Current Affairs Quiz – August 2025

Notes:
Recently, the Barbados threadsnake, world’s smallest-known snake, was rediscovered in Barbados after nearly 20 years. It belongs to species Tetracheilostoma carlae, named by scientist S. Blair Hedges in 2008. It has pale yellow dorsal lines and eyes on the side of its head. It is blind, burrows underground, feeds on termites and ants, and lays one slender egg. It is Critically Endangered as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Notes:
Recently, Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) commissioned India’s first Make-in-India 1 megawatt (MW) green hydrogen plant at Kandla Port, Gujarat. This is the first green hydrogen project at any Indian port and part of a planned 10MW facility. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the plant, calling it a “new benchmark” in green hydrogen execution. The plant was completed in just 4 months using fully indigenous technology and Indian engineers. The electrolyzer used is made in India, producing 140 metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually.

Notes:
On 1 August 2025, the Union Government informed Lok Sabha that 13 river stretches in Gujarat are officially classified as polluted. Sabarmati River, especially the stretch between Raysan to Vautha, is the worst affected with a Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) level of 292 mg/litre. Sabarmati River is a monsoon-fed, west-flowing river. It originates from the Aravalli Mountain Range in Udaipur district, Rajasthan. The river is called Wakal in its early course and flows southwest through Rajasthan and Gujarat. It empties into the Gulf of Khambhat in the Arabian Sea.

Notes:
Recently, Bastar Olympics in Chhattisgarh has been officially given national status as ‘Khelo India Tribal Games’. It is part of the “Promotion of Rural and Indigenous/Tribal Games” component under the Khelo India Scheme. Traditional tribal sports like Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta, Yogasana, and Silambam are already supported under this scheme. Khelo India Scheme was launched in 2016–17 to promote sports participation and excellence across India. The scheme is extended till 2025–26 with a total budget of ₹3790.50 crore.

Notes:
Recently, the Union Government highlighted the progress of Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP) in Parliament. It was launched on 7th April 2016 under the National Health Mission (NHM) to provide free dialysis services to poor patients. It has two components: Hemodialysis (HD) services and Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) services. As of 30th June 2025, the programme is running in all 36 States and Union Territories (UTs) across 751 districts. A total of 1,704 dialysis centres are operational under this programme. The Government of India has advised setting up HD centres in all district hospitals and later expanding to Community Health Centres (CHCs) at taluka level.

Notes:
Recently, Telangana Police rescued over 7,600 children under the nationwide Operation Muskaan-XI initiative. The month-long drive ended on 31st July and was led by the Women Safety Wing. It was conducted in coordination with the Women Development and Child Welfare Department, Labour Department, health officials, NGOs, and child protection units. Out of the rescued children, 529 were girls.

Notes:
Shashi Prakash Goyal, a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, assumed charge as the new Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh (UP) on 1st August 2025. He replaced Manoj Kumar Singh, an IAS officer of the 1988 batch, who retired from service. Goyal earlier served as Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister (CM), handling Protocol, Civil Aviation, and Estate departments.

Notes:
Operation Akhal was launched by Indian security forces in Kulgam district, Jammu and Kashmir on August 2, 2025. The operation began after intelligence inputs about the presence of 3–5 terrorists in the Akhal Khulsan forest area. It involved the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police, and Special Operations Group (SOG). One terrorist was neutralised during an intense and intermittent overnight firefight. Operation Mahadev earlier killed three Pakistani terrorists, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Suleman Shah on July 28 in Dachigam National Park.

Notes:
Russia recently signed a key nuclear agreement with Niger, strengthening its influence in the Sahel region of West Africa. The Sahel region is located in Africa, forming a 5,000-kilometre-long semi-arid belt. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Red Sea in the east. It lies between the Sahara Desert in the north and the humid savannas in the south. It passes through African countries like Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, and Eritrea.

Notes:
Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi inaugurated Agnishodh, the Indian Army Research Cell (IARC), at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. The centre will integrate academic research with real-time military applications to support Army modernization under the Five Pillars of Transformation. It aligns with the Army’s vision of “Swadeshikaran Se Sashaktikaran” (Empowerment through Indigenization). Focus areas include additive manufacturing, cybersecurity, quantum computing, wireless communication, and drones.