Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

Notes:
Recently, the Chhattisgarh High Court has been closely monitoring development works at Madku Dweep due to its cultural and historical value. Madku Dweep is located on the Shivnath River, the longest tributary of the Mahanadi River, in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh. The island covers about 24 hectares and is named Madku because its shape resembles a frog. It is also called Kedar Tirth and Harihar Kshetra Kedar Dweep. Archaeologists have found ancient stone tools, coins, and inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century BC.

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Scientists recently studied the offshore breakwater system using geotube technology along the Poonthura coast in Kerala. The study showed that the system led to major positive changes in the coastal landscape behind the breakwater stretch. Geotubes are large, strong fabric tubes filled with sand or dredged material. They are made from high-strength, permeable geotextile, usually polypropylene, which lets water escape while keeping solid particles inside. These tubes are used to build seawalls and barriers that protect coastlines from erosion caused by waves. Geotubes help reduce wave impact and retain sand on beaches, canals, and bays. They can be designed in different sizes and shapes for specific locations.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Kandha women from Odisha’s Kandhamal district are giving up the old tradition of facial tattooing, once used for protection and identity. Kandha, also known as Khond, is the largest tribal group in Odisha, living mainly in Kandhamal, Rayagada, Kalahandi, and Koraput districts. They speak Kui or Kuvi languages, which belong to the Dravidian language family. The word “Kandha” comes from the Telugu word “Konda,” meaning hill, showing their link to forest life. Sub-groups include Desia Kandha, Dongria Kandha, and Kutia Kandha, with Dongria and Kutia listed as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

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The Government of India has recently updated its import policy for gold and silver to match customs tariffs with trade rules. This change was officially notified by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It is responsible for creating and carrying out India’s Foreign Trade Policy (FTP). DGFT is based in New Delhi and has 24 regional offices across India. Earlier known as the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports (CCI&E), it was renamed DGFT after the 1991 economic reforms to promote trade.

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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.

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In Tamil Nadu’s Kunnapattu, many Irula families face eviction and lack legal ownership of the land they have lived on for generations. The Irula live mainly in the Nilgiri Mountains of the Western Ghats, across Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The Irula are one of India’s oldest indigenous communities and the second largest Adivasi group in Tamil Nadu. They are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in the state due to their socio-economic challenges. They speak the Irula language, which is related to Tamil and Kannada, both Dravidian languages. They follow pantheism and believe in spirits in people and objects, worshipping a virgin goddess named Kanniamma, who is linked to the cobra.

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India has formally taken over as Chair of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) for the 2025–26 term during the 67th Governing Body Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Indian delegation is led by the Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. India committed to strengthening the APO Vision 2030 and advancing the Green Productivity 2.0 framework. India stressed regional cooperation for digital transformation, sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship. More than 100 Indian professionals take part in APO programs annually through the National Productivity Council (NPC) under DPIIT. India is implementing projects focused on Green Productivity and Industry 4.0 for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The APO, based in Tokyo, was founded in 1961 and currently includes 21 member economies.