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:
Cybercrime in India rose sharply by 31.2% in 2023, according to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report. Total cybercrime cases increased to 86,420 in 2023 from 65,893 in 2022. Fraud dominated with 59,526 cases (68.9%), followed by sexual exploitation 4,199 cases (4.9%) and extortion 3,326 cases (3.8%). Cybercrime rate increased from 4.8% in 2022 to 6.2% in 2023. Karnataka reported the highest cases (21,889), followed by Telangana 18,236 and Uttar Pradesh 10,794. Economic offences rose by 6% to 2,04,973 cases in 2023. Among economic offences, Forgery, Cheating and Fraud (FCF) had 1,81,553 cases, criminal breach of trust 22,759, and counterfeiting 661.

Notes:
In Punjab, incessant rainfall and floods stopped farmers from spraying anti-fungal medicines. This has led to the emergence of false smut disease, locally called haldi rog, in paddy crops. False smut is a major fungal disease of rice caused by Ustilaginoidea virens. The fungus attacks during the flowering stage, but symptoms appear after panicle emergence. Infected grains show black fungal growth, later covered with yellow fungal mass. It reduces seed germination and significantly lowers yield depending on infection level.

Notes:
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported 1,77,335 cases of crime against children in 2023, showing a 9.2% increase over 2022, which had 1,62,449 cases. The crime rate rose to 39.9 per one-lakh child population from 36.6 in 2022. Major crime heads were Kidnapping and Abduction of Children with 79,884 cases (45 percent) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act violations with 67,694 cases (38.2 percent). Madhya Pradesh topped the list with 22,393 cases of crime against children in 2023. Maharashtra followed closely with 22,390 cases and Uttar Pradesh reported 18,852 cases. Assam saw a sharp rise with 10,174 cases and Bihar had 9,906 cases. Delhi registered 7,769 cases while Andaman and Nicobar Islands had a high rate of 143.4 per one-lakh child population.

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:
A recent expedition to Argentina’s Mar del Plata Canyon discovered over 40 possible new deep-sea species, including glass squids and pink lobsters. The Mar del Plata Canyon lies 250–300 km off Buenos Aires Province and is one of Argentina’s largest submarine canyons. It has fine sandy sediments mixed with terrigenous material and planktonic foraminifera. The region is highly productive due to the Argentine Shelf-break Front, where subantarctic waters meet the Falkland-Malvinas Current. A submarine canyon is a steep underwater valley cutting into continental slopes and shelves.

Notes:
After a four-year years, a pair of painted storks was spotted in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR). Painted storks are large wading birds belonging to the stork family. They are found across tropical Asia from the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia, south of the Himalayas. Habitat includes freshwater wetlands, irrigation canals, and flooded agricultural fields, especially during monsoon. They are non-migratory and make short-distance movements for food, weather, or breeding. Conservation Status is Near Threatened under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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).

Notes:
Delhi Forest and Wildlife Department recently organized six days of daily bird walks at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary for Wildlife Week 2025. Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the South Delhi Ridge of the Aravalli hill range, on the Delhi-Haryana border. It forms part of the Southern Ridge and connects with the Indo-Gangetic Plain, making it rich in biodiversity. The sanctuary is a key segment of the North Aravalli Leopard Wildlife Corridor, which begins at Sariska National Park in Rajasthan, passes through Haryana districts, and reaches the Delhi Ridge.

Notes:
The fourth edition of Trade Watch Quarterly for Q4 of FY 2024-25 was released on 6 October 2025 in New Delhi by NITI Aayog. It provides a comprehensive assessment of India’s trade performance, covering merchandise and services exports, imports, and global demand trends. India’s total trade in Q4 reached $441 billion, up 2.2% year-on-year. Merchandise exports declined slightly due to mineral fuels and organic chemicals, while electrical machinery, pharmaceuticals, and cereals grew. North America was the top export market, growing 25%; UAE became India’s second-largest import source. The leather and footwear sector employs 4.4 million and contributes significantly to exports, with a 1.8% share in the $296 billion global market.