Current Affairs Quiz – October 2025

Notes:
In October 2025, China inaugurated the world’s first solar thermal power station in the Gobi Desert, Gansu Province. The plant is built by China Three Gorges Corporation and uses two 200-meter-high towers feeding a single turbine system. 27,000 mirrors concentrate sunlight, storing heat up to 570°C for electricity generation after sunset or cloudy weather. The dual-tower setup is 25% more efficient than single-tower designs and reduces mirror requirements, saving costs. It complements solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind farms, addressing intermittency in solar/wind energy.

Notes:
Indra 2025 is an Indo-Russian joint military exercise underway at Mahajan Field Firing Range, Bikaner. The exercise began on October 7, 2025, and will conclude on October 15, 2025. It aims to strengthen coordination between Indian Army and Russian Army in counter-terrorism operations and modern warfare scenarios. Around 250 Russian personnel are participating in joint tactical exercises, live-fire training, and close-quarter combat in desert conditions. Indra exercises began in 2003, alternating between India and Russia; last held in 2021, paused during Russia-Ukraine war.

Notes:
National Post Day is celebrated in India every year on October 10. It honors the Indian Postal Department for its vital role in India’s development and in connecting people nationwide. The Indian Postal Department, also known as India Post, was established in 1854 by Lord Dalhousie during the British era. It operates under the Department of Posts, which comes under the Ministry of Communications. India Post is the largest postal network in the world, serving even remote rural areas.

Notes:
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Maria Corina Machado, a Venezuelan politician, as the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner. She was recognized for her work in promoting democratic rights. The laureate receives a cash prize of 11 million Swedish kronor (around USD 1.17 million), a diploma, and a medal. Among the six Nobel categories, the Peace Prize attracts the most global attention. US President Donald Trump was also nominated and campaigned for the award, citing ending seven wars. Nobel Committee President Jorgen Watne Frydnes emphasized decisions are based on work and Alfred Nobel’s will, not media or campaigns.

Notes:
In October 2025, the Gujarat government declared 2025 as the “Year of Urban Development”. The declaration commemorates 20 years since the launch of the Well-Planned City Development Project by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in 2005. Gujarat has sanctioned Rs. 8,220 crores for urban development, including the Vikas Path initiative. During the celebrations, Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC) was awarded “Cleanest City”. Surat, Gujarat, received the First Nirmal Gujarat Award for outstanding urban sanitation and development achievements. The initiative aims to promote sustainable, well-planned, and citizen-friendly urban infrastructure across the state.

Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh government is organising Swadesh Mela 2025 in all 75 districts from 9th October to 19th October 2025. The initiative follows the successful third edition of Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS). The fairs aim to promote micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), khadi, handloom, and handicraft products. The event provides a district-level platform for local entrepreneurs and artisans to showcase and sell their products. Citizens are encouraged to support the ‘Vocal for Local’ vision during the Diwali festive season. Swadesh Melas highlights indigenous products, Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, and cultural performances.

Notes:
Recently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) upgraded the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) status from Endangered to Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts. It is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. The name refers to the green fat under its shell, not the shell’s color, which ranges from olive to black. Juveniles are carnivorous, but adults are herbivorous, feeding mainly on seagrass and algae. It acts as a keystone species, maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. It has a small head, toothless beak-like jaws, and excellent hearing and smell. The turtle spends most of its life underwater, coming ashore only for nesting.

Notes:
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is observed globally on 13 October each year. It encourages citizens to actively participate in building disaster-resilient communities. The 2025 theme is “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters,” emphasizing increased funding for disaster risk reduction (DRR) in public and international budgets. The theme also calls for ensuring all development and private investments are risk-informed and resilient. The day was established in 1989 following a call by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). It aims to promote a global culture of risk-awareness, preparedness, and disaster reduction. The observance highlights the importance of proactive planning to reduce disaster impacts.

Notes:
The 624-megawatt (MW) Kiru Hydroelectric Project in Jammu and Kashmir recently achieved a major milestone by completing 10 lakh cubic meters of dam concreting out of a total 12 lakh cubic meters. It is a run-of-river project built on the Chenab River near Patharnakki and Kiru villages in Kishtwar District, Jammu and Kashmir. The dam is a 135-meter-high concrete gravity structure with an underground powerhouse on the left bank. The powerhouse will have four Francis turbines of 156 MW each. It will boost power supply in northern India. The project is developed by Chenab Valley Power Projects (CVPP) — a joint venture of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC, 49%), Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC, 49%), and Power Trading Corporation (PTC, 2%).

Notes:
The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Report 2023 was released by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the World Health Summit, Berlin. India’s disease burden has shifted from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) from 1990 to 2023. NCDs, also called chronic diseases, are not contagious and include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, etc. NCDs result from genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors and are long-term in nature. Mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, have sharply increased from 2013–2023. Air pollution is among India’s top three causes of early death and disability.