Current Affairs Quiz – June 2025

Notes:
World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on May 31 to spread awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco. It was established by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1987 and first observed in 1988. The theme for this year is “Bright products. Dark intentions. Unmasking the Appeal”, highlighting how attractive-looking tobacco products hide serious health dangers. Tobacco causes over 8 million preventable deaths globally each year. The day encourages stronger policies, public awareness, and quitting support to reduce tobacco use. It also aims to protect people, especially youth, from the health, economic, and environmental harm caused by tobacco.

Notes:
Recently, the ‘Yashoda AI: Your AI SAKHI’ event was held at Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Bareilly to promote women’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy and digital awareness. It is an initiative of the National Commission for Women (NCW) in collaboration with Future Shift Labs (FSL). The mission is to empower women, especially from rural and semi-urban areas, with skills in AI, cybersecurity, and digital safety. The Yashoda AI Abhiyan aims to support a Viksit Bharat by making women active contributors in a tech-driven future. The program includes discussions on AI-driven crimes, digital privacy, and safety strategies. It involves students, educators, and women from the police force to promote community-based digital education and leadership.

Notes:
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.

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:
Telangana government has launched a Composite Backwardness Index (CBI) using data from a caste survey covering over 3.5 crore people. Composite Backwardness Index (CBI) is developed by an expert panel using 42 indicators across nine categories to measure caste-wise backwardness scientifically. This approach moves away from older methods like the Mandal Commission, which used population size and just 11 indicators for identifying backwardness. It marks a global first in using detailed data to assess social and economic backwardness more accurately.

Notes:
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.

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:
Assam and Meghalaya governments have agreed to build a 55 Megawatt (MW) hydropower project on the Kulsi River, which is home to the endangered Gangetic Dolphin. The Kulsi River flows through Meghalaya and Assam. Kulsi River originates in Meghalaya and flows around 60 km through West Khasi Hills into Kamrup district of Assam before joining the Brahmaputra River. It is a small, shallow river around 70–80 meters wide and known for its rich biodiversity.

Notes:
Canada will host the 2025 G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17. Canada has hosted six summits earlier—in 1981, 1988, 1995, 2002, 2010, and 2018. The Group of 7 (G7) is an informal forum of seven major industrialised democracies—United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and United Kingdom. The first G7 summit was held in 1975 in France, and Canada joined in 1976. The group began in 1973 due to global economic crises like the oil shock and the collapse of the Bretton Woods system.

Notes:
Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the Waste Picker Enumeration App under the National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme to empower waste pickers. This digital platform will identify and support waste pickers by giving them formal identity, health insurance, skill training, and livelihood access. NAMASTE scheme now aims to enumerate 2.5 lakh waste pickers and integrate them into India’s formal sanitation and circular economy systems.