Current Affairs Quiz – October 2025

Notes:
The Global Land Outlook Thematic Report on Ecological Connectivity and Land Restoration was launched at the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. The report was prepared by the UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification) and the CMS (Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals). It urges countries to integrate ecological connectivity in land, water, and infrastructure planning. Ecological connectivity means the unimpeded movement of species, connection of habitats, and flow of natural processes sustaining life. These processes include the flow of organisms, energy, nutrients, water, sediments, information, knowledge, and culture.

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World Standards Day is celebrated annually on 14 October to highlight the importance of standards in safety, quality, and international trade. The day honors standard developers and their contributions to science, engineering, policy, and innovation. The 2025 theme is “A Shared Vision for a Better World: Standards for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, emphasizing global cooperation for achieving United Nations SDGs. Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy, led the World Standards Day programme on 14th October 2025. The event was organized by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Government of India.

Notes:
India’s passport ranks 85th in the 2025 Henley Passport Index, down five places from 2024. Indian citizens can travel visa-free to 57 countries, down from 59 last year. The Henley Passport Index ranks all 199 passports based on visa-free mobility. Singapore tops the index with access to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea and Japan, showing Asia’s growing dominance. European countries like Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland feature prominently in the top 10. Indians can travel visa-free to 12 countries, including Bhutan, Indonesia, Mauritius, Nepal, and Trinidad and Tobago.

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Recently, Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), India’s only International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), climbed three ranks to 43rd in the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI 38). In the FinTech Index, it rose five places to 35th, showing strong growth in innovation and regulation. The GFCI 38, released by the Z/Yen Group, assessed 135 financial centres using 140 global indicators from the World Bank, OECD, and the United Nations. GIFT City remains among the top 15 centres in the Asia-Pacific and is the only Indian city in the list. It is also featured among the “15 centres likely to become more significant” globally, reflecting India’s rising influence in international finance.

Notes:
World Anaesthesia Day is observed every year on 16 October, also known as Ether Day. It marks the first public use of ether anaesthesia in 1846, which revolutionized surgery by enabling pain-free operations. The day highlights the importance of safe and accessible anaesthetic care, still lacking in many regions even after nearly 180 years. The 2025 theme is “Anaesthesiology in Health Emergencies.” It emphasizes the vital role of anaesthesiologists during pandemics, natural disasters, and mass casualty events. The theme calls for improved training, preparedness, infrastructure, and global collaboration to strengthen emergency anaesthesia services worldwide.

Notes:
The Ministry of Mines released the State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI) and State rankings, fulfilling a Union Budget 2025-26 announcement. SMRI aims to encourage mining sector reforms and improve state performance in mining. The index evaluates indicators such as auction performance, early mine operationalization, thrust on exploration, and sustainable mining for non-coal minerals. States are grouped into three categories based on mineral endowment. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat topped Category A in the State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI). Goa, Uttar Pradesh and Assam have been ranked in top three in Category B. Punjab, Uttarakhand and Tripura have been ranked in top three in Category c.

Notes:
Recently, Cape Verde made history by becoming the second-smallest country, after Iceland in 2018, to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. In contrast, India failed to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup after losing to world-ranked 158th Singapore in Goa. Cape Verde, also known as Cabo Verde, is an archipelago of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean. It lies about 620 kilometres off the west coast of Africa, named after Cape Verde in Senegal.

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Recently, Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman interacted with interns of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) at Hampi, Karnataka. Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) was launched by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) as part of the Prime Minister’s five-scheme package to promote youth employment and skill development over five years. It targets youth aged 21–24 years who are not in full-time education or employment. The internship lasts 12 months and aims to benefit one crore youth in India’s top 500 companies.

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Recently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is considering a proposal from Russia to procure Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets, with possible local manufacturing in India. The Su-57 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). It is designed for both air superiority and ground attack roles. The aircraft features advanced stealth, agility, and multi-role combat capabilities. The Su-57 was primarily developed for the Russian Air Force.

Notes:
The International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (IDICH) is observed annually on October 17 to promote awareness of preserving the world’s living heritage. In November 2023, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted resolution A/RES/42/34, declaring October 17 as Intangible Cultural Heritage (IDICH). The day commemorates the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, effective from 2006.