Current Affairs Quiz – June 2025

Notes:
India will celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on June 21, 2025, with Visakhapatnam as the national host city. Andhra Pradesh’s “Yogandhra” initiative aims to integrate yoga into daily life of over two crore people. One lakh IDY events will be held across the state, with five lakh participants expected in Visakhapatnam. The Ministry of Ayush praised Andhra Pradesh’s efforts as reflecting the IDY 2025 theme – “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.”

Notes:
India is set to test its most advanced indigenously developed missile called the Extended Trajectory-Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile (ET-LDHCM). It is indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under a program named Project Vishnu. It is a long-range missile that travels at hypersonic speeds, meaning it is over five times the speed of sound. It can be launched from land, sea, or air, giving India flexible strike capabilities.

Notes:
The Central Government has approved ₹951.27 crore for building the Tura Bypass in Meghalaya. The bypass will connect National Highway-127B (NH-127B) to National Highway-217 (NH-217) with a 2-lane road and paved shoulders. It will cover 29.03 km in Tura district and begin at Sanchonggre village and end at Jenggitchakgre village. It aims to ease congestion, improve travel time, and boost freight movement. The project will also enhance road safety and regional connectivity.

Notes:
Blaise Metreweli has been appointed as the new chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, known as MI6, becoming the first woman to lead Britain’s foreign intelligence agency since its founding in 1909. She is a veteran intelligence officer with 25 years of experience and currently serves as Director of Technology and Innovation at MI6. Her appointment was confirmed by United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling it crucial for national security amidst rising global threats.

Notes:
Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir is set to become the second district after Srinagar to implement the SMILE scheme. SMILE stands for Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise. It is a major initiative of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The scheme has a total allocation of ₹365 crore for the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26. It will be implemented across the country to support vulnerable communities.

Notes:
Recently, Israel deployed Barak Magen, also known as Lightning Shield, as a defense against Iranian drones. Barak Magen is an advanced naval air defense system developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is designed to counter various threats such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), cruise missiles, high-trajectory projectiles, and shore-to-sea missiles. Barak Magen strengthens Israel’s layered defense architecture.

Notes:
Sheikh Hasan Khan, a mountaineer from Kerala, is currently stranded at 17,000 feet on Mount Denali due to a severe snowstorm. He is attempting the Seven Summits Challenge, which involves climbing the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. His mission also honors Operation Sindoor, a tribute to the Indian Army’s bravery and sacrifice. Mount Denali, also called Mount McKinley, is the highest peak in North America. The name “Denali” comes from the word “deenaalee” in the Koyukon language spoken in Alaska. It lies in the Alaska Range above the Denali Fault in south-central Alaska, United States.

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A record 54 Indian Institutes have been listed in the QS World University Rankings 2026, showing strong global progress in higher education. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi has emerged as the top-ranked Indian institute, jumping from 150th to 123rd position globally. This is the highest QS World University Ranking ever achieved by IIT Delhi. The QS rankings are based on data from over 16 million academic papers and feedback from 151,000 academics and 100,000 employers. They assess faculty quality, research strength, global partnerships, and student success.

Notes:
A recent genomic study revealed the spread of Rice Yellow Mottle Virus or RYMV across African rice ecosystems, posing a serious threat to rice production. Rice Yellow Mottle Virus is a plant virus that affects rice and some related grasses. It first appeared in the mid-1800s in the Eastern Arc Mountains, now in Tanzania, a region rich in biodiversity. It is mainly found in Africa and is present in most rice-growing countries on the continent.

Notes:
Recently, the 2025 Fossil Fuel Finance Report by the Banking on Climate Chaos Coalition showed that 65 of the world’s largest banks gave 869 billion to fossil fuel companies in 2024, up from 707 billion in 2023. This 22.8% rise in financing has raised global concerns, especially with policy rollbacks and rising temperatures. India’s State Bank of India (SBI) also featured in the report, with fossil fuel financing rising to 2.62 billion in 2024, an increase of 65 million from 2023. SBI has pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2055 and aims for 7.5% of domestic gross advances to be green loans by 2030.