Current Affairs Quiz — 19 September 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Under the US proclamation of 19 September 2025, what payment must accompany H-1B petitions for the restriction on entry not to apply?
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Correct answer: A — $100,000
The proclamation restricts entry of H-1B specialty-occupation workers except where petitions are accompanied or supplemented by a payment of $100,000.
For how long does the H-1B entry restriction in the US proclamation of September 2025 remain in force, absent extension?
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Correct answer: C — 12 months
The restriction expires 12 months after its effective date of 21 September 2025, unless extended.
Which provisions of the US Immigration and Nationality Act did the H-1B proclamation of 19 September 2025 invoke?
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Correct answer: D — Sections 212(f) and 215(a)
The restriction on entry was imposed pursuant to sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the INA.
Consider the following statements about India's official response to the US H-1B proclamation: 1. The MEA said the measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of disruption caused for families. 2. The MEA said the full implications were being studied by all concerned, including Indian industry. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the implications were being studied, including by Indian industry, and that the measure was likely to have humanitarian consequences for families.
Where was the 28th Universal Postal Union Congress held, at which India was re-elected to the UPU's Council of Administration and Postal Operations Council?
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Correct answer: A — Dubai
India was re-elected to both councils at the 28th UPU Congress held in Dubai, UAE.
Since which year has India been a member of the Universal Postal Union?
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Correct answer: C — 1876
India has been a member of the UPU since 1876.
Where did the third round of India–New Zealand FTA negotiations conclude on 19 September 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Queenstown
The third round, held from 15 to 19 September 2025, concluded in Queenstown, New Zealand.
When were the India–New Zealand FTA negotiations formally launched?
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Correct answer: A — 16 March 2025
The FTA was formally launched on 16 March 2025 at a meeting between Piyush Goyal and New Zealand's Trade Minister Todd McClay.
What was India's bilateral merchandise trade with New Zealand in 2024–25, as per the Commerce Ministry?
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Correct answer: C — USD 1.3 billion
India–New Zealand merchandise trade was USD 1.3 billion in 2024–25, growth of nearly 49%.
Singer Zubeen Garg, who died on 19 September 2025, was a cultural icon of which state?
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Correct answer: C — Assam
Zubeen Garg was regarded as Assam's cultural icon.
Zubeen Garg was in Singapore in September 2025 to perform at which event?
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Correct answer: A — North East India Festival
He had travelled to Singapore to perform at the North East India Festival 2025.
To what level did Japan's R&I upgrade India's long-term sovereign credit rating on 19 September 2025?
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Correct answer: B — BBB+
R&I upgraded India to 'BBB+' from 'BBB', retaining a Stable outlook.
Which agency upgraded India's sovereign rating to 'BBB' from 'BBB-' in August 2025, before R&I's September upgrade?
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Correct answer: D — S&P
S&P upgraded India to 'BBB' from 'BBB-' in August 2025; Morningstar DBRS upgraded India to 'BBB' from 'BBB (low)' in May 2025.
Consider the following statements about India's sovereign rating upgrades in 2025: 1. R&I's upgrade in September 2025 was the third upgrade of India by a sovereign rating agency that year. 2. R&I changed India's outlook from Stable to Positive. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct: it was the third upgrade of 2025, and R&I retained the Stable outlook while raising the rating to BBB+.
With which state's investment promotion agency did Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders sign an MoU on 19 September 2025 to explore a greenfield shipyard on the eastern coast?
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Correct answer: C — Tamil Nadu
MDL signed the MoU with Guidance Tamil Nadu, the state's nodal agency for investment promotion, at Bhavnagar.
The new port at Bahuda, covered by an MoU exchanged at Bhavnagar in September 2025, is proposed in which state?
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Correct answer: A — Odisha
The MoU among Paradip Port, Visakhapatnam Port, Sagarmala Finance Corporation and the Government of Odisha is for a 150 MTPA port at Bahuda in Odisha.
Consider the following statements about the maritime MoUs exchanged at Bhavnagar in September 2025: 1. Twenty-seven MoUs with investment potential of over ₹66,000 crore were exchanged. 2. A Water Metro project for Patna was agreed between IWAI and the Government of Bihar. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: 27 MoUs worth over ₹66,000 crore were exchanged, including a ₹908 crore Patna Water Metro MoU between IWAI and Bihar.
Which shipyard designed and built ICGS Adamya, commissioned on 19 September 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Goa Shipyard Limited
ICGS Adamya was designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited with over 60% indigenous content.
Consider the following statements about ICGS Adamya: 1. It is the last of a series of eight Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessels. 2. It was commissioned at Visakhapatnam. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Both are wrong: Adamya is the first of the eight Adamya-class FPVs, and it was commissioned at Paradip Port, Odisha.
Which form can an elector file to apply for deletion of an entry from the electoral roll, as referred to by the ECI in September 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Form 7
Form 7 is used to apply for deletion of an entry; filing it does not by itself delete the entry.
Consider the following statements based on the ECI's statement of 19 September 2025: 1. Under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, no name is deleted without notice to the affected person and an opportunity of being heard. 2. Of 6,018 online deletion applications in Aland, Karnataka, 5,994 were accepted. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct: only 24 of the 6,018 Aland applications were found genuine and accepted, while 5,994 were rejected.
The Indian Navy's First Training Squadron concluded a port visit to Maputo in September 2025. Maputo is the capital of:
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Correct answer: C — Mozambique
The squadron's four-day port visit was to Maputo, Mozambique, where it trained with the Mozambique Navy.
Hindustan Copper Limited signed an MoU on critical and strategic minerals with which Maharatna PSU on 19 September 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Oil India Limited
HCL signed the MoU with Oil India Limited, a Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
In his call with PM Modi on 19 September 2025, the Greek Prime Minister conveyed support for the success of which summit to be hosted by India in 2026?
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Correct answer: B — AI Impact Summit
Kyriakos Mitsotakis conveyed support for the AI Impact Summit to be hosted by India in 2026, and for an early India–EU FTA.
Which research vessel was used by CMLRE to study the ecological impact of the ELSA 3 shipwreck in 2025?
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Correct answer: D — FORV Sagar Sampada
The research cruise was carried out on FORV Sagar Sampada from 2 to 12 June 2025.