Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

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The 8th United Nations (UN) Global Road Safety Week is observed from 12 to 18 May 2025, with the theme MakeWalkingSafe and MakeCyclingSafe. UN Global Road Safety Week (UNGRSW) is a biennial global road safety campaign hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners to highlight the urgent need for safer roads, especially for pedestrians and cyclists. This global campaign promotes safe infrastructure and transport policies that support walking and cycling in cities. It aims to raise awareness about the growing dangers faced by non-motorized road users due to poor road conditions and unsafe driver behavior. It also encourages governments to adopt strong laws and reforms to reduce road traffic injuries and deaths.

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Kerala launched the ‘Vruthi’ campaign to tackle its growing waste crisis. ‘Vruthi’ means cleanliness of body and mind and aims for a garbage-free Kerala. It is part of the ‘Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam’ mission promoting behavioural change. The campaign focuses on mass public participation and decentralized waste management solutions. It aims for a garbage-free Kerala, promoting cleanliness of both body and mind. The ‘Clean Kerala Conclave 2025’ highlighted innovative waste management practices. The event showcased collective achievements, underscoring the power of community involvement.

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The military of Taiwan recently conducted its first live-firing of the American-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is developed by the United States. HIMARS is a lightweight and mobile multiple rocket launcher system. It can launch several precision-guided rockets quickly and accurately. It is manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, a defence and aerospace company based in the United States. HIMARS is designed to destroy enemy artillery, air defence units, trucks, light armoured vehicles, and troop or supply areas. This system increases battlefield mobility and firepower with high accuracy. The recent test highlights Taiwan’s efforts to strengthen its defence with U.S. military support.

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Recently, India extended financial support to the Maldives by offering a $50 million Government Treasury Bill to help the island nation with fiscal reforms and economic stability. This move highlights India’s commitment under the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy to support its close maritime neighbours. The Maldives holds strategic importance in India’s regional outreach and is a key partner in India’s maritime vision, called Vision ‘MAHASAGAR’ (Maritime Awareness for Holistic Action and Security through Active Geographical Engagement for Regional Stability). The support reflects not just economic assistance but a deeper strategic and diplomatic partnership between India and the Maldives.

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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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The Union Cabinet recently approved a new semiconductor manufacturing unit in Uttar Pradesh, marking a significant step in India’s semiconductor ambitions. This facility is the sixth under the India Semiconductor Mission, a push for self-reliance in semiconductor technology. The unit is a joint venture between HCL and Foxconn and will be located near Jewar Airport in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) region. It will manufacture display driver chips for devices like mobile phones, laptops, automobiles, and more. The plant will have a production capacity of 20,000 wafers per month, with a target output of 36 million chips monthly.

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The Shakargarh Bulge is a strategic area in Pakistani territory that sticks into India, located between the Ravi and Chenab rivers. It has flat terrain and lies close to key Indian cities like Amritsar, Pathankot, Batala, and Gurdaspur, with important road links to Jammu. This makes it a critical military corridor for both India and Pakistan. Recently, a major build-up of tanks and armoured vehicles by the Pakistan Army was spotted here. The area is historically significant as the site of the 12-day Battle of Basantar during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, which influenced the western front’s outcome.

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After 12 years, Uttarakhand is hosting the Pushkar Kumbh Mela at Keshav Prayag in Mana village. Pushkar Kumbh is a sacred Vaishnavite pilgrimage held every 12 years when Jupiter enters Gemini. It takes place at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Saraswati rivers in Mana village, Uttarakhand. The site is spiritually important as Ved Vyas composed the Mahabharata here. Saints like Ramanujacharya and Madhvacharya are believed to have received divine knowledge from Goddess Saraswati at this place. Though smaller than other Kumbh Melas, it attracts many devotees, especially from South India.

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India and the European Union (EU) launched two major research projects on Marine Plastic Litter and Waste to Hydrogen. These initiatives are under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), formed in 2022. The TTC was created by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It aims to strengthen trade and technology partnership between India and the EU. In February 2025, during the TTC’s second meeting, both sides confirmed their focus on green technologies. They agreed to cooperate on recycling electric vehicle batteries, marine plastic waste, and converting waste to hydrogen.

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The Ministry of Culture has launched a new campaign called Ek Desh Ek Dhadkan, which means One Nation, One Heartbeat. This campaign aims to honour the bravehearts of India and promote national unity and pride in the Indian flag, the Tiranga. The slogan is being widely used across digital platforms to spread patriotic feelings among citizens. In the last 48 hours, all 43 institutions under the Ministry of Culture have actively taken part in the campaign. Famous cultural institutions and heritage sites have been lit in the colours of the Indian flag. Over 60 monuments across India have been illuminated under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) supervision.