Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

Notes:
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently conducted multiple raids under Operation Hawk to crack down on cybercrime involving Online Child Sexual Exploitation (OCSE) with global links. The action followed inputs from United States (US) authorities and led to the arrest of two individuals from Mangalore and Delhi.The CBI’s International Operations Division registered cases under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.This comes as part of CBI’s broader efforts under earlier operations like Operation CARBON (2021) and Operation Megh Chakra (2022)

Notes:
A new project called SeaCURE has begun on the south coast of England to remove carbon dioxide from the sea. The SeaCURE project is an initiative of the United Kingdom (UK) government. The SeaCURE project is testing if taking carbon directly from seawater can be a low-cost and large-scale way to cut down carbon dioxide in the air. This method is different from usual carbon capture techniques that focus on emissions at their source or pull carbon dioxide from the air. SeaCURE targets the ocean, where carbon levels are up to 150 times higher than in the atmosphere.

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The Vembanad Lake Rejuvenation Project, led by the Alappuzha District Administration, is inspired by the Namami Gange Programme for river conservation. A five-year plan worth ₹188.25 crore has been submitted to the Chief Minister of Kerala and may be revised based on studies by the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM). Vembanad Lake is the longest lake in India and the largest in Kerala, stretching about 96.5 kilometres. It spreads across Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts, covering around 2,033 square kilometres. The lake is known by names like Vembanad Kayal, Punnamada Lake, and Kochi Lake in different regions. It receives water from six rivers, including Meenachil, Achankovil, Pamba, and Manimala, and drains into the Arabian Sea.

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The 28th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) will take place on June 9-10 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The theme of the two-day conference is ‘Viksit Bharat: Civil Service and Digital Transformation.’ It will include six plenary sessions and six breakout sessions. The event is jointly organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), with Andhra Pradesh’s collaboration. The conference will discuss strategies to enhance public service quality and promote “minimum government, maximum governance.” National e-Gov Awards (NAeG) 2025 will be conferred, and notable leaders will participate, including Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister.

Notes:
Vietnam hosts the United Nations (UN) Day of Vesak in 2025 from May 6 to 8 in Ho Chi Minh City. The United Nations Day of Vesak marks the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of Lord Buddha. In a historic first, the sacred Buddha Relic from Sarnath, India, will be sent to Vietnam for special exposition. The event is being organized by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, along with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).

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The Prime Minister of India will officially inaugurate the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala, marking a major milestone in global maritime connectivity for the state. Vizhinjam Port is located in Vizhinjam, a coastal town in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. It is India’s first dedicated transshipment port and also the country’s first semi-automated port. The port is built at a cost of about ₹8,900 crore under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and is operated by the Adani Group, while the Kerala government holds the majority stake. It has the deepest breakwater in India, nearly three kilometres long, with a natural draft of about 20 metres. The port features India’s first home-built, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Vessel Traffic Management System, developed with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.

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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.

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Eight Gram Sabhas in Baipariguda block, Koraput district, Odisha, have harvested over 4 lakh bundles of kendu leaves in the 2025 season and are waiting for government notification to deregulate the trade. These communities are pushing to manage and sell kendu leaves under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. Kendu leaf, also known as Tendu leaf, is a vital non-wood forest product and is referred to as the “Green Gold of Odisha.” It is a major forest product in states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and others. Under the FRA, forest-dwelling communities have rights to collect, use, and sell minor forest products like kendu leaves.

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Scientists from the University of Oxford have suggested a new way to monitor volcanic eruptions using a method called shear-wave splitting. Shear-wave splitting happens when seismic waves travel at different speeds depending on their direction, especially through rocks with tiny cracks. This technique was studied at Mount Ontake in Japan, which is an active stratovolcano located on Honshū Island, near Tokyo. Mount Ontake is Japan’s second-highest volcano and lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire.

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A recent census shows that Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in Mumbai is home to at least 54 leopards, showing how wildlife can coexist with urban life. SGNP is a large protected area near Borivali, in the northern part of Mumbai, Maharashtra. It spreads across both Thane District and Mumbai Suburban District. Earlier known as Krishnagiri National Park, it was renamed Borivali National Park in 1974 and later Sanjay Gandhi National Park in 1981 to honour Sanjay Gandhi. It covers an area of 103 square kilometres, making it one of the largest parks within any city in the world. The park houses the ancient Kanheri Caves, carved by Buddhist monks between the 1st and 10th century CE.