Current Affairs Quiz – July 2025

Notes:
On July 17, 2025, the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 awards were announced by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Indore retained its top spot as the cleanest city for the 8th time in a row under the ‘Super Swachh League’ category. Surat and Navi Mumbai secured the second and third ranks respectively in the same category. In the new ‘Swachh Shahar’ category for cities with over 10 lakh population, Ahmedabad ranked first, followed by Bhopal and Lucknow. Noida was ranked cleanest among cities with 3 to 10 lakh population, followed by Chandigarh and Mysore.

Notes:
Recently, a team from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur used Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to detect ancient Buddhist stupas and buried structures in Yamuna Nagar district, Haryana. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a high-resolution geophysical method that uses high-frequency electromagnetic waves to explore underground features. These waves interact with subsurface materials and are reflected, refracted, or scattered based on their type. GPR typically detects features up to a depth of around 10 meters. It is useful for locating bedrock depth, water tables, soil layers, buried stream channels, cavities, and fractures.

Notes:
President Droupadi Murmu paid tribute to Adikabi Sarala Das on his 600th birth anniversary. Sarala Das was a 15th-century poet and scholar of Odia literature. The President honored Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan with the Kalinga Ratna Award-2024. The event marked a significant celebration of Odia literary heritage. Adikabi Sarala Das is known for composing the Mahabharata in Odia, enriching Indian literature.

Notes:
Recently, India successfully destroyed two Aerial High-Speed Unmanned targets in Ladakh using Akash Prime missile. Akash Prime is an upgraded version of the Akash surface-to-air missile system designed for high-altitude use. It is a medium-range missile meant to defend mobile, semi-mobile, and static military assets from aerial threats. It features an indigenous Radio Frequency seeker for precise target tracking in the final flight phase. It can target threats at a range of 25 to 30 kilometers.

Notes:
Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal inaugurated Mahila Aarogyam Kaksh at Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi. The initiative aims to promote women’s well-being in government workspaces. It supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Hum Fit Toh India Fit’ campaign. The facility was created by repurposing an unused garage into a wellness zone. It includes gym equipment and a private lactation room for nursing mothers.

Notes:
International Chess Day is celebrated every year on 20 July. It marks the founding of FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs or International Chess Federation) in 1924. In 2025, FIDE launched the initiative ‘Year of Social Chess.’ The aim is to use chess as a tool for inclusion, education, empowerment, and mental well-being. The theme for International Chess Day 2025 is “Every Move Counts.”

Notes:
Recently, the Lakshadweep administration is considering acquiring Bitra Island for defence purposes. Bitra is the smallest inhabited island in the Lakshadweep archipelago. It lies in the northern part of Lakshadweep. The island houses a shrine of Malik Mulla, an old Arab saint, and is a pilgrimage site. Its climate is similar to Kerala, with temperatures between 25°C to 35°C and humidity ranging from 70% to 76%.

Notes:
United States lawmakers passed the first major national cryptocurrency law, called the Genius Act, in July 2025. The bill focuses on regulating stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency backed by assets like the US dollar. It requires stablecoins to be backed 1-to-1 by US dollars or low-risk assets. The crypto industry welcomed the bill as a way to boost mainstream acceptance and clarify rules.

Notes:
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) recently adopted Resolution 2788 to strengthen peaceful ways of resolving international disputes. The resolution was adopted unanimously by all 15 UNSC members, showing global consensus. It urges all UN member states to use tools listed in Article 33 of the UN Charter, such as negotiation, mediation, arbitration, judicial settlement, and regional arrangements. Resolution 2788 reaffirms the UNSC’s role in recommending proper methods for peaceful dispute resolution. It calls on countries to take strong steps to implement UNSC resolutions supporting peaceful settlements.

Notes:
Pune district in Maharashtra has been declared an affected area due to rising Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) cases in cattle. As of now, 906 cattle are infected, with 591 recovered and 15 deaths reported. Pune has over 8.46 lakh cattle as per the 20th Livestock Census and is a major milk producer. Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is a highly infectious viral disease affecting all breeds of cattle and water buffalo. It is caused by Lumpy Skin Disease Virus (LSDV), belonging to the genus Capripoxvirus (CaPV) under the family Poxviridae.