Current Affairs Quiz — 09 October 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
During UK PM Keir Starmer's October 2025 visit, which UK university received in-principle approval to open a campus in GIFT City?
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Correct answer: B — University of Surrey
PIB (list of outcomes): in-principle approval was given for opening a campus of the University of Surrey in GIFT City; Lancaster University received an LoI for Bengaluru.
India and the UK agreed in October 2025 to proceed via the government-to-government route on an initial supply of which missile system?
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Correct answer: D — Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM)
PIB (joint statement): both leaders announced agreement to proceed via the government-to-government route on an initial supply of Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) systems to support India's air defence.
Consider the following statements about UK PM Keir Starmer's visit to India (October 2025): 1. Phase II of the UK-India Critical Minerals Supply Chain Observatory includes a new satellite campus at IIT-ISM Dhanbad. 2. It was Starmer's second official visit to India as Prime Minister. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB: Phase II of the Observatory will establish a new satellite campus at IIT-ISM Dhanbad; the joint statement says this was Prime Minister Starmer's first official visit to India.
About how many officials did the Election Commission deploy for the 2025 Bihar Assembly election?
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Correct answer: A — 8.5 lakh
PIB: around 8.5 lakh election officials have been deployed, including nearly 4.53 lakh polling personnel and 2.5 lakh police officials.
Consider the following statements about the 2025 Bihar Assembly election arrangements: 1. For the first time, one General Observer has been deployed for each of Bihar's 243 constituencies. 2. Personnel deployed are deemed to be on deputation to the Election Commission under Section 28A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. PIB: in a first, one General Observer has been deployed for each of the 243 constituencies; all deployed personnel are deemed to be on deputation to ECI under Section 28A of the RP Act, 1951.
What did the Election Commission direct parties, candidates and star campaigners to do with AI-generated or synthetic campaign content during the Bihar elections?
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Correct answer: D — Label it prominently
PIB: parties, leaders, candidates and star campaigners shall take necessary measures for prominent labelling of AI-generated/synthetic content shared for campaigning.
According to PM Modi at the Global Fintech Fest 2025, India's approach to AI rests on which three principles?
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Correct answer: C — Equitable Access, Population-scale Skilling, Responsible Deployment
PIB: the PM said India's approach to AI is built on three key principles — Equitable Access, Population-scale Skilling and Responsible Deployment.
What was the central theme of the Global Fintech Fest 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Empowering Finance for a Better World – Powered by AI, Augmented Intelligence, Innovation, and Inclusion
PIB: GFF 2025's central theme is 'Empowering Finance for a Better World' – Powered by AI, Augmented Intelligence, Innovation, and Inclusion.
Under the October 2025 amendments to the PLI scheme for textiles, the minimum investment for new applicants in the Part-1 category was reduced to:
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Correct answer: B — ₹150 crore
PIB: with effect from 1 August 2025, the minimum investment for new applicants was reduced from ₹300 crore to ₹150 crore in Part-1 and from ₹100 crore to ₹50 crore in Part-2.
Consider the following statements about the amended PLI scheme for textiles: 1. The incremental turnover required to qualify for incentives has been reduced from 25% to 10%. 2. The application portal has been opened until 31 March 2026. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB: from FY 2025–26 applicants need a minimum 10% incremental turnover (down from 25%); the application portal is open until 31 December 2025, not 31 March 2026.
Which India–Australia implementing arrangement was signed at the inaugural Defence Ministers' Dialogue in October 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Mutual Submarine Rescue Support and Cooperation
PIB (joint statement): ministers welcomed the signing of the Australia–India Implementing Arrangement on Mutual Submarine Rescue Support and Cooperation; the air-to-air refuelling arrangement had been signed in 2024.
Consider the following statements about the Australia–India Defence Ministers' Dialogue (October 2025): 1. It was the inaugural edition, and the ministers agreed to hold it annually. 2. Australia's first defence trade mission to India took place from 7 to 10 October 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. PIB: the October 2025 meeting was the inaugural Australia–India Defence Ministers' Dialogue, with a commitment to an annual dialogue; ministers welcomed Australia's first defence trade mission to India from 7 to 10 October 2025.
The design of the Sabarmati HSR station, terminal of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train corridor, is inspired by:
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Correct answer: D — Mahatma Gandhi's charkha at Sabarmati Ashram
PIB: the Sabarmati HSR station is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's charkha at Sabarmati Ashram; the Dandi March appears as a mural on the multimodal hub.
