Current Affairs Quiz – July 2025

Notes:
Recently, India achieved 20% ethanol blending in petrol in 2025, five years ahead of the 2030 target. This success is part of the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme (EBP Programme). The EBP Programme was launched in January 2003 by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG). It aims to promote environment-friendly alternative fuels and reduce crude oil import dependency.

Notes:
A recent joint report by World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) revealed that contaminated medicines have killed 1,300 people over the past 90 years. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was established in 1997 by merging the United Nations Drug Control Programme and Centre for International Crime Prevention. UNODC is a global leader in fighting illicit drugs, international crime, and terrorism. It educates people on drug abuse dangers and helps strengthen actions against drug trafficking and drug-related crimes. Its headquarters is in Vienna, Austria.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Iran successfully launched its Nahid-2 telecommunications and research satellite on 27 July 2025. The launch was done aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket as part of a multi-payload mission. Other payloads included Russia’s Unisphere-M3 and M4 and 18 satellites from various countries. The Soyuz rocket had earlier launched Iranian satellites like Khayyam, Pars-1, Kosar, and Hodhod. Nahid-2 is designed to stay in orbit for five years. It has an indigenous propulsion system that can adjust its altitude by up to 50 kilometers. This propulsion is key for maintaining orbital position and operational stability.

Notes:
Recently, Rajasthan government launched a massive plantation drive to plant 2.5 crore saplings in one day under the “Harialo Rajasthan” mission. The drive coincided with Van Mahotsav and the festival of Hariyali Teej. It is part of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma’s goal to plant 10 crore saplings in 2025 and 50 crore in five years. The 76th Van Mahotsav was inaugurated at Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Rajasthan Sanskrit University, Jaipur.

Notes:
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the first-ever grassland bird census in Kaziranga National Park, Assam, during the 124th episode of his radio show ‘Mann Ki Baat’. The census identified 43 bird species, including many rare and endangered ones. The census used the Acoustic Monitoring Technique to study rare and threatened bird species. Sound recording devices were installed and analysed on computers to identify bird species by their calls without disturbing them. The initiative shows how technology and human effort can support biodiversity conservation.

Notes:
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is observed every year on July 30. It aims to raise awareness about human trafficking and protect victims’ rights. It was established by a United Nations (UN) resolution and first observed in 2014. In the United States, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is marked on January 11. This U.S. observance was established in 2007 to spread awareness about trafficking and modern slavery. The theme for 2025 is “Human Trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation”. The day highlights the need for global action to combat trafficking networks and support survivors.

Notes:
Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted two successful flight-tests of Pralay missile on July 28 and 29, 2025, from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha. Pralay is an indigenously-developed quasi-ballistic missile with advanced guidance and navigation for high precision. It is developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It uses solid propellant and can be launched from a mobile launcher. The missile has a range of 150 to 500 kilometers.

Notes:
Recently, the Government approved ‘Namo Drone Didi’ as a Central Sector Scheme to provide 15,000 drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) from 2023-24 to 2025-26 with a total outlay of ₹1261 crore. The scheme aims to promote advanced agricultural technology, enhance crop yield, reduce operational costs, and empower SHGs as drone service providers for income and livelihood. Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of 80% of the drone package cost, up to ₹8 lakh, is provided to selected SHGs. One SHG member receives 15-day drone pilot training and another member gets 5-day assistant training under the scheme.

Notes:
Recently, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami released the book ‘Sustainable Wellness of Students: A Collective Responsibility in Higher Education’ at the Chief Minister’s residence auditorium. The event was organized by the Chief Minister Office (CMO), Uttarakhand. The Chief Minister emphasized that higher education institutions must focus on student psychology to address modern life challenges. He highlighted that Uttarakhand was the first state to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. NEP focuses on quality education, student welfare, and skill development.