Current Affairs Quiz — 18 July 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
On 18 July 2025, the Prime Minister launched development projects worth how much in Motihari, Bihar?
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Correct answer: B — Over Rs 7,000 crore
PIB (PMO): the PM laid foundation stones, inaugurated and dedicated projects worth over Rs 7,000 crore in Motihari; Rs 5,400 crore was the Durgapur figure the same day.
The Amrit Bharat Express flagged off from Motihari on 18 July 2025 runs directly from Motihari-Bapudham to which station?
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Correct answer: D — Anand Vihar, Delhi
PIB (PMO): the PM said the Amrit Bharat Express will now run directly from Motihari-Bapudham to Anand Vihar, Delhi.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana, mentioned by the PM at Motihari, how many of the most backward districts in terms of agriculture will be identified?
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Correct answer: C — 100
PIB (PMO): the PM said the Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana, under which 100 most backward districts in terms of agriculture will be identified.
Which shipyard built INS Nistar, the first indigenous Diving Support Vessel, commissioned on 18 July 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Hindustan Shipyard Limited
PIB (MoD): INS Nistar is the first of the two Diving Support Vessels being built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited.
INS Nistar was built with what level of indigenous content and MSME participation?
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Correct answer: A — Over 80% indigenous content; 120 MSMEs
PIB (MoD): with participation of 120 MSMEs and over 80% indigenous content, INS Nistar shows India's ability to build complex ships.
Consider the following statements about INS Nistar: 1. It is designed to undertake deep-sea saturation diving and rescue operations. 2. It was commissioned at Mumbai. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB (MoD): the ship is designed for complex deep-sea saturation diving and rescue operations, so 1 is correct; it was commissioned at Visakhapatnam on 18 July 2025, so 2 is wrong.
INS Nistar was commissioned on 18 July 2025 in the presence of which Raksha Rajya Mantri?
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Correct answer: B — Sanjay Seth
PIB (MoD): INS Nistar was commissioned in the presence of Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth in Visakhapatnam.
On 18 July 2025, the Prime Minister launched development projects worth how much in Durgapur, West Bengal?
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Correct answer: D — Over Rs 5,400 crore
PIB (PMO): the PM laid foundation stones, inaugurated and dedicated projects worth over Rs 5,400 crore in Durgapur.
The Durgapur-Kolkata section (132 km) of the Durgapur-Haldia Natural Gas Pipeline, dedicated on 18 July 2025, was laid under which project?
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Correct answer: A — Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga
PIB (PMO): the section was laid as part of the Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline, also known as the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga (PMUG) project.
The BPCL City Gas Distribution project, whose foundation stone the PM laid on 18 July 2025, covers which districts of West Bengal?
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Correct answer: B — Bankura and Purulia
PIB (PMO): the PM laid the foundation stone of BPCL's City Gas Distribution project in Bankura and Purulia districts, worth about Rs 1,950 crore.
The Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers (CPI-AL/RL) released in July 2025 uses which base year?
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Correct answer: B — 2019=100
PIB (Labour): the Labour Bureau has revised the base year of CPI-AL and CPI-RL to 2019=100.
Consider the following statements about CPI-AL and CPI-RL for June 2025: 1. Both indices stood at 134 points. 2. The revised series covers 20 states. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB (Labour): CPI-AL and CPI-RL for June 2025 stand at 134 points each, so 1 is correct; the revised series covers 34 states/UTs as against 20 states in the old series, so 2 is wrong.
Where was the first campus of the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) inaugurated on 18 July 2025?
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Correct answer: C — NFDC Complex, Mumbai
PIB (I&B): the first campus of IICT, including the administrative complex and classrooms, was inaugurated at the NFDC Complex in Mumbai.
According to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Indian Institute of Creative Technology will impart advanced training to professionals of which sector?
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Correct answer: B — AVGC-XR
PIB (I&B): IICT will offer completely industry-aligned advanced programmes to impart advanced training to AVGC-XR professionals and trainers.
