Current Affairs Quiz – June 2025

Notes:
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched the Honorary Rank Promotion Scheme for retiring personnel of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles. This scheme, led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, grants a one-rank honorary promotion from Constable up to Sub-Inspector. It is given on the retirement day to boost morale, pride, and self-respect of the personnel. The promotion is symbolic and does not involve any financial or pension benefits. It applies only if the higher rank exists within the service’s structure. The promotion does not affect the seniority of personnel. This move recognises dedicated service and aims to honour commitment with dignity.

Notes:
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).

Notes:
Luis Montenegro has been reappointed as the Prime Minister of Portugal after the recent general elections. He leads the centre-right Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Democratic Alliance (AD). He aims to focus on improving Portugal’s economy, public services, and the national health system. His return marks a period of political adjustment under a minority government.

Notes:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has committed $10 billion to boost India’s urban development and metro expansion. It will support India’s Urban Challenge Fund to increase private investment in cities. It promotes inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific region. Its headquarters is in Manila, Philippines.

Notes:
India and the United States are deepening ties through the Technology for Resilient, Open and Unified Security and Trust (TRUST) framework. The TRUST framework replaces the earlier U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). It promotes secure, open, and reliable digital cooperation, with a focus on trusted technology supply chains. TRUST aims to boost India’s role as a regional digital hub and net security provider in the Indo-Pacific.

Notes:
The world’s largest container ship, MSC Irina, is making its maiden call at Vizhinjam Port in Kerala, marking its first entry into a South Asian port. MSC Irina is a part of the Irina-class ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs) and was built in 2023. It sails under the Liberian flag and is operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), based in Switzerland. It uses green technologies like air lubrication, energy-efficient propellers, and an advanced hull to reduce carbon emissions.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Recently, the Tamil Nadu government declared a Greater Flamingo Sanctuary at Dhanushkodi in Ramanathapuram district. It lies within the ecologically important Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve. Greater Flamingo is a pink, large wading bird found across Africa, western Asia, and southern Europe. It lives in shallow, salty wetlands and breeds in lagoons and mudflats. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is of Least Concern.

Notes:
Recently, two Chinese nationals were charged in the United States for allegedly smuggling Fusarium graminearum, an agricultural pathogen, into the country. Fusarium graminearum is an ascomycete fungus that causes Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), which affects crops like wheat, maize, barley, oats, and rice. It produces a toxin called Vomitoxin or Deoxynivalenol, which is harmful to both humans and animals. This fungus reduces crop yield and quality while contaminating grains with toxic mycotoxins. This incident raises concerns about agro-terrorism, which is the deliberate use of plant pathogens or pests to attack agriculture and create economic loss, food insecurity, and public fear.

Notes:
Recently, Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia, and Liberia were elected as non-permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council. Their two-year terms will start in January 2026 and last until the end of 2027. They will join existing non-permanent members Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia, serving through 2026. These new members will replace Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia, whose terms end in December 2025. The Security Council has 15 members, including five permanent members with veto power: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.