June 14, 2025

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: May 14, 2025

May 14, 2025
Operation Keller was launched by the Indian Army in which region of Jammu & Kashmir?
  • (A) Gulmarg
  • (B) Poonch
  • (C) Keller Forest, Shopian
  • (D) Doda Hills
Show Answer

Answer: C

Current Context : In the early hours of 13 May 2025, the Indian Army launched Operation Keller, a high-intensity counter-terror operation in the dense Keller forests of Shopian, South Kashmir, acting on credible Rashtriya Rifles intelligence about Lashkar-e-Taiba militants.

  • Relation to Operation Sindoor
    • Operation Keller followed Operation Sindoor (7 May 2025 airstrikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan/PoK), forming a two-pronged response: air strikes abroad and ground action at home.
  • Objectives & Outcome
    • Prevent Planned Attacks: Disrupt LeT operatives plotting new strikes.
    • Neutralise Key Figures: Eliminated LeT/TRE Resistance Front chief Shahid Kuttay and two associates.
    • Secure the Valley: Deter future infiltration via the Shopian–Kulgam corridor.
  • Terrain & Challenges
    • Keller Region: Rugged, dense deodar forests; favored militant hideouts.
    • Operational Complexity: Steep slopes, limited visibility, risk of civilian presence.
According to the SRS Statistical Report 2021, India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is:
  • (A) 5
  • (B) 3
  • (C) 0
  • (D) 9
Show Answer

Answer: C

Current Context : The Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner released the SRS Statistical Report 2021, presenting demographic indicators for 2019–21.

  • Key Findings
    • Maternal Mortality Ratio decreased from 130 to 93 per 100 000 live births (target ≤ 70 by 2030).
    • Infant Mortality Rate decreased from 39 to 27 per 1 000 live births (target ≤ 12).
    • Neonatal Mortality Rate decreased from 26 to 19 per 1 000.
    • Under-Five Mortality Rate decreased from 45 to 31 per 1 000 (target ≤ 25).
    • Sex Ratio at Birth improved from 899 to 913 girls per 1 000 boys.
    • Total Fertility Rate fell from 2.3 to 2.0; Bihar highest at 3.0.
    • Life Expectancy at birth was 69.8 years (males 68.2, females 71.6).
  • About SRS Methodology
    • Sampling: Large-scale annual survey across all States/UTs using continuous enumeration in sample units.
    • Usage: Monitors progress toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3).
The newly inaugurated BrahMos Aerospace Testing Facility is located in:
  • (A) Hyderabad
  • (B) Kanpur
  • (C) Lucknow
  • (D) Aligarh
Show Answer

Answer: C

Current Context : Defence Minister inaugurated the BrahMos Aerospace Testing Facility in Lucknow, part of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor.

  • About the Facility
    • Investment: ₹300 crore; capacity for integration, testing, and quality assurance of BrahMos missiles.
    • Strategic Aim: Enhance indigenous production and Atmanirbhar Bharat
  • About BrahMos Missile
    • Type: Two-stage supersonic cruise missile (Mach 2.8–3).
    • Range: 290 km (land/sea/air-launched variants).
    • Propulsion: Solid booster + liquid ramjet.
    • Features: Fire-and-forget capability, low radar signature, GPS/INS + terminal seeker guidance.
    • Export: First delivery to Philippines (2024); export potential underscores India’s role in global arms market.
  • Defence Corridor Context
    • UP Defence Corridor includes six nodal points (Agra, Aligarh, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow).
    • Objective: Attract ₹50 000 crore investment, create 1 00 000 jobs in defence manufacturing.

 

With reference to the Schuman Declaration, 1950, consider the following statements:
1. It proposed placing Franco-German coal and steel production under a supranational authority.
2. The declaration directly led to the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC).
3. Europe Day, observed on 9 May, commemorates the announcement of this declaration.
4. The declaration is considered the founding moment of European integration and the precursor to the European Union.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
  • (A) 1, 2 and 3 only
  • (B) 1, 3 and 4 only
  • (C) 2 and 3 only
  • (D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show Answer

Answer: b

Current Context : India’s External Affairs Minister joined Europe Day celebrations in New Delhi, marking the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration (9 May 1950).

