Current Affairs Quiz – June 2025

Notes:
Recently, flamingos have arrived in large numbers at the Chhaya pond in Porbandar town of Gujarat, creating a stunning natural spectacle. Flamingos are tall birds known for their pink feathers, long legs, and curved necks, though they hatch with grey feathers. They are social birds and live in large colonies, often gathering in thousands. Their habitats include salty water bodies like lagoons, estuaries, lakes, and mudflats. Greater Flamingos migrate to India from Israel, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and are the State Bird of Gujarat. Lesser Flamingos migrate from Siberia to Mumbai through the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.

Notes:
Recently, three new startups were selected to build India’s own Foundation Model under the IndiaAI Mission, marking a big step in boosting local Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities. The IndiaAI Mission was launched in 2023 as a joint effort by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM). It supports startups and researchers by providing access to high-end computing power. The mission promotes “Making AI in India” by developing AI technologies locally.

Notes:
The Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has announced financial support for India’s first indigenous thrombectomy device. This support aims to improve stroke care by promoting homegrown medical technology. A thrombectomy is a medical procedure to remove blood clots from arteries or veins. These clots, called thrombi, can block blood flow and damage tissues or organs. Thrombectomy helps restore proper blood circulation and prevents serious health risks.

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:
Furnace and iron slag were recently found at Daojali Hading, showing early metallurgical practices during the Neolithic Age. Daojali Hading is a Neolithic site in Assam’s Dima Hasao district near the Brahmaputra valley. It gave India its first evidence of an Eastern Asiatic Neolithic complex, including double-shouldered celts and cord-marked pottery.

Notes:
Recently, Mount Etna volcano on Sicily island in Italy erupted, drawing global attention. It is the highest mountain on a Mediterranean island and the most active stratovolcano in the world. It is also recognised as a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site.

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:
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:
The Union Ministry of Environment recently declared two new Ramsar sites in Rajasthan: Menar in Udaipur and Khichan in Phalodi. Menar is a freshwater monsoon wetland formed by Braham talab, Dhand talab, Kheroda talab, and nearby farmland that floods during monsoon. It supports water birds like the critically endangered white-rumped vulture and long-billed vulture. Khichan in the Thar Desert includes Ratri river and Vijaysagar pond, and supports 150 bird species.

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.