Current Affairs Quiz – August 2025

Notes:
State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) at the State Bank Academy (SBA), Gurugram. The Centre of Excellence (CoE) aims to strengthen the MSME ecosystem through capacity building, research, and industry collaboration, supporting India’s vision of becoming a developed nation. State Bank Academy (SBA) provides specialised training in Credit, International Banking, Risk & Compliance, and conducts Research & Development (R&D) in banking. Centre of Excellence (CoE) will develop case studies, research, and online knowledge repositories for MSMEs, including remote areas.

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Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kadmatt completed a three-day port call at Surabaya, Indonesia recently. INS Kadmatt is an indigenous stealth anti-submarine warfare corvette built under Project 28. It is the second of four such corvettes built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata. The ship was commissioned into the Indian Navy in January 2016. It is part of the Eastern Naval Command and named after Kadmat Island in Lakshadweep. Its main role is anti-submarine warfare to protect convoys and ports from submarine attacks.

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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:
India will provide training and equipment to enhance Fiji’s maritime security, Prime Minister said recently. Fiji is located in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand and southwest of Hawaii. It is an archipelago of around 300 islands and 540 islets, covering about 1,000,000 square miles (3,000,000 sq.km). Fiji does not share land borders with any country. Approximately 100 of the 300 islands are inhabited. The capital of Fiji is Suva, situated on the southeast coast of Viti Levu, the largest island.

Notes:
The Department of Health and Human Services recently confirmed the first human case of the flesh-eating parasite, the New World screwworm, in the United States. New World screwworm is a blue-grey blowfly usually found in South America and the Caribbean. Its larvae burrow screwlike into living tissue, causing dangerous infestations. Female flies lay eggs in open wounds or cavities, with up to 3,000 eggs in their lifespan. Symptoms include non-healing wounds, bleeding, foul smell, and sensation of movement. Infestation is extremely painful and can be fatal if untreated.

Notes:
The Madhya Pradesh government organised the Global Spiritual Conclave in Ujjain. The event was conducted by the Tourism Department with support from the Ministry of Tourism. More than 300 dignitaries, including spiritual leaders, thinkers, and visionaries from India and abroad, participated. The conclave aimed to promote spiritual tourism, preserve cultural heritage, and foster dialogue on responsible hospitality. The initiative sought to connect India’s spiritual legacy with modernity and benefit the tourism industry.

Notes:
A Supreme Court-appointed committee has given conditional approval for constructing the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) headquarters in the ecologically sensitive Morphological Ridge area of Delhi. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is a specialized disaster response force under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in India. It was constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, after establishing the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Its mandate includes responding to natural and man-made disasters, including floods, earthquakes, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) emergencies. The motto is “Aapda Seva Sadaiv Sarvatra” meaning disaster service always, everywhere.

Notes:
On the inaugural day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan, Rev Seishi Hirose, chief priest of the Daruma-ji temple, presented him with a Daruma Doll , an iconic cultural symbol of Japan. These dolls, considered a lucky charm in the country, vary in height from a couple of inches to several feet. The doll The Daruma is a traditional Japanese wish doll, which is typically made of papier-mâché. It is modelled after Bodhidharma, the 5th-century founder of Zen Buddhism. The doll is considered a symbol of perseverance and good luck, often used to represent setting and achieving goals.

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The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has set up its second Mahout Village at Kozhikamuthi elephant camp in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR). It has houses for 47 mahouts and cavadies (assistants) from the Malasar tribal community who care for over 20 camp elephants. The first Mahout Village was inaugurated at Theppakadu in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in May 2025. These villages aim to improve the welfare of mahouts and elephants, recognising their interdependent relationship.

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Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based think tank, assessed 2015-2024 summer months and found nearly 76% of Delhi under persistent heat stress, especially in southwest, west and northwest regions. The report highlights the importance of green spaces, urban planning, and climate-resilient infrastructure to mitigate heat impacts.