CURRENT AFFAIRS
22 May, 2025
1. INDIAN COAST GUARD (ICG)’S ANNUAL OPERATION, ‘OPERATION OLIVIA’ HAS ACHIEVED MAJOR SUCCESS BY PROTECTING OVER 6.98 LAKH OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES NESTING AT THE RUSHIKULYA RIVER MOUTH IN ODISHA. –
• It was launched in the early 1980s to protect Olive Ridley turtles during their breeding and nesting season along the Odisha coast.
• It aims to ensure safe nesting grounds for these turtles, by preventing unlawful trawling, particularly at Gahirmatha Beach and nearby coastal area of Odisha.
Olive Ridley Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea):
• About: It is the smallest sea turtle species in the family Cheloniidae, identified by its olive or grayish-green color and heart-shaped carapace.
• Nesting: They are omnivorous and known for the mass nesting event called arribada, where thousands of females nest together, migrating up to 9,000 km over Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans.
• Major nesting sites include Gahirmatha, Rushikulya and Devi River mouth in Odisha and the Andaman Islands.
• Threats: It includes bycatch, poaching, habitat loss, plastic pollution, and climate change effects.
• Protection Status: Protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (Schedule 1), IUCN Red List (Vulnerable), and CITES (Appendix I).
2. THE UNION HOME MINISTER HAS LAUNCHED THE E-ZERO FIR INITIATIVE AS A PILOT PROJECT IN DELHI UNDER THE INDIAN CYBER CRIME COORDINATION CENTRE (I4C) TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF INVESTIGATING CYBER FINANCIAL FRAUDS, SUPPORTING THE VISION OF A CYBER SECURE BHARAT –
• Zero FIR: An Zero FIR can be filed at any police station, regardless of the jurisdiction, for a cognisable offence and is transferred to the proper jurisdiction for investigation.
• e-Zero FIR is the electronic version of Zero FIR and is enabled under Section 173(1) and 1(ii) of the BNSS.
Key Features of e-Zero FIR:
• Automatic FIR Registration: Cyber financial fraud complaints above Rs 10 lakh, filed via National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) or Helpline 1930, will be automatically converted into Zero FIRs.
• Complainants must visit the concerned police station within 3 days to get the Zero FIR converted into a regular FIR.
• Systems Integration: Combines I4C’s NCRP system, Delhi Police’s e-FIR system, and NCRB’s Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) into a unified cybercrime reporting and investigation framework.
3. GUJARAT’S LION POPULATION GROWS BY 32% SINCE 2020 –
• On May 21, 2025, the Gujarat Forest Department released the 16th Asiatic Lion Census, highlighting a 32% increase in population since 2020. The update is significant as it underscores both conservation success and emerging challenges, particularly in human-wildlife coexistence.
• This follows the approval of Project Lion by PM Modi in March 2025, with a ₹2,900 crore outlay to improve lion habitats.
Background & Conservation Success
• The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) is found only in India, primarily in Gir National Park and its surroundings.
• From 2020 to 2025, lion numbers rose from 674 to 891, a 32% jump.
• Adult females increased to 330, a 27% rise, indicating strong future growth potential.
4. PM MODI INAUGURATES 103 AMRIT STATIONS ACROSS 18 STATES UNDER ₹1,100 CRORE PLAN –
• On May 22, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 103 redeveloped Amrit Stations located in 86 districts across 18 states as part of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
• The project was completed at a cost of over ₹1,100 crore. This marks a significant milestone in modernizing India’s railway infrastructure while celebrating regional architecture and cultural heritage.
Key Objectives and Aims
• To modernize railway stations with world-class infrastructure.
• To improve passenger amenities with a focus on Divyangjan-friendly facilities.
• To preserve and highlight regional architectural styles and cultural heritage.
• To ensure sustainability and energy efficiency in station design.
• To enhance connectivity, safety, and travel comfort for millions.
5. NATIONAL ANTI-TERRORISM DAY 2025: PROMOTING UNITY AGAINST VIOLENCE –
• The origin of National Anti-Terrorism Day dates back to May 21, 1991, the day Rajiv Gandhi, India’s youngest Prime Minister, was assassinated in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, by a suicide bomber associated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
• In the wake of this tragic incident, the then Prime Minister V.P. Singh’s government officially declared May 21 as National Anti-Terrorism Day. This observance was meant not only to honor Rajiv Gandhi but also to raise awareness about the growing menace of terrorism in India and around the world.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Who was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal in Pakistan on May 20, 2025 ?
a) General Qamar Javed Bajwa
b) General Raheel Sharif
c) General Pervez Musharraf
d) General Asim Munir
Q2. By which year is India projected to become the world’s largest potato producer ?
a) 2035
b) 2040
c) 2045
d) 2050
Q3. Who became the first Kannada writer to win the International Booker Prize ?
a) K. Satchidanandan
b) U. R. Ananthamurthy
c) Banu Mushtaq
d) Girish Karnad
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding IMF’s Special Drawing Rights (SDRs):
1. The SDR is an international reserve asset created by the IMF, and its value is based on a basket of five currencies: the US Dollar, Euro, Chinese Renminbi, Japanese Yen, and Indian Rupee.
2. A general allocation of SDRs by the IMF to its member countries creates an interest-bearing reserve asset for the members.
3. Member countries can only hold their allocated SDRs as part of their foreign exchange reserves and cannot use them for other transactions like loan repayments or payment of obligations to the IMF.
How many of the above statements is/are correct ?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
• Statement 1 is incorrect. The SDR’s value is indeed based on a basket of five currencies, but these are the US Dollar, Euro, Chinese Renminbi, Japanese Yen, and the British Pound Sterling. The Indian Rupee is not part of the SDR basket.
• Statement 2 is correct. An SDR allocation provides member countries with unconditional liquidity in the form of an interest-bearing reserve asset (SDR holding). Simultaneously, it creates a corresponding long-term liability (SDR allocation) of the member to the IMF’s SDR Department. This is not a loan in the conventional sense but a supplement to existing reserve assets.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. While member countries can hold their allocated SDRs as part of their foreign exchange reserves, they have more flexibility. They can sell or exchange their SDRs for freely usable currencies, or use them for a range of other authorized operations, including the repayment of loans, payment of obligations to the IMF (like interest or quota payments), pledges, and in transactions among themselves.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding Mission Sankalp:
1. The operation is exclusively conducted by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and its CoBRA units.
2. A primary objective of the mission is to facilitate infrastructure development projects in the cleared areas.
How many of the above statements is/are correct ?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
• Statement 1 is incorrect. Mission Sankalp is a joint operation involving multiple security forces. It is conducted under the joint command of Chhattisgarh Police, Telangana Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and its elite CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) unit. Additionally, personnel from District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), and Bastar Fighters are part of this massive mobilisation. It is not exclusively a CRPF/CoBRA operation.
• Statement 2 is correct. One of the strategic significances of Mission Sankalp is to pave the way for infrastructure development and welfare delivery in Maoist-hit tribal belts. By clearing areas of Maoist dominance and dismantling their command structures, the operation aims to create a secure environment conducive to civil governance and development activities.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
D | D | C | A | B |