Daily Current Affairs Quiz: May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Consider the following statements regarding the Yala Glacier:
1. It has shrunk by over 60% since the 1970s.
2. The concept of a “glacier funeral” was first popularised in Switzerland.
3. Glacier loss like Yala's is primarily due to increased snowfall and reduced temperature.
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2, and 3

Show Answer

Answer: C

Current Context: Glaciologists and local communities in Nepal have declared the Yala Glacier in the Langtang region “dead” after it shrank by two-thirds (66 percent) since the 1970s, illustrating the real-time impacts of climate change.

About the Yala Glacier Loss:

Glacier Funeral: A symbolic ceremony—first popularised for Iceland’s Okjökull Glacier in 2019—marked its disappearance.
Global Trend: Other glaciers declared dead include Switzerland’s Pizol (2019), the United States’ Clark (2020), and Mexico’s Ayoloco (2021).
Key Causes:
- Rising temperatures accelerate melting.
- Reduced snowfall fails to replenish ice.

Consider the following statements about Special POCSO Courts:
1. They are established only after approval from the Union Cabinet.
2. They aim to complete trials within one year of registration.
3. These courts can hear any criminal case involving minors.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2, and 3

Show Answer

Answer: B

Current Context: The Supreme Court directed the Central Government to set up special courts under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act as a priority to ensure faster justice for child victims.

About POCSO Special Courts:

Legal Basis: Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
Court Structure:
- Session Courts notified by states in consultation with High Courts.
- Only POCSO cases are heard here.
Key Features:
- Evidence Recording: Child’s testimony to be recorded within 30 days of case registration.
- Timely Trial: Courts aim to complete trials within one year.

Pushkar Kumbh is celebrated in Uttarakhand at the confluence of which two rivers?

(A) Ganga and Yamuna
(B) Alaknanda and Mandakini
(C) Alaknanda and Saraswati
(D) Bhagirathi and Alaknanda

Show Answer

Answer: C

Current Context: Two annual river-based festivals—Pushkar Kumbh in Uttarakhand and Saraswati Pushkaralu in Telangana—are currently being celebrated at their respective sacred river confluences.

About Pushkar Kumbh (Uttarakhand):

Timing: Every 12 years when Jupiter enters Gemini.
Location: Keshav Prayag, Mana village, at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Saraswati
Religious Significance:
- Site where sage Vyasa is said to have composed the Mahabharata.
- Visited by saints Ramanujacharya and Madhvacharya for divine insight from Goddess Saraswati.

About Saraswati Pushkaralu (Telangana):

Timing: Every 12 years when Jupiter enters Gemini.
Location: Triveni Sangamam, Kaleshwaram (Godavari, Pranahita, and hidden Saraswati rivers meet).
Highlight: Devotees take a holy bath and worship at Sri Kaleshwara Sri Mukteshwara Swamy Temple.

Which country is India partnering with in the LUPEX mission?

(A) Russia
(B) Germany
(C) France
(D) Japan

Show Answer

Answer: D

Current Context: ISRO and JAXA agreed to begin the design phase of their joint Chandrayaan-5 / Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission, targeting the Moon’s south pole.

About Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEX:

Mission Goals:
- Study volatile compounds (water, ice) in permanently shadowed lunar craters.
- Search for resources to support future human missions.
International Partnership:
- India (ISRO): Builds the lander.
- Japan (JAXA): Provides the rover.
- Additional Instruments: Contributions expected from NASA and ESA.
Legacy Missions:
- Chandrayaan-1 & 2 (orbiters)
- Chandrayaan-3 (lander and rover)
- Upcoming Chandrayaan-4 (sample-return)
Long-Term Vision: India aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2040.

Bhargavastra, recently tested by India, is a/an:

(A) Nuclear missile
(B) Submarine-launched torpedo
(C) Anti-drone defence system
(D) Cyber security platform

Show Answer

Answer: C

Current Context: India has successfully test-fired Bhargavastra, an indigenously developed anti-drone defence system, to counter small unmanned aerial threats.

About Bhargavastra:

Developer: Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited.
Type: Hard-kill, layered anti-drone system designed for protection against drone swarms.
Layer One: Unguided micro-rockets with a lethal radius of twenty metres to neutralize mass drone attacks.
Layer Two: Guided micro-missiles for precise destruction of individual drones.
Detection Range: Radar can detect threats from six to ten kilometres; electro-optical sensors track drones up to two and a half kilometres.
Adaptability: Operates effectively up to five thousand metres altitude.
Modularity: Can integrate soft-kill options such as radio-frequency jamming and GPS spoofing.
Command and Control: Network-enabled centre manages sensor data and weapon release for rapid response.

