Current Affairs Quiz – August 2025

Notes:
Recently, sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha were returned to India on July 30, 2025, after 127 years. These relics were about to be auctioned by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong on May 7, 2025. Government of India intervened and halted the auction by issuing a legal notice on May 5, 2025. The relics were originally discovered in 1898 by British engineer William Claxton Peppé in Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh. They include bone fragments, soapstone and crystal caskets, sandstone coffer, gold ornaments, and gemstones. An inscription in Brahmi script confirmed these as relics of Bhagwan Buddha deposited by the Sakya clan.

Notes:
Scientists and tribal farmers from Northeast India urged the Central Government to include Mithun (Bos frontalis) under the National Livestock Mission (NLM). Mithun is a semi-domesticated bovine species native to Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and parts of Assam. India hosts 95% of the global mithun population, with 91% found in Arunachal Pradesh alone, as per the 2019 livestock census. Mithun is the state animal of both Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland and holds ecological, economic, and cultural importance.

Notes:
In a historic move, National Waterway-57 (River Kopili) was recently made operational to boost Assam’s river trade and sustainable logistics. River Kopili is a major south bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River in Assam. It originates from Saipong Reserve Forest in North Cachar Hills, Meghalaya, at 1525 meters altitude in the Borail Range. It is an interstate river flowing through Meghalaya and Assam. It passes through North Cachar Hills, Karbi Anglong, Nagaon, and Morigaon districts of Assam.

Notes:
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar unveiled the mascot of Asia Rugby Under-20 (Sevens) Championship on 3rd August 2025. The Championship will be held for the first time in Bihar at Rajgir Sports Complex on 9th and 10th August. It is a seven-member team event featuring both Men’s and Women’s teams from Asia. Top 8 Asian countries including India, Hong Kong, China, UAE, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Nepal will participate. The mascot named Ashoka, a rabbit, symbolizes agility which is vital in rugby.

Notes:
Delhi Legislative Assembly became India’s first legislature fully powered by solar energy on August 4, 2025. A 500-kilowatt rooftop solar power plant was commissioned on the Assembly building. The solar plant is expected to cut electricity bills by Rs 15 lakh monthly, saving about Rs 1.75 crore annually. Surplus electricity will be generated through net metering and used efficiently. The Assembly also launched the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) to shift towards paperless functioning.

Notes:
Bengaluru topped in India in the 2025 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) City Index, ranked 26th globally. It is the top AI hub in India, known for AI Research and Development (R&D) and data centers. Bengaluru attracts major foreign investment due to its strong startup ecosystem. Other top Indian cities include Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Kolkata. Indian cities need a clear AI roadmap and strong regulations to grow further. Globally, Singapore ranked 1st, followed by Seoul, Beijing, Dubai, and San Francisco. The 2025 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) City Index is released by Counterpoint Research, a global technology market research firm.

Notes:
Former Governor Satya Pal Malik passed away on August 5, 2025, at the age of 79. He served as Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, Goa, Odisha, and Meghalaya. He died at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, due to multiple organ failure following sepsis, pneumonia, and chronic kidney disease. Malik began politics in the 1960s, influenced by Ram Manohar Lohia’s socialist ideology. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2004, became national vice-president in 2012. He belonged to the Jat community, originally from Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, with roots in Haryana. As J&K Governor, he oversaw the revocation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.

Notes:
The Indian government has deactivated over 4 crore fake or inactive LPG connections under the PAHAL scheme, as informed recently in Parliament. PAHAL (Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh) is a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for LPG subsidies launched by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Under the scheme, consumers pay the full market price for LPG, and the subsidy is directly transferred to their registered bank account. It is the world’s largest cash transfer program, covering over 17 crore LPG users. The scheme ensures transparency, removes middlemen, and prevents diversion of LPG.

Notes:
National Handloom Day is celebrated every year on 7th August to honour India’s handloom heritage. It marks the launch of the Swadeshi Movement on 7th August 1905 against the British partition of Bengal. Handloom became a symbol of resistance and pride, promoting Indian crafts, culture, and self-reliance. In 2025, the 11th National Handloom Day is celebrated at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The theme for 2025 is “Weaving Innovation into Tradition.”

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government has doubled the maintenance allowance for disabled students under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme from ₹2,000 to ₹4,000 per month. This hike will benefit 2,650 disabled students in 28 residential schools across the state. More than 50 lakh students benefit from UP’s scholarship and fee reimbursement programs yearly, including 14–15 lakh from the Scheduled Castes (SC). Students above 40 years are now ineligible for scholarships. Those passing high school from state boards outside UP are excluded, but CBSE and ICSE board students remain eligible. Students of UP campuses run by universities domiciled outside the state are also excluded.