  • About the Schuman Declaration
    • Proposed by: French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman on 9 May 1950.
    • Core Idea: Pool Franco-German coal & steel production under a supranational authority—the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) —to make war “not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible.”
    • Legacy: Laid the institutional groundwork that evolved into today’s EU.
  • Significance
    • Europe Day: Celebrated on 9 May by the EU as a symbol of peace & integration.
    • Global Impact: Inspired creation of common markets, EU institutions, and the ethos of “ever closer union.”
Which of the following statements about Vembanad Lake is/are correct?
1. It is India’s largest freshwater lake.
2. It is designated as a Ramsar Site.
3. It supports 30% of Kerala’s surface water needs.
Options :
  • (A) 1 and 2 only
  • (B) 2 and 3 only
  • (C) 1 and 3 only
  • (D) All of the above
Show Answer

Answer: B

Current Context : A recent expert committee report (2025) on the Vembanad Lake Rejuvenation Project revealed the lake’s surface area shrank by 27% between 1917 and 1990, underscoring urgent conservation needs.

About Vembanad Lake

  • Location: Southwest coast of Kerala; part of the Vembanad-Kol wetland system.
  • Ramsar Site: Designated under the Ramsar Convention for its rich biodiversity.
  • Ecological Role:
    • Largest brackish water lagoon in India.
    • Habitat for third-largest waterfowl gatherings in winter.
    • Supplies 30% of Kerala’s surface water resources.
  • Tourism & Culture:
    • Houseboat cruises on the backwaters.
    • Pathiramanal Island (“Midnight Sands”)—a birdwatcher’s haven.
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) derives its mandate from which Article of the Constitution?
  • (A) Article 32
  • (B) Article 39A
  • (C) Article 14
  • (D) Article 19
Show Answer

Answer: B

Current Context : Justice Surya Kant (SC judge) assumed charge as Executive Chairman of NALSA, succeeding Justice B.R. Gavai, effective from 14 May 2025,

About NALSA

  • Establishment: Under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (operational from 1995).
  • Mandate: Provide free legal aid to the poor and marginalized per Article 39-A of the Constitution.
  • Functions:
    • Convene Lok Adalats for speedy dispute resolution.
    • Conduct legal awareness campaigns, legal aid camps.
    • Oversee State & District Legal Services Authorities

 

Which country hosted the stage of the Archery World Cup where Deepika Kumari won bronze in 2025?
  • (A) Paris
  • (B) Antalya
  • (C) Shanghai
  • (D) Medellín
Show Answer

Answer: C

Current Context : On 11 May 2025 in Shanghai, India’s top recurve archer Deepika Kumari bounced back after losing her semifinal match to world No. 1 Lim Sihyeon. She then beat Korea’s Kang Chae Young 7–3 in the bronze-medal match, helping India win six medals at the event.

About the Archery World Cup

  • Organizer: World Archery, the sport’s international federation.
  • Format: Four stages held annually (Shanghai, Antalya, Medellín, and Paris), culminating in a Finals for the top eight archers per category.
  • Ranking Points: Medals and match wins award points toward Olympic qualification and world rankings.
  • India’s Performance: Historically strong in recurve; Deepika’s podiums contribute to India’s push for quota places for the 2028 Olympics.
Consider the following statements regarding Virat Kohli’s Test career:
1. He scored more than 9,000 runs in Tests.
2. He has the highest win percentage as Indian Test captain.
3. He has the most double centuries among Indian captains.
Which of the above are correct?
  • (A) 1 and 2 only
  • (B) 2 and 3 only
  • (C) 1 and 3 only
  • (D) All of the above
Show Answer

Answer: A

Current Context : Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, ending a 14-year career that reshaped India’s long-format approach.

  • Career Highlights
    • Matches & Runs: 123 Tests, 9 230 runs at an average of 46.85.
    • Milestones: 30 centuries, 31 half-centuries; highest score 254* vs. South Africa (2019).
    • Ranking: Fourth-highest Test run-scorer for India, behind Tendulkar, Dravid, and Gavaskar.
    • Captaincy Record: 68 Tests as captain, 40 wins, win rate 58.8% (India’s best).
  • Legacy & Awards
    • Awards: ICC Test Player of the Year 2018; Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2018).
    • Impact: Elevated fitness standards, introduced aggressive field settings and mindset.
Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya won the Best Centre Award for its work in:
  • (A) Organic farming practices
  • (B) Forage crop research
  • (C) Livestock genetics
  • (D) Sericulture innovation
Show Answer

Answer: B

Current Context : Recently, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSK HPKV), Palampur, received the Best Centre Award at the National Group Meeting of the All-India Coordinated Research Project on Forage Crops & Utilisation in Dharwad.

About CSK HPKV’s Achievement

  • Competition: Selected among 21 research centres
  • Contributions:
    • Varietal Improvement: Developed high-yielding, climate-resilient fodder strains.
    • Technology Dissemination: Field demonstrations and farmer trainings.
    • Impact: Boosted fodder productivity, livestock health, and rural incomes across HP.

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