The Golden Dragon 2025 military exercise is held between:

(A) India and Vietnam
(B) China and Cambodia
(C) Cambodia and Thailand
(D) Philippines and China

Show Answer

Answer: B

Current Context: Cambodia and China have launched their largest joint military exercise, Golden Dragon 2025, involving land, sea, and air operations at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base.

About Golden Dragon 2025:

Inception: Annual bilateral drills since 2016 to deepen military cooperation and regional security.
Theme: Counter-terrorism operations and humanitarian relief, underlining peace-building objectives.
Venue: Ream Naval Base, Sihanoukville, Cambodia—recently expanded with Chinese naval docking facilities.
Key Capabilities Demonstrated:
- Reconnaissance and attack unmanned aerial vehicles.
- Robotic medical support systems.
- Quadrupedal robotic platforms (“robot dogs”) for security operations.
Regional Significance: Coincides with U.S.-Philippines “Balikatan” exercises, reflecting strategic competition in Southeast Asia.
Strategic Implications: Highlights China’s expanding naval access as part of its “String of Pearls” network of dual-use ports.

With reference to Exercise Raahat, consider the following:
1. It is a military exercise involving humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
2. It was conducted jointly by the Indian Navy and State Disaster Response Force.
3. It aimed at enhancing coordination between civilian and military agencies in Northeast India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) 1 and 3 only
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2, and 3

Show Answer

Answer: A

Current Context: In Assam, the Indian Army and the National Disaster Response Force conducted Exercise Raahat, a large-scale humanitarian assistance and disaster relief simulation to improve joint response to floods and earthquakes.

About Exercise Raahat:

Participants: Indian Army units (including medical teams) and National Disaster Response Force battalions.
Scenario: Simulated flood-affected region requiring search, rescue, medical aid, and logistics support.
Objective: Enhance interoperability between civil and military agencies in the Northeast, an area prone to annual monsoon flooding and seismic activity.

Consider the following statements about Exercise Teesta Prahar:
1. It was conducted by the Indian Air Force in the Thar Desert.
2. The exercise validated combat readiness in riverine and mountain terrain.
3. The exercise was conducted by the Trishakti Corps along the India–China border.
Which of the statements are correct?

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2, and 3

Show Answer

Answer: B

Current Context: The Indian Army’s Trishakti Corps conducted Exercise Teesta Prahar to validate joint combat operations across riverine, mountain, and mixed terrain environments in the Lower Himalayan region.

About Exercise Teesta Prahar:

Corps: Trishakti Corps specializing in operations along the India–China border in Sikkim and north Bengal.
Training Focus:
- River crossing under fire.
- Mountain warfare tactics in sub-zero conditions.
- Coordination between infantry, artillery, and aviation assets.

Who among the following received the 58th Jnanpith Award for Sanskrit literature?

(A) M. T. Vasudevan Nair
(B) Dr. K. Satchidanandan
(C) Gulzar
(D) Jagadguru Rambhadracharya

Show Answer

Answer: D

Current Context: President Droupadi Murmu conferred the 58^th Jnanpith Award at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and poet‑lyricist Gulzar.

About Jnanpith Award:

Instituted: 1961 by the Bharatiya Jnanpith, a cultural trust founded by the Sahu Jain family.
Purpose: India’s highest literary honour, recognising outstanding contributions by living authors.
Eligibility: Writers in any of the 22 languages of the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution, plus English.
Selection Process:
- Language‑specific juries shortlist candidates.
- Final awardees chosen by a central Selection Board.
- No posthumous conferrals.

First Awarded: 1965 to G. Sankara Kurup for his Malayalam collection Odakkuzhal

58th Awardees:

Jagadguru Rambhadracharya
- Born 1950; lost his eyesight at two months but became a foremost Sanskrit scholar.
- Authored four Sanskrit epics, including Geet Rāmāyaṇa and Daśāvatāra Carita.
- Continues to serve literature and society through teaching and social work.
Gulzar (Sampooran Singh Kalra)
- Born 1934; acclaimed poet, lyricist, and film director in Hindi cinema.
- Known for immortal lyrics like “Chaiyya Chaiyya” and deeply philosophical poetry.
- Could not attend the ceremony; the President conveyed her wishes for his speedy recovery.