Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

Notes:
Less than 1% of doctors in India have registered with the National Medical Register (NMR) eight months after its launch. National Medical Register (NMR) is a centralized digital database that includes all licensed allopathic (MBBS) doctors in India. It was launched in August 2024 under Section 31 of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, is the nodal ministry for the NMR. The NMR aims to create a comprehensive registry of all allopathic doctors in India, ensuring transparency and accountability in the medical field. It also enhances public trust, helps in credential verification, and aids in policy planning for healthcare.

Notes:
The Thrissur Pooram has officially begun with the ceremonial flag hoisting called Kodiyettam at the participating temples. Thrissur Pooram is an annual Hindu temple festival celebrated in Thrissur, Kerala during April-May. It was started by Shakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of Kochi. Ten temples participate in the festival, including Paramekkavu, Thiruvambadi, Kanimangalam, Karamucku, Laloor, Choorakottukara, Panamukkampally, Ayyanthole, Chembukkavu, and Neythilakavu. The festival features grand Poorams or processions of decorated elephants with traditional percussion music.

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:
Reliance NU Suntech recently signed a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement with the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) to build Asia’s largest single-location integrated solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project. SECI is a Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), dedicated to expanding Renewable Energy (RE) in India. SECI was formed in 2011 as a not-for-profit company and later became a commercial entity in 2015. It was established to support the National Solar Mission and has Miniratna Category-I status. SECI acts as the main agency for implementing solar, wind, and hybrid energy projects across India. It also helps fulfill India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by inviting developers through tenders for RE projects.

Notes:
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) have developed a 3D computational model to study thermoregulation in space. It shows that microgravity consistently increases human core body temperature, which is important for long-duration space missions. Microgravity is a condition of near-weightlessness experienced when objects are in free fall around Earth, not the absence of gravity. In microgravity, normal body functions like heat regulation are altered due to changes in blood flow and metabolism. The IIST model includes sweating, shivering, clothing, and organ heat to simulate real human conditions in space.

Notes:
A new mosquito species called the “Pwani molecular form” has been found in coastal areas of Tanzania and Kenya, drawing global attention to malaria control. It belongs to the Anopheles gambiae complex, which includes some of the world’s most dangerous malaria-spreading mosquitoes. This mosquito shows strong genetic differences from other species in the same group, suggesting unique behaviour or environmental adaptation. Genetic studies confirm it is only found along the coastal regions of East Africa, mainly in Tanzania and Kenya. It does not carry the usual genes for insecticide resistance found in other malaria vectors. This may mean it has a different resistance method or is more sensitive to current insecticides.

Notes:
Archaeologists have recently discovered prehistoric tools from the Lower Paleolithic age at Mangar Bani, highlighting its ancient human presence. Mangar Bani is a sacred grove and Paleolithic site located in the Aravalli hills on the Delhi-Haryana border. It lies within the only primary forest in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), meaning the forest is largely untouched by human activities and contains native tree species. Evidence shows continuous human occupation from around 100,000 years before present (BP) to 1000 AD. The site also has rock shelters and ancient rock and cave paintings estimated to be 20,000 to 40,000 years old.

Notes:
The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has recently revived two rare Ayurvedic texts—Dravyaratnakara Nighantu and Dravyanamakara Nighantu. The term “Nighantu” in Ayurveda refers to a collection of drug names, their synonyms, properties, and the parts used. Dravyaratnakara Nighantu, authored by Mudgala Pandita in 1480 AD, has 18 chapters with detailed information on drug actions and medicinal uses. It draws knowledge from earlier classical texts like Dhanvantari and Raja Nighantu, and adds new substances from plants, minerals, and animals. Dravyanamakara Nighantu, attributed to Bhisma Vaidya, focuses on homonyms in drug names. It acts as an important appendix to the Dhanvantari Nighantu and helps avoid confusion in Ayurvedic drug identification.

Notes:
World Thalassemia Day is observed every year on 8th May to raise global awareness about the inherited blood disorder called Thalassemia. Thalassemia affects the body’s ability to produce hemoglobin, leading to severe anemia and requiring regular blood transfusions for survival. The theme for 2025 is “Together for Thalassemia: Uniting Communities, Prioritizing Patients”, highlighting the need for collective action and patient-focused care. This day promotes early diagnosis, public education, and support for patients and families. Despite its seriousness, awareness about Thalassemia is still low in many regions, making such observances important for prevention and understanding.

Notes:
Union Agriculture Minister announced a 15-day nationwide campaign called Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan. The campaign will run from 29th May to 12th June to raise awareness about modern technology and new seed varieties among farmers. This was announced during the National Conference on Agriculture – Kharif Campaign 2025 held in New Delhi. The campaign will cover 700 districts and aims to reach nearly 1.5 crore farmers across India. Around 2,000 teams including farm scientists, officials, and progressive farmers will be formed with centre-state collaboration. Each team will hold three meetings daily at the district level to reach 10–12 lakh farmers every day.