Current Affairs Quiz – October 2025

Notes:
Recently, scientists in Brazil launched the AmazonFACE (Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment) project near Manaus. The project aims to study how the Amazon rainforest will respond to future atmospheric CO₂ levels. It seeks to simulate future atmospheric conditions and observe forest adaptation to rising CO₂, temperature, and humidity. The main focus is to understand the forest’s carbon uptake capacity, photosynthesis rate, and resilience to climate change. The system enables continuous monitoring every 10 minutes to measure CO₂ absorption and ecosystem responses in real time.

Notes:
In October 2025, scientists discovered a new exoplanet named GJ 251c, located less than 20 light-years from Earth. The discovery was made by an international team, including researchers from Penn State University (PSU), USA. The finding was published in The Astronomical Journal. GJ 251c is a super-Earth, about four times the mass of Earth and likely rocky in composition. It was detected using the radial-velocity method, with data from the Habitable Zone Planet Finder (HPF) at PSU’s Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET). The discovery provides key insights into planetary formation and the search for potentially habitable exoplanets.

Notes:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated Deep Sea Fishing Vessels under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) at Mazgaon Dock, Mumbai. The event marks a major step to modernise India’s marine fisheries sector and boost cooperative-based blue economy growth. The vessels will help fishermen directly share profits through cooperatives instead of working as salaried employees. The project aligns with ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) and will enhance income, employment, and sustainability in coastal areas. India’s fisheries production has risen from 102 lakh tonnes (2014–15) to 195 lakh tonnes, reflecting sectoral growth under PMMSY.

Notes:
The Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCoE) recently signed agreements with key partners to launch the Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Pilot Project. The project aims to transform rural India by combining physical and digital (phygital) services. It integrates on-ground service delivery with strong digital infrastructure to empower rural citizens. The initiative uses BharatNet connectivity to ensure smooth and sustainable access to essential services. Three villages have been selected for the pilot — Ari and Umri in Madhya Pradesh, Narakoduru in Andhra Pradesh, and Chaurawala in Uttar Pradesh. Each village will have a Samriddhi Kendra serving as an integrated digital service hub.

Notes:
The International Salinity Conference (WE-CARE 2025) is jointly hosted by ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), Karnal, and ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (CCARI), Goa. The event is scheduled from 29th October to 1st November 2025. The conference focuses on addressing global challenges of soil and water salinity affecting agriculture and ecosystems. It aims to promote sustainable farming practices, share research innovations, and develop policy recommendations for restoring saline-affected lands.

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The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched “Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh Pakhwada” from 1st to 15th November 2025. It marks the culmination of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh and celebrates the 150th Birth Anniversary of Dharti Aaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda on 15th November 2025. The theme is “Honouring 150 Years of Bhagwan Birsa Munda – Celebrating 11 Years of Tribal Empowerment”. The initiative reflects India’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable tribal development.

Notes:
Padma Shri awardee Sanjeev Kapoor was honoured as a Top Agri-Food Pioneer by the World Food Prize Foundation in Des Moines, Iowa, during the Borlaug Dialogue Week 2025. The event gathered global leaders, scientists, policymakers, and innovators to discuss food security, climate resilience, and nutrition. Kapoor was recognised for promoting healthy and sustainable eating, supporting Indian agriculture, and encouraging the use of local, nutrient-rich ingredients. He dedicated the honour to India’s farmers and culinary heritage, calling it a privilege to represent India on a global platform.

Notes:
UNESCO has declared Lucknow a “Creative City of Gastronomy” at its 43rd General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Lucknow becomes the second Indian city after Hyderabad to earn this title. The recognition highlights Lucknow’s rich culinary heritage, from royal kitchens to street food. The Uttar Pradesh Directorate of Tourism submitted the nomination on January 31, 2025, and the Government of India approved it on March 3, 2025. The official UNESCO announcement came on October 31, 2025. The UNESCO tag aims to boost culinary tourism, support local food entrepreneurs, and promote sustainable practices.

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The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has launched an awareness drive called the ‘Garbage Dumping Festival’ to discourage littering. In this campaign, civic marshals dump collected garbage in front of houses of residents caught throwing waste on streets. The initiative began in Banashankari and aims to shame habitual litterers and promote clean neighbourhoods. On the first day, garbage was dumped at 218 houses, and ₹2.8 lakh in fines was collected. The campaign targets residents who dump waste on roadsides, footpaths, and vacant plots, despite daily waste collection by auto-tippers. The dumped waste is later cleared by civic workers after the awareness act.

Notes:
Maharashtra government has declared leprosy a notifiable disease, making it mandatory to report detected cases to health authorities. Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. It mainly affects the skin, nerves, eyes, and other organs. It is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) still seen in over 120 countries, with about 2 lakh new cases yearly. It was first declared notifiable in 2005 under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP).