Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

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:
The Election Commission of India (ECI) will soon launch a new digital platform called ECINET to streamline electoral services. ECINET is a single-point user-friendly interface for voters, election officials, political parties, and civil society. It will integrate over 40 existing mobile and web apps of the ECI into one platform. Popular apps like Voter Helpline, Voter Turnout, cVIGIL, Suvidha 2.0, Electoral Search and Management System (ESMS), Saksham, and Know Your Candidate (KYC) will be merged into ECINET. It will offer a clean User Interface (UI) and smooth User Experience (UX), reducing the need to download multiple apps. ECINET will follow the Representation of the People Act 1950, 1951, and related rules and guidelines.

Notes:
The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-Bombay) has been appointed to lead the recently launched ‘Pushpak – National Mission on Drone Technology’. The mission was started by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) with a grant-in-aid of ₹82.7 crore. It aims to boost the development of indigenous drone technology across key sectors in India. IIT-Bombay will work on hybrid drones, indigenous processors, and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for disaster response and coastal monitoring. Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), Mumbai, will develop secure embedded systems and improve drone cybersecurity. A drone security lab and forensic unit will also be set up to monitor flight patterns and prevent drone threats.

Notes:
The Pulitzer Prizes 2025 were recently announced by the Pulitzer Prize Board to honor excellence in journalism and the arts. The Pulitzer Prize is considered the most prestigious award in journalism in the United States. It was established in the year 1917 and is administered by Columbia University. The award is overseen by the Pulitzer Prize Board, which consists of judges appointed by Columbia University. The prize is named after Joseph Pulitzer, a famous newspaper publisher who left funds in his will to create the School of Journalism and the Pulitzer Prize.

Notes:
The Government of India recently launched the “Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025” to provide free and quick medical help to accident victims. Any person injured in a road accident involving a motor vehicle on a public road in India will get cashless treatment at selected hospitals. The maximum treatment benefit is Rs 1.5 lakh, valid for seven days from the accident date. Non-designated hospitals can only provide emergency stabilisation care as per the scheme guidelines. The National Health Authority (NHA) will coordinate the scheme at the national level. It will work closely with police, hospitals, and State Health Agencies for smooth implementation. The State Road Safety Council in each state and Union Territory will act as the nodal agency for local execution.

Notes:
A new study reveals that Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano, which collapsed in 2018 causing a deadly tsunami, showed warning signs years in advance. Anak Krakatau, meaning “Child of Krakatoa,” is located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. It is a stratovolcano, formed by alternating layers of solidified lava and ash. The volcano sits at the convergent boundary between the Indo-Australian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Anak Krakatau is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone around the Pacific Ocean. In December 2018, its southwest flank collapsed, generating a tsunami that killed over 400 people and caused widespread destruction.

Notes:
In Operation Sindoor, SCALP missiles were recently launched from Indian Rafale fighter jets to hit terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). SCALP stands for Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée, which means Long-Range Autonomous Cruise Missile System in French. It is also called ‘Storm Shadow’ in the United Kingdom. SCALP is an air-launched cruise missile designed for long-range, deep-strike missions. It carries conventional explosives and targets high-value, fixed or stationary enemy positions. It was jointly developed by France and the United Kingdom. It is used by the air forces of India, Egypt, Italy, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

Notes:
Kosmos 482 was a Soviet-era Venus lander launched on March 31, 1972, as part of the Venera space program. Its mission was to land on Venus, but a rocket malfunction left it stranded in Earth’s orbit. After orbiting Earth for over 50 years, the 500-kg lander module is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere around May 10, 2025. The spacecraft has been circling the planet for decades, marking an unusual journey in space history. Its re-entry marks the end of a long-lived mission that never reached its intended destination.

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India has become the third-largest vehicle manufacturer in the world as per Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways. This was highlighted at the 4th International Bioenergy Biofuels Biomass (BBB) Summit and Expo on Bioenergy Value Chain held in New Delhi. The growing demand for various types of vehicles is increasing fossil fuel consumption. There is a strong push to reduce fuel imports and increase exports to strengthen the economy. The summit also focused on promoting technologies that use the country’s biomass resources for energy.

Notes:
The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-19 Football Championship 2025 takes place in Yupia, Papum Pare District, Arunachal Pradesh from May 10, 2025. Six countries are taking part in the tournament, which aims to promote youth football in South Asia. Group A includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, and the Maldives, while Group B has India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. The championship runs until May 18, encouraging regional sportsmanship and football development among young players.