Current Affairs Quiz – June 2025

Notes:
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has launched a new initiative called ‘Pratibha Setu’ to connect top talent with verified employers, including central government and private organisations. Pratibha Setu was earlier known as the Public Disclosure Scheme (PDS) and helps employers access details of non-recommended but willing candidates who cleared all UPSC exam stages but didn’t make the final merit list. This gives a second chance to skilled candidates and helps employers recruit nearly equally meritorious individuals.

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The Maharashtra government has recently made Hindi a compulsory third language in all Marathi and English-medium schools from Class 1 to 5. This decision was announced through a new Government Resolution (GR) issued by the School Education and Sports Department. The policy follows the revised education curriculum under the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020). As per the Government Resolution, Marathi will remain the first language, while English or Hindi will be the second language based on the school’s medium.

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Recently, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lenacapavir (LEN), the most advanced medicine yet for HIV prevention. Lenacapavir is an antiretroviral drug used as pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP for people who are HIV-negative but at risk. PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, a method to prevent HIV infection before exposure. Lenacapavir is taken as an injection just twice a year, making it easier and more discreet than daily pills. It is developed by Gilead Sciences and sold under the brand name Yeztugo.

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Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) announced a three-day international conference from August 20 to 22, 2025, in Greater Noida to focus on deciphering the Indus Valley script. The event, titled ‘Decipherment of the Indus Script: Current Status and the Way Forward’, will include experts from India and abroad working on Harappan civilisation and script. This comes after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin offered a $1 million prize for anyone who successfully deciphers the Indus script. ASI may also introduce fellowships for scholars dedicated to this research.

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Government of India has recently launched the NAVYA initiative to skill adolescent girls under the Viksit Bharat@2047 Vision. NAVYA stands for Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent. It is a joint pilot initiative by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The programme targets girls aged 16–18 years who have passed at least Class 10 and aims to train them in non-traditional job roles.

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The Global Peace Index (GPI) 2025 by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) shows a 0.36 per cent drop in global peacefulness due to rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty. This marks the worst global peace level deterioration since World War II. India ranks 115th with a GPI score of 2.229, improving by 0.58 per cent from last year. India’s ranking has improved steadily from 141 in 2019 to 115 in 2025. India showed improvement in nine peace indicators, while nine remained the same and three worsened. Iceland remains the most peaceful country since 2008.

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Recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology announced that researchers at the Institute of Nanoscience and Technology (INST), Mohali, have developed a smart water filter using sunlight, gentle vibrations, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The innovation addresses pollution caused by industrial wastewater containing harmful dyes like Methylene Blue and Congo Red, which threaten human health and ecosystems. This method ensures continuous purification, even on cloudy days, making it a smart alternative to traditional solar-powered filters.

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Recently, scientists at Bose Institute, Kolkata, developed a modified CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) tool to help plants fight heat stress and bacterial infections, boosting smart and sustainable farming. Unlike traditional CRISPR which cuts DNA, the team used a modified version called dCas9 (dead Cas9), which does not cut DNA but works like a gene switch. This switch stays off until the plant is stressed, such as by high temperatures. The scientists used a part of a natural tomato protein called NACMTF3, specifically its TM (Transmembrane) domain, to control the switch. Under heat stress, the TM domain releases dCas9, allowing it to enter the nucleus and turn on defense genes. This method allows plants to respond only when needed, reducing energy use and improving resilience.

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Recently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, with the Maharashtra government, Pawan Hans and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, known as FICCI, held the 7th Helicopter and Small Aircraft Summit in Pune, Maharashtra. The summit promoted helicopters and small aircraft as vital for regional air connectivity, economic growth, and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. A dedicated Helicopter Directorate under Directorate General of Civil Aviation, known as DGCA, was announced to improve oversight and certification. Digital initiatives like the Heli Sewa Portal were praised for enhancing transparency.

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Recently, researchers at Raiganj University in West Bengal discovered a new soil bacteria species named Bacillus ayatagriensis. This bacteria was found in the rhizosphere, the area around plant roots, of mulberry plants, which are vital for local sericulture and farming. Bacillus ayatagriensis shows strong antimicrobial properties and greatly improves seed germination, boosting plant health and productivity. It can help organic farming by reducing chemical use.