Current Affairs Quiz – July 2025

Notes:
Kerala’s KITE (Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education) initiative was recently recognised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as a global best practice in responsible Educational Technology (EdTech). It has gained both national and international attention for ethically integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in school education. KITE is the official technology arm of the General Education Department of the Government of Kerala. It was launched to promote ethical, inclusive, and open-source-based AI integration in public schools.

Notes:
A volcano recently erupted in Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, marking the ninth eruption in the region since late 2023. Reykjanes Peninsula is located in southwest Iceland and spans 829 square kilometers. It lies where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge surfaces, meeting point of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. This location makes the region highly volcanically active with frequent eruptions and earthquakes.

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Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) received the National Geospatial Practitioner Award 2025. The award was given for its excellent use of open-source spatial technologies. It was presented during the Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS) Day (Edition 02) at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. The award was handed over by the former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), A.S. Kiran Kumar. This recognition highlights INCOIS’s contribution to geospatial innovation and open-source solutions in ocean services.

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:
Bihar hosted the first-ever Indian Open Athletics Meet 2025 at Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna. This is the first time Bihar has hosted such a major national athletics event. The meet was organized by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) in collaboration with the Bihar State Sports Authority. More than 400 athletes from across India participated in the one-day event.

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Indian astronomers recently photographed interstellar comet C/2025 N1 (ATLAS), also called 3I/ATLAS, using the Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) in Hanle, Ladakh. The telescope is part of the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO), also known as Hanle Observatory. Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) is located in the Hanle Valley, Ladakh, at 4500 metres above sea level. It was inaugurated in 2001 and is managed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru. The observatory is situated in a dry, cold desert with minimal human interference and clear skies.

Notes:
Kerala has recently introduced the Cy-TB skin test to detect Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP). Cy-TB is a new-generation intradermal skin test using Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens called ESAT-6 and CFP-10. It is more accurate than Mantoux or IGRA (Interferon-Gamma Release Assay) tests and does not need blood samples. It helps in early detection of dormant TB to prevent it from becoming active. It is used for adults above 18, especially in high-risk or contact groups.

Notes:
National Flag Day, also called Tiranga Adoption Day, is observed every year on July 22. On July 22, 1947, the Constituent Assembly of India officially adopted the Indian National Flag, known as the Tiranga (meaning Tricolour). The current Tiranga has saffron, white, and green horizontal stripes with the Ashoka Chakra in the center, replacing the earlier charkha symbol.

Notes:
Researchers at the S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS) have developed a sustainable method to produce hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) using sunlight and water. The process uses a special material called Mo-DHTA COF, short for dimolybdenum paddlewheel-embedded covalent organic framework. It acts like a solar-powered molecular factory, absorbing sunlight and converting water and oxygen into hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is an eco-friendly chemical used in sterilization, wound cleaning, wastewater treatment, and fuel cells.

Notes:
India has become Malaysia’s largest importer of germinated oil palm seeds in 2025. In 2024, India imported 3.03 million tonnes of palm oil, making up 17.9% of Malaysia’s total exports. India aims to expand palm oil cultivation to 1 million hectares by 2025-26 under the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). Goal is to produce 2.8 million tonnes of crude palm oil by 2029-30. Currently, India has 3.7 lakh hectares under palm cultivation, focusing on northeast and island regions. Malaysia offers to collaborate if India provides land for local palm oil production.