Current Affairs Quiz – July 2025

Notes:
Recently, Mount Rainier in Washington, United States, experienced over 300 small earthquakes, marking the most significant seismic activity since 2009, as reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Mount Rainier is the highest mountain in Washington state, standing at 4,392 metres. It covers 260 square kilometers and has the largest single-mountain glacier system in the U.S. outside Alaska. It is an active stratovolcano formed by lava flows that began about one million years ago. Its last eruption occurred around 150 years ago.

Notes:
Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump cited the fentanyl crisis to justify imposing 35% tariffs on Canada. Fentanyl caused over 112,000 overdose deaths in the United States in 2024 alone. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid used medically as a pain reliever and anaesthetic. It is about 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. Common street names include Apache, China Girl, China Town, Dance Fever, Goodfellas, Jackpot, and King Ivory. Fentanyl overdose can cause cold skin, bluish lips (cyanosis), coma, respiratory failure, and death.

Notes:
Recently, Sonali Mishra was appointed as the first woman Director General (DG) of the Railway Protection Force (RPF). She is a 1993 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre. Her appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. She will serve as DG, RPF till her superannuation on October 31, 2026. The RPF ensures the security of railway property and passengers. RPF was created by an Act of Parliament in 1957. It got the power to enquire, arrest, and prosecute in 1966. It was declared an armed force of the Union on September 20, 1985.

Notes:
Recently, a new skipper butterfly species named Zographetus mathewi was discovered in the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot. It was identified by a team from Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS), Institute of Tropical Research, Ecology and Conservation (INTREC), and Zoological Survey of India. The butterfly belongs to the family Hesperiidae and is the 15th species in the Zographetus Watson, 1893 genus and fifth recorded in India. It is endemic to low-elevation forests in Kerala. It is named in honour of George Mathew, an eminent Indian entomologist.

Notes:
Dr. Abhijat Sheth has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the National Medical Commission (NMC) in July 2025. The appointment comes amid rising concerns over regulatory loopholes and a recent corruption probe in medical college approvals. The National Medical Commission (NMC) is India’s top regulatory body for medical education and professionals. It was established under the NMC Act, 2019, replacing the Medical Council of India (MCI). NMC is a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Notes:
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu recently launched the ‘My Deed’ National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) Pilot Project . It simplifies land registration by requiring only one visit to the tehsil office, with online application available anytime from anywhere. The pilot project covers ten tehsils including Bilaspur Sadar, Dalhousie, Galore, Jaisinghpur, Bhuntar, Padhar, Kumarsain, Rajgarh, Kandaghat, and Bangana.

Notes:
World Day for International Justice is observed every year on July 17th. The day promotes global awareness and support for international justice. It highlights the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other criminal tribunals. The focus is on justice for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. It reminds the world that no one is above the law. The day emphasizes that every individual must have access to justice.

Notes:
India successfully test-fired nuclear-capable short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) Agni-I and Prithvi-II from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha. The missiles were tested under the Strategic Forces Command to check operational and technical parameters. Agni-I and Prithvi-II are key parts of India’s nuclear deterrence strategy. Both missiles are developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). They are part of India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).

Notes:
The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has issued new directions to all State Adoption Resource Agencies (SARAs) to institutionalise structured counselling across all stages of the adoption process. These directions are issued under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (amended in 2021) and align with the Adoption Regulations, 2022. CARA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Women and Child Development and acts as the central agency for adoption in India and abroad. The goal is to strengthen psychosocial support for prospective adoptive parents, adopted children, and biological parents.

Notes:
A two-day National Conference on “Good Governance Practices” was recently held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on July 17-18, 2025. It was jointly organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and the Government of Odisha. The event aimed to showcase successful governance models awarded the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration.