Current Affairs Quiz – July 2025

Notes:
Forest officials in Arunachal Pradesh recently discovered a new flowering plant species named Begonia nyishiorum in the East Kameng district. Begonia nyishiorum is a flowering plant that grows only in East Kameng, making it an endemic species. It grows on moist, shaded mountain slopes at altitudes between 1,500 and 3,000 metres above sea level. The name “nyishiorum” honours the Nyishi tribal community for their forest protection efforts.

Notes:
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recently announced the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS) for the academic year 2025–26 and invited applications through the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in. The scheme is officially called “Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students” and is run by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. It aims to provide financial help to bright students from poor families to support their daily expenses while pursuing higher studies.

Notes:
Recently, an eight-week study in Brazil found that Kombucha improves gut bacteria in people with obesity by increasing good microbes and reducing harmful ones. However, it did not improve blood sugar or inflammation markers. Kombucha is a fermented tea that offers complex flavors without much sugar or caffeine. It originated in northeast China around 220 BCE and was known for its energizing and detoxifying effects. Kombucha is becoming popular in India, with the market growing from 45 million in 2020 to 102 million in 2024.

Notes:
Recently, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting launched the WAVEX Startup Challenge 2025 under its WaveX startup accelerator program. The challenge is titled BhashaSetu – Real-Time Language Tech for Bharat. It is a national hackathon to build Artificial Intelligence-based multilingual translation tools for at least 12 major Indian languages. WaveX is a startup accelerator under the Ministry’s WAVES initiative to promote innovation in media, entertainment, and language technology.

Notes:
The fourth International Conference on Financing for Development began in Spain, focusing on the debt crisis holding back developing nations. Sovereign debt in developing countries rose from 16% of global debt in 2010 to 30% in 2023, growing twice as fast as in developed nations. Many developing nations face a debt trap dating back to 1970s oil shocks, leading to repeated borrowing to pay earlier loans. More than half of developing nations now spend 8% or more of government revenue on interest payments, limiting funds for healthcare, education, and climate goals.

Notes:
The Central Adoption Resource Authority recently clarified that adoptive parents do not need hard copies of adoption orders as digitally certified copies sent by e-mail are legally valid. The Central Adoption Resource Authority is a statutory body under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. It was set up in 1990 as an autonomous body. Under Section 68 of the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Act 2015, it became a statutory body. It is the nodal agency to monitor and regulate adoption of Indian children within the country and abroad.

Notes:
Recently, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister of India approved the Research Development and Innovation Scheme with a fund of Rs 1 Lakh Crore. The Research Development and Innovation Scheme aims to give long-term financing or refinancing with low or zero interest rates to boost private sector investment. It will help overcome funding challenges faced by the private sector. The Governing Board of Anusandhan National Research Foundation chaired by the Prime Minister will guide the scheme. The Department of Science and Technology is the nodal department to implement the scheme.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted Meghalaya’s Eri Silk in the 123rd episode of Mann Ki Baat radio show. Eri Silk from Meghalaya has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Eri Silk is a heritage of Meghalaya, preserved by the Khasi community. It is called Ahimsa Silk because its production does not harm silkworms. The fabric symbolizes sustainability, tradition, and craftsmanship.

Notes:
Recently, the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development launched the high-capacity SAKSHAM-3000 to boost self-reliance and global competitiveness. SAKSHAM-3000 is a compact 25.6 Terabits per second (Tbps) switch-router developed by Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT). It is built for modern data centres, large enterprises, telecom operators, and hyperscale data centres. It has ultra-low latency, wire-speed processing, and uses the modular C-DOT Router Operating System (CROS).