Current Affairs Quiz – June 2025

Notes:
Union Agriculture Minister launched the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA-2025) at the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Bhubaneswar. The campaign aims to empower over 1.5 crore farmers by accelerating agricultural transformation in India. It is led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and coordinated by ICAR-CIFA. The goal is to spread advanced technologies in agriculture and fisheries to rural areas. It promotes self-reliance, sustainability, and resilience in farming and aquaculture. The campaign supports the vision of Viksit Bharat, meaning Developed India. It targets over 5 crore farmers across all districts through training, demos, and farmer-scientist interactions. It highlights fisheries as an essential part of rural development and livelihood security.

Notes:
Recently, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested alleged members of a transnational cybercrime syndicate under Operation Chakra-V. Operation Chakra-V aims to curb transnational organized cybercrime and digital arrests. Digital arrest is a scam where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officials to extort money using threats like arrest, frozen bank accounts, and passport cancellations. To fight cybercrime, India has set up the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Cyber Surakshit Bharat, Cyber Swachhta Kendra, and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In). These initiatives work together to protect citizens and strengthen cybersecurity in the country.

Notes:
Hawaii became the first U.S. state to introduce a climate impact fee called the Green Fee. The fee applies to hotel stays, short-term rentals, and, for the first time, cruise ship passengers who were previously exempt. The Green Fee aims to fund climate resiliency, environmental protection, invasive species control, wildlife conservation, and sustainable tourism.

Notes:
Recently, Calotes zolaiking, a rare garden lizard species, was recorded for the first time in Meghalaya. It was first described in 2019 from Aizawl district in Mizoram by a team of scientists. This lizard is about 5 inches long and has green shades with dark patches and sharp ridged scales called “strongly keeled” scales. Calotes belong to the Agamidae family and are arboreal, meaning they live in trees. India is home to 14 Calotes species, found in gardens and forests across India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and some Pacific islands.

Notes:
The Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development, will conduct the second phase of capacity-building under the NAKSHA programme starting 2nd June 2025. The NAtional geospatial Knowledge-based land Survey of urban Habitations (NAKSHA) programme is a city survey initiative under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP). It is led by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) under the Ministry of Rural Development. The programme prepares detailed maps of towns and cities to improve land records.

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:
The Valley of Flowers recently reopened to tourists for this year. The Valley of Flowers National Park is located in the Uttarakhand. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, along with Nanda Devi National Park. It was discovered in 1931 by British mountaineer Frank S. Smythe and his team. It is famous for its rich flora like orchids, poppies, daisies, and medicinal herbs.

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:
China has recently announced plans to build the world’s first hybrid fusion-fission nuclear plant named Xinghuo, which means “spark” in Mandarin. This plant will combine both fusion and fission reactions to increase energy production and reduce radioactive waste. Fusion involves joining atomic nuclei, while fission splits them; together, they can offer a more efficient and cleaner energy solution. Xinghuo aims to set a new global standard in sustainable and high-output nuclear power technology.