Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

Notes:
The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) recently installed India’s longest rail flyover girder at Kalamboli, Maharashtra under the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC). The WDFC is a 1,500-kilometre project to modernise India’s freight transport system. It was installed 34 metres across live railway tracks without disrupting Indian Railways operations, using advanced heavy-lifting machines. This first-of-its-kind feat shows India’s growing technical strength in railway infrastructure. The flyover will boost cargo flow between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and Maharashtra’s industrial hubs. It will reduce transit time, improve logistics efficiency, and shift cargo from road to rail, which is cleaner and energy-efficient.

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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).

Notes:
Banu Mushtaq, an Indian writer, lawyer, and activist, became the first author writing in Kannada to win the International Booker prize 2025. She won for her short story collection Heart Lamp. Heart Lamp is the first short story collection to win the £50,000 prize. The International Booker Prize began in 2005 as the Man Booker International Prize. It is awarded annually for a single book translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland. Its goal is to encourage reading quality fiction from non-English languages. The prize promotes global fiction among English-speaking readers, covering novels and short story collections.

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Researchers from Justus Liebig University Giessen (Germany), New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, Kakapo Recovery, and University of Otago have successfully used artificial insemination (AI) to breed the critically endangered Kakapo. The Kakapo is the world’s largest flightless parrot, native to New Zealand. It is nocturnal, herbivorous, and the only lek-breeding parrot, where males display together to attract females. Kakapo breed only in years when native fruits like rimu berries are plentiful. Threats include predation by invasive mammals, infertility, high embryo death, and diseases like aspergillosis. Due to these threats, it is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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Gujarat has completed its 16th lion population census, with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announcing 891 lions. This increase shows Gujarat’s success in wildlife conservation, especially through Project Lion. Project Lion focuses on habitat management, wildlife health monitoring, and community involvement to support lion growth. Preliminary data show 196 adult male lions, with the rest being females, cubs, and sub-adults. Lions, once mostly in Gir National Park, are now spreading to new areas, showing better habitat connectivity. The Asiatic lion is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, recently upgraded from Endangered.

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The 24th Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers (COM) Meeting was hosted virtually by Sri Lanka under the theme “Sustainable Indian Ocean for Future Generation.” India was represented by Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, P. Kumaran. India is currently the Vice-Chair of IORA and part of the Troika and will assume the Chairship for 2025–2027. Ministers and high-level delegates from all 22 IORA Member States and 12 Dialogue Partners attended. The meeting adopted the ‘Colombo Communiqué’ and discussed regional cooperation. India reaffirmed its commitment to peace, security, and development in the Indian Ocean Region.

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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.

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India’s first Mahouts Village was recently inaugurated at the Theppakadu Elephant Camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu. A total of 44 houses have been built for mahouts and their families, who care for and manage elephants. This is the first such dedicated settlement in India aimed at improving the lives of mahouts. The project has been developed at a cost of ₹5.6 crore. It provides permanent and well-equipped housing for mahouts and cavadis (assistants), recognizing their traditional skills and contribution to elephant care. The initiative highlights Tamil Nadu’s efforts to ensure welfare of both elephants and their caretakers.

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India is projected to become the world’s top potato producer, overtaking China, according to scientists from the International Potato Center (Centro Internacional de la Papa – CIP). This was highlighted at a recent symposium on ‘Root and Tuber Crops Research and Development in India and South Asia’. Experts estimate that India’s potato production may grow from 60 million tonnes now to 100 million tonnes by 2050. The International Potato Center (CIP), founded in 1971, is a global research organization focusing on potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers. Headquartered in Lima, Peru, CIP promotes nutritious food, sustainable businesses, and climate resilience in over 20 countries.

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The Perito Moreno Glacier is experiencing alarming changes. The glacier has been losing ice mass at about 0.85 meters per year since 2015. This rapid melting threatens local ecosystems and contributes to rising global sea levels.The Perito Moreno Glacier is located in Argentina. Specifically, it’s situated in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz, within the Los Glaciares National Park. It recently lost a massive block of ice, sparking concerns about its long-term stability. Known as the ‘White Giant’, it spans 250 square kilometres and formed around 18,000 years ago. It is a major freshwater source and has been part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site since 1981.