Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

Notes:
Odisha Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra launched SAHAJOG to help urban poor access government welfare schemes. SAHAJOG stands for a unique initiative that identifies eligible urban poor and connects them to social schemes through awareness, doorstep services, and better local implementation. In the first phase, it covers 44 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in 8 districts and aims to reach over 15 lakh people. The initiative will run in a fast-track campaign mode till June 20 and aligns with “Viksit Odisha” and “Vikasit Bharat” goals. An app will soon be launched to help connect beneficiaries, and rural areas will be covered in the next phase.

Notes:
The European Red Admiral butterfly, scientifically called Vanessa atalanta, has been recorded for the first time in India near Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. This rare sighting was confirmed during a butterfly survey at Thatharna Hill in the Dhauladhar mountain range, at an altitude of 2,500 metres. The observation was verified by Himalayan butterfly expert Lovish Garlani from the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department. This raises the total number of butterfly species in Himachal Pradesh to 440, highlighting the region’s rich biodiversity. The species is known for long migrations across Europe and North America and was last seen in South Asia in 2022 in Pakistan after a 93-year gap. It has no confirmed records from China, Mongolia, or Afghanistan, making its presence in India a significant eastward range expansion.

Notes:
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are now working together under the wastepickers component of the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme. UNDP is providing financial support to State Project Management Units (PMUs) to strengthen the scheme’s implementation. The NAMASTE Scheme was jointly launched by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in 2023 to protect the safety and dignity of sanitation workers. Its wastepicker component was launched in 2024 with the goal to digitally profile and register 2.5 lakh wastepickers across India. It also provides health insurance under Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), and offers skill development training.

Notes:
Operation Kagar has successfully encircled the last remaining Naxal strongholds in the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border regions. Operation Kagar was launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs to eliminate Maoist insurgents and dismantle the political ideology of Maoism. The operation combines military action, surveillance technology, and development outreach to combat Left-Wing Extremism (LWE). The campaign has reduced Naxal-affected districts from 106 in 2015 to just 6 in 2025. In 2024, 287 Naxals were neutralized, with over 150 already in 2025.

Notes:
The United States has recently approved a military hardware and logistics support package for India to assist in the Integrated Platform for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA). IPMDA is a technology and training initiative designed to boost maritime domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific region and increase transparency in its vital waterways. It was announced by the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), which includes India, Australia, Japan, and the United States, during the Tokyo summit in 2022. The initiative uses innovative technology to provide near real-time information on maritime activities to partners in Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean region, and the Pacific.

Notes:
Maharashtra’s Nashik hosts the ‘Yoga Mahotsav 2025’ as part of the countdown to International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025. It was organised by Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ayush). The event took place at Gauri Maidan, Panchavati, celebrating India’s Yoga heritage and launching the Yoga Sangam Portal for online registrations. Yoga Sangam is a major initiative under International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025 to enable synchronized Yoga practice at 1,00,000 locations across India on June 21. The event promoted the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP), focusing on practices like Pranayama and Dhyana to improve health and harmony.

Notes:
India has recently received a new shipment of Russian Igla-S air defence missiles amid rising tensions with Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack. Igla-S is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS) developed by Russia. It is a hand-held system that can be used by one person or a small crew. It is designed to shoot down low-flying aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones.

Notes:
In a major step toward digital transformation, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister laid the foundation for India’s first Artificial Intelligence-based Data Center Park in Raipur. The facility will start with a five megawatt capacity and aims to grow to 150 megawatts. A 2.7-hectare area is being developed as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) services. The project will see an investment of Rs 2,000 crore as it expands. The center will support green, energy-efficient technologies for sustainable operations. It will serve sectors like AI, Financial Technology (FinTech), Health Technology (HealthTech), defense, and data analytics. The infrastructure will use Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)-based systems for real-time data processing, streaming, and analytics.

Notes:
India’s SVAMITVA scheme will be highlighted at the World Bank Land Conference in Washington, D.C., showcasing its role in digitalising rural land records. SVAMITVA stands for Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas and was launched in 2020 as a central sector scheme. It aims to give rural residents legal documents for their residential properties to help them access loans and other financial services. Drone technology is used to survey land parcels in rural inhabited areas across India in phases. The scheme helps bring financial stability to rural citizens by treating property as a financial asset. It also ensures accurate land records for better rural planning and governance. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) is the nodal ministry for implementing the scheme. State Revenue or Land Records Departments implement the scheme with support from State Panchayati Raj Departments.

Notes:
A new mosquito species called the “Pwani molecular form” has been found in coastal areas of Tanzania and Kenya, drawing global attention to malaria control. It belongs to the Anopheles gambiae complex, which includes some of the world’s most dangerous malaria-spreading mosquitoes. This mosquito shows strong genetic differences from other species in the same group, suggesting unique behaviour or environmental adaptation. Genetic studies confirm it is only found along the coastal regions of East Africa, mainly in Tanzania and Kenya. It does not carry the usual genes for insecticide resistance found in other malaria vectors. This may mean it has a different resistance method or is more sensitive to current insecticides.