Current Affairs Quiz - May 2025

Notes:
New sites from China, Brazil, Mexico, and Spain have been recognized as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). GIAHS was launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2002. It addresses threats to traditional farming like climate change and loss of biodiversity. The program supports farmers by promoting traditional knowledge, conservation, and sustainable development. FAO’s network now includes 95 heritage systems in 28 countries worldwide. The new sites include a traditional agroforestry system growing erva-mate in Brazil. Three Chinese sites are recognized for pearl mussels, white tea, and pears. Mexico’s site conserves important food crops and biodiversity. Spain’s Lanzarote island has a unique farming system on volcanic land.

Notes:
Saudi Arabia launched TOURISE, a global platform for the next 50 years of tourism. TOURISE unites public and private leaders in tourism, technology, investment, and sustainability. It aims to unlock high-value investment and reset the tourism industry. The platform includes digital collaboration, working groups, and partnerships for long-term transformation. TOURISE will publish white papers and global indices on tourism, sustainability, and the economy. Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, emphasized adapting to technology and sustainability. The inaugural TOURISE Awards will honor achievements in sustainability and tourism innovation. The first TOURISE Summit will be held in Riyadh in November 2025.

Notes:
The Department of Fisheries (DoF), under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D), held the Fisheries Secretaries Conference 2025 and National Workshop on 23rd May 2025 in New Delhi. The meeting reviewed progress of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY). A pilot project was announced to use drones for transporting live fish in remote areas, with a 70-kg payload drone under development. Satellite technology will be used soon for improving fisher safety, mapping fish resources, and doing biometric verification. Plans were shared to upgrade fishing harbours and fish markets using smart and sustainable infrastructure.

Notes:
The 46th ASEAN Summit took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 26 May-27 May. Leaders from across the region gathered to discuss important issues like U.S. tariffs, the Myanmar conflict, and South China Sea disputes. ASEAN stands for Association of Southeast Asian Nations and is a regional group that promotes political, economic, and security cooperation. It was established in 1967 through the Bangkok Declaration by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Its headquarters is in Jakarta, Indonesia, showing Indonesia’s key role in the group.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports plans a large talent identification drive across India. Citizens can upload videos of players’ performances on the National Sports Repository System (NSRS) portal. NSRS is a digital Management Information System (MIS) run by the Sports Authority of India (SAI). It operates under the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. NSRS is part of the Khelo India – National Programme for Development of Sports Scheme. The portal provides digital solutions for athletes, coaches, sports scientists, training centers, federations, and administrators. It issues a unique Khelo India ID (KID) upon registration for athletes, coaches, and academies.

Notes:
Recently, the 38th Meeting of the Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC) was held under the chairmanship of the Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The council recommended a 36% increase in stipend under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS). The scheme was launched on 19th August 2016 by the Government of India. The scheme provides financial support to establishments running apprenticeship programs. It is an initiative by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to boost apprenticeship training across the country.

Notes:
Recently, officials said that INS Brahmaputra, a guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, damaged in a dockyard accident last year, will regain seaworthiness by late 2025 and be fully combat-ready by mid-2026. INS Brahmaputra is the first indigenously built Brahmaputra-class guided missile frigate. It was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata. The ship was commissioned into the Indian Navy on April 14, 2000. It performs coastal and offshore patrolling, sea route monitoring, maritime diplomacy, counter-terrorism, and anti-piracy missions.

Notes:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) inaugurated the Quantum Technology Research Centre (QTRC) at Metcalfe House, New Delhi on May 27, 2025. Quantum Technology Research Centre (QTRC) aims to strengthen India’s indigenous capabilities in quantum science for defence and strategic purposes. It houses advanced experimental setups for research in crucial quantum domains. It also has test-beds for single-photon sources and platforms for Quantum Key Distribution to ensure ultra-secure communication. DRDO continues to lead India’s efforts in quantum sensing, post-quantum cryptography, and secure communications. As a core partner in the National Quantum Mission, DRDO promotes indigenous innovation in sovereign quantum technologies.

Notes:
Two native stingless bee varieties from Nagaland, Etragonula iridipennis and Lepidotrigona arcifera, have been found helpful to farmers recently. Stingless bees are found in India, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America. They are smaller in size and usually black, unlike the larger, light brown honeybees with yellow bands. They cannot sting as their stinger is vestigial, meaning it is non-functional. Though they produce less honey overall, each stingless bee makes more honey than a honeybee. Their queens mate with one drone from another colony, and colonies include worker bees and one mated queen. Hive cells are either spiral or randomly arranged in hexagonal shapes. These bees play a major role in pollination and give high-quality medicinal honey. Their discovery in Nagaland highlights their value for sustainable farming and biodiversity.

Notes:
The Agri-Industry Summit 2025 was inaugurated on May 26, 2025, in Narsinghpur district, Madhya Pradesh. The summit highlights agriculture as the backbone of India’s economy and promotes its transformation into an industry. Farmers were encouraged to explore food processing, trade, and marketing alongside crop production. Support from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is being emphasized to integrate technology with farming. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, ₹3.46 lakh crore has been transferred to 10 crore farmers. The summit aims to boost farmer income and rural development, positioning Madhya Pradesh as a model agricultural state.