Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

Notes:
Minister of Power and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated the Bharat Bodh Kendra at India Habitat Centre (IHC), New Delhi. Bharat Bodh Kendra is a new section under the Habitat Library and Resource Centre. It is dedicated to deepening understanding of India’s cultural and civilizational heritage. The centre offers curated books and resources on Indian art, music, spirituality, history, and philosophy. It provides a quiet space for reflection, learning, and cultural exploration.

Notes:
Dr. Subbanna Ayyappan, a renowned fisheries scientist and Padma Shri awardee, was found dead in the Cauvery River near Srirangapatna, Karnataka, on May 10, 2025. He was known as the architect of India’s Blue Revolution, which boosted fish production through scientific aquaculture. He was 70 years old at the time of his death.

Notes:
Recently, 31 Maoists were killed in one of India’s biggest anti-Naxal operations called Operation Black Forest. It was a 21-day counterinsurgency mission in the Kurraguttalu Hills, spread across 1,200 square kilometres on the Chhattisgarh–Telangana border. The aim was to destroy Naxal bases, remove top Maoist leaders, and regain control of the area. This supports India’s goal to end Left Wing Extremism by March 31, 2026. The forces involved included the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), Special Task Force (STF), and District Reserve Guard (DRG). The Karregutta Hills, key to this operation, lie between Telangana and Chhattisgarh.

Notes:
Indian forces launched Operation Nader in the Nader area of Tral, Awantipora, Jammu and Kashmir on May 15, 2025, acting on specific intelligence inputs. The operation involves the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Earlier on May 13, 2025, three terrorists, including a commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba and its proxy The Resistance Front (LeT/TRF), were killed in Shopian. These efforts follow the success of Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), killing over 100 terrorists at key locations like Bahawalpur and Muridke.

Notes:
The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, launched the first cluster of Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) testbeds in India. The focus is on the cement sector, a major carbon emitter, supporting India’s net-zero goal by reducing emissions in hard-to-abate industries like cement, steel, and chemicals. Five testbeds have been set up with leading institutions and companies. This initiative advances India’s climate goals by promoting cutting-edge CCU technologies in key sectors.

Notes:
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:
NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) Mission recently created the most detailed gravity map of the Moon. The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission was launched by NASA. It was part of NASA’s Discovery Program. The new map will help build a precise lunar reference frame and time system, making future Moon missions safer and more accurate. The mission showed that the Moon’s nearside, which faces Earth, is warmer and more geologically active than the farside. Earth’s gravity pulls more on the nearside, causing it to flex more and revealing interior structural differences. The nearside has large flat plains called “mare”, while the farside has rugged terrain.

Notes:
Recently, Rajasthan’s famous sangri bean from the Thar Desert received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag. This tag officially links the sangri bean to its region, recognising it as a unique product of Rajasthan’s harsh desert climate. Sangri, from the khejri tree, is used in the traditional dish ker sangri, which is slow-cooked with regional spices and curd. The GI tag gives sangri global recognition and legal protection, ensuring authenticity and boosting local pride and economy.

Notes:
The National Commission for Women (NCW) recently launched the ‘Campus Calling’ programme to promote gender sensitivity and student safety. It aims to prevent sexual harassment and raise awareness about cybercrimes affecting students in colleges and universities. The programme is being implemented in collaboration with ‘Yuvamanthan’, a youth development platform. It plans to reach over 1,000 higher education institutions, making it one of NCW’s largest youth-focused initiatives. Each college will have two male and two female campus ambassadors to lead gender awareness efforts. These ambassadors will promote safety, equality, and respect, and drive youth participation in creating secure campuses.

Notes:
World Hypertension Day is observed every year on May 17 to raise awareness about hypertension and its control. The theme of 2025 is “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer!”. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is called a silent killer because it often shows no symptoms. It affects over 294 million people in the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region. Risk factors include tobacco and alcohol use, too much salt, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and mental stress. Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and other cardiovascular diseases (CVD).