Current Affairs Quiz – August 2025

Notes:
Recently, the central government initiated steps to include the Pampa River under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). Pampa is the third longest river in Kerala after the Periyar River and Bharathappuzha River. It is called ‘Dakshina Bhageerathi’ or the Ganga of Kerala, with deep religious importance linked to Sabarimala temple. Pilgrims to Sabarimala take a holy dip in the Pampa before and after the trek.

Notes:
Recently, Indian Railways commissioned India’s longest railway viaduct – Katni Grade Separator in Katni, Madhya Pradesh at a cost of ₹1,800 crore. The project has a total length of 33.40 km, with a 15.85 km up grade separator commissioned and a 17.52 km down grade separator under construction. It was built using high-quality materials, modern technology, and advanced machinery. The inspection covered technical components like bridge girders, sleepers, bearings, joints, OHE line, and level crossings as per railway standards.

Notes:
The 8th National Anubhav Awards were held in New Delhi in 2025, marking the 10th anniversary of the initiative. The scheme was launched in 2015 by the Government of India under the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare. It aims to record experiences of retiring officials as institutional memory through the Anubhav Portal. Awards recognise memoirs highlighting significant contributions and promote transparency, citizen-centric governance, and better human resource management. This year, 15 awardees from 11 ministries were honoured, including one-third women.

Notes:
Sadbhavana Divas, meaning Day of Harmony, is observed every year on 20 August. It marks the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, India’s youngest prime minister. The day promotes peace, harmony, national integration, and goodwill among all people regardless of caste, creed, or religion. On this day, leaders and citizens take a pledge to work towards peace, goodwill, and harmony in society. Cultural events, debates, and educational activities are organised to spread tolerance and unity.

Notes:
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced simultaneous interpretation of parliamentary proceedings in all 22 languages of the Eighth Schedule during the Monsoon Session. Earlier, only 18 languages were covered. Now, Kashmiri, Konkani and Santhali are added, completing the list. The Eighth Schedule started with 14 languages, now expanded to 22 through amendments. This reflects India’s linguistic diversity and ensures smooth communication in Parliament.

Notes:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming rod bacterium commonly found in soil and water. It is the most common type of Pseudomonas causing human infections in the blood, lungs (pneumonia), urinary tract, and post-surgery sites. Researchers from Germany found that P. aeruginosa shows bistable expression of the glpD gene, meaning activity varies among genetically identical cells. This variation affects its infection-causing ability, as shown in tests on moth larvae and mouse immune cells. Targeting glpD gene’s variable expression could help combat hospital-acquired P. aeruginosa infections. This discovery highlights new directions for infection control and antibiotic strategies.

Notes:
International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is observed every year on August 21. The day honours innocent lives lost, the resilience of survivors, and reinforces global commitment to peace, justice, and solidarity. This year’s theme is “United for Hope: Collective Actions for Victims of Terrorism”, highlighting the strength of victims transforming pain into purpose. The United Nations General Assembly established the observance in 2017 to address long-term impacts of terrorism.

Notes:
Seaweed farming has emerged as a potential Blue Carbon strategy, but empirical estimates of carbon burial from these farms are still limited. Blue Carbon refers to organic carbon captured and stored by oceans in vegetated coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests, saltmarshes, and seagrass meadows. The term “Blue” highlights the watery nature of this carbon storage. Most blue carbon is carbon dioxide dissolved directly into the ocean. These ecosystems cover 2% of the ocean surface but account for 50% of the ocean’s carbon absorption. Blue carbon ecosystems are crucial for global climate change mitigation.

Notes:
India has been elected as chairman of the Executive Board of Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) with the highest votes at the 23rd AIBD General Conference in Phuket, Thailand (19–21 August 2025). India last held this position in 2016, and this strengthens its leadership role as it also serves as President of AIBD General Conference until August 2025. AIBD, founded in 1977 under UNESCO, has 92 member organizations from 45 countries. The conference theme was “Media for People, Peace & Prosperity,” highlighting India’s growing global influence in broadcasting.

Notes:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted maiden flight tests of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the Odisha coast. This is part of Mission Sudarshan Chakra, aimed at creating a homegrown multi-layered nationwide security shield by 2035. IADWS includes Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missiles (QRSAM), Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missiles, and a high-power Directed Energy Weapon (DEW). It integrates surveillance, cybersecurity, and air defence systems to detect and neutralise threats like missiles, aircraft, and drones.