Current Affairs Quiz – August 2025

Notes:
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) became India’s first railway zone to shift to compostable bio-plastic on trains. As a pilot initiative, NFR introduced biodegradable linen bags on 15 August 2025, India’s 79th Independence Day. 40,000 bioplastic bags are being distributed across 25 trains from terminals in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Tripura, and West Bengal. The initiative supports NFR’s green mission with projects like electrification, solar energy, AI-based elephant protection, rainwater harvesting, bio-toilets, solid waste composting, afforestation, and green transformation of wastelands.

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Operation “WeedOut” by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) dismantled a pan-India syndicate trafficking hydroponic weed. The crackdown took place across Bengaluru, Bhopal, and New Delhi from August 19–21, 2025. On 20th August 2025, DRI intercepted passengers at Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station (Bengaluru) and Bhopal Junction. 29.88 kg of hydroponic weed was recovered in Bengaluru from Rajdhani train 22691 passengers. The operation included multiple simultaneous seizures and arrests under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

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NITI Aayog launched the report “Rethinking Homestays: Navigating Policy Pathways” with Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). It highlights homestays as drivers of cultural immersion, local entrepreneurship, and job creation. It calls for light-touch, transparent regulations to ensure safety, heritage protection, and sustainable growth. It stresses public–private collaboration with partners like MakeMyTrip and Airbnb. The report suggests digital platforms, flexible policies, capacity building, and state best practices to build a resilient homestay sector.

Notes:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has unveiled the second Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) habitat. It is designed for analogue missions simulating year-long stays on Mars. The second mission will begin in late 2025 with four crew members. The 1,700 square foot, 3D-printed habitat will be used to test living in isolation. CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) is a program of analog missions that simulate year-long stays on the Martian surface. The inaugural CHAPEA mission began in June 2023 and concluded in July 2024, providing valuable insights into the challenges of living and working on Mars.

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The Nagpur city of Maharashtra recently celebrated the iconic Marbat festival, attracting lakhs of devotees. The festival featured colourful processions and satirical effigies targeting issues like US import tariffs, Pakistan-backed terrorism, and local civic concerns. ‘Marbat’ and ‘Badgya’ are symbolic of evil and are taken out in a procession during Tanha Pola. The effigies are called Pili (Yellow) Marbat and Kaali (Black) Marbat. They are carried on a 10 km procession through the lanes of Itwari and East Nagpur before being burnt. The burning of these effigies is believed to remove all negativity.

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Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi unveiled India’s first Integrated Global Financial Technology Capability Hub (I-GFTCH) in Bhubaneswar under the BharatNetra initiative. It is launched with Singapore-headquartered Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN). It aims to promote entrepreneurship, industry-ready skills, inclusive finance, and employment. Odisha plans Deep Neural Network laboratories and centres of excellence to boost research and development (R&D). The state produces 1.8 lakh graduates annually and is first in India to implement an Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy. A dedicated FinTech and Global Capability Centre (GCC) policy will attract global investments.

Notes:
The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) released the Smart City Index 2025. Swiss cities dominate with Zurich at 1st, Geneva at 3rd, and Lausanne at 10th, reflecting strong urban planning and citizen-centric infrastructure. Middle Eastern cities improved dramatically as Dubai rose from 12th to 4th and Abu Dhabi from 10th to 5th, showing progress in sustainable infrastructure and digital services. Smart cities are urban areas using technology to enhance citizen benefits and reduce urbanisation drawbacks. Evaluation parameters include health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities, and governance. Indian cities are part of the global smart city movement but remain outside the top 20 in 2025.

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The Union Finance Ministry has introduced a one-time one-way switch facility from the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) to the National Pension System (NPS). The facility is available to UPS subscribers up to one year before superannuation or three months before voluntary retirement. Employees facing dismissal, removal, or disciplinary action are not eligible for the switch. Once exercised, employees will forfeit UPS benefits, including assured payouts. The move aims to streamline pension benefits and reinforce NPS as a long-term retirement solution.

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The First International Pali Conference was organized at Kandy, Sri Lanka, by India’s Assistant High Commission in Kandy in partnership with the University of Peradeniya, in August 2025. The conference focused on “The Future of the Pali Language”. The event brought together scholars from Sri Lanka, India, and other countries. Discussions focused on Theravada traditions, manuscript studies, and Pali’s journey from a classical medium to a living language. It was the first international Pali conference hosted by the University of Peradeniya. Pali is recognised as a classical language in India by the Government of India.

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The Lithuanian Parliament approved Social Democrat Inga Ruginiene as Lithuania’s new Prime Minister. Ruginiene is the current Minister of Social Security and Labour. Ruginiene was first elected to Parliament in 2024. Before politics, she served as Chair of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation. This marks a significant political development in Lithuania with a new leadership under a Social Democrat Prime Minister.