Current Affair MCQ for 2025-05-27

Notes: The Tamil Nadu Cabinet recently approved a Space Industrial Policy to boost the space sector and attract investments. Tamil Nadu became the third Indian state after Karnataka and Gujarat to promote the space ecosystem. It already hosts key Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) facilities like the ISRO Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri, Tirunelveli, which tests cryogenic and liquid engines. A second Indian spaceport is being built by ISRO at Kulasekarapattinam in Thoothukudi to increase satellite launch capacity. The state also has several startups working on reusable launch vehicles, in-space manufacturing, in-orbit refuelling, and satellite data analytics. IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) is an autonomous agency under the Department of Space to promote private participation.

Notes: The United States Air Force (USAF) recently conducted a successful test of the LGM-30G Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). This missile is nuclear-capable and can deliver a warhead to any part of the Earth. “L” in LGM means silo-launched, “G” stands for surface attack, and “M” means guided missile. Minuteman III was introduced in the 1970s and was the first U.S. missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs). It is the only land-based missile in the U.S. nuclear triad. It was developed by Douglas Aircraft Company, now part of Boeing. Although it was designed for ten years of use, it has been upgraded and remains active. A new system, called Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), will replace it around 2029. The U.S. currently maintains about 440 Minuteman III missiles in its arsenal.

Notes: Scientists recently discovered a new species of damselfly called Caliphaea sinuofurcata in Arunachal Pradesh. It was found during biodiversity surveys in the Upper Siang and Lower Dibang Valley districts. The species is proposed to be named the “Bearded Bronzeback” due to its unique appearance. This is only the second species of the genus Caliphaea ever recorded in India. The first species, Caliphaea confusa, was documented more than 165 years ago. The genus Caliphaea is usually found in Southeast Asia and China, making this a significant discovery for Indian biodiversity.

Notes: The 46th ASEAN Summit took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 26 May-27 May. Leaders from across the region gathered to discuss important issues like U.S. tariffs, the Myanmar conflict, and South China Sea disputes. ASEAN stands for Association of Southeast Asian Nations and is a regional group that promotes political, economic, and security cooperation. It was established in 1967 through the Bangkok Declaration by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Its headquarters is in Jakarta, Indonesia, showing Indonesia’s key role in the group.

Notes: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) will soon start using the Bharat Forecast System (BFS) for improved weather predictions. BFS is an indigenously developed advanced forecasting model created by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune. It offers a 6-kilometre resolution, the highest in the world, allowing better prediction of small-scale weather events. This is a major upgrade from the earlier 12-kilometre Global Forecast System (GFS) used in India. The higher resolution will help forecast localised events like heavy rainfall and cyclones more accurately. BFS is powered by the Arka supercomputer, which has 11.77 petaflops of speed and 33 petabytes of storage. The supercomputer is based at IITM, Pune, and will significantly reduce forecast processing time compared to the older Pratyush system.