Consider the following statements about the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train project (October 2025): 1. The Sabarmati rolling stock depot, spread over 84 hectares, is the largest of the three depots. 2. Of the 508 km corridor, 400 km of viaduct has been completed. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB: the 84-hectare Sabarmati depot is the largest of three depots; 325 km of viaduct (and 400 km of pier work) has been completed — not 400 km of viaduct.
What is the duration of the Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0 launched in October 2025?
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Correct answer: B — 60 days
PIB: the 60-day Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0 prioritises six enhanced key strategies.
Consider the following statements about the Tobacco Free Youth Campaign: 1. The first campaign was launched on 31 May 2023 to mark World No Tobacco Day. 2. At the launch of TFYC 3.0, the 4th National Tobacco Testing Laboratory was dedicated at AIIMS, New Delhi. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB: the inaugural campaign was launched on 31 May 2023 to mark World No Tobacco Day; the 4th National Tobacco Testing Laboratory was dedicated at NIMHANS, Bengaluru, not AIIMS.
In October 2025 the combined assets under management of NPS and Atal Pension Yojana crossed which mark?
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Correct answer: C — ₹16 lakh crore
PIB: the combined AUM of NPS and APY crossed the ₹16 lakh crore mark on 9 October 2025.
Consider the following statements about the pension sector (October 2025): 1. The combined subscriber base of NPS and APY has surpassed 9 crore. 2. PFRDA's Multiple Scheme Framework became effective from 1 April 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB: the subscriber base has surpassed 9 crore; the Multiple Scheme Framework is effective from 1 October 2025, not 1 April 2025.
How many critical and strategic mineral blocks are offered in Tranche VI of the auction launched in September 2025?
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Correct answer: D — 23
PIB: Tranche VI, launched on 16 September 2025, includes 23 critical and strategic mineral blocks — 19 composite licences and 4 mining leases.
Consider the following statements about Tranche VI of the critical mineral block auction: 1. It comprises 19 composite licences and 4 mining leases. 2. It was launched by the Ministry of Mines on 16 September 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. PIB: Tranche VI was launched on 16 September 2025 and includes 23 blocks — 19 composite licences and 4 mining leases.
How many medicinal substances will the CCRAS DRAVYA portal catalogue in its first phase?
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Correct answer: C — 100
PIB: in its first phase, the DRAVYA portal aims to catalogue information on 100 key medicinal substances.
How much did Andhra Pradesh's rural local bodies receive as the first instalment of XV Finance Commission untied grants for 2025–26?
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Correct answer: B — ₹410.76 crore
PIB: the first instalment of untied grants for Andhra Pradesh, amounting to ₹410.76 crore, has been disbursed; ₹680.71 crore went to West Bengal.
Consider the following statements about XV Finance Commission grants released in October 2025: 1. Untied grants may be used by rural local bodies to pay salaries and establishment costs. 2. The Andhra Pradesh instalment benefits all 13,327 gram panchayats of the state. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Neither is correct. PIB: untied grants are for location-specific needs under the 29 Eleventh Schedule subjects, except salaries and establishment costs; the Andhra instalment benefits 13,092 eligible gram panchayats out of 13,327.
According to the PIB explainer of October 2025, Arunachal Pradesh accounts for what share of India's kiwi output?
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Correct answer: B — Over 50%
PIB: Arunachal Pradesh is India's largest kiwi producer with over 50% of national output (4,492 MT in 2022–23).
Consider the following statements from the PIB explainer on GST cuts in Arunachal Pradesh (October 2025): 1. Yak Churpi, a GI-tagged cheese, is traditionally made by the Brokpa and Monpa communities. 2. GST on spices such as large cardamom was cut from 12% to 5%. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB: Yak Churpi is a GI-tagged Himalayan cheese made by the yak-herding Brokpa and Monpa communities; GST on spices continues to be 5% — the relief for cardamom growers comes from cheaper inputs such as tractors.
Where did the Indian Navy commission the static firing facility 'Trinetra' in October 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Naval Station Bheemunipatnam, near Visakhapatnam
PIB: the Static Firing Facility 'Trinetra' was inaugurated on 8 October 2025 at Naval Station Bheemunipatnam, near Visakhapatnam.
Consider the following statements about the 'Trinetra' facility: 1. It was inaugurated by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. 2. It is indigenously designed and records key performance parameters of missiles, rockets and related systems. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Only 2 is correct. PIB: Trinetra was inaugurated by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, FOC-in-C, Eastern (not Western) Naval Command; it is indigenously designed and captures key performance parameters of missiles, rockets and related systems.