Current Affairs Quiz – June 2025

Notes:
China recently launched the Tianwen-2 probe to collect samples from the asteroid 2016HO3 and explore the distant main-belt comet 311P. It was launched using the Long March 3-B rocket. The mission will continue till the end of 2027. Earlier in 2021, China’s Tianwen-1 mission landed on Mars with an orbiter, lander, and the Zhurong rover. Tianwen-3 is planned for launch around 2028 to collect and return samples from Mars. Tianwen-4 is expected to explore Jupiter around 2030.

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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:
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.

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Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the 2025 Lavender Festival, organized by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR–IIIM) Jammu in Bhaderwah town of Jammu. The festival celebrates Bhaderwah’s rise as a national centre for agri-business innovation and lavender farming. It is part of India’s ‘Purple Revolution’, a key initiative under the Aroma Mission to increase farmer incomes through aromatic crops. Bhaderwah has become the lavender capital of India, transforming conflict-hit villages into agro-prosperity zones.

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Recently, during the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2025 in Geneva, India expressed full support for the Second World Health Organization (WHO) Global Traditional Medicine Summit, which will be hosted in New Delhi in December 2025. This summit, organized by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, aims to align stakeholders, share evidence, and accelerate learning in the field of traditional medicine. The summit will explore how traditional medicine can restore balance in an era of instability, focusing on scientific innovations, including AI and biodiversity protection.

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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.

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Flipkart has become the first major Indian e-commerce company to receive a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This marks the first time RBI has allowed a large e-commerce platform to operate its own NBFC. Unlike traditional NBFCs, Flipkart can lend money directly but cannot accept public deposits. Earlier, most e-commerce platforms offered loans through partnerships with banks or NBFCs. With this licence, Flipkart can now lend independently, which offers better control and higher profits. This development highlights RBI’s evolving regulatory stance on digital commerce and fintech integration.

Notes:
The National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) was inaugurated for the Puducherry Legislative Assembly on June 9 by the Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting & Parliamentary Affairs. NeVA is a digital platform by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) to make legislative work paperless and efficient. It follows the ‘One Nation – One Application’ vision to connect all 37 State and Union Territory (UT) Legislatures. The platform allows Members of the Legislative Assembly to access house business, questions, and replies on their phones and tablets.

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A Chinese ship recently ran aground due to severe weather near Thitu Island, raising alert levels among Filipino soldiers in the disputed South China Sea. Thitu Island, also called Pag-asa Island in the Philippines, lies within the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The Spratly Islands are claimed entirely by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, and partially by Malaysia and the Philippines. Thitu is the second largest natural island in the Spratlys and the biggest of the nine occupied by the Philippines.

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On World Environment Day, Kerala Forest Department launched an afforestation project named ‘Vithoot’ (Seed Shower). ‘Vithoot’ is India’s first aerial seed ball distribution programme. It is a community-driven campaign to restore greenery and improve forest health. The project aims to reduce human-animal conflicts and revive damaged ecosystems. It boosts biodiversity, increases forest cover, and ensures food for wildlife and people.