Current Affairs Quiz – October 2025

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.

Notes:
Recently, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department monitored an injured makhna (tuskless male elephant) standing in the Bhavani River along the Tamil Nadu–Kerala border. The Bhavani River is a major tributary of the Cauvery River. It flows through Tamil Nadu and Kerala and is the second-largest river in Tamil Nadu. It originates from the Western Ghats in the Nilgiri Hills of Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu. The river flows into Kerala through Silent Valley National Park and re-enters Tamil Nadu.

Notes:
On October 7, 2025, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the Foreign Currency Settlement System (FCSS) at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) IFSC. FCSS allows real-time or near real-time settlement of foreign currency transactions within GIFT IFSC, replacing delays of 36–48 hours via traditional correspondent banking. GIFT City is India’s first special economic zone (SEZ) for global finance, insurance, fintech, and capital markets, spread over 886 acres between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. FCSS reduces settlement time, improves liquidity management, lowers settlement risk, and enhances operational efficiency.

Notes:
Researchers recently discovered a new fungus species named Bridgeoporus kanadii in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India. It has exceptionally large fruiting bodies, some measuring over three meters in radius, strong enough to hold a person’s weight. The species is named after Indian mycologist Kanad Das for his work on Indian macrofungi. The only other known species, Bridgeoporus nobilissimus, found in North America, has fruiting bodies up to 1.5 meters, making B. kanadii nearly twice as large. It grows mainly on dead fir trees and helps in forest regeneration by decomposing dead wood. It is inedible and has no direct economic value.

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:
In October 2025, Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina appointed General Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as the new Prime Minister (PM). He succeeded Christian Ntsay, who had served as PM since 2018. The appointment followed rising protests over power outages and water shortages. This marks a leadership shift, with a military officer replacing a civilian politician. Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo began military education at Antsirabe Military Academy, Madagascar in 1991. He served under High Transitional Authority (HAT) after the 2009 crisis. Madagascar’s capital is Antananarivo and currency is Malagasy Ariary (MGA).

Notes:
Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) announced the transfer of technology under the AgriEnIcs Programme. AgriEnIcs is a national programme of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) focused on agriculture and environment. Its objective is to research, develop, deploy, demonstrate, and commercialize advanced technologies in these domains. It acts as a national platform for research and development (R&D) and technology translation in agriculture and environmental management.

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 Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush, launched SPARK–4.0 (2025–26), the fourth edition of the Studentship Program for Ayurveda Research Ken (SPARK). The program aims to ignite scientific curiosity and research aptitude among undergraduate Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) students across India. 300 BAMS students from National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) recognized colleges will receive a studentship of ₹50,000 (₹25,000 per month for two months). SPARK provides short-term independent research projects under faculty mentorship, covering research methodology, experimental design, and data analysis. The program fosters a research-oriented generation of Ayurveda professionals and strengthens the Ayush research ecosystem.

Notes:
California has officially recognised Diwali as a state holiday. It is the third state in the USA after Pennsylvania and Connecticut to declare Diwali as a state holiday. The Governor of California signed the bill introduced by Assembly member Ash Kalra. The law grants paid time off to state employees and allows schools to observe the festival. Community leaders called the recognition a milestone honouring Indian Americans’ contributions to the state’s economy, government, and society. The move reflects growing cultural inclusivity and recognition of diverse communities in the United States.