Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

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.

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Indore has become India’s first beggar-free city as of May 2025, marking a major success in social welfare. The campaign was launched in February 2024 under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment as a pilot project in 10 cities. Around 5,000 beggars, including 500 children, were identified on city streets before the campaign began. Beggars were rehabilitated by offering jobs, and children were enrolled in schools for education. Awareness campaigns were run in the first phase, followed by rehabilitation efforts. Giving money to beggars or buying from them is now banned, with three First Information Reports (FIRs) filed. Citizens are rewarded ₹1,000 for reporting instances of begging, which has boosted public participation. The initiative has been recognised by the Union Ministry and a World Bank team as a national model.

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The Kerala government has launched a new initiative called ‘Jyothi’ to support the education of children of migrant workers. This scheme was started to address the problem of educational marginalisation faced by migrant children due to frequent relocation and lack of access to schools. Kerala has over 35 lakh migrant workers who play a key role in its economy, and many of them stay with their families. Through ‘Jyothi’, the state aims to extend its strong tradition of free and universal education to all, including children of migrants. This initiative was recently launched as a step toward inclusive development.

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The Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment recently reviewed the implementation of the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (SEED). It was launched in 2022 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It aims to provide quality coaching, health insurance, housing assistance, and livelihood support to Denotified Tribes (DNT), Nomadic Tribes (NT), and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (SNT). The scheme targets families with an annual income of ₹2.50 lakh or less who are not receiving benefits from other government schemes. It seeks to uplift these communities and improve their socio-economic conditions.

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In the recent Operation Sindoor and the ongoing conflict with Pakistan, India’s key strengths have been the Russian S-400 missile system and the Rafale jets equipped with SCALP missiles. The S-400 is a modern long-range surface-to-air missile (MLR SAM) system developed by Russia. It can track and destroy multiple aerial targets at once within a range of up to 600 kilometres. The S-400 provides a powerful multi-layered air defence shield against threats like fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and stealth aircraft. It has been in service since 2007 and is considered one of the best SAM systems globally.

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Kerala recently reported a new case of Nipah virus infection, highlighting the state’s renewed struggle with this rare and deadly zoonotic virus. The Nipah virus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is a newly emerging zoonosis, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans. The virus primarily spreads through fruit bats and contaminated food, making it a significant public health threat. Nipah virus infection progresses rapidly, and there is no specific treatment available for it. The virus is known for its high fatality rate and the potential for human-to-human transmission.

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A recent peer-reviewed study published in the journal PLOS ONE found that Ladakh has the highest recorded density of snow leopards (Panthera uncia) in the world. Out of India’s estimated 709 snow leopards, about 477 individuals, nearly 68 percent, were found in Ladakh. Hemis National Park reported the world’s highest density at 2.07 snow leopards per 100 square kilometers. Snow leopards in Ladakh occupy around 47,572 square kilometers of mountainous terrain. Around 39 percent of snow leopards are mostly active in protected areas, while 57 percent use them for movement.

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A proposed ₹23.7 crore ecotourism project in Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, Meghalaya, has recently faced strong opposition from local groups and environmental activists. Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya and lies within the Eastern Himalayan Global Biodiversity Hotspot. The sanctuary’s landscape includes undulating plains, low hills, and rugged terrain shaped by the Umtrew River and its tributaries like Umran, Umling, and Umtasor. Umtrew River forms the western boundary of the sanctuary. It is home to over 400 bird species including the endangered Rufous-necked Hornbill, and mammals like the Clouded Leopard, Elephant, and Himalayan Black Bear.

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The Indian archery team performed excellently at the Archery World Cup 2025 Stage-2 held in Shanghai, China, from 6 to 11 May 2025. India won a total of seven medals, including two gold, one silver, and four bronze. Madhura Dhamangaonkar earned a gold medal in the women’s individual compound event. Ojas Deotale, Abhishek Verma, and Rishabh Yadav secured a gold in the men’s team compound event. Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Madhura Dhamangaonkar, and Chikitha Taniparthi won a silver in the women’s team compound event. Deepika Kumari claimed a bronze medal in the women’s individual recurve. Parth Salunkhe earned a bronze in the men’s individual recurve. Abhishek Verma and Madhura Dhamangaonkar bagged a bronze in the mixed team compound. Rishabh Yadav took a bronze in the men’s individual compound. The third stage will be held in Antalya, Turkiye, from 3 to 8 June 2025.

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A recent study in Nature Geoscience found that soil microbes, particularly fungi and bacteria, play a central role in regulating phosphorus availability and cycling over a span of 700,000 years in the Cooloola coastal dune system. These microbes manage the release and transformation of phosphorus in nutrient-poor soils, acting as crucial “gatekeepers” in ecosystem nutrient dynamics. These microbes adapt by replacing phospholipids with non-phosphorus lipids and storing fats to reduce phosphorus demand. They also improve phosphorus use efficiency in their metabolism to survive in low-phosphorus soils. Microbes both compete with plants for phosphorus and help them by recycling it and improving access.