Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

Notes:
Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil held a review meeting on 30 April with the Wildlife Institute of India to assess the progress of the ‘Jalaj’ project. The ‘Jalaj’ project is a key initiative developed by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to support the rejuvenation of the Ganga River and biodiversity conservation. It involves setting up floating platforms on the Ganga River to promote livelihood activities for local communities. These platforms also raise awareness about conserving the river and its ecosystem. The project blends ecological restoration with sustainable development for Ganga-dependent populations.

Notes:
The National AYUSH Mission (NAM) Conference 2025 takes place on May 1-2 at Kaivalyadhama in Lonavala, Maharashtra. The event is organized by the Ministry of Ayush to strengthen the integration of traditional Indian medicine systems into mainstream healthcare. The conclave aims to foster a collaborative ecosystem, discuss latest developments, research innovations, and sectoral collaborations across various AYUSH systems.

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:
Maharashtra has become the first Indian state to approve a dedicated and independent Shipbuilding, Ship Repair and Ship Recycling Policy. The goal is to make Maharashtra a leading hub for shipbuilding, ship repair, and ship recycling. The state targets an investment of ₹6,600 crore and 40,000 jobs by 2030. By 2047, the aim is to attract ₹18,000 crore in investments and create 3.3 lakh jobs. The policy supports research and development (R&D), modern technology, and skilled workforce. It aims to contribute one-third of India’s total shipbuilding output by 2030.

Notes:
World Asthma Day 2025 is observed on 6th May, which is the first Tuesday of May. It is a global event organized every year by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to raise awareness about asthma. The day focuses on educating people about asthma, its triggers, and how it affects daily life. It began in 1998 during the first World Asthma Meeting in Barcelona, Spain. The theme for World Asthma Day 2025 is “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL”. This theme highlights the urgent need for everyone with asthma to access inhaled medicines for better control. Asthma is a chronic disease where the lung airways become narrow, swollen, and produce extra mucus.

Notes:
Public trespassing in the ecologically sensitive Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) in Khanapur taluk has raised major concerns among conservationists recently. Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Western Ghats in the Belgaum district of Karnataka. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in December 2011 to protect its rich biodiversity. The sanctuary is named after the historic Bhimgad Fort, built by Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century to defend against Portuguese forces. It borders Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary, Mollem National Park, Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.

Notes:
World Athletics Day is celebrated every year on May 7 to promote participation in sports, especially among the youth. It highlights the benefits of sports on both mental and physical health and encourages values like perseverance and teamwork. The event was first observed on May 15, 1996, by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), now called World Athletics since 2019. The idea was introduced by Primo Nebiolo, the then IAAF president, and saw participation from 50 countries. This year, World Athletics Day 2025 falls on a Wednesday and continues to promote inclusivity and environmental awareness through sports.

Notes:
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), under the Ministry of Defence, celebrated its 66th anniversary on May 7, 2025. It was established in 1960 with just two projects—Project Tusker (now Vartak) in the East and Project Beacon in the North. BRO now runs 18 projects across 11 States and 3 Union Territories, building roads in high-altitude and snow-bound areas. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) functions under the Ministry of Defence.

Notes:
The Maharashtra Cabinet recently launched the Adishakti Abhiyan to empower grassroots women and children on Ahilyabai Holkar’s 300th birth anniversary. The campaign aims to improve awareness and implementation of government schemes addressing malnutrition, infant and maternal mortality, domestic violence, sexual harassment, and child marriage. It will also promote women’s participation in the Panchayati Raj system. Committees will be formed at various levels to ensure smooth implementation, with active involvement from Panchayat Samitis. The scheme introduces the Adishakti Awards to recognize outstanding contributions. A ₹10.50 crore budget has been approved for the campaign’s execution.

Notes:
India’s Anahat Singh will compete in the upcoming World Squash Championships 2024-2025. The World Squash Championships 2024-2025 started in Chicago, United States of America, from 9 May. The 2025 edition of the World Squash Championship runs from May 9 to 17. Anahat is only 17 years old and is emerging as one of India’s top squash players. She won two bronze medals at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games in the People’s Republic of China.