Current Affairs Quiz – July 2025

Notes:
Recently, the Union Minister for Education distributed Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) footballs under the Football for Schools (F4S) programme at PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) Kendriya Vidyalaya, Fort William, Kolkata, West Bengal. It is run by FIFA in collaboration with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It aims to help educate, develop, and empower about 700 million children. In India, it runs through the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) with help from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Sports Authority of India (SAI).

Notes:
Recently, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change released details of new Animal Discoveries and Plant Discoveries for 2024. The Zoological Survey of India publishes Animal Discoveries, while the Botanical Survey of India publishes Plant Discoveries every year. In 2024, India added 683 new faunal species, including 459 new species and 224 new records. It also added 433 plant taxa, with 410 species and 23 infra-specific taxa. Kerala topped faunal discoveries with 101 species, followed by Karnataka with 82, and Tamil Nadu with 63. In the northeast, Arunachal Pradesh found 72 species, Meghalaya 42, and West Bengal 56. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands recorded 43 faunal discoveries.

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:
Recently, India’s first wooden Gurdwara named Sri Nanak Niwas was built in Fazilka, Punjab, inside the police lines. The Gurdwara is crafted using Deodhar wood imported from Finland, known for its strength and resistance to moths, sunlight, and rain. A skilled carpenter from Ludhiana, who has experience building wooden homes abroad, carried out the construction work. This unique wooden shrine is seen as a heartfelt tribute to faith and the spirit of service, known as seva.

Notes:
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, 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.

Notes:
Recently, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) conducted Operation MED MAX to stop illegal pharmaceutical drug trade. Under this operation, NCB dismantled a transnational drug trafficking syndicate. The syndicate smuggled controlled medicines across four continents. They used encrypted digital platforms, drop shipping models, and cryptocurrency for smuggling. This network shows the growing link between digital platforms, cryptocurrency, and global logistics in modern illegal trade.

Notes:
Recently, the Bihar government launched the Chief Minister Guru-Shishya Parampara Scheme. Under this scheme, a monthly honorarium of ₹15,000 is given to the Guru (teacher). ₹7,500 per month is given to the musician. ₹3,000 per month is given to the disciples. The scheme supports teaching of nearly extinct folk tales, folk drama, folk dance, folk music, folk instruments, classical art, and painting. This step will help protect and revive folk arts that are on the verge of extinction. It aims to preserve Bihar’s rich cultural heritage for future generations.

Notes:
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister recently announced that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is now complete and will be inaugurated in September. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), earlier called the Millennium Dam, is built on the Blue Nile River. It is located in Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz region near the border with Sudan. The Blue Nile is a major tributary of the Nile River.

Notes:
The Indian Army will soon get the first batch of Apache AH-64E attack helicopters from the United States. The Apache AH-64E, also called the Apache Guardian, is the world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopter. It is made by Boeing in the United States and used by many countries, including India, Egypt, Greece, and Japan. It can fly up to 300 kilometres per hour and has a range of 500 kilometres. It has advanced systems for communication, navigation, sensors, and weapons.