Current Affairs Quiz – July 2025

Notes:
The world celebrates June 30 as World Asteroid Day to mark the Tunguska event, a huge asteroid explosion over Siberia, Russia, in 1908. The Tunguska event flattened about 2,000 square kilometres of forest with energy equal to 185 Hiroshima bombs. World Asteroid Day aims to raise awareness about asteroid risks and encourage investment in space science and technology. The United Nations General Assembly passed resolution A/RES/71/90 in 2016 to declare June 30 as International Asteroid Day after a proposal from the Association of Space Explorers, supported by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).

Notes:
Recently, Ayush Shetty from Karnataka won the prestigious United States Open badminton title at Council Bluffs, Iowa, becoming the first Indian to win a men’s singles title there since Lakshya Sen’s 2023 Canada Open win. Ayush’s first international title followed consistent performances against top players like Loh Kean Yew and Kidambi Srikanth. Ayush earlier won a bronze at the 2023 World Junior Championships and was runner-up in other tournaments.

Notes:
National Doctor’s Day 2025 in India is observed on July 1 to recognise the contributions of physicians to society. The day also marks the birth and death anniversary of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, a respected doctor, freedom fighter, and former Chief Minister of West Bengal. The theme for this year is Behind the Mask: Who Heals the Healers. India has celebrated National Doctor’s Day since 1991 to honour Dr Roy’s legacy. Dr Roy received the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 1961 for his medical service.

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The Union Railway Minister recently launched the RailOne app in New Delhi. RailOne is a new super app to handle all railway-related passenger needs in one place. It was developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems, a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) of Indian Railways. RailOne combines services like ticket booking, real-time tracking, food ordering, Passenger Name Record (PNR) status, refunds, porter booking, and last-mile taxi.

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Recently, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister of India approved the Employment Linked Incentive Scheme. The Employment Linked Incentive Scheme supports employment generation, skill enhancement, and social security in all sectors, with a focus on manufacturing. It was announced in the Union Budget 2024-25 as part of the Prime Minister’s package of five schemes for 4.1 Crore youth with a budget of Rs 2 Lakh Crore. It aims to create over 3.5 Crore jobs in two years, with 1.92 Crore first-time workforce entrants.

Notes:
Recently, scientists at the Indian Institute of Science developed a glowing paper sensor to detect liver cancer. The sensor uses the green glow of Terbium to identify the enzyme beta-glucuronidase, which is a key biomarker for liver cancer. Terbium is a rare-earth metal belonging to the lanthanide series of the periodic table. It appears as a soft, silvery metal. Terbium is recovered from minerals like monazite and bastnaesite, and also from euxenite containing more than 1% terbium. It is used in solid-state devices and low-energy lightbulbs.

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Recently, India’s Divyanshi Bhowmick won gold in the Under-15 Girls’ Singles at the 29th Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship 2025. She defeated China’s Zhu Qihi 4-2 in the final match. The championship was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from June 26 to July 2, 2025. India finished the tournament with one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals.

Notes:
Recently, the National Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, released the “Statistical Report on Value of Output from Agriculture and Allied Sectors (2011–12 to 2023–24)” on its website. The report covers Crop, Livestock, Forestry and Logging, Fishing and Aquaculture data at current and constant prices. Gross Value Added of agriculture rose by 225% from ₹1,502 thousand crore in 2011-12 to ₹4,878 thousand crore in 2023-24. Gross Value of Output grew 54.6% at constant prices from ₹1,908 thousand crore to ₹2,949 thousand crore in this period. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Telangana, and Haryana contributed 53% of cereals GVO.

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Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed India’s first indigenous Photonic Radar. This is a big step for both defence and civilian radar technology. It places India among global leaders in next-generation radar innovation. Photonic Radar uses light-based (photonic) technology instead of traditional electronic signals. This technology gives higher bandwidth and much better resolution. It can detect and identify even the smallest objects with great accuracy.

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Recently, Manipuri classical dancer and Padma Shri awardee Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi passed away at age 85 after prolonged illness at her home in Keishampat, Imphal West. She was one of the 113 Padma Shri recipients this year. She joined Aryan Theatre as a child artist and performed in the Soviet Union in 1954. Later, she performed in China, Japan, South Korea, and other countries. She trained under Padma Meishnam Amubi and joined Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA).