Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 17, 2025

Notes:
A new gecko species named Cnemaspis brahmaputra was recently discovered in Assam at Dirgheswari Temple on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River. It has been named after the Brahmaputra River to honour the discovery location. The gecko belongs to the Cnemaspis podihuna clade, a group of small, daytime-active (diurnal) geckos. This clade was earlier believed to exist mainly in Sri Lanka. Its discovery in Assam proves an ancient biogeographic link between Sri Lanka and northeast India.

Notes:
Recently, the President of India will confer Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event is organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Swachh Survekshan is an annual survey under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan-Urban (SBA-U) to assess cleanliness, hygiene, and sanitation in urban India. It is implemented by MoHUA with Quality Council of India (QCI) as the partner. It rewards efforts of cities under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U).

Notes:
On July 14, 2025, Israel launched its first fully government-funded and domestically built communications satellite, Dror-1, from Cape Canaveral, Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Dror-1 is Israel’s most advanced geostationary satellite, built 100% with local technologies to ensure strategic independence. It weighs 4.5 tonnes, spans 17.8 metres, and will serve Israel’s communication needs for the next 15 years. The satellite orbits 36,000 km above Earth, maintaining constant coverage over Israel and nearby regions.

Notes:
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu recently launched the ‘My Deed’ National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) Pilot Project . It simplifies land registration by requiring only one visit to the tehsil office, with online application available anytime from anywhere. The pilot project covers ten tehsils including Bilaspur Sadar, Dalhousie, Galore, Jaisinghpur, Bhuntar, Padhar, Kumarsain, Rajgarh, Kandaghat, and Bangana.

Notes:
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently inaugurated India’s first water technology park named ‘Aqua Tech Park’ at Bagibari Sonapur in Assam. The park is a joint effort of Kolong-Kapili, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Fishery Department, and Selco Foundation. It is the first of its kind in Assam and showcases advanced fishery technologies like aquaponics, biofloc system, ornamental fish breeding, and modern fish production. The aim is to empower fish farmers with knowledge and increase their income through technology.