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:
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:
Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia launched an AI-powered mobile app for the upcoming India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025. The 9th edition of IMC will be held from October 8-11, 2025 at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, Dwarka, New Delhi.The theme of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 is “Innovate to Transform.” The event will showcase over 1,000 innovations across sectors such as 5G/6G, Artificial Intelligence, IoT, quantum computing, semiconductors, clean technology, and cybersecurity. IMC 2025 aims to be a leading platform for policy dialogue, technological exhibitions, and industry collaboration. By focusing on “Innovate to Transform,” it highlights India’s commitment to accelerating digital transformation and establishing itself as a global hub for emerging technologies.

Notes:
Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2025 report by the Energy Policy Institute, University of Chicago, shows air pollution is India’s top health threat. Dirty air cuts 3.5 years from average life expectancy, higher than malnutrition (1.6 years), tobacco use (1.5 years), and unsafe water (8.4 months). All 1.4 billion Indians live in areas exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) safe PM2.5 limit of 5 µg/m³. Northern India is the world’s most polluted region. Delhi-NCR residents face the highest loss with 8.2 years of life expectancy cut due to air pollution. Bihar residents lose 5.6 years of life expectancy. Haryana residents lose 5.3 years of life expectancy. The report urges urgent emission control to prevent loss of healthy years due to toxic air.

Notes:
Matanomadh, a remote village in Kutch district, Gujarat, may serve as a test bed for ISRO’s Mangalyaan-2 mission to Mars. Researchers from Space Applications Centre (SAC) Ahmedabad, Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), and Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow dated jarosite mineral in Matanomadh to 55 million years (Paleocene period). Jarosite is a yellow, iron-rich sulphate mineral, similar to those found on Mars, indicating past water activity. The site allows field-analogue studies for Mars, including rover testing, drilling, geochemistry, and astrobiology research. The discovery can help decode Martian geology, past chemical interactions, and organic molecule trapping, aiding future Mars missions.

Notes:
Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), promoted by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), signed an agreement with ICICI Bank to implement India’s first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system. Choryasi Fee Plaza on NH-48, Gujarat will be the first barrier-free toll plaza in India. MLFF is a barrier-less tolling system using FASTag, Vehicle Registration Number (VRN), High-Performance RFID Readers, and ANPR Cameras. It enables seamless toll collection without stopping vehicles, reducing congestion and travel time. The system enhances fuel efficiency, lowers emissions, and improves toll revenue collection.

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.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Textiles launched the Kapas Kisan App to streamline cotton procurement under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme. The app enables farmers’ self-registration, slot booking, and payment tracking, enhancing transparency and speed in cotton procurement. It is designed to protect farmers from distress sales by ensuring assured MSP procurement. The app reduces manual paperwork and saves time at procurement centres. It features a user-friendly interface with support for multiple Indian languages. The initiative represents a farmer-first approach, improving the ease of selling cotton and strengthening India’s cotton market.

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:
The Union Cabinet approved a Rs.1,500 crore Incentive Scheme to recycle critical minerals from secondary sources. This scheme is part of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) to build domestic capacity and strengthen supply chain resilience. The scheme will run for six years from Financial Year (FY) 2025-26 to FY 2030-31. The total outlay of the scheme is Rs.1,500 crore. The scheme will benefit large recyclers, small recyclers and start-ups with one-third of the funds reserved for them. It will support investments in new units, expansion of capacity, modernization and diversification of existing units. The scheme will incentivize only those involved in actual extraction of critical minerals and not those doing only black mass production.