Current Affairs Quiz – September 2025

Notes:
Data from 43 population-based cancer registries in India showed that oral cancer has now overtaken lung cancer as the most common cancer among men. This is despite a decline in tobacco use, with experts attributing the rise to the long latency period of carcinogen exposure and additional risk factors such as alcohol consumption. Dual use of alcohol and tobacco significantly compounds the risk of oral and other cancers. These findings highlight the need for stronger preventive and awareness measures.

Notes:
CEREBO is a hand-held, portable, non-invasive brain injury diagnostic tool developed by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Medical Device & Diagnostics Mission Secretariat (MDMS), AIIMS Bhopal, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and Bioscan Research. It is designed for Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) and detects intracranial bleeding and edema within a minute. The device is safe for infants and pregnant women and usable by paramedics and unskilled personnel. CEREBO provides colour-coded, radiation-free, cost-effective results where CT or MRI scans are inaccessible or delayed. It can be deployed in ambulances, trauma centres, rural clinics, and disaster response units.

Notes:
Assam will likely get the 16th-century “Vrindavani Vastra” from the British Museum in London for exhibition in 2027. The Vrindavani Vastra is a silk textile woven in Assam. It depicts childhood stories and divine pastimes of Lord Krishna in Vrindavan. It was created under the guidance of Vaishnav saint Srimanta Sankardeva. Koch king Nara Narayan commissioned it and gave refuge to Sankardeva after conflict with the Ahom kingdom. The textile travelled from Assam to Tibet and was acquired by the British Museum in 1904. It is a sacred masterpiece and central to Assamese Vaishnavism.

Notes:
A team of Indian and international researchers has discovered a new diatom species named Climaconeis heteropolaris in Udupi estuarine waters. It was found where the Sita and Swarna rivers meet before entering the Arabian Sea, Karnataka. Diatoms are photosynthetic, single-celled microscopic algae forming a key part of phytoplankton. They are found in lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and oceans worldwide. Some float freely in water, while others attach to plants, rocks, or sediments as benthic diatoms. Diatoms produce oxygen, support aquatic life, and generate up to 50% of global atmospheric oxygen annually. They are vital in nutrient cycling of both marine and freshwater ecosystems.

Notes:
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) launched a new initiative called BHARATI. BHARATI stands for Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement. It aims to empower 100 agri-food and agri-tech startups, promote innovation, and create new export opportunities for young entrepreneurs. The initiative supports APEDA’s vision of achieving $50 billion in agri-food exports for Scheduled Products by 2030. BHARATI addresses export challenges like product development, value addition, quality assurance, perishability, wastage, and logistics.

Notes:
The 14th edition of Exercise MAITREE-XIV commenced at Joint Training Node (JTN), Umroi, Meghalaya. Exercise MAITREE is a joint military exercise between India and Thailand, instituted in 2006. It is part of the military-to-military exchange programme, enhancing cooperation, interoperability, and mutual understanding between the Indian Army and Royal Thai Army. The exercise reinforces bilateral defence cooperation and commitment to peace, stability, and security in the region. The 13th edition was held at Fort Vachiraprakan, Tak Province, Thailand. Indian Army is represented by a Battalion of the Madras Regiment.

Notes:
The 20th Global Sustainability Summit (GSS) was held from September 02-03, 2025 in New Delhi. The event was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development (CII-ITC-CESD). The theme was “Reimagining Sustainability: Resilient. Regenerative. Responsible.” The summit included delegates from over 10 countries and industry leaders. India highlighted balancing economic growth with ecological stewardship and promoting sustainability as a lifestyle choice. India leads in renewable energy deployment, climate action, circular economy, and forest cover expansion.

Notes:
Israel launched its new spy satellite “Ofek-19” into orbit on September 2, 2025. The launch took place from Palmachim Airbase in Israel. Ofek-19 is a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite with advanced surveillance abilities. It successfully entered orbit, transmitted first data, and cleared all initial tests. The satellite can capture high-resolution images day and night in all weather. It can detect objects smaller than 50 cm, improving intelligence accuracy. The launch boosts Israel’s regional intelligence and defense capabilities.

Notes:
Telangana recorded the highest Per Capita Income (PCI) in India for 2024-25 at ₹3.87 lakh net state domestic product (NSDP), surpassing Karnataka (₹3.8 lakh) and Haryana (₹3.5 lakh). This is Telangana’s first top rank in five years, showing strong economic performance. The state has maintained 10%+ average PCI growth over the past decade and 12% growth even in the last two years. Agriculture, especially cotton and horticulture, drove rural market activity and boosted growth.

Notes:
Anand V. Patil has been honoured with Prof. V.K. Gokak Award. The award ceremony is held in Bengaluru on September 7 2025. The award is named after Prof. Vinayaka Krishna Gokak, a prominent Indian literary figure. It recognises individuals with significant contributions to Indian literature, especially in the Kannada language. The award highlights the importance of promoting regional literature and nurturing young readers. Anand V. Patil’s recognition reflects his lasting impact on children’s literary culture in India.