Current Affairs Quiz – July 2025

Notes:
India’s Defence Minister recently gifted a Madhubani painting to his Chinese counterpart during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, China. Madhubani painting, also called Mithila painting, comes from the Madhubani district in the Mithila region of Bihar. It is traditionally made by women using fingers, twigs, nib-pens, matchsticks, and brushes with natural dyes and bright earthy colours.

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, 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, 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 Narcotics Control Bureau busted a huge international drug racket through the darknet under Operation MELON. Operation MELON led to the recovery of LSD blots, Ketamine, and cryptocurrency. LSD stands for Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, and Ketamine are highly potent hallucinogenic drugs. Hallucinogens are psychedelic substances that change how people see, hear, taste, smell, or feel, and can also affect mood and thoughts. Ketamine is not an opioid but acts as a N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist in the brain. Officials also found TAILS Operating System, a system designed for accessing darknet markets.

Notes:
Recently, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the Jan Suraksha Santrupti Abhiyan in Gandhinagar. The campaign will run nationwide from 1 July to 30 September 2025. It aims to identify eligible citizens left out of government welfare schemes and deliver benefits to them. Schemes covered include Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, and Jan Dhan Yojana. It will also update Know Your Customer (KYC) for Jan Dhan accounts, open new accounts, and spread awareness about digital fraud.

Notes:
Recently, the National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development was renamed as Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development. This change reflects its stronger focus on region-specific and mission-driven support for women and child development across India. The institute’s headquarters is in New Delhi with regional centres in Bangalore, Guwahati, Lucknow, Indore, and Mohali, supporting women and child welfare training and research nationwide.

Notes:
Recently, a deadly accident occurred at the pharma unit of Sigachi Industries in Hyderabad, raising the death toll to 36. The unit manufactures Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC). Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) is a free-flowing powder extracted from refined wood pulp. It is inert, nontoxic, fiber-rich, chewable, and not absorbed during digestion. Wood is the main source of pharmaceutical MCC, with cellulose chains bound by polymers and hydrogen bonds.

Notes:
Recently, India reached 50 percent enrolment in its Phase III clinical trial of the indigenous tetravalent dengue vaccine, DengiAll. DengiAll is developed by Panacea Biotec Limited under a licence from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), United States. It contains weakened forms of all four dengue virus subtypes, similar to the NIH vaccine except for inactive ingredients. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is evaluating its safety and effectiveness through multiple institutes.

Notes:
Recently, Brazil hosted the BRICS Summit 2025 in Rio de Janeiro. Leaders of BRICS gathered for a two-day summit to discuss stronger cooperation. The summit was overshadowed by new tariff policies of United States President Donald Trump. BRICS leaders presented the group as a defender of multilateralism. The group expressed concerns about Western dominance in global affairs. BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. It brings together mainly developing nations to promote fair global cooperation. The summit aims to boost partnerships and address common challenges.