Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

Notes:
Kerala has decided to move the Supreme Court after the Centre withheld ₹1,500 crore for education schemes, citing Kerala’s non-participation in the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme. PM SHRI stands for Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India and was launched in 2022 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. It aims to upgrade selected schools as model institutions to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The scheme runs from 2022–23 to 2026–27, after which states and Union Territories will maintain the standards. It focuses on modern infrastructure, smart classrooms, labs, sustainability, and real-world skill development.

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A new species of ribbon worm called Pararosa vigarae was discovered off the coast of Galicia, Spain, in the Ría de Arosa estuary. It is nicknamed the “accordion worm” because it can contract its body into ring-like folds like an accordion’s bellows. The discovery was confirmed using both external features and molecular genetic analysis. The study was published in Royal Society Open Science on May 7, 2025. This worm is unique in its physical traits and behavior, adding to the biodiversity of the Nemertea phylum. Ribbon worms are predatory and venomous but have simple anatomy, making traditional classification difficult. Understanding marine biodiversity is crucial amid the current biodiversity crisis. Only about 1,350 ribbon worm species are known, but experts estimate 1,400 more may remain undiscovered. This highlights the need to protect marine habitats from environmental threats to conserve unknown species.

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Researchers from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed a new iron-doped catalyst. This catalyst improves oxygen-related electrocatalytic reactions. Oxygen electrocatalysis is important for clean energy technologies like water splitting to produce hydrogen, generating clean fuels, and making hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). These technologies often face challenges such as slow reaction speeds, high energy use, and expensive materials. They usually depend on precious metals like platinum (Pt) and ruthenium (Ru). The new iron-based catalyst aims to reduce costs and improve efficiency in these clean energy processes.

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a U.S. government agency under the Department of Commerce, was established in 1970 to study oceans, atmosphere, and coastal regions. Its headquarters is in Washington, D.C. NOAA recently announced it will stop updating its main database that tracked the financial costs of climate change-related weather disasters such as floods, wildfires, hurricanes, and heatwaves. This database was widely used to understand economic impacts of extreme weather in the United States. NOAA also developed tools like the tsunami wave height model used for mapping major events like the 2011 Pacific tsunami after the Sendai earthquake in Japan.

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Japan’s Sakurajima volcano erupted recently, sending a huge ash plume 3,000 metres above its crater. Sakurajima is one of the most active volcanoes in Japan and is located on the southern tip of Kyushu Island, just 4 kilometers from Kagoshima City. It stands at an elevation of 1117 metres and has a circumference of about 50 kilometres. It is a stratovolcano, formed from layers of lava and ash at a convergent plate boundary. The volcano was once an island, but a massive eruption in 1914 connected it to the mainland. It lies on the south rim of the Aira Caldera and has two main peaks — the North Peak and the South Peak. Sakurajima erupts frequently with ash, pyroclastic flows, volcanic bombs, and poisonous gases.

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Gujarat recently launched two new digital portals to improve governance and law enforcement under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The Cyber Crime Refund Portal, named “Tera Tujhko Arpan,” helps cybercrime victims get faster refunds, making financial recovery quicker. The i-PRAGATI (Integrated Portal for Reporting and Grievance Analysis Through Technology Initiatives) portal provides real-time Short Message Service (SMS) updates to complainants on key actions like First Information Report (FIR) filings and arrests. These portals make police services more transparent and efficient. They show Gujarat’s strong focus on using technology for public safety and better citizen services.

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The National Cooperative Spice Fair 2025 was held at Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur, Rajasthan. It was organised by the Rajasthan Cooperative Department and Rajasthan State Cooperative Consumer Federation. The fair showcased healthy and traditional spices, millet products, and other cooperative goods. This year, products made from millet grains, called Shree Anna, were a special highlight. Many self-help groups, cooperative consumer associations, and local producers participated with diverse products. The fair allows consumers to buy pure, high-quality, and healthy products directly. It also supports local employment and economic empowerment in Rajasthan.

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The Jharkhand High Court recently directed the state government to strictly enforce an old ban on meat, alcohol, and intoxicants on Parasnath Hill. Parasnath Hill, the highest peak in Jharkhand at 4,478 feet, is located in the Giridih district. It holds sacred value for both the Jain and Santal Adivasi communities. For Jains, it is a holy pilgrimage site where 20 out of 24 Tirthankaras are believed to have attained moksha, or liberation. The hill has over 40 Jain temples and dhams, attracting both Shwetambar and Digambar sects. Santals call it Marang Buru or “Great Mountain,” their most sacred spiritual site. It houses Jug Jaher Than, similar in importance to Mecca for Santals. It is also where Lo Bir Baisi, the Santal tribal council, meets to resolve key disputes.

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India has received the Certificate of Elimination of Trachoma as a Public Health Problem from the World Health Organisation (WHO) during the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva. This marks a major success for India’s long-term efforts in disease elimination and preventive healthcare. WHO had earlier confirmed on October 8th that India had met the criteria for elimination of Trachoma as a public health issue. India is now the third country in the Southeast Asia region to achieve this milestone. The National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) played a key role in tackling Trachoma. Since 2019, NPCBVI has used a special WHO format to collect Trachoma case data from all districts. A National Trachomatous Trichiasis survey was carried out in 200 endemic districts between 2021 and 2024, as required by WHO.

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Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution launched three digital platforms—Depot Darpan Portal, Anna Mitra App, and Anna Sahayata Platform—to improve India’s Public Distribution System (PDS). These platforms aim to ensure transparency, accountability, and citizen participation, benefiting over 81 crore people under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Depot Darpan Portal allows depot officials to assess their performance using Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, CCTV, and real-time analytics, and may save ₹275 crore in Food Corporation of India (FCI) depots. Anna Mitra App helps Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers and officers track stock, alerts, and reports in real time. Anna Sahayata Platform enables easy grievance filing via WhatsApp, Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS), and speech tools for PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) users. These steps support the Digital India mission and aim to build a developed India or “Viksit Bharat” through technology-driven welfare delivery.