Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

Notes:
The government has revamped the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) after the Pahalgam terror attack, appointing former intelligence chief Alok Joshi as chairman. National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) is an advisory body under the National Security Council (NSC) structure. It is chaired by the Prime Minister, supported by the National Security Advisor (NSA) and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS). Established in 1998 after the Pokhran-II nuclear tests, it institutionalized India’s national security framework. The NSAB provides non-partisan strategic inputs on national security issues but is not a decision-making body. It reports to the NSCS and includes experts from various sectors.

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:
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:
In a recent statement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed concern over the rising tensions between India and Pakistan and urged both sides to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest intergovernmental group after the United Nations, with 57 member countries across four continents. It was founded on 25 September 1969 in Rabat, Morocco, following the arson attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The OIC works to protect Islamic values and the sovereignty and independence of its member states. It also aims to promote peace, security, and cooperation in political, economic, and social matters. The OIC acts as the unified voice of the Muslim world on global issues. Its headquarters is in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and its official languages are Arabic, English, and French.

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.

Notes:
Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh has recently been renamed as Veerangana Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve. It will become the third home of cheetahs in India under the cheetah reintroduction project. This follows the earlier relocation of eight cheetahs from Namibia to Kuno National Park in September 2022. Later, twelve more cheetahs were brought from South Africa, making Kuno the first cheetah home in India. The move to expand the habitat aims to support cheetah conservation and reduce pressure on existing reserves. This development highlights India’s growing efforts in wildlife restoration and biodiversity protection.

Notes:
Chinese scientists recently used classical Chinese poems to trace the decline of the Yangtze finless porpoise from the Tang Dynasty to the People’s Republic of China. This is the only known freshwater porpoise species in the world and is found only in the Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia. The study showcases how ancient literature can help track biodiversity changes across more than 1,000 years. The Yangtze finless porpoise is small, slow-moving, and shows intelligence like gorillas. It is a key indicator species of freshwater health and is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Notes:
The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) launched ‘Sanchari Cauvery’ to supply clean drinking water using GPS-tracked tankers in Bengaluru. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar launched the ‘Sarvarigu Sanchari Cauvery’ scheme to stop the monopoly of private water tanker mafia charging up to ₹3,000 per tanker. Under the scheme, 4,000 litres is priced at ₹660, 6,000 litres at ₹740, and 12,000 litres at ₹1,290, with extra charges for deliveries beyond 2 km. The ‘Kaverionwheels’ app allows real-time booking, tracking, and OTP-based verification of deliveries.

Notes:
Bhutan recently launched the world’s first national-level cryptocurrency tourism payment system in partnership with Binance Pay and DrukPay Kunzang Bank (DK Bank). Tourists can now use their Binance accounts to pay for services like airfares, visas, hotels, and even local fruits using cryptocurrencies. The system is built into the Binance app and supports over 100 digital currencies, including Binance Coin (BNB), Bitcoin (BTC), and USD Coin (USDC). Payments are made in real-time using QR codes, and settlements are done instantly in Bhutanese currency through DK Bank. This helps local artisans and small businesses, especially in remote areas, accept digital payments easily and boosts financial inclusion.

Notes:
Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the immediate release of $1 billion to Pakistan under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). The IMF is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN), created in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference to ensure global monetary stability after the Great Depression. It works to promote international monetary cooperation, ensure financial stability, facilitate global trade, support high employment, and reduce poverty. The IMF monitors the economies of its member countries and gives policy advice. It also provides loans to countries during balance-of-payments crises. The IMF is headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States.