Current Affairs Quiz – September 2025

Notes:
The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) released the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025. Global Research and Development (R&D) growth slowed to 2.9% in 2024 and is projected to fall further to 2.3% in 2025, the lowest since the 2010 financial crisis. India has risen to 38th rank in 2025, improving from 48th in 2020. Switzerland ranks first, followed by Sweden, United States, South Korea, and Singapore. India performs best in Knowledge & Technology Outputs (22nd) and Market Sophistication (38th). Weak areas for India are Business Sophistication (64th), Infrastructure (61st), and Institutions (58th). India is first among lower-middle-income economies and in the Central and Southern Asia region.

Notes:
A viral infection called Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is spreading rapidly among children in Delhi and Haryana, prompting advisories. It is a highly contagious illness caused by a virus. It causes blister-like rashes on hands and feet, painful mouth sores, and sometimes rashes on chest, back, arms, legs, genitals, and buttocks. It mostly affects infants and children under 5 years, spreading quickly in schools and daycare. It is different from foot-and-mouth disease in animals, caused by a different virus. Transmission happens through unwashed hands, saliva, mucus, feces, or blister fluid. No cure or vaccine exists; recovery usually takes 7–10 days with basic care. Complications are rare, but children under 2 may take longer to recover.

Notes:
The Karnataka Cabinet has cleared land acquisition of 1,33,867 acres for Upper Krishna Project (UKP) Phase III. This will facilitate raising the Almatti Dam height from 519.16 metres to 524.256 metres. Almatti Dam is built on the Krishna River in North Karnataka and was completed in July 2005. It supplies irrigation, drinking water, hydroelectric power, and controls floods. It produces 713 million kilowatt (KW) electricity annually with a 290 MW power station.

Notes:
The World Trade Organization (WTO) released the World Trade Report 2025 highlighting the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on global trade. With proper enabling policies, AI could boost cross-border trade of goods and services by nearly 40% by 2040 through productivity gains and lower costs. Global trade is projected to rise by 34–37%, while global GDP may increase by 12–13% by 2040 under different scenarios. In 2023, global trade in AI-enabling goods like semiconductors and raw materials was worth USD 2.3 trillion. If low- and middle-income nations narrow their digital gap by 50%, their incomes could rise by 15% and 14% respectively. Report stresses bridging the digital divide, investing in skills, and ensuring open, predictable trade policies.

Notes:
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) launched SWAGAT-FI on September 16, 2025. SWAGAT-FI stands for Simplified Wrapper Framework for Facilitating Access to GIFT-IFSC for Foreign Investors. The framework targets low-risk foreign investors like sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and long-term institutional investors. Eligible investors can now register for 10 years, up from the earlier 3-year cycle, reducing administrative hurdles. A digital portal allows onboarding in about a week, using a single demat account to manage all investments. It integrates with Gujarat International Finance Tec-City International Financial Services Centre (GIFT-IFSC) for easier global access.

Notes:
The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) functions as the National Coordination Centre for the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (NCC-PvPI). IPC inaugurated the 5th National Pharmacovigilance Week (NPW) at Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre, New Delhi. National Pharmacovigilance Week (NPW) is observed from 17th–23rd September 2025 under the theme “Your Safety, Just a Click Away: Report to PvPI”. The week-long campaign aims to raise awareness among healthcare professionals, regulators, researchers, and the public. The initiative strengthens patient safety and promotes a proactive culture of pharmacovigilance in India.

Notes:
The second African Climate Summit (ACS2), held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from September 8-10, 2025, focused on accelerating climate action and mobilizing finance for Africa’s green and resilient development. Key outcomes include the adoption of the Addis Ababa Declaration, which calls for major investments in renewable energy and critical minerals, and the launch of the Africa Climate Innovation Compact and African Climate Facility to support African-led climate solutions. The summit also aimed to present Africa as a “continent of solutions” and was a crucial step ahead of COP30.

Notes:
The Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command hosted a two-day seminar on Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance (LRMR) at INS Rajali, Arakkonam, highlighting India’s maritime surveillance strength. INS Rajali is an Indian Naval Air Station near Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu, commissioned on 11 March 1992. It is spread over 2,200 acres, 80 km west of Chennai, and is the largest and most modern Naval Air Station with 4,700 personnel. It has the longest military runway in Asia and supports both operations and training.

Notes:
World Alzheimer’s Day is observed every year on 21 September as part of Alzheimer’s Month to create awareness about dementia and Alzheimer’s. The day supports families of Alzheimer-affected patients to manage and fight the disease. Alzheimer’s is a severe brain disorder causing memory loss, confusion, and impairing learning, thinking, reasoning, decision-making, and attention, affecting daily life and emotions. September is designated as Alzheimer’s Month, with global societies organising activities to educate on symptoms, early diagnosis, treatment, and provide social and financial support. The 2025 theme is “Ask About Dementia. Ask About Alzheimer’s” to reduce stigma and promote dementia-friendly attitudes.

Notes:
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India launched its Online Short Term Internship Programme (OSTI) for September 2025 on 22 September. From 896 applications, 80 students from 21 States and Union Territories were selected for the two-week programme running until 3 October 2025. The programme aims to provide understanding of human rights promotion and protection in India. Focus areas include constitutional rights, civil, political, social, cultural rights, climate change, artificial intelligence, cybercrime, and gig economy exploitation. Interns are trained in international human rights law, domestic issues, and advocacy strategies to become informed human rights ambassadors.