Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

Notes:
India has once again been placed on the ‘priority watch’ list in the Special 301 Report by the United States Trade Representative (USTR). It is an annual review published under the Trade Act of 1974. It identifies countries that do not provide adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs) or fair access to US rights holders. The report has been released every year since 1989. It classifies countries as “priority foreign country”, “priority watch list”, or “watch list”. Countries on the priority watch list, like India, have serious IPR issues needing greater US attention.

Notes:
Amazon has launched the first 27 satellites under its Project Kuiper to build an internet-from-space network. Project Kuiper is Amazon’s satellite broadband initiative using Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is up to 2,000 kilometers above Earth. It includes around 3,232 satellites, ground stations, and customer terminals to provide the service. The goal is to deliver high-speed, low-latency, and affordable internet to remote and underserved regions globally. The project is named after the Kuiper Belt, a distant region of the solar system beyond the eight planets. It is Amazon’s answer to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet system.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The Government of Madhya Pradesh has banned stubble burning due to a rise in such cases after crop harvesting. Farmers found burning stubble will be denied benefits under the Mukhyamantri Kisan Kalyan Yojana (MKKY). Mukhyamantri Kisan Kalyan Yojana (MKKY) was launched by Madhya Pradesh government to provide financial help and improve the economic condition of farmers. It also aims to promote the use of modern agricultural technologies in the state. This decision highlights the government’s focus on controlling pollution and encouraging sustainable farming practices.

Notes:
The Lakkundi temples in the Gadag district of Karnataka are set to be finalized for UNESCO’s tentative listing as World Heritage Sites. Lakkundi, historically referred to as ‘Lokki Gundi’ in ancient inscriptions, was built during the reign of the Kalyana Chalukyas or Western Chalukyas. The village is home to over 50 ancient temples and 101 stepped wells, known as Kalyani. The Kasi Vishwanatha Temple is the most ornate and elaborately furnished among them. Lakkundi is also an important Jain center, with a significant Jain temple dedicated to Mahavira, which is one of the largest and oldest Jain shrines in the area.

Notes:
The Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) recently scaled Mt. Makalu, the fifth highest mountain in the world. Mt. Makalu stands at 8,485 meters above sea level and is located in the Mahalangur range of the Nepal Himalayas on the Nepal-Tibet border. It lies 23 kilometers southeast of Mount Everest and is part of the Makalu Barun National Park. The mountain is famous for its pyramid-like shape with sharp ridges and includes two subsidiary peaks, Makalu I and Makalu II.

Notes:
In the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), India ranks 151 out of 180 countries. This is a slight improvement from 159th in 2024 and 161st in 2023, but India still remains in the “very serious” press freedom category. India ranks lower than neighbours like Nepal (90th), Maldives (104th), Sri Lanka (139th), and Bangladesh (149th). Norway, Estonia, and the Netherlands are the top three performers in press freedom globally. For the first time, global press freedom is seen as in a “difficult situation” due to rising economic pressures.

Notes:
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal has ranked second nationwide for its paperless and queue-less Outpatient Department (OPD) registration under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). The ranking was announced by the National Health Authority (NHA), Government of India. AIIMS Bhopal generated over 1.45 million OPD tokens using the ‘Scan and Share’ service. AIIMS New Delhi holds the first position in the ranking. The ‘Scan and Share’ system allows patients to scan a QR code with their smartphones to get OPD tokens instantly.

Notes:
India recently halted the flow of water through the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River, a significant move impacting water access to Pakistan. The Baglihar Dam, also known as the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project, is located on the Chenab River in the Doda District of Jammu and Kashmir. It features a concrete gravity dam that is 144.5 meters high and 363 meters long, with a reservoir capacity of 475 million cubic meters. The underground powerhouse of the project measures 221 meters long, 24 meters wide, and 51 meters high.

Notes:
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sharda arrived at Maafilaafushi Atoll in the Maldives for a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise from May 4 to 10, 2025. The exercise is being held in partnership with the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). It aims to improve coordination in disaster response, search and rescue, medical aid, and joint drills. This initiative strengthens the India-Maldives defence partnership. It aligns with India’s MAHASAGAR vision, which stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth across Regions. The exercise includes training and outreach to enhance regional preparedness.