Current Affairs Quiz – October 2025

Notes:
Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has developed a new siphon-based thermal desalination system for clean drinking water. Traditional solar stills face salt buildup and scaling limits restricting output. The system uses a composite siphon of fabric wick and grooved metallic surface to draw water and flush out salt before crystallization. It is low-cost, scalable, and sustainable, made from aluminum and fabric, powered by solar or waste heat. It is useful for off-grid areas, disaster zones, coastal and island communities facing water stress.

Notes:
A collaborative research team led by University of Tasmania scientists completed a 54-day voyage on CSIRO research vessel (RV) Investigator to study the 2022 Hunga Volcano eruption in Tonga. It is a submarine stratovolcano in the Tongan archipelago, southern Pacific Ocean. The volcano has erupted regularly over past decades. On January 15, 2022, it had an explosive eruption, one of the largest of the 21st century. The eruption sent volcanic plume into the stratosphere, triggered shock waves, and caused tsunami waves across ocean basins. The voyage collected data to understand volcanic impacts, seafloor changes, and tsunami risks, aiding Pacific disaster preparedness.

Notes:
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and Research (RIVER) launched ‘Rabi-Track RIVER App’ for rabies surveillance and reporting on World Rabies Day 2025. The app was developed in collaboration with Atal Incubation Centre, Puducherry Technological University. The launch emphasized adopting a ‘One Health’ approach for rabies prevention and control. The initiative contributes to India’s national goal of eliminating rabies by 2030.

Notes:
India has been re-elected to Part II of the Council of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Part II includes States contributing most to international civil air navigation facilities. ICAO is a United Nations (UN) specialized agency established in 1944 under the Chicago Convention. Its purpose is to develop safe, secure, and efficient international air transport for peaceful purposes. India has been a founding member of ICAO since 1944, maintaining 81 years of uninterrupted Council presence. India focuses on aviation safety, security, sustainability, equitable connectivity, technology, innovation, and No Country Left Behind initiative.

Notes:
The Spear Corps under Eastern Command, Indian Army, conducted Exercise Drone Kavach in forward areas of Eastern Arunachal Pradesh from September 25 to 28, 2025. The exercise tested the Army’s combat readiness for next-generation drone warfare and validated drone technologies and counter-drone systems. The personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) also participated in the four-day exercise. Earlier, Spear Corps soldiers summited Mount Gorichen (6,488 meters) on September 19, 2025, demonstrating endurance, discipline, and teamwork in the Eastern Himalayas.

Notes:
The Centre launched the Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) in October 2025 to give students practical exposure to Panchayati Raj. It is based on Model United Nations and involves mock Gram Sabha sessions in schools. Students of classes 9-12 act as sarpanch, ward members, village secretary, Anganwadi worker, auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM), and junior engineers. They conduct meetings, discuss issues, and prepare budgets and development plans. Phase one covers 600 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), and selected Zilla Parishad schools in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Pilot projects were earlier conducted in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan before the launch.

Notes:
The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) launched the Development of Industry Associations (DIA) scheme in 2025. The scheme aims to build stronger and financially sustainable industry associations for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). It was inaugurated during the National Conclave on DIA in New Delhi. Around 125 representatives from 90 industry associations participated in the event. The participating sectors included engineering, textiles, plastics, electronics, food processing, and furniture. Eight associations from four north-eastern states also took part. The initiative focuses on strengthening collective capacity and support for MSMEs.

Notes:
Padma Vibhushan vocalist Pandit Chhannulal Mishra passed away on 2nd October 2025 at the age of 89. He was a doyen of Hindustani classical music, known for Khayal, Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti, Kajri, and Bhajan styles. He was born in Azamgarh in 1936. He trained under his father Badri Prasad Mishra, Ustad Abdul Ghani Khan of Kirana gharana, and Thakur Jaidev Singh. He was an exponent of the Banaras gharana and the Purab Ang tradition of Thumri. He received Padma Bhushan in 2010 and Padma Vibhushan in 2020.

Notes:
Exercise KONKAN-25 began on 05 October 2025 off the western coast of India. It is a bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom (UK). The exercise has two phases, a harbour phase and a sea phase. The harbour phase includes professional exchanges, ship visits, sports events, and cultural activities. The sea phase involves complex drills in anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare, along with flying operations and seamanship tasks. India is represented by INS Vikrant, the indigenous aircraft carrier with its carrier battle group. The exercise reinforces the goal of secure, open, and free seas under the India-UK Vision 2035.

Notes:
India has built the world’s highest motorable road at Mig La Pass in eastern Ladakh at an altitude of 19,400 feet (5,913 metres). The road surpasses the earlier Umling La Pass record of 19,024 feet. It is constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under Project Himank led by Brigadier Vishal Srivastava. The road is part of the Likaru-Mig La-Fukche alignment, connecting Hanle region with Fukche village near the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Mig La Pass is higher than South Base Camp of Mount Everest (17,598 ft) and North Base Camp in Tibet (16,900 ft).