Current Affairs Quiz – June 2025

Notes:
Recently, scientists discovered a new frog species named Amolops shillong, or the Shillong Cascade Frog, right inside the city limits of Shillong, Meghalaya. This frog lives in fast-flowing streams hidden within Shillong’s urban forest areas. It belongs to a group of stream frogs that look very similar and are hard to identify. Genetic studies confirmed that Amolops shillong is part of the Amolops indoburmanensis complex and is closely related to Amolops siju, which was found in Siju Cave by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in 2023.

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:
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:
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, recently developed a metal-based nanozyme to help control abnormal blood clotting caused by Pulmonary Thromboembolism (PTE). Pulmonary Thromboembolism is a condition where blood clots block arteries in the lungs, which can be life-threatening. Nanozymes are nanomaterials that act like enzymes and can be made from metals, metal oxides, or carbon-based substances. This new nanozyme could offer a promising treatment option by safely breaking down harmful clots.

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The Union government has invited proposals to set up District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs) in 291 gap districts across 30 States and Union Territories under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR). NAPDDR is a centrally sponsored scheme aimed at reducing drug abuse through education, de-addiction, and rehabilitation. It focuses on awareness creation, reducing stigma, and reintegrating affected individuals into society. It also aims to build human resource capacity and support research, training, and innovation.

Notes:
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced that India has been elected to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the 2026–2028 term. India was elected from the Asia-Pacific States group, which has four seats, along with Lebanon, Turkmenistan, and China. ECOSOC was established in 1945 under the UN Charter and is one of the six main organs of the United Nations. It is headquartered in New York, United States.

Notes:
On June 5, 2025, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 8th edition of “EnviStats India 2025: Environment Statistics” during a national workshop in New Delhi. The report follows the Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES) 2013 and compiles data from various ministries and departments. Inland fish production rose from 61.36 lakh tonnes to 139.07 lakh tonnes, showing strong aquaculture growth. The publication includes data on Ramsar sites, population access to electricity, transport, sanitation, and environmental temperature changes. The highest government expenditure was on the Environment Sustainability Sector with Rs. 2433.24 crore in 2021-22.

Notes:
Recently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that the India-England Test series will now be called the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. This honors Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, who played 200 Tests before retiring in 2013, and England’s James Anderson, who retired in July 2024 after 188 Tests. Earlier, the series in England was known as the Pataudi Trophy and in India as the Anthony de Mello Trophy. This renaming follows a global trend like the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy for England–New Zealand Tests and Border-Gavaskar Trophy for India–Australia Tests.

Notes:
India hosted the 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi under the chairmanship of External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar. The meeting focused on regional security, critical minerals, connectivity, counter-terrorism, and economic integration with five Central Asian nations. The India-Central Asia Dialogue is a multilateral platform for foreign ministers to hold structured discussions. The dialogue aims to boost cooperation in trade, transport, energy, health, information technology, and regional stability.