Current Affairs Quiz – August 2025

Notes:
Recently, red panda cubs were born at Himalayan Zoological Park near Gangtok, Sikkim after a gap of 7 years under a conservation programme. Red panda is also called the lesser panda. It is a shy, solitary, herbivorous and tree-dwelling (arboreal) animal. It uses its long bushy tail for balance and warmth during winter. It is an indicator species that signals ecological changes. It is mainly found in mountain forests of India, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Myanmar. It is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Notes:
India has revived the 1,856-MW Sawalkote Hydroelectric Power Project on the Chenab River after keeping the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance since April. The project, first conceived in the 1960s, was delayed due to Indus Water Treaty restrictions and Pakistan’s objections. It is a 2,185 megawatt (MW) run-of-the-river hydroelectric project in Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir. It will be the largest hydropower project in the Union Territory and one of the biggest in North India. It is being developed by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDC).

Notes:
Odisha and Chhattisgarh, after a long legal battle in the Mahanadi Water Dispute Tribunal, have now agreed to resolve the river water dispute mutually. Mahanadi River is a major east-flowing peninsular river in Chhattisgarh and Odisha. It originates from the Sihawa range in Dhamtari district, Chhattisgarh. It flows eastward, enters Odisha near Cuttack, and drains into the Bay of Bengal near Paradip. Major tributaries include Seonath, Hasdeo, Ib, Ong, Mand, Tel, and Jonk. It is known for high silt deposition capacity.

Notes:
China and Russia began joint naval drills called “Joint Sea-2025” on August 3, 2025, in the Sea of Japan. The exercises aim to strengthen their strategic partnership and counter the United States-led global order. The drills are being held near the Russian port of Vladivostok. Operations include submarine rescue, anti-submarine, air defence, anti-missile, and maritime combat exercises. Four Chinese warships, including guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, are participating with Russian ships.

Notes:
A national conference on Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT/NT/SNTs) was held in New Delhi recently. Community leaders demanded the formation of a permanent national commission for their welfare. The demand follows the Idate Commission’s 2018 report, which recommended permanent support structures. These communities lack land rights, remain highly marginalised, and face economic deprivation. The Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNCs) was formed in 2019 to support them. The Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED) offers free coaching, housing, health insurance, and livelihood aid to poor families.

Notes:
Rising tensions between the United States (US) and Russia have brought focus back to the RS-28 Sarmat Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), also called ‘Satan 2’ by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Russia showcased the missile after the US reportedly deployed two nuclear submarines near Russian waters. The RS-28 is a super-heavy, liquid-fueled ICBM with a massive range of up to 18,000 kilometers, enabling it to strike any global target. It is designed to replace the Soviet-era R-36M and was first successfully tested on April 20, 2022. The missile can carry 10–15 nuclear warheads using Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.

Notes:
Seeds of seabuckthorn and Himalayan tartary buckwheat grown in Ladakh’s cold desert are part of NASA’s Crew-11 experiment on the International Space Station (ISS). The seeds were sourced by Indian space start-up Protoplanet based in Bengaluru. The mission launched on August 1, 2025, from Florida and docked at ISS on August 2, 2025. The experiment aims to test how seeds react to space stress and microgravity before germination. It focuses on gene activation and metabolic processes vital for space agriculture. Himalayan tartary buckwheat and seabuckthorn are rich in nutrients and suitable for long-duration space missions.

Notes:
NITI Aayog recently launched the India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI). India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) is a first-of-its-kind tool to track and rank States and Union Territories (UTs) on electric mobility progress. It evaluates all States and UTs out of 100 across 16 indicators under 3 core themes. Transport Electrification Progress measures electric vehicle (EV) adoption on the demand side. Charging Infrastructure Readiness tracks EV charging network development. EV Research and Innovation Status evaluates supply-side research and development.

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:
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Government of Telangana signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up India’s first FIFA Talent Academy for girls. The academy will be located at the Gachibowli Stadium Complex in Hyderabad, Telangana. The MoU was signed during the Telangana Sports Conclave. AIFF will manage operations, technical framework, talent scouting, and training curriculum in coordination with Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The Sports Authority of Telangana (SATG) will handle infrastructure, logistics, education, finances, and welfare.