Current Affairs Quiz – June 2025

Notes:
Recently, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) started an official investigation into the Air India flight AI-17 crash involving a Boeing 787. Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is a government agency under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, set up in 2012 to investigate aircraft accidents and serious incidents in Indian airspace. Its goal is to find out what went wrong and suggest safety steps, not to blame anyone.

Notes:
Recently, the Punjab government launched the Punjab Udyog Kranti initiative to simplify and speed up processes for setting up industries. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal announced 12 new reforms aimed at boosting industrial growth in Punjab. A key highlight is the deemed approval system, where all approvals must be given within 45 days, or else automatic approval will be generated via the Fast-track Punjab Portal. The portal acts as a single window for all clearances.

Notes:
South Africa won the Cricket- World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 title by five wickets against defending champion Australia on June 14 at Lord’s, London. This is South Africa’s first major cricket title in 27 years, sparking emotional celebrations. New Zealand won the first WTC mace in 2021 by beating India. Australia won it in 2023, and now South Africa has claimed it in 2025.The win is seen as a unifying moment for the “Rainbow Nation”, breaking a long ICC jinx since 1998.

Notes:
A new species of jumping spider named Spartaeus karigiri was recently discovered by researchers in southern India. It belongs to the Spartaeinae subfamily and was found for the first time in India, previously known only from Southeast Asia and Africa. The spider is named after Karigiri (Elephant Hill) in Devarayanadurga, Karnataka, where it was first seen. It is known for its smart hunting skills and web-invasion tactics by tricking other spiders. These spiders have excellent eyesight and mimic prey to catch food.

Notes:
The Madhya Pradesh government launched the Jal Ganga Sanvardhan Abhiyan on March 30, 2025, for water conservation. Under this, the Ghoda Pachhad River, a tributary of the Narmada, has been revived in Khandwa district with citizen support. Uncontrolled groundwater use had dried up rivers, harming farming. Using the ‘Ridge to Valley’ method, water harvesting structures were built along a 33 km stretch. This method helps slow water flow and store every drop from ridge to valley. Now, rivers in the region show potential for year-round flow.

Notes:
Lieutenant Commander Yashaswi Solankee, aged 27, became the first woman officer to be appointed as an Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the President of India. The President usually has five ADCs — three from the Indian Army, and one each from the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. Until now, no woman officer had ever served in this prestigious role. Solankee, from Bharuch in Gujarat, was selected in April 2025 and completed a month-long orientation. She received her aiguillette from President Droupadi Murmu after training. The ADC manages presidential schedules, attends all ceremonies, and serves as a 24/7 liaison with government and military.

Notes:
The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite has recently reached the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) spaceport at Sriharikota. It is a joint mission between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and ISRO to study Earth’s changes. NISAR uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology to send energy pulses and measure how much is reflected back from Earth. This helps in capturing sharp images of the Earth even during darkness or cloudy weather. It detects changes in land, forests, and ice, and is useful for monitoring natural disasters and soil conditions.

Notes:
Two new earthworm species, Kanchuria tripuraensis and Kanchuria priyasankari, were recently discovered in Tripura. Kanchuria tripuraensis was found in rubber and pineapple plantations and is named after the state, showing biodiversity in cultivated areas. Kanchuria priyasankari is named in honour of Priyasankar Chaudhuri for his lifelong work in earthworm taxonomy. These discoveries raise the genus Kanchuria’s species count to 10 and Tripura’s earthworm species total to 38.

Notes:
A new flowering plant species named Portulaca bharat was recently discovered in the Aravali hills near Jaipur. It is endemic to India and currently known only from the Galtaji hills. Its limited distribution and specific habitat make it highly vulnerable to climate change and habitat loss. The plant has unique features like opposite and slightly concave leaves, pale-yellow flowers that turn creamish-white at the tip, thick roots, and glandular hairs on stamen filaments. This rare discovery highlights the ecological importance of the Aravali region.

Notes:
The United Nations General Assembly has declared December 4 as the International Day Against Unilateral Coercive Measures. The resolution was adopted recently with 116 countries voting in favour, 51 against, and 6 abstaining. Countries from the Global North, including the European Union (EU), Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, and the United States, opposed the resolution. The resolution urges all countries to avoid using unilateral economic, financial, or trade actions that violate international law or the United Nations (UN) Charter.