Current Affairs Quiz – June 2025

Notes:
Recently, the Indian Navy announced it will commission its new stealth multi-role frigate Tamal on 01 July 2025 at Kaliningrad, Russia. Tamal is part of the Krivak class frigates that India has been inducting from Russia over the last two decades. The name Tamal represents the mythical sword used by Indra, the King of the Gods, in battles. The frigate was built at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia.

Notes:
Recently, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated a two-day National Conference of Estimates Committees of Parliament and States and Union Territories (UTs) Legislative Bodies in Mumbai. It was highlighted that these committees play an important role in improving governance and pushing administrative reforms. Nearly 90 percent of the recommendations made by the committees for citizen welfare have been implemented. The use of modern technology was encouraged to further enhance committee functioning.

Notes:
Recently, India’s coffee exports reached $1.8 billion, marking a 125 percent rise over the last 11 years due to efforts by the Coffee Board of India. In 2014–15, exports were valued at over $800 million, rising to $1.14 billion in 2022–23 and $1.28 billion in 2023–24. Europe is the top buyer of Indian coffee, with major importers including Italy, Germany, Belgium, Middle East countries, Korea, and Japan. The main coffee-producing states are Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. India ranks seventh in global coffee production with a 3.5 percent share and fifth in exports with a 5 percent share.

Notes:
In a historic move, NTPC Limited launched India’s first hydrogen fuel cell buses in Leh, Ladakh. The buses were delivered to Sindhu Infrastructure Development Corporation (SIDCO) as part of NTPC’s Green Hydrogen Mobility Project. The initiative is expected to cut down around 350 metric tonnes of carbon emissions and produce 230 metric tonnes of pure oxygen annually, equal to planting 13,000 trees.

Notes:
The Andhra Pradesh government has launched the ‘Vidya Shakti’ programme on a pilot basis to assist underperforming students in government schools and colleges. It uses technology and innovative methods to provide extra coaching in Mathematics, Science, and English after school hours. Currently, it is running in 4,424 Zilla Parishad, Government, and Municipal schools, and 576 KGBVs, Residential, and Model Schools. The main goals are to improve learning outcomes, reduce dropout rates, and increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER).

Notes:
A rare albino “sunflower” squirrel was recently spotted in Tonk district, Rajasthan, creating excitement among wildlife lovers and researchers. It was seen at the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) campus in Tonk-Deoli, living in a neem tree. Albino squirrels are extremely rare, occurring in about one in 100,000 cases. Although such squirrels have been seen before in Banswara and Dungarpur, they remain very uncommon. Experts say albino traits are genetic, and the offspring may not inherit the condition.

Notes:
Recently, a new inter-state water dispute has emerged between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over the Banakacherla Reservoir Project, with Telangana claiming it violates the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. The Banakacherla Reservoir Project is a proposed irrigation project by the Andhra Pradesh government to divert surplus water from the Godavari River to the drought-prone Rayalaseema region. It is located in Banakacherla in the Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh.

Notes:
Recently, a tigress and her four cubs were found dead in Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary. Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka. It is connected to Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Tiger Reserve, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. The forests here are mainly dry deciduous, with some moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, evergreen and shola forests at different heights.

Notes:
Recently, the government appointed Parag Jain, a 1989-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Punjab cadre, as the new Secretary of Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) for two years. Jain will replace Ravi Sinha, a 1988-batch IPS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre, whose term ends on June 30, with Jain taking charge on July 1. The Appointments Committee of Cabinet approved his posting under the Cabinet Secretariat as per service rules. Jain currently leads the Aviation Research Centre, which gathered key intelligence during Operation Sindoor on Pakistan’s terror camps.

Notes:
Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) decided to expand its Mobile Biosafety Level-3 (MBSL-3) laboratory network to boost India’s outbreak response and public health. The Mobile BSL-3 lab is also called Rapid Action Mobile BSL-3 Advanced Augmented Network (RAMBAAN). It is an advanced “lab on wheels” developed under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. It was first used during the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala in 2023.