Current Affairs Quiz – August 2025

Notes:
Ministry of Women and Child Development extended the special registration drive for Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY). is a centrally sponsored scheme under Mission Shakti’s sub-scheme ‘Samarthya’. It aims to give financial help through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PW&LM). The goal is to support nutritious diets, improve health-seeking behaviour, and compensate for wage loss. It aligns with Section 4 of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.

Notes:
Punjab became the first state in India to empanel sign language interpreters, translators, and special educators under the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, 2015. The aim is to ensure accessible and sensitive justice for children with hearing and speech impairments. Experts will be deployed district-wise and compensated as per legal provisions. They will assist in routine and urgent cases involving specially-abled children. Punjab already broadcasts Punjab Vidhan Sabha proceedings in sign language. Initiative aligns with Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012

Notes:
Moldova became the 107th member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a global initiative launched in 2015 by India and France during COP21 in Paris. Moldova handed over the Instrument of Ratification in New Delhi. It aims to unlock solar investments by 2030 and lower technology and finance costs. It promotes solar energy use in agriculture, health, transport, and power sectors.

Notes:
Indian space-tech startup Dhruva Space is set to launch its first commercial satellite mission named LEAP-1. LEAP-1 will carry payloads for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Earth observation. It uses the indigenously developed P-30 satellite platform, which was space-qualified on ISRO’s PSLV-C58 in January 2024 during the LEAP-TD mission. The mission is jointly developed by Dhruva Space, Akula Tech (Australia), and Esper Satellites (Australia).

Notes:
Joint research by Pompeu Fabra University (Department of Medicine and Life Sciences – MELIS) and University of Trento, Italy has identified the intestinal microbiome of the indri for the first time. The study analyzed fecal and soil samples from six indri families in northeastern Madagascar. 48 bacterial species were identified in the indri microbiome. Indri (Indri indri, also called babakoto) is a critically endangered lemur endemic to Madagascar’s tropical forests. It is monogamous, lives in matriarchal families, and cannot survive in captivity. Main threats are habitat loss due to climate change and human activity, as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Notes:
The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, held an awareness session on National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) was launched by the Ministry of Education as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. Uttar Pradesh receives the highest quota with 15,000 fresh scholarships yearly. Students must register on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) after Class VIII using Aadhaar credentials. A One-Time Registration (OTR) system launched in 2024-25 avoids duplication of benefits.

Notes:
‘Operation Mahakal’ was launched in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh on 5th August. It targets land mafia and extortion gangs involved in illegal land-grabbing. The operation also includes action against influential collaborators like government employees, public representatives, and journalists. Phase 1 runs till 5th September 2025 to prepare a list of suspects. Phase 2 starts from 15th September 2025 and includes confiscating illegal assets and filing charges. It aims to dismantle the entire criminal network involved in land grabbing and extortion. Strict action will be taken against both criminals and their white-collar supporters.

Notes:
M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) hosted the M.S. Swaminathan Centenary International Conference from 7–9 August 2025 in New Delhi. The event marks the birth centenary of Professor M.S. Swaminathan, known as the father of India’s Green Revolution. The conference is held in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS). The theme of the conference is “Evergreen Revolution – The Pathway to Bio happiness”, promoting sustainable, equitable, and hunger-free development.

Notes:
A cloudburst caused flash floods in high-altitude villages of Dharali in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, due to sudden heavy rainfall over the Kheer Ganga River, a tributary of the Alaknanda River. A cloudburst is a sudden, very intense rainfall of more than 100 mm within one hour over a small area (about 10 square kilometers). It is common in mountainous areas like the Himalayas due to terrain and weather patterns. Orographic lifting pushes moist air upwards over mountains, causing rapid cooling and heavy rain. Strong upward air currents hold raindrops at height; sudden weakening causes all water to fall at once.

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.”