Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

Notes:
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea, highlighting an urgent health concern. The outbreak was detected after samples of the poliovirus were found in healthy children during routine screening in Lae city. Polio is caused by the highly infectious poliovirus, which spreads through contact with faeces or respiratory droplets of an infected person. It mainly affects children under five years old and can lead to permanent paralysis. Papua New Guinea was polio-free since 2000, but low immunisation rates have led to its return. WHO has called for an immediate vaccination campaign to contain the spread.

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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The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), along with the World Monuments Fund India (WMFI) and the TCS Foundation, has recently completed the conservation of Rajon ki Baoli. Rajon ki Baoli, also called Rajon ki Bain, is a 16th-century stepwell located in Mehrauli Archaeological Park, South Delhi. It was built in 1506 CE by Daulat Khan during the rule of Sikander Lodi of the Lodi dynasty, the last dynasty before the Mughals. The stepwell showcases Lodi-era architecture and traditional water conservation techniques. It served as a water source and summer retreat, mainly used by masons for drinking and cooking.

Notes:
California’s Tulare Lake, which had dried up long ago, reemerged after a gap of 130 years due to powerful atmospheric rivers over the region. Tulare Lake is located in the San Joaquin Valley in California, United States of America. It was once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. The lake disappeared over time mainly due to man-made irrigation systems. In 2023, heavy atmospheric rivers brought record rainfall to California. This rare weather event caused Tulare Lake to reemerge after 130 years. The Kern River, which is fed by snowmelt from the southern Sierra Nevada, helps refill the lake. The Tachi Yokut tribe traditionally depended on Tulare Lake for survival as the region receives very little rainfall.

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The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation recently launched the new Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Portal in New Delhi. The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Scheme was introduced in August 2005 by amending the Citizenship Act, 1955. A foreign national can apply for OCI if they were an Indian citizen on or after 26th January 1950, or were eligible to become one on that date. OCI status is also open to those whose ancestors belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15th August 1947. The new OCI portal aims to simplify and modernize the application process for eligible foreign nationals.

Notes:
Eminent astrophysicist and Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar passed away in Pune on May 20, 2025, at the age of 87. He was known for his pioneering work in cosmology, science communication, and institution-building in India. In 1988, he founded the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) and served as its Director until 2003. He received the Kalinga Award from UNESCO in 1996 for popularising science through books, articles, and media. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 1965, Padma Vibhushan in 2004, and Maharashtra Bhushan in 2011. In 2014, his Marathi autobiography won the Sahitya Akademi Award for regional literature.

Notes:
Member countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) have adopted the first-ever WHO Pandemic Agreement at the 78th World Health Assembly, Geneva. This agreement is the result of over three years of negotiations following the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to improve global cooperation for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response through fair access to vaccines, medicines, and tests. A Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system (PABS) will be developed to ensure countries sharing virus samples receive timely support. Under PABS, pharma companies will give WHO 20% of real-time production for equitable distribution, especially to developing nations.

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The Spices Board recently launched the “Sustainability in Spice Sector through Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative Interventions for Export Development (SPICED)” scheme for 2025–26. The Spices Board, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is responsible for the scheme’s implementation. The scheme aims to make the spice sector more sustainable and boost spice exports from India. It helps improve the productivity of small and large cardamom through financial support. It promotes organic farming and good agricultural practices to ensure better quality. The scheme provides funds for modern post-harvest machines like dryers, polishers, and slicers. It also supports startups, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and small businesses through Spice Incubation Centres. It ensures spices meet global food safety and plant health standards.

Notes:
Shooter Kanak won India’s first gold medal at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany. She scored 239 points in the Women’s 10 metre Air Pistol final. Kanak had earlier won silver at the Junior World Championship in Lima last year. She defeated Anna Dulce of Moldova, a two-time Olympian and European Champion, by 1.7 points. Chen Yen-Ching of Chinese Taipei secured the bronze medal. Indian shooter Prachi finished fifth in the same event. Adriyan Karmakar had earlier opened India’s medal tally with a silver in the 50 metre rifle prone event.

Notes:
World Turtle Day 2025 is observed globally on May 23 to raise awareness about the protection of turtles and tortoises. This day is dedicated to educating people about the importance of conserving these reptiles that have existed for over 200 million years. Turtles and tortoises are now facing serious threats like habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade, pollution, and environmental degradation. World Turtle Day reminds us of the urgent need to protect these ancient species and their natural habitats. It serves as a global call to action to ensure their survival and maintain balance in the ecosystem.