Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

Notes:
Finalists from 11 cities were selected through regional contests to compete in the WAM! (WAVES Anime & Manga Contest) national finale at WAVES 2025. The World Audio-Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 is held from May 1 to 4, 2025, at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India. WAVES (World Audio-Visual & Entertainment Summit) 2025 promotes India’s talent in Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR). The summit is themed “Create in India, Create for the World” to position India as a global creative powerhouse.

Notes:
United Kingdom (UK)-based health charity Encephalitis International has launched a global campaign titled ‘Preventing Future Encephalitis: Climate Change and Infectious Disease’ to raise awareness about encephalitis and promote vaccination. Encephalitis is the inflammation of active brain tissues caused by infections or autoimmune responses, affecting over 1.5 million people globally every year. The campaign highlights how climate change increases encephalitis risk by creating conditions for disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes and ticks to spread. India is among high-burden countries, with 1,548 cases of Japanese encephalitis reported in 2024 from 24 states and union territories.

Notes:
At the recent World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s growing Orange Economy driven by content, creativity and culture. The Orange Economy, also called the creative economy, covers sectors that are based on cultural and creative ideas. As per the United Nations Economic Network, it focuses on using creative assets to boost economic growth and development. It combines economic, cultural and social factors while linking with technology, intellectual property and tourism. It includes industries based on individual talent, skill and innovation that can generate jobs, income and cultural value.

Notes:
The Army and Air Force versions of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv have been cleared for flying again after a review by a Defect Investigation Committee. All 330 ALH helicopters were grounded after an ALH Mark-III of the Indian Coast Guard crashed during a training sortie in Porbandar, Gujarat in January 2025, killing three crew members. The helicopter was also absent from the Aero India 2025 event due to safety concerns. ALH Dhruv is a multi-role helicopter developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for transport, utility, reconnaissance, and medical evacuation.

Notes:
Bodofa Upendranath Brahma was a respected leader of the Bodo community who championed non-violent struggle for tribal identity, rights and cultural preservation. On May 1, 2025, the Government of India (GoI) unveiled his 9-feet-high statue in New Delhi, marking his 35th death anniversary. Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah presided over the unveiling and announced the naming of a major road and rotary after him. This tribute underscores the Government of India’s commitment to tribal empowerment and peacebuilding in India’s North East.

Notes:
The Government of Madhya Pradesh has banned stubble burning due to a rise in such cases after crop harvesting. Farmers found burning stubble will be denied benefits under the Mukhyamantri Kisan Kalyan Yojana (MKKY). Mukhyamantri Kisan Kalyan Yojana (MKKY) was launched by Madhya Pradesh government to provide financial help and improve the economic condition of farmers. It also aims to promote the use of modern agricultural technologies in the state. This decision highlights the government’s focus on controlling pollution and encouraging sustainable farming practices.

Notes:
Nepal has introduced a new draft law to allow only experienced climbers, who have scaled peaks above 7,000 metres, to attempt Mount Everest. This step comes in response to rising deaths, overcrowding, and environmental damage on the world’s tallest mountain. By restricting access, Nepal hopes to improve climber safety and promote responsible tourism. The law aims to ensure that only skilled mountaineers with proven high-altitude experience undertake such risky expeditions. The move also supports environmental conservation by addressing waste buildup and uncontrolled tourist flow in the fragile Everest ecosystem. This reflects Nepal’s growing commitment to sustainable mountaineering practices.

Notes:
Lawrence Wong has been elected as Prime Minister of Singapore. He is from the People’s Action Party (PAP), which has ruled Singapore since independence. Wong is an economist and served as the Finance Minister since 2021 before becoming Prime Minister. In the 2025 general elections, under his leadership, PAP won 87 out of 97 parliamentary seats. This included 82 seats through voting and 5 uncontested. The PAP’s popular vote increased to 65.6 percent, showing strong public support.

Notes:
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has recently released detailed data, infographics, and graphical summaries on over 100 bacterial genomes under the ‘One Day One Genome’ initiative. A genome is the complete genetic material of an organism, made of unique DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) or RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) sequences. These sequences are made of chemical units called nucleotide bases, and identifying their order is known as genomic sequencing. The ‘One Day One Genome’ initiative was launched in November 2024 by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC). It is coordinated by BRIC-National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG), West Bengal. Data contributions come from 13 BRIC institutions and two bodies: International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, and Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad.

Notes:
Kozhikode city has recently been honoured with membership in the Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities (GNAFCC) of the World Health Organization (WHO). GNAFCC was established in 2010 to help cities become better places for older people to live in. It has over 1300 members from 51 countries, promoting global cooperation on age-friendly policies. The aim is to connect cities, communities, and organizations to create supportive environments for ageing populations. It works to inspire change, share knowledge, and help cities find smart, practical solutions. This membership shows Kozhikode’s commitment to healthy ageing and inclusive urban development.