The National Standards for Civil Service Training Institutes 2.0 (NSCSTI 2.0), launched on 18 July 2025, were developed by which body?
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Correct answer: C — Capacity Building Commission
PIB (DoPT): NSCSTI 2.0 was developed by the Capacity Building Commission (CBC), and launched by Dr Jitendra Singh at the Civil Services Officers Institute.
While launching NSCSTI 2.0, Dr Jitendra Singh compared its approach of encouraging training institutes to improve with which programme?
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Correct answer: B — Aspirational Districts Programme
PIB (DoPT): 'Just as the Aspirational Districts Programme enabled backward districts to outshine expectations, NSCSTI 2.0 encourages CSTIs to introspect, innovate and pursue excellence,' the minister said.
Under its partnership with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (July 2025), Coal India will support how many Eklavya Model Residential Schools in Chhattisgarh?
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Correct answer: A — 68
PIB (Tribal Affairs): CIL will support 68 EMRS in Chhattisgarh under CSR, benefiting more than 28,000 tribal students.
According to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (18 July 2025), how many Eklavya Model Residential Schools were functional across the country?
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Correct answer: C — 479
PIB (Tribal Affairs): as on date, there are 479 functional EMRS across the country.
Where was the 88th session of the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CCEXEC88) held in July 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Rome
PIB (Health): CCEXEC88 was held at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy, from 14 to 18 July 2025.
India chairs the Codex work on a group standard for which product, with Mali, Nigeria and Senegal as co-chairs?
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Correct answer: A — Whole millet grains
PIB (Health): the work on a group standard for whole millet grains is chaired by India with Mali, Nigeria and Senegal as co-chairs.
Consider the following statements about CCEXEC88 (July 2025): 1. India will co-chair new work proposals on standards for fresh turmeric and fresh broccoli. 2. The new standards for fresh dates were given final adoption at CCEXEC88 itself. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB (Health): India will co-chair new work on fresh turmeric and fresh broccoli, so 1 is correct; the fresh dates standards were endorsed for further approval at CAC48 in November 2025, so 2 is wrong.
Which new lichen species from the Western Ghats was reported by MACS-Agharkar Research Institute in July 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Allographa effusosoredica
PIB (S&T): scientists uncovered a previously unknown lichen species, Allographa effusosoredica, from the Western Ghats.
The algal partner (photobiont) identified in the new lichen Allographa effusosoredica belongs to which genus?
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Correct answer: D — Trentepohlia
PIB (S&T): the integrative study unveiled its algal partner, a Trentepohlia species.
The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was scheduled to be held in Goa on which dates?
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Correct answer: D — 20-28 November 2025
PIB (I&B): the 56th edition of IFFI is scheduled to be held from 20 to 28 November 2025 in Goa.
On 18 July 2025, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met a parliamentary delegation led by former Prime Minister Kim Boo Kyum from which country?
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Correct answer: D — Republic of Korea
PIB (Lok Sabha Secretariat): the Speaker met a parliamentary delegation from the Republic of Korea led by former Prime Minister Kim Boo Kyum at Parliament House.
At the National Conference on Making Cities Cyber Secure (18 July 2025), MoHUA presented the mandatory appointment of which officials in cities?
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Correct answer: C — Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs)
PIB (MoHUA): the ministry presented city-level cybersecurity frameworks, the mandatory appointment of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and the completion of cybersecurity audits.
In the DRI seizure at Bengaluru airport on 18 July 2025, where was the 4 kg of cocaine concealed?
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Correct answer: D — In the covers of two superhero comics
PIB (Finance): the passenger was carrying two unusually heavy superhero comics; white powder recovered from the covers tested positive for cocaine (4,006 grams, about Rs 40 crore).
Nilambur, where a PMJVK Skill Development Centre and Girls' Hostel were inaugurated on 18 July 2025, is in which district of Kerala?
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Correct answer: D — Malappuram
PIB (Minority Affairs): George Kurian inaugurated the Rs 7.92 crore Skill Development Centre and Rs 9.97 crore Girls' Hostel under PMJVK at Nilambur, Malappuram, Kerala.