Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

Notes:
Recently, the Government of India declared 23rd September as the new fixed date for celebrating Ayurveda Day each year. This decision replaces the earlier variable observance on Dhanteras, which followed the lunar calendar and created logistical challenges. The change was announced through a Gazette Notification dated 23rd March 2025 to ensure global visibility and consistent annual observance. Ayurveda Day promotes Ayurveda as a scientific and holistic system of preventive healthcare. The date 23rd September was chosen as it coincides with the autumnal equinox, symbolizing natural balance, aligning with Ayurveda’s core philosophy of harmony between mind, body, and spirit.

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Recently, the Andhra Pradesh government announced property tax exemption for houses of Indian Defence Forces personnel within Gram Panchayat limits. This benefit now includes all active personnel from the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Paramilitary, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), not just retirees or those posted at borders. The exemption applies to one house that the personnel or their spouse own or reside in. This move was recommended by the Director of Sainik Welfare. It honours the sacrifices of soldiers like Agniveer Murali Naik, who died during Operation Sindoor at the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

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Astronomers from the Russian Academy of Sciences recently detected 11 new Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) using the Spektr-RG (SRG) space observatory. AGNs are regions at the centers of galaxies emitting extremely high levels of electromagnetic radiation, often outshining the galaxy itself. This emission comes from matter being consumed by a supermassive black hole or intense star formation activity. AGNs are essential for understanding galaxy formation and evolution due to their immense energy output.

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Recently, Brazilian microbiologist Mariangela Hungria was named the 2025 World Food Prize Laureate. She developed seed and soil treatments using beneficial bacteria like rhizobia and Azospirillum brasilense. These innovations help soybeans fix nitrogen naturally and boost root growth in crops like corn for better nutrient and water uptake. The World Food Prize is the top international award for those improving food quality, quantity, or access. It was established in 1986 by Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Norman E. Borlaug. Often called the Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture, it carries a $500,000 reward and is given in October.

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On May 14, 2025, Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma introduced a first-of-its-kind Artificial Intelligence (AI) anchor named Ankita to promote digital transformation and citizen engagement. The AI anchor presented key decisions from the Assam Cabinet meeting, including renaming Dibrugarh Airport after cultural icon Bhupen Hazarika and a one-time grant for tea garden workers. Ankita delivered updates in fluent Assamese with realistic voice modulation and expressions, making the communication more relatable and interactive. This digital initiative aims to make governance more accessible for the digital generation and reflects Assam’s push toward AI-led good governance. Earlier, Assam had introduced ‘Iris’, the first AI teacher at Royal Global School in Guwahati, dressed in traditional Mekhela-Chador.

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The Blyde Rondavel Flat Gecko was rediscovered in the Blyde River Canyon, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, after being unseen for 34 years. This flat-bodied lizard grows up to 8–9 cm and is adapted to live on cliffs and rocky outcrops, making it hard to spot. It was first discovered in 1991, but no sightings since then led to fears of extinction or doubts about it being a distinct species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had listed it as “Data Deficient” due to lack of data. The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) confirmed its rediscovery during a special expedition to a remote rocky area. This gecko is the fifth lost species rediscovered by the Endangered Wildlife Trust in recent years, after a dune mole, a butterfly, a lizard, and a frog.

Notes:
Neeraj Chopra has been given the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, effective from April 16, as per The Gazette of India. He made history by winning India’s first Olympic gold in athletics at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and followed it with a silver at the 2024 Paris Games. With two Olympic medals, he is now India’s most successful individual Olympian. He joined the Indian Army as a Naib Subedar in 2016 and was promoted to Subedar in 2021 after his Tokyo win.

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Uttar Pradesh has launched India’s first jungle safari train with Vistadome coaches between Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. The Vistadome train has large glass windows and transparent roofs for panoramic forest views. It operates on weekends, with plans to run daily to attract more tourists. The train covers 107 kilometers in about 4 hours and 25 minutes, costing ₹275 per person. This is part of the ‘One Destination Three Forests’ campaign linking Dudhwa, Katarniaghat, and Kishanpur sanctuaries. The Uttar Pradesh Eco Tourism Development Board aims to boost eco-tourism and generate local jobs.

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World Metrology Day is celebrated every year on May 20 to highlight the importance of metrology, which is the science of measurement. The day is promoted by the Measurements Standards Laboratory (MSL). The theme for World Metrology Day 2025 is “Measurements for all times, for all people.” The first World Metrology Day was observed in 1961. It commemorates the signing of the famous Metre Convention held in Paris, France in 1875. This led to the creation of the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) and the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML). The World Metrological Organization, formed in 1950, plays a key role in protecting public health and safety through accurate measurements.

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The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) recently protected 6.98 lakh Olive Ridley turtles during mass nesting at the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha under Operation Olivia. Operation Olivia is an annual mission of the ICG conducted from November to May to protect Olive Ridley turtles, mainly at Gahirmatha Beach and nearby coastal areas in Odisha. In February 2025, a record number of turtles nested at Rushikulya, showing the success of ICG’s conservation work. The ICG used aerial surveillance, surface patrolling, and community participation to safeguard nesting turtles. Since the start of Operation Olivia, ICG has done 5,387 surface patrols and 1,768 aerial missions, helping reduce illegal fishing and habitat damage.