Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans) was recently sighted for the first time in Kerala by a Kozhikode-based ornithologist. It is a monotypic, large, white-headed gull and is one of the rarest gulls found in India. It usually nests on flat, low-lying land near water bodies like lakes, rivers, and reservoirs in steppe and semi-desert areas of Central Asia. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), its conservation status is Least Concern.

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Lee Jae-myung was sworn in as the 14th President of South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, in Seoul on June 4, 2025. He won the Presidential by-election held on June 3, 2025, after the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, defeated Kim Moon-soo of the ruling People Power Party. He secured 51.7% of the vote, while Kim got 39.3%.

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Raja Khas village in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, has been declared the state’s first solar model village under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. All public institutions like schools, panchayat office, health centres, anganwadis, and community halls have been solarized. It promotes clean energy, rural self-reliance, and serves as a model for green transition in hilly areas.

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, marking five decades since its establishment. ECOWAS was created on May 28, 1975, through the Lagos Treaty signed in Lagos, Nigeria. It was formed to promote regional cooperation, economic integration, and peace across West Africa. The bloc aims for a single economic union with a common currency and shared policies in trade, energy, transport, and more.

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Former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was elected President of the 80th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on June 2. She won the secret ballot with 167 votes, while 14 countries chose to abstain. Baerbock is the first woman from the Western European group and the fifth woman overall to lead the UN General Assembly. The 80th session begins on September 9, 2025, and will focus on global crises and reforms like the UN80 initiative and choosing the next Secretary-General before 2026.