Daily Current Affairs Quiz: October 12-13, 2025

Notes:
On World Mental Health Day 2025, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare launched new initiatives for the National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele MANAS). Tele MANAS stands for Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States. It was started by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2022. It aims to provide universal access to equitable, affordable, and quality mental health care through 24×7 tele-mental health services. Tele MANAS is a key digital component of the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP). Services are available across all Indian States and Union Territories with assured linkages for seamless care.

Notes:
Recently, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) hosted the ‘AI for Good Summit’ at India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. ITU is the United Nations (UN) specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICT). It was established in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union. In 1947, ITU became a specialized agency of the UN. ITU coordinates between governments and private sector bodies for global telecommunication and ICT services.

Notes:
Recently, a survey in Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary reported the first record of spider species Araneus nox in India. It is an orb-weaving spider belonging to the Araneidae family. It is also known as the Leathery Garden Orb-weaver. It was first documented in 1877 by French arachnologist Eugène Simon from Basilan in the Philippines. It is known for spinning near-perfect, vertically oriented circular webs on vegetation and tree branches. Its habitat includes gardens, forests, and backyards. Its distribution covers Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Notes:
The Centre recently recommended environmental clearance for the 1,856-MW Sawalkote Hydro Electric Project on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric plant in the Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir. It will be the largest hydroelectric project in the Union Territory and one of the biggest in North India. The project was first conceptualised in the 1980s and revised multiple times due to environmental and technical concerns. It will be built by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited at an estimated cost of Rs 31,380 crore.

Notes:
Recently, village hunters near Palamau Tiger Reserve surrendered their weapons, including guns and traps, during Wildlife Week celebrations. Palamau Tiger Reserve is located on the western side of Latehar district on the Chhotanagpur Plateau in Jharkhand. It forms part of the Betla National Park and covers an area of about 1,026 square kilometres. It is one of the first nine tiger reserves created in India under Project Tiger. It was the first reserve in the world to conduct a tiger census using pugmark count in 1932 under J.W. Nicholson.