Current Affairs Quiz – October 2025

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 Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) launched SARAL (Simplified and Automated Research Amplification and Learning) to make research easy and accessible. SARAL uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to simplify complex research into videos, podcasts, posters, and presentations. Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) aims to harness deep science and engineering to build deep tech products and start-ups. It is developing an AI Science and Engineering Open India Stack for drug discovery, aerospace design, climate studies, and advanced materials.

Notes:
Pakistan recently tested its new long-range cruise missile Fatah-IV successfully. It is an indigenously developed missile with a range of 750 km. The missile can fly at Mach 0.7 speed (865 kmph). It weighs around 1,530 kg and is 7.5 metres long. It can be launched from transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) vehicles. It uses solid-propellant propulsion for quick launch readiness.

Notes:
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is set to test Dhvani, a cutting-edge hypersonic missile. Dhvani is being developed as a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) by DRDO. Unlike conventional cruise missiles, Dhvani launches to extreme altitudes and glides toward targets at hypersonic speeds. Its flight path is unpredictable, making it difficult to detect and intercept, bypassing most existing missile defense systems. Dhvani can strike both land-based and maritime targets with pinpoint precision. The test marks a historic milestone, potentially placing India among the elite military superpowers.

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:
The rare European bird Ortolan Bunting was recently spotted at Baruipur, West Bengal, marking only its second sighting in Bengal. It is a small Palearctic migrant songbird that travels long distances during migration. It is found across Europe, extending east to Mongolia and north to the Arctic Circle. It lives in open cultivated or uncultivated areas with few trees and completely avoids forests. The oceanic climate does not suit it. Its conservation status is Least Concern under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Notes:
Brazil finished first in the World Para Athletics Championships 2025 held in New Delhi, improving on its 2024 second-place finish. China secured second position, while Iran stood third in the overall medal tally. Host India achieved its best-ever performance, finishing 10th with 22 medals, including 6 gold. The event, hosted at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, saw participation from over 2200 athletes representing 100+ countries across 186 events. India became the fourth Asian nation after Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Japan to host this championship. The event marked a new milestone for India’s global sporting capability and para athletics growth.

Notes:
Devaragattu Banni Utsavam in Holagunda Mandal, Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh witnessed violence, leaving two devotees dead and over 100 injured. The crowd surged over 2 lakh, attracting devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. Devaragattu Banni Utsavam is an ancient festival celebrated in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. This ancient festival culminates on the night of Vijaya Dasami (Dussehra) and features a ritualistic stick fight where thousands of devotees, divided into groups, carry sticks and clash with them in a symbolic battle to claim the idol of the deity.

Notes:
Meta Platforms has chosen Mumbai and Visakhapatnam as landing sites for its undersea cable project named Waterworth. Undersea cables are fiber-optic cables laid on the ocean floor to transmit information globally. They form the backbone of the international internet. Around 90% of global data and 80% of world trade are carried through undersea cables. They also facilitate approximately $10 trillion of financial transactions annually. The project will strengthen India’s connectivity with global digital networks and support faster internet and data services.

Notes:
The third edition of International Purple Festival 2025 was inaugurated in Goa. It is India’s first international and inclusive festival celebrating Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). The festival focuses on empowerment, accessibility, and social integration. The event highlighted the importance of integrating Persons with Disabilities into the mainstream of national growth. The festival aims to showcase inclusive development and set an example of international-standard events for disability empowerment.