Current Affairs Quiz – July 2025

Notes:
Recently, the Indian National Committee of the World Mining Congress (INC-WMC) held an International Conference on Sustainable and Responsible Mining through Best Mine Closure Practices in Hyderabad. The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, environmental experts, academia, and stakeholders from India and abroad. The focus was on sustainable mine closure and sharing global best practices.

Notes:
After more than 100 years, swimmers officially returned to the River Seine in France since its closure in 1923. The River Seine is France’s second-longest river after the Loire, stretching 775 kilometers. Its drainage basin, called the Paris Basin, covers about 79,000 square kilometers in northern France. Around 62% of the basin supports agriculture, holding 25% of France’s farm activity and up to 30% of industry.

Notes:
The union Minister of State for Science and Technology inaugurated the Phenome India National Biobank at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB). It is launched under the Phenome India Project. The biobank will collect genomic, lifestyle, and clinical data from 10,000 people across India. It aims to capture India’s diversity across geography, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds.

Notes:
Scientists, policymakers, and activists from India have raised concerns about proposed amendments to Annex I of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The treaty was adopted on 3 November 2001 by the Thirty-First Session of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. It recognises farmers’ contributions to global crop diversity. It sets up a worldwide system giving farmers, plant breeders, and scientists access to plant genetic materials. It ensures benefit-sharing from the use of these materials.

Notes:
Over 1,000 earthquakes have shaken the Tokara Islands in southern Japan in the past two weeks, creating an unprecedented seismic situation. The Tokara Islands are a small archipelago located south of Kyushu and north of the Amami Islands in Japan. They are also called the Toshima Islands, covered administratively by Toshima-mura (Toshima Village). The archipelago includes 7 inhabited islands (e.g., Kuchinoshima, Nakanoshima, Suwanosejima) and 5 uninhabited islands (e.g., Gajajima, Kogajajima).

Notes:
Recently, heavy rainfall caused severe flooding and damage in central Texas, especially along the Guadalupe River. The Guadalupe River is located in Texas, United States. Guadalupe River is a spring-fed river that starts from the North and South Forks in Kerr County, Texas. It flows into San Antonio Bay, which connects to the Gulf of Mexico. The river basin includes Canyon Reservoir and Edwards Aquifer in the Balcones Fault Zone, San Antonio portion. The area is known as “Flash Flood Alley” due to frequent flash floods.

Notes:
The Prime Minister recently concluded a four-day visit to Brazil, strengthening South-South cooperation and India-Brazil strategic ties. The Prime Minister was conferred Brazil’s highest civilian honour, the “Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross,” for strengthening bilateral relations. The Prime Minister announced plans for adopting India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Brazil.

Notes:
On 7th July 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, launched a Specialised Training Program in Cancer Care for BIMSTEC countries at Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), Mumbai. The initiative was earlier announced by the Prime Minister during the 6th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit. Participants from BIMSTEC countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Nepal are attending the program. The training aims to address rising cancer cases and disparities in quality cancer care across the region. It seeks to build capacity, enhance skills, and foster collaboration and research among BIMSTEC nations.

Notes:
Recently, a report highlighted that the leopard population in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) has increased by 198.91% since 2022. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is located on the Indo-Nepal border in Lakhimpur-Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh. It comprises Dudhwa National Park and two wildlife sanctuaries—Kishanpur and Katerniaghat—along with forest areas of North Kheri, South Kheri, and Shahjahanpur in its buffer zone. The reserve lies in the Tarai-Bhabar habitat of the Upper Gangetic Plains Biogeographic Province.

Notes:
In July 2025, Marathi writer and critic Sarankumar Limbale was chosen for the Chintha Raveendran Award 2025. The award includes ₹50,000 cash, a memento, and a citation. It will be presented on July 26 at K.P. Kesavamenon Hall in Kozhikode. The award is part of the Chintha Raveendran commemoration event. Former Member of Parliament (MP) Subhashini Ali will deliver a lecture on the topic ‘Manuvadi Hindutva: When culture, history and equal rights are being deconstructed’. Writer N.S. Madhavan will preside over the event.