Current Affairs [Top Questions]

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A recent expedition to Argentina’s Mar del Plata Canyon discovered over 40 possible new deep-sea species, including glass squids and pink lobsters. The Mar del Plata Canyon lies 250–300 km off Buenos Aires Province and is one of Argentina’s largest submarine canyons. It has fine sandy sediments mixed with terrigenous material and planktonic foraminifera. The region is highly productive due to the Argentine Shelf-break Front, where subantarctic waters meet the Falkland-Malvinas Current. A submarine canyon is a steep underwater valley cutting into continental slopes and shelves.

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The rare European bird Ortolan Bunting was recently spotted at Baruipur, West Bengal, marking only its second sighting in Bengal. It is a small Palearctic migrant songbird that travels long distances during migration. It is found across Europe, extending east to Mongolia and north to the Arctic Circle. It lives in open cultivated or uncultivated areas with few trees and completely avoids forests. The oceanic climate does not suit it. Its conservation status is Least Concern under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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An Indian Parliamentary delegation led by Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla attended the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) from 05-12 October 2025 in Bridgetown, Barbados. The delegation included Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha Shri Harivansh, MPs Shri Anurag Sharma, Dr. D. Purandeswari, Dr. K. Sudhakar, Smt. Rekha Sharma, Dr. Ajeet Madhavrao Gopchade, and Secretaries General of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Lok Sabha Speaker addressed the General Assembly on “The Commonwealth – A Global Partner”.

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Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) announced the transfer of technology under the AgriEnIcs Programme. AgriEnIcs is a national programme of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) focused on agriculture and environment. Its objective is to research, develop, deploy, demonstrate, and commercialize advanced technologies in these domains. It acts as a national platform for research and development (R&D) and technology translation in agriculture and environmental management.

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The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released its delayed 2023 report showing key national crime trends. Murder cases fell by 2.8%, mostly linked to disputes, personal enmity, or gain. Crimes against Scheduled Tribes (ST) surged by 28.8%, mainly due to ethnic violence in Manipur where cases rose from 1 in 2022 to 3,399 in 2023. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan also reported high crimes against tribals, showing their continued vulnerability. Cybercrimes increased by 31.2%, largely involving financial fraud and sexual exploitation due to growing digital use. Crimes against children rose by 9.2%, with offenders known to victims in 96% of cases. Some cases under the POCSO Act involve consensual adolescent relationships, needing sensitive handling.

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Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched the Vishwas Scheme in New Delhi. The launch took place during the 238th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees of the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF). The scheme aims to reduce litigation by introducing rationalised penal damages under the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act. Several digital initiatives were also launched, including a re-engineered return filing module, user management module, and upgraded e-Office and SPARROW system for better APAR management. The board approved simplified and liberalised norms for partial withdrawals to improve member convenience and retirement security.

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The 4th South Asian (SAAF) Athletics Championship 2025 will be held from 24th to 26th October at the Birsa Munda Football Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The official jersey of the championship was unveiled in Ranchi ahead of the event. The focus is on showcasing Jharkhand’s hospitality and organisational excellence at an international level. Athletes from South Asian nations have already begun arriving in Ranchi for the championship.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Titanium and Superalloy Materials Plant at PTC Industries, Lucknow, marking a big step towards self-reliance in defence materials. The plant is part of the Strategic Materials Technology Complex under Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. The plant will help make components for fighter jets, missiles, naval systems, and satellites. The plant will help make components for fighter jets, missiles, naval systems, and satellites. It supports the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, generating jobs for youth, MSMEs, and start-ups.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is participating in Exercise Ocean Sky 2025, a multinational air combat exercise hosted by the Spanish Air Force at Gando Air Base, Spain, from October 20 to 31, 2025. The exercise aims to foster mutual learning, enhance interoperability, sharpen air combat skills, and strengthen defence cooperation with friendly nations. This comes after IAF inducted 16 Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft, received by Indian Ambassador to Spain Dinesh K Patnaik on August 3, 2025, two months ahead of schedule. The Airbus C-295 is a multi-role tactical airlifter used for troop and cargo transport, maritime patrol, surveillance, and medical evacuation. It is known for versatility, reliability, and efficiency, with over 300 aircraft under contract worldwide.

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Recently, paleontologists in China discovered a new species of the coelacanth genus Whiteia from two fossilized specimens. The Coelacanth is a prehistoric, lobe-finned fish belonging to the order Coelacanthiformes. It was believed extinct for 66 million years until rediscovered alive in 1938 off the coast of South Africa. It is known as a “living fossil.” Coelacanth fossils date back to the Devonian period, around 420 million years ago. Once, about 90 species existed globally in both marine and freshwater habitats. Today, only two living species exist — the West Indian Ocean coelacanth and the Indonesian coelacanth.