Current Affairs Quiz 8th May 2025 Quiz

Exp. IIFT gets approval to set up off-campus centre at GIFT City

The Union Ministry of Education has approved setting up an off-campus centre of IIFT, New Delhi, at GIFT City, Gujarat, under the UGC Regulations 2023, to offer the flagship MBA (International Business) programme and specialised courses.

The approval was granted under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, after IIFT met all LoI requirements, aligning with NEP 2020’s vision for multidisciplinary and quality education.

The new campus will be located on the 16th and 17th floors of GIFT Tower 2 and will include advanced infrastructure like a modern library, plans for a permanent campus, and facilities for research and training in international business.

Exp. 5 May – World Portuguese Language Day

World Portuguese Language Day was officially proclaimed by UNESCO in 2019 to be celebrated annually on May 5, recognizing the global importance of the Portuguese language.

Portuguese is the official language of 9 countries, including Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe, with over 265 million speakers, making it one of the most spoken languages in the world.

The day celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity and highlights the role of Portuguese in fostering cooperation, literature, education, science, and international dialogue among Lusophone countries.

Exp. Jyotirditya Scindia inaugurates 22nd edition of Bharat Telecom 2025

Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, has inaugurated the 22nd edition of Bharat Telecom in New Delhi.

Bharat Telecom is an annual event that aims to present India as a provider of world-class telecom solutions.

The Bharat Telecom Expo is organised by the Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC) in partnership with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The Department of Telecommunications comes under the Union Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

The Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council is under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

About Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC)

• TEPC is one of the 14 export promotion councils under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• It was established in 2009 under the Foreign Trade Policy.
• Chairman: Arnob Roy
• Headquarters: New Delhi

Exp. Nirmala Sitharaman attends the 58th ADB Board of Governors meeting

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the 58th annual Board of Governors meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Milan, Italy. Nirmala Sitharaman represents India on the Board of Governors of the ADB.

The 58th Board of Governors meeting was inaugurated by the ADB President Masato Kanda on 5th May 2025.

The 58th Board of Governors meeting theme was Sharing Experience, Building Tomorrow.

The annual meetings of the Board of Governors are held in the member countries of the ADB. Italy is the founding member of the ADB.

The 57th annual meeting of the Board of Governors was held in Tbilisi, Georgia, from 2 to 5 May 2024. The next 59th Board of Governors meeting will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 3- 6 May 2026.

The Board of Governors is the highest decision-making body of the ADB, and it meets once a year. Normally, the finance minister of the member country represents the country on the Board of Governors.  

Exp. Prakash Magdum Appointed as MD of National Film Development Corporation

Prakash Magdum has taken charge as the Managing Director of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), bringing his vast experience in media and film administration.

A 1999 batch officer of the Indian Information Service, he has previously served as Additional Director General at both the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and the Central Bureau of Communication in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Magdum has held key roles in India’s film institutions, including as Director of the National Film Archive of India and Registrar of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, Maharashtra.

Recent Appointments

• CMD of Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OICL) – Sanjay Joshi (recommendation)
• MD & CEO of FMCG major Marico – Saugata Gupta (reappointment for 2 years)
• MD of National Film Development Corporation – Prakash Magdum
• Chairman & MD of BPCL – Sanjay Khanna
• Inducted into the prestigious American Academy of Arts & Sciences – Prof Ajay K Sood

Exp. India Introduces Genome-Edited Rice Varieties: Kamla & Pusa DST Rice 1

India has unveiled its first genome-edited rice varieties — DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice 1 — marking a global first in this field. The announcement was made by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi.

These newly developed rice varieties are projected to increase crop yield by 25–30% and contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, especially methane and nitrous oxide, which are commonly released from waterlogged paddy fields.

Kamla (DRR Rice 100) was created by modifying the widely grown Samba Mahsuri variety using genome-editing techniques. Developed by the Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), Hyderabad, Kamla offers higher grain count per panicle and matures faster, making it suitable for widespread cultivation.

On the other hand, Pusa DST Rice 1, developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, is a genome-edited version of the Cottondora Sannalu variety. It boasts better productivity and is particularly suited for saline and alkaline soils.

Exp. Parameswaran Iyer Appointed as India’s Representative to the IMF Board

Parameswaran Iyer, currently serving as the Executive Director at the World Bank, has been appointed to represent India on the Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

His nomination was necessitated to fill a vacancy created with the termination of services of K.V. Subramanian.

Iyer brings a wealth of experience in public administration and international development, having held significant positions in both the Indian government and international organizations.

