Current Affairs Quiz – July 2025

Notes:
On July 21, 2025, Minister of State for Environment, Kirti Vardhan Singh, shared NCAP progress data in the Lok Sabha. Under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), only 25 out of 130 cities met the 40% PM10 reduction target by 2024-25. NCAP was launched in 2019 to cut PM2.5 and PM10 by 20%-30% by 2024 from 2017 levels. In 2022, the target was revised to a 40% reduction in PM10 by 2025-26. Cities in Uttar Pradesh showed the highest reduction in PM10 levels. Bareilly topped the list with 76% reduction, followed by Varanasi (74.3%) and Firozabad (59.5%). Dehradun (57.2%) in Uttarakhand also showed sharp improvement.

Notes:
World Drowning Prevention Day is observed every year on 25 July to spread awareness on drowning as a preventable public health issue. It is recognised by the United Nations (UN) and focuses on saving lives, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Around 2.36 lakh people die from drowning each year, with children, adolescents, and the poor being the most affected.

Notes:
Recently, ISRO is preparing to launch three navigation satellites for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) by next year. Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), also called Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), is developed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is an independent and fully indigenous satellite navigation system, under India’s full control. Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) was designed as a 7-satellite constellation to cover India and 1,500 km around it.

Notes:
Recently, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared updates on Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS) in Rajya Sabha. Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS) is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It aims to foster scientific temper and awareness among the public and students. National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) is the nodal agency for implementation. SPoCS supports Science Cities, Science Centres, Innovation Hubs, and Digital Planetariums. As of July 2025, 27 Science Centres have been set up across India. These centres offer hands-on exhibits, workshops, and outreach to promote science.

Notes:
The 11th Malabar River Festival, an international white-water kayaking championship, held on July 27, 2025, in Kerala. The three-day event is organized by Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS) and Kozhikode District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC). It is supported by Indian Kayaking & Canoeing Association (IKCA) and local panchayats. Events are held on Iruvazhinjipuzha and Chalippuzha rivers.

Notes:
The Department of Hospital Administration at Army Hospital Research & Referral (AHRR), New Delhi, recently organised SHAPE 2025, the first-ever Armed Forces National Conference on Sustainable Hospital Architecture, Planning, Infrastructure and Equipment, on July 26–27, 2025. SHAPE 2025 aligned with the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, marking a step toward future-ready and resilient healthcare infrastructure. The conference stressed the shift from traditional hospital design to environmentally conscious, technology-enabled, and patient-friendly planning. It called sustainability a strategic need for health equity, disaster readiness, and national preparedness.

Notes:
In July 2025, five confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease were reported in Central Harlem, New York City. The New York City Department of Health launched an urgent investigation into possible environmental sources. Cooling towers, air conditioners, hot tubs, and humidifiers are being tested for Legionella bacteria. Legionnaires’ disease is a severe type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. The bacteria are found in natural water sources like lakes, rivers, and soil, and can spread through inhaling contaminated water droplets. It is not contagious and cannot spread from person to person.

Notes:
Recently, Punjab launched a One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for commission agents (‘arhtiyas’) in grain markets. It was announced by Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian. The OTS scheme is initiated by the Punjab Mandi Board to reduce interest and penalty burdens. The scheme aims to improve financial stability of arhtiyas and boost the agricultural sector. It is part of broader reforms by a Group of Ministers to streamline procurement of paddy and other Kharif crops.

Notes:
Recently, a Harappan site was discovered at Ratadiya Ri Dheri in Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan, marking the first Indus Valley settlement in the Thar Desert region. The site belongs to the mature urban phase of Indus Valley Civilization, dated between 2600 to 1900 BCE. It is a 4,500-year-old rural Harappan settlement located near the India-Pakistan border. The discovery connects earlier Harappan sites in northern Rajasthan and Gujarat, filling a major gap in the archaeological map. It provides evidence of cultural and trade continuity across desert regions of northwest India.

Notes:
Recently, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Anganwadi in Waddhamna village, Nagpur district, Maharashtra. The center is a pilot project under Mission Bal Bharari and uses AI dashboards, Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, and interactive content. It offers immersive learning in poems, songs, and early education, making learning joyful and engaging for rural children. This AI Anganwadi brings tech-rich education to rural areas, bridging the digital divide between rural and urban children.