Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

Notes:
India will launch its first manned deep-ocean mission called Samudrayaan by 2026 to explore marine resources up to 6,000 metres deep. The mission is part of the Deep Ocean Mission and will use an indigenously developed submersible named MATSYA 6000. MATSYA 6000 is a 4th generation manned submersible vehicle designed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai. It can carry three people and operate for 12 hours, with an emergency endurance of 96 hours. The research vessel Sagar Nidhi will be used to deploy and recover MATSYA 6000 during the mission.

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Recently, Rajasthan’s famous sangri bean from the Thar Desert received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag. This tag officially links the sangri bean to its region, recognising it as a unique product of Rajasthan’s harsh desert climate. Sangri, from the khejri tree, is used in the traditional dish ker sangri, which is slow-cooked with regional spices and curd. The GI tag gives sangri global recognition and legal protection, ensuring authenticity and boosting local pride and economy.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently inaugurated the upgraded Multi Agency Centre, also known as MAC. MAC is a national intelligence-sharing hub under the Intelligence Bureau (IB) where central and state agencies share information on terrorism. It was first set up in 2001 after the Kargil conflict and was strengthened after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. It now connects all police districts nationwide through a secure network built at a cost of ₹500 crore. The system includes Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools for better analysis. It helps map hotspots, predict threats, and coordinate real-time action against terrorism, crime, and cyberattacks.

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A recent large-scale study from South Korea, published in the European Heart Journal, found that people vaccinated against shingles have a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes. Shingles, or herpes zoster, is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. The virus stays dormant in nerve cells and can reactivate later in life when the immune system weakens. Shingles appears as a painful rash with blisters, usually on one side of the body, and can cause symptoms like burning, headache, and fever. The most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a nerve pain that can last for months. Shingles is not directly contagious but the virus can infect someone who never had chickenpox. It mainly affects people over 50 or those with weak immune systems.

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The Punjab government banned hybrid paddy and the Pusa-44 variety to tackle groundwater depletion and environmental harm. These varieties consume more water and take longer to mature, worsening Punjab’s groundwater crisis. The ban is based on research by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. Out of 150 blocks, groundwater is overexploited in 114, with only 17 stable. Hybrid paddy is prone to diseases like bacterial blight and smut, which affect yields and nearby crops. Hybrid seeds are costly for small farmers, requiring more pesticides and fertilizers. Taller hybrid plants cause more stubble burning, worsening air pollution. The ban faces legal challenge in Punjab and Haryana High Court on May 19, 2025. Farmers and seed companies oppose the ban, citing uncertainty ahead of sowing season.

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A new butterfly species called Euthalia Malaccana has been recorded for the first time in India in Arunachal Pradesh. This species is usually found in the Indo-Australian region, mainly in Southeast Asia including northern Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, and the Sunda Islands. Male butterflies have a distinct blue apical spot on their forewings, while females have larger apical spots. Their hindwings have small red spots. The discovery is important as the species acts as an indicator of ecosystem health. This recent finding adds to India’s rich biodiversity, especially in the Northeast region.

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World Bee Day is observed globally on May 20. The day highlights how pollinators like bees support sustainable food systems, reduce hunger, and address the biodiversity crisis. In India, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) celebrated the event at its Central Office in Vile Parle, Mumbai, under the theme “Bee Inspired by Nature to Nourish Us All.” The event was held as part of the ‘Sweet Revolution Utsav’, reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to turn the White Revolution into a Sweet Revolution. In Financial Year 2024–25, honey worth Rs. 25 crore was exported by KVIC-supported beekeepers. The Honey Mission, led by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, is helping rural youth, women, and farmers become self-reliant through beekeeping.

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NASA and Virginia Tech researchers have, for the first time, measured the speed and height of flood waves on U.S. rivers using data from the SWOT satellite. SWOT stands for Surface Water and Ocean Topography and was launched in 2022. It is a joint mission by NASA and the Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES), the French Space Agency. SWOT uses a special instrument called the Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn) to measure water surface height, width, and elevation. The satellite sends microwaves to water bodies and measures their return time for accurate data. SWOT provides high-resolution images and monitors over 55% of large floods globally. This recent achievement shows SWOT’s powerful role in flood monitoring and disaster management.

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The BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) missile is nearing flight testing with an extended range of 800 km. It is a smaller, lighter, and more versatile supersonic cruise missile. BrahMos-NG is designed to be used on fighter aircraft, ships, and submarines. It is jointly developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia under BrahMos Aerospace. The missile aims to be miniaturized, stealthier, and more agile for ultra-precise strikes on land and sea targets.

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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.