Exp. Yemen appoints Salem Saleh Bin Braik as PM

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council announced the appointment of Salem Saleh Bin Braik, former Finance Minister, as the new Prime Minister following the resignation of Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak.

Mubarak stepped down due to challenges in implementing a cabinet reshuffle and disagreements with Rashad Al-Alimi, head of the Presidential Council, over the dismissal of 12 ministers.

The country continues to face a prolonged civil war, with Houthi rebels controlling most of the territory, including the capital, Sanaa, and ongoing U.S. military operations targeting Houthi positions.

About Yemen

• Capital- Sanaa
• Currency- Yemeni Rial
• Official language- Arabic
• Continent- Asia

Exp. Chhattisgarh CM lays foundation of India’s first AI-based data park

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has laid the foundation of the country’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based data centre park in Sector-22 of Nava Raipur.

The project is expected to generate around 500 direct and 1,500 indirect employment opportunities, with priority given to locals.

The data centre park spread across 5.5 hectares, to be operated by RackBank Datacenters Private Limited, will include a 2.7-hectare area developed as a Special Economic Zone and the project will be fully dedicated to AI-based services.

The first phase will begin with a capacity of five megawatts, and may be expanded up to 150 megawatts. An additional investment of approximately ₹2,000 crore is anticipated.

About Chhattisgarh

• Capital – Raipur
• Chief Minister – Vishnu Deo Sai (replace Bhupesh Baghel)
• Deputy CM – Arun Sao & Vijay Sharma
• Governor – Biswabhusan Harichandan

Exp. 6 May 2025 – World Asthma Day

World Asthma Day is observed every year on the first Tuesday of May to raise awareness and improve care for asthma patients around the world.  In 2025, it was observed on 6th May.

theme 2025 -Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL

About Asthma

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that inflames and narrows the airways. Common symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.

Exp. 7 May – World Athletics Day

Every year, World Athletics Day is celebrated on May 7 to encourage people, particularly young people, to get involved in sports.

It is a yearly occasion to recognise athletes and impart virtues like perseverance and drive that we can all learn from sports.  

Exp. C-DOT and CSIR-NPL Sign MoU to Advance Collaborative Research in Classical and Quantum Communications

Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and the CSIR–National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) have signed an MoU to jointly advance research and innovation in classical and quantum communication technologies, aligning with national goals of technological sovereignty and self-reliance.

The partnership combines C-DOT’s strengths in telecom and quantum communication with CSIR-NPL’s capabilities in scientific measurement and standardization, promoting joint R&D, knowledge sharing, and infrastructure access.

The initiative supports India’s ambition to lead in next-generation secure communication by fostering academic exchange, ensuring IP transparency, and contributing to “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives.

Exp. Cabinet approves expansion of academic and infrastructure capacity of five IITs

The Union Cabinet has approved Phase-B construction to expand academic and infrastructure capacity at five IITs—Tirupati, Palakkad, Bhilai, Jammu, and Dharwad—at a cost of ₹11,828.79 crore over four years (2025–26 to 2028–29).

The expansion will increase total student capacity from 7,111 to 13,687 (an addition of 6,576 students) and will also establish five new research parks to strengthen industry-academia collaboration.

130 new faculty positions at the professor level will be created, and the project will generate direct and indirect employment through faculty hiring, campus development, and support services.

Though the five IITs are located in specific states, the pan-India admission process ensures the benefits of this expansion will be distributed across the entire country, contributing to innovation, education equity, and economic growth.

Exp. Rohit Sharma retires from Test Cricket

Rohit Sharma has announced his retirement from Test Cricket with immediate effect.

Rohit has scored 4301 runs in 67 Tests with 12 hundreds and 18 half centuries at an average of 40.57.

Meanwhile, the 38-year-old cricketer will continue to represent India in ODIS.

He made his Test debut in 2013 and was appointed Test captain in 2022.  

Exp. 8 May – World Thalassaemia Day

World Thalassaemia Day is observed annually on May 8 to raise global awareness about thalassaemia, an inherited blood disorder characterized by the body’s inability to produce adequate hemoglobin, leading to anemia and other health complications.

Theme 2025 – Together for Thalassaemia: Uniting Communities, Prioritizing Patients

About Thalassaemia

• Thalassaemia is a genetic blood disorder in which the body makes an abnormal form or inadequate amount of hemoglobin—the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. This leads to anemia (a shortage of red blood cells), causing fatigue, weakness, and other serious health problems.