Current Affairs Quiz – July 2025

Notes:
The Shakti Bhatt Prize 2025 was awarded to debut author Zara Chowdhary for her memoir The Lucky Ones, about surviving the 2002 Gujarat riots. She will receive a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh with the award. This year marks the final Shakti Bhatt Prize, which started in 2008 to honour debut authors in memory of publisher Shakti Bhatt, who died in 2007. The prize celebrated South Asian literature from countries like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, remaining independent and free from corporate sponsorship.

Notes:
Maharashtra has launched a hedging desk in Pune to help farmers lock in prices, reduce risks, and boost incomes under the SMART Project, which stands for Balasaheb Thackeray Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project. The desk will first cover cotton, turmeric, and maize crops to protect farmers from market price fluctuations. The initiative will expand to include more crops in the future. It is supported by the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange and its research wing National Institute of Commodity Research (NICR).

Notes:
Recently, the Indian Navy’s Indian Naval Ship Tabar (INS Tabar) acted quickly to rescue crew members after a fire broke out on an oil vessel in the Gulf of Oman. INS Tabar (F44) is the third Talwar-class frigate of the Indian Navy. It was built in Russia. It is one of the earliest stealth frigates of the Indian Navy. It operates under the Western Fleet based in Mumbai within the Western Naval Command.

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Recently, the Wandan mud volcano in Taiwan erupted, sending bubbling mud into the air while locals set the escaping gases on fire with burning rags. A mud volcano is a small cone of mud and clay, usually less than a few meters high. It forms from hot water mixed with fine sediment, which either flows gently like lava or bursts out like a fountain due to volcanic gas and boiling water. The craters are shallow and erupt mud on and off, rebuilding cones that erode easily. Mud volcanoes, also called mud domes or sedimentary volcanoes, release gases like methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen along with often salty or acidic water.

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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.

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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:
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.

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, INS Udaygiri, the second ship of Project 17A stealth frigates, was delivered to the Indian Navy. Project 17A is a follow-on of the Shivalik class frigates under Project 17 already in service. INS Nilgiri is the first indigenously built stealth frigate under Project 17A. A frigate is a multi-role vessel used for protecting fleet surface ships against enemy ships and aerial threats. These multi-mission frigates can operate in a Blue Water environment to tackle both conventional and non-conventional threats around India’s maritime interests.

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International Plastic Bag Free Day is observed every year on on July 3. It raises awareness about the harmful effects of single-use plastic bags on the environment. The day encourages people to reduce plastic use and choose eco-friendly options like cloth and paper bags. It began under the Bag Free World Movement by environmental groups in Europe in the early 2000s. The campaign’s message spread globally over time. International Plastic Bag Free Day was officially established to highlight the growing danger of plastic pollution.