Current Affairs Quiz — 23 May 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
At the Rising North East Investors Summit 2025, what did the Prime Minister say 'EAST' stands for in the government's policy for the region?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Empower, Act, Strengthen, Transform
The PM said EAST means 'Empower, Act, Strengthen and Transform'.
According to the Prime Minister's address at the Rising North East Investors Summit 2025, what is the length of the Northeast Gas Grid?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1,600 km
The PM cited the establishment of a 1,600-km-long Northeast Gas Grid.
Consider the following statements made at the Rising North East Investors Summit 2025: 1. The Kaladan Multimodal Transit Project will link Kolkata Port to Myanmar's Sittwe Port, with a trade route through Mizoram. 2. Guwahati, Imphal and Agartala are being developed as Multi-Modal Logistics Hubs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both statements are from the PM's address as published by PIB.
Rule 49M of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, mentioned in ECI's May 2025 instructions on mobile deposit facility, relates to:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Secrecy of voting within the polling station
ECI said Rule 49M, which ensures secrecy of voting within the polling station, will continue to be strictly enforced.
Consider the following statements about ECI's instructions of 23 May 2025: 1. Voters may carry mobile phones inside the polling station if the phones are switched off. 2. Booths set up by candidates for issuing unofficial identity slips can now be set up just beyond 100 metres of a polling station. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: phones are allowed within 100 m only switched off and must be deposited; they cannot be carried inside. Statement 2 is correct.
Under ECI's May 2025 mobile deposit instructions, who can exempt certain polling stations from the provision based on adverse local circumstances?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Returning Officer
The Returning Officer can exempt certain polling stations based on adverse local circumstances.
The Ministry of Education's 2025 enforcement drive to make areas around educational institutions tobacco-free was to run during which period?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 31 May to 26 June 2025
The drive runs from 31 May (World No Tobacco Day) to 26 June 2025 (International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking). 22 May–21 July is the period of the MyGov quiz.
Which provision of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003 bans the sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions, as cited by the Ministry of Education in May 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Section 6(b)
The Ministry asked States to enforce Section 6(b) of COTPA, 2003.
According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS-2), 2019, cited by the Ministry of Education, what share of Indian students aged 13–15 were using tobacco in some form?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 8.5%
GYTS-2 (2019) found 8.5% of Indian students aged 13–15 using tobacco in some form.
Under the revised norms of assistance to National Sports Federations (May 2025), what minimum share of their annual budget must NSFs earmark for grassroots development?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 20%
NSFs must earmark at least 20% of their annual budget for grassroots development.
Under the revised NSF assistance norms of May 2025, NSFs with an annual budget of how much or more must appoint a High-Performance Director?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — ₹10 crore
NSFs with an annual budget of ₹10 crore and above must appoint a High-Performance Director.
Under the revised NSF assistance norms (May 2025), what monthly dietary allowance will probable group athletes get for non-camp days?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — ₹10,000
Each probable group athlete gets ₹10,000 per month for non-camp days.
Instructors from which of the following institutes were NOT part of the joint team that summited Mount Everest on 23 May 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — ABVIMAS, Manali
The joint team had instructors from NIM Uttarkashi, HMI Darjeeling and JIM&WS Pahalgam.
Consider the following statements about the joint Everest expedition of 2025: 1. It was flagged off by Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth from New Delhi on 26 March 2025. 2. It was organised to commemorate 75 years of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the expedition commemorated 60 years of NIM Uttarkashi.
As part of acclimatisation before the Everest summit, the joint team of 2025 summited which peak on 18 April 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Mt Lobuche
The team summited Mt Lobuche (6,119 m) on 18 April 2025.
As per the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry (May 2025), what are the proposed length and estimated cost of Bengaluru Metro Phase-3A?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — About 37 km, about ₹28,400 crore
Karnataka's Phase-3A proposal is about 37 km at about ₹28,400 crore; 45 km of Phase-3 was sanctioned at ₹15,600 crore.
Consider the following statements about Bengaluru Metro as of May 2025: 1. Phase-3A has already been sanctioned by the Central Government. 2. About 145 km of metro network is operational in Bengaluru. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Both are wrong: Phase-3A is only proposed and its cost is to be examined; about 75 km is operational and about 145 km is under construction.
Where and when is Wings India 2026, Asia's largest civil aviation event, scheduled to be held?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad; 28–31 January 2026
Wings India 2026 is scheduled for 28–31 January 2026 at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad.
Wings India 2026 is organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in collaboration with which industry body?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — FICCI
The Ministry of Civil Aviation organises Wings India with FICCI.
As per provisional ESIC payroll data, how many new employees were added under the ESI Scheme in March 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 16.33 lakh
16.33 lakh new employees were added in March 2025; 15.43 lakh was the February figure.
Consider the following statements about ESIC payroll data for March 2025: 1. About 49% of the new employees were aged up to 25 years. 2. 31,514 new establishments were registered under the ESI Scheme. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: 7.96 lakh (about 49%) were aged up to 25, and 31,514 new establishments were registered.
What was Delhi's AQI on 23 May 2025, when the CAQM revoked GRAP Stage-I across NCR?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 129 ('Moderate')
Delhi's AQI was 129, in the 'Moderate' category, as per the CPCB bulletin.
Consider the following statements about the revocation of GRAP Stage-I in May 2025: 1. Stage-I had been in force in the NCR since 21 May 2025. 2. The decision was taken by the Central Pollution Control Board. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the decision was taken by the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP; CPCB provides the AQI bulletin.
In May 2025, Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu proposed a national supercomputing facility at which place in the State?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Tirupati
The CM proposed a national supercomputing facility at Tirupati; AMTZ is in Visakhapatnam.
At the IAF Test Pilot School, the 'Suranjan Das Trophy' is awarded for:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Best all-round student test pilot
The Suranjan Das Trophy is for the best all-round student test pilot; in 2025 it went to Sqn Ldr S Bhardwaj.
The 47th Flight Test Course of the IAF Test Pilot School concluded in May 2025 at which establishment?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment, Bengaluru
The valedictory function was held at ASTE, Bengaluru.
How many candidates finally qualified in the CDS (II) Examination, 2024 for the Officers Training Academy, Chennai courses, as per the UPSC result of May 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 574
574 candidates qualified: 510 for the men's course and 64 for the women's course. 276 is the number of vacancies for men.
According to the Department of Fisheries (May 2025), what has been the total investment in the fisheries sector since 2015 through schemes such as PMMSY, FIDF, Blue Revolution and PM-MKSSY?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — ₹38,572 crore
The release cites the highest-ever investment of ₹38,572 crore since 2015.
Consider the following statements about the Fisheries Secretaries Conference 2025: 1. It reviewed PMMSY, FIDF and PM-MKSSY. 2. It was held in Visakhapatnam. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: it was held in New Delhi on 23 May 2025.