Current Affairs Quiz – September 2025

Notes:
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which includes the Gulf Stream, circulates warm water from the tropics northwards and cold water south; its collapse, as warned in recent studies, could disrupt global climate, impact rainfall and temperature patterns, and is weaker than at any point in 1,600 years.

Notes:
The NGO Educate Girls, officially known as Foundation to Educate Girls Globally, was awarded the 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Award for its pioneering work in challenging cultural stereotypes and advancing girls’ education in India. By mobilising local communities, the organisation has succeeded in enrolling and retaining girls in schools, and equipping them with valuable life skills. With this achievement, Educate Girls became the first Indian organisation to receive this prestigious honour, previously awarded individually to Indians like Arvind Kejriwal, Ravish Kumar, Sonam Wangchuk, and Bezwada Wilson.

Notes:
A recent study conducted at Mahutigalaa reef in the Maldives used Porites coral microatolls to reconstruct sea-level changes from 1930–2019. These disk-shaped corals grow sideways once constrained by the lowest tide, making their upper surface a natural marker of past sea levels. Researchers X-rayed growth bands in the corals, similar to tree rings, and combined them with uranium-thorium dating. This study provided the longest sea-level record for the central Indian Ocean, revealing early acceleration of sea-level rise since the late 1950s.

Notes:
Researchers from Kerala discovered a new edible tuber named Dioscorea balakrishnanii in Wayanad district of Kerala. It belongs to the genus Dioscorea and is locally called ‘chola kizhangu’ by the Kattunayikar tribes. The tuber is edible when cooked and has excellent flavour. It is found only in the sholas of evergreen forests in the Western Ghats. Wayanad has 23 forms of more than 14 Dioscorea species, relatives of cultivated yam like kachil/kavat. The tuber has low glycemic index and potential for food security and medicinal use. Discovery highlights the importance of conserving unique ecosystems and wild relatives of crops.

Notes:
The Niveshak Didi Phase II program was launched in collaboration with India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), leveraging its deep rural network for last-mile outreach. IPPB’s extensive presence across villages and panchayats facilitates the delivery of financial education and services to remote populations. This program focuses particularly on women, promoting financial literacy, fraud prevention, and digital adoption, in alignment with the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority’s (IEPFA) objectives under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

Notes:
On September 2, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited via video conferencing. The initiative aims to reduce dependence on microfinance institutions that charge high interest rates (18%–24%) and provide timely, larger loans at lower interest rates to women associated with Jeevika’s self-help groups. Operating entirely on a digital platform with 12,000 cadres equipped with tablets, the program will strengthen rural women’s entrepreneurship and community-led enterprises across Bihar.

Notes:
Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw launched India’s first Tempered Glass Manufacturing Facility for Mobile Devices in Noida. The facility is set up by Optiemus Electronics in collaboration with Corning Incorporated, USA, producing tempered glass under the brand “Engineered by Corning”. It will supply products to both domestic and international markets, supporting Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. India’s electronics manufacturing has grown six times in 11 years to ₹11.5 lakh crore, with exports over ₹3 lakh crore and 2.5 million employed. The initiative aligns with India’s push for self-reliance in electronics, future chip production, and strengthening research and development capabilities.

Notes:
The annual Mela Patt festival recently began in Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The festival is dedicated to Lord Vasuki Nag, the presiding deity of Bhaderwah Valley. Rooted in Nag culture, it commemorates the historic meeting between Mughal Emperor Akbar and King Nag Pal of Bhaderwah. The festival has been celebrated since the 16th century. It was first observed when Bhaderwah was known as Bhadarkashi. The festival is observed every year on Nag Panchami, seven days after the Kailash Yatra, it is inclusive of all communities. Dhakku dance, the traditional dance of Dogras, is also performed. The festival highlights religious traditions, historical legacy, and cultural pride of Bhaderwah.

Notes:
Swedish defense company Saab announced the development of a new missile named Nimbrix. Nimbrix is a counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) missile designed to target small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It is Saab’s first dedicated C-UAS missile. The missile is designed to minimize costs using additive manufacturing and commercial and military off-the-shelf parts. It is a fire-and-forget guided missile with a range of up to 5 km. It uses an active seeker to track targets.

Notes:
A new orchid, Gastrochilus pechei, was discovered in Vijoynagar, Arunachal Pradesh. Previously, this species was known to bloom only in Myanmar. Gastrochilus is a monopodial orchid genus with 77 species across Asia, having short axillary inflorescence, bright flowers, and two porate pollinia. Gastrochilus pechei flowers in September-October and grows in moist evergreen rainforest near riverbanks. Before this discovery, 22 Gastrochilus species were recorded in India, with 15 in Arunachal Pradesh. The discovery highlights floristic links between Myanmar and Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh is known as the Orchid State of India, hosting approximately 60% of India’s orchid varieties.