Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

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.

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NITI Aayog, along with the Institute for Competitiveness (IFC), released a report titled ‘Enhancing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Competitiveness in India’. The report highlights reforms needed in credit access, skill development, innovation, and market linkages to boost MSMEs. Using firm-level data and Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), it suggests ways to integrate MSMEs into global value chains. Focus sectors include textiles, chemicals, automotive, and food processing. Credit access improved between 2020 and 2024, yet only 19% demand was met formally by 2021, with ₹80 lakh crore unmet. The Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) expanded but still needs redesign for wider impact.

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The Ramman Festival, inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is celebrated in Uttarakhand. It takes place annually in late April, after the harvest season, in the twin villages of Saloor-Dungra. The festival honours Bhumiyal Devta, the village’s tutelary deity, and holds deep religious significance. The celebration includes complex rituals such as the recitation of a version of the epic of Rama, songs, and masked dances. A key feature is the singing of Jagar, a musical performance that narrates local legends.

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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.

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A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that a weekly dose of semaglutide shows strong results in treating Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH). Semaglutide is a Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, first developed to treat Type 2 diabetes. It is the main ingredient in medicines like Ozempic, used for diabetes, and Wegovy, used for weight loss. MASH is a severe type of fatty liver disease caused by metabolic problems and not by alcohol. It involves fat buildup, inflammation, and liver scarring, and is linked to obesity, diabetes, and overnutrition. If not treated, MASH can lead to cirrhosis or liver failure.

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The Indian Security Forces have launched Operation Shiva to secure the Amarnath Yatra amid the Pahalgam terror attack and rising tensions between India and Pakistan. Shri Amarnath Ji is located in the Anantnag district at an altitude of 13,000 feet. The Amarnath Cave houses an ice lingam, symbolizing Lord Shiva, along with two smaller ice stalagmites representing Parvati, his wife, and Ganesha, his son. The pilgrimage takes place during the Shravan month, when the lingam reaches its full size. The origin of the pilgrimage is mentioned in the Sanskrit text “Bringesha Samhita.”

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The Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CESHS) has recently drilled Northeast India’s first geothermal production well at Dirang in West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh. This marks a major step towards using clean and renewable energy sources in the Himalayan region. Geothermal energy is the heat from within the Earth, used to produce electricity or direct heating. CESHS achieved this breakthrough after two years of detailed geochemical and structural surveys in hot spring sites of western Arunachal Pradesh. CESHS geosciences division head Rupankar Rajkhowa confirmed the success of the drilling project. This initiative can reduce dependency on fossil fuels and support green development in remote regions.

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Angola signed the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement and became its 123rd member during President Joao Lourenco’s visit to India. This visit coincided with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between India and Angola. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a defence Line of Credit of 200 million US dollars to support Angola’s armed forces. India and Angola will work together to develop Angola’s new oil fields and set up onshore and offshore refineries. New cooperation areas include diamond processing, pharmaceuticals, automobile components, and digital infrastructure. Three agreements were signed on ayurveda, agriculture, and culture.

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International No Diet Day is observed annually on May 6th. International No Diet Day is a global event celebrated to promote body positivity and self-acceptance. It challenges harmful social norms that link beauty only with thinness and fights against fatphobia and weight discrimination. The day also raises awareness about the dangers of extreme dieting and encourages people to focus on overall well-being. It was started in 1992 by British feminist Mary Evans Young, who struggled with anorexia and later founded the Diet Breakers organization.

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The 2025 Human Development Report (HDR) by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) ranked India 130th out of 193 countries and territories. The report uses the Human Development Index (HDI), which measures health, education, and income, not just economic growth. The 2025 HDR, titled “A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI),” focused on the impact of AI on human progress. India’s HDI value rose from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023, staying in the medium category but nearing high development. India’s life expectancy increased to 72 years and schooling years also improved. India’s per capita Gross National Income (GNI) rose from 6,951 to 9,047 based on Purchasing Power Parity (PPP 2021). India showed over 53 percent HDI growth since 1990, outpacing global and South Asian averages. Among neighbours, China, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan ranked higher, while Nepal, Myanmar, and Pakistan ranked lower.