Current Affairs Quiz – September 2025

Notes:
On August 30, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled from Tokyo to Sendai on Japan’s Shinkansen, known as the “bullet train.” The Shinkansen began operations in 1964 and now connects cities from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south. It runs at speeds up to 320 km/h and is a key alternative to domestic air travel. It is world-famous for efficiency, safety, and reliability with no passenger fatalities in 60 years. In its early years, it faced a loud sonic boom issue when entering tunnels. Engineer Eiji Nakatsu solved this by studying the kingfisher bird’s beak, applying biomimicry to redesign the train nose. The new design reduced sonic boom, improved speed, and enhanced energy efficiency.

Notes:
In August 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in Tianjin, China. During the summit, Modi engaged in bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing cooperation, connectivity respecting sovereignty, and the need for a united global fight against terrorism. The SCO’s Tianjin Declaration also condemned the April 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Modi’s participation highlighted India’s active role in regional diplomacy and multilateral security dialogues.

Notes:
Kerala conducted India’s first science-based, community-driven eradication of Senna spectabilis in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. Senna spectabilis is an invasive species native to American tropics. The tree grows 7–18 metres tall with a dense, spreading crown. It forms dense, sterile thickets, choking native plants, altering soil chemistry, and reducing food for herbivores. It closely resembles Kerala’s state flower Cassia fistula (kanikkonna), which aided its initial planting. The eradication involved community participation and science-based methods to restore forest ecosystems and promote biodiversity recovery.

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:
Prime Minister of India welcomed the agreement between Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for the Chandrayaan-5 mission under the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) programme. LUPEX is jointly developed by ISRO and JAXA to explore the Moon’s southern polar region. The mission aims to investigate the presence of water and other elements, potentially as surface ice, and demonstrate innovative surface exploration technologies. It features a lander developed by ISRO and a rover developed by JAXA. The rover will autonomously search for water-rich areas, drill, sample soil, and analyze it with onboard instruments.

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 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:
Unity Small Finance Bank (Unity Bank) and BharatPe launched Unity Bank BharatPe Credit Card, India’s first Equated Monthly Instalment (EMI)-driven credit card on the RuPay network. The card allows customers to pay in full or convert spends into EMIs up to 12 months. It has been developed in partnership with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It can be linked to Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for payments at merchants nationwide. It marks a major innovation in India’s digital credit and payments ecosystem.

Notes:
Odisha’s Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary received National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) approval in 2025 to become India’s newest tiger reserve. Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Bargarh district, Odisha. It is situated near Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River, the longest dam in India and the longest earthen dam in the world. The sanctuary covers an area of nearly 347 sq km. Debrigarh holds historical significance due to freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai.

Notes:
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in India reached a record low of 25 in 2023, down 37.5% from 40 in 2013, as per Sample Registration System (SRS) report by Registrar General of India. IMR measures deaths of children per 1,000 live births under one year; lower numbers indicate better health access. Highest IMR reported in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh at 37; lowest in Manipur at 3; Kerala at 5. Rural IMR dropped from 44 to 28; urban IMR from 27 to 18. Birth rate declined from 36.9 in 1971 to 18.4 in 2023; highest in Bihar at 25.8, lowest in Andaman & Nicobar at 10.1. Death rate decreased from 14.9 in 1971 to 6.4 in 2023; Chandigarh lowest at 4, Chhattisgarh highest at 8.3. Data highlights improvements in public health and narrowing rural-urban gaps.