Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

Notes:
The Supreme Court recently dismissed a plea alleging illegal mining in Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh, calling it a frivolous abuse of law and imposed a ₹1 lakh penalty on the petitioner. Bandhavgarh National Park is located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. It lies across the Vindhya hills, known for their forested terrain and wildlife. It was declared a national park in 1968 and became a Tiger Reserve in 1993 under Project Tiger. The park is famous for its Royal Bengal Tigers.

Notes:
Ayushman Bharat Diwas is celebrated every year on April 30 to honour the achievements of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, also known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). PM-JAY is a government health insurance scheme that offers up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization care. The scheme targets over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families in India who cannot afford expensive medical treatment. It provides cashless and paperless treatment at any accredited hospital across India. On Ayushman Bharat Diwas, events are held nationwide to spread awareness and celebrate the scheme’s impact. The day also recognises the efforts of frontline workers and healthcare professionals involved in delivering quality services to beneficiaries.

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:
The Madhya Pradesh government has launched the Tejaswi programme to build entrepreneurial skills and confidence in students. A multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the School Education Department, State Open School, and partners Udyam Learning Foundation and The Education Alliance. The programme aims to give students knowledge about self-employment and emerging industries. It will train students in vocational skills to help them become self-reliant and handle life challenges. This initiative supports the goals of the National Education Policy 2020, which promotes vocational learning and life skills in school education.

Notes:
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty recently received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for their outstanding achievements in badminton. The pair reached the No. 1 rank in the Badminton World Federation rankings in 2023 and won the Asian Games gold medal in Hangzhou. The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award was originally established as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 1991–92 and renamed in 2021. It is India’s highest sporting honour, given for the most exceptional performance by a sportsperson over the last four years. Only performances in recognized international events are eligible for consideration. The award includes a ₹25 lakh cash prize, a medal, and a certificate of honour, with typically one award given each year.

Notes:
The Gujarat High Court recently upheld a demolition drive carried out by state authorities in Ahmedabad’s Chandola Lake area. Chandola Lake, located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is an artificial lake established by Tajn Khan Nari Ali, the wife of a Mughal Sultan. Covering an area of approximately 1,200 hectares, the lake serves as a key water source for nearby industrial and residential areas. It has a circular shape and is divided into two parts, Chota Chandola and Bada Chandola. The Kharicut Canal Scheme, one of Gujarat’s oldest irrigation schemes, was introduced to irrigate 1,200 acres of rice land near the lake. The lake is home to various bird species, including cormorants, painted storks, and spoonbills.

Notes:
Tunnel No. 8 (T-8) is set to become India’s longest railway tunnel at 14.57 km, overtaking Tunnel No. 50 (T-50), which is 12.77 km long on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link. It is part of the Rishikesh–Karnaprayag Broad Gauge Rail Link Project in Uttarakhand. T-8 is a twin tunnel located on the Devprayag–Janasu stretch of this 125-km rail line. The Rishikesh–Karnaprayag Broad Gauge Rail Link Project is being implemented by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a Navratna Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways.

Notes:
A recent report by the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) says global trafficking of pangolin scales has dropped sharply since 2020 due to COVID-19 disruptions, strong law enforcement, and changing smuggling methods. Pangolins are insect-eating mammals found in tropical forests, grasslands, and farms, often near people. There are 8 species of pangolins — 4 in Africa and 4 in Asia, including the Indian pangolin found in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. They eat ants and termites, helping control pests and improve soil, which supports healthy ecosystems. Pangolins are hunted for their meat and scales used in traditional medicine. The Indian pangolin is listed as Endangered and the Chinese pangolin as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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:
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been re-elected, becoming the first leader in decades to win a second term, marking a major political milestone. With around 70.8% of votes counted, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reports that the Labor Party is set to win 85 seats, well above the 76 needed for a majority. The Opposition Liberal National Coalition is likely to secure 36 seats, while Independents are expected to get 10. After his win, Albanese called being Prime Minister the greatest honour of his life while addressing supporters in Sydney.