Current Affairs Quiz – July 2025

Notes:
Recently, Indian researchers identified a key gene in pineapple that can fight the deadly Fusariosis disease. Fusariosis is caused by the fungus Fusarium moniliforme and damages stems, blackens leaves, and rots fruits from inside. It leads to major losses in pineapple farming and makes harvests unreliable. Researchers from Bose Institute under Department of Science and Technology (DST) identified AcSERK3 gene (Somatic Embryogenesis Receptor Kinase). Overexpression of this gene boosted pineapple’s natural immunity.

Notes:
Recently, IIT Guwahati researchers developed a bamboo-polymer composite as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic in vehicle interiors. The composite uses Bambusa tulda, a fast-growing bamboo species from Northeast India. It is fused with biodegradable polymers to create a cost-effective and sustainable material. The research was published in the journal Environment, Development and Sustainability. It shows high strength, thermal stability, and low moisture absorption, making it suitable for real-world use.

Notes:
Recently, NASA launched a twin satellite mission called TRACERS, which stands for Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites. The satellites were launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission aims to study magnetic reconnection, a powerful process where magnetic field lines snap and release energy. This process happens when solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the Sun, interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere (magnetic shield).

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Recently, a rare orchid species named Chamaegastrodia reiekensis was discovered in Reiek forest, Mizoram by scientists from Mizoram University and Manipur University. The orchid is named after Reiek, a scenic mountain known for rich biodiversity in Northeast India. It belongs to the genus Chamaegastrodia, raising the global count of its species to eight. This is the first record of Chamaegastrodia in Mizoram, reaffirming the region’s biodiversity importance. It was found at 1,500 metres elevation in moist, humus-rich soil near bamboo clumps.

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A rare creature called the Horsehair Worm was recently spotted in the Motidol Beat of the Mohandra Range under the Southern Forest Division of Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh. Horsehair worms are also called Gordian worms and belong to the phylum Nematomorpha. This worm looks like a thin, wrinkled, brown or white thread and is often seen in muddy or wet areas, usually in tangled bundles. It is harmless to humans and a sign of healthy biodiversity and ecological balance in Panna forest.

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Many ex-servicemen recently reported that SPARSH (System for Pension Administration Raksha) has made pension access difficult due to complex interface and unresolved corrections. SPARSH is a web-based pension system launched by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. It aims to manage pension sanction and disbursement for Army, Navy, Air Force, and Defence Civilians. The system is run by the Defence Accounts Department through the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Prayagraj. It removes third-party intermediaries and directly deposits pensions into bank accounts. SPARSH covers the full pension cycle: initiation, sanction, disbursement, revision, and grievance redressal.

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The Indian Army recently conducted Exercise Drone Prahar at Rayang military station in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. It is a high-tech military drill to validate the use of drone technology in tactical battlefield operations. The exercise focused on using drones for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. It tested real-time sensor-to-shooter coordination and precision targeting capabilities. The goal was to boost command reach and situational awareness for tactical commanders.

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Russia recently launched its major naval exercise “July Storm” from July 23 to 27, 2025. The drill began with Bastion coastal defence missile launchers deployed along the Barents Sea shoreline. The exercise involves a missile battalion from the Northern Fleet’s Kola Flotilla taking firing positions to secure the Arctic region. “July Storm” is the largest Russian naval drill of the year, covering the Pacific, Arctic, Baltic, and Caspian Seas. The operation includes 150 warships and support vessels, 120 aircraft, 10 coastal missile batteries, and around 15,000 personnel. The drill aims to maintain operational readiness and strategic control along Russia’s Arctic frontier.

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Recently, the Government launched the ‘Setubandha Vidwan Yojana’ to support gurukul-trained scholars without formal degrees. The scheme is backed by the Ministry of Education and implemented by the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) division of Central Sanskrit University (CSU). It allows students trained in traditional gurukuls for at least 5 years to pursue research at premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Scholars are not required to hold conventional degrees but must show excellence in Shastras or traditional knowledge. The initiative integrates India’s ancient knowledge systems with modern academic research, as recommended by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Notes:
Recently, the “Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum and Memorial Stupa” was inaugurated on 29 July at Vaishaligarh in Vaishali district, Bihar. It was inaugurated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in presence of Buddhist monks from 15 countries. Built on 72 acres at a cost of over ₹550 crore, it aims to become a major spiritual and tourist landmark. It is India’s first modern stupa built entirely with stone, without cement or bricks. It is earthquake-resistant and built to last thousands of years.