Current Affairs Quiz — 19 October 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
The Holy Relics of Lord Buddha were exhibited in October 2025 in which republic of the Russian Federation?
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Correct answer: D — Kalmykia
PIB: the relics returned to India after a week-long exposition (11–18 October 2025) in the Republic of Kalmykia, Russia; the delegation departed from Elista, its capital.
Who led the Indian delegation accompanying the Buddha relics to Kalmykia in October 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of J&K
PIB: the Indian delegation was led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha; UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya inaugurated Vasudeo Kamath's art exhibition there.
Consider the following statements about the Buddha relics exposition in Kalmykia (October 2025): 1. It was organised by the Ministry of Culture with the International Buddhist Confederation, the National Museum and IGNCA. 2. Artist Vasudeo Kamath donated all 28 paintings displayed there to the National Museum in Elista. 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 exposition was a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Culture, IBC, National Museum and IGNCA; Kamath donated all 28 paintings to the National Museum of Elista.
The Ministry of Mines' October 2025 amendment introducing intermediate timelines for auctioned mineral blocks was made to which rules?
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Correct answer: A — Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015
PIB: the Ministry of Mines notified an amendment to the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015, introducing intermediary timelines from LoI to execution of the mining lease.
Under the amended mineral auction rules (October 2025), what penalty applies for delay beyond a prescribed intermediate timeline?
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Correct answer: B — Appropriation of 1% of the bank guarantee per month of delay
PIB: delay beyond the prescribed timelines attracts appropriation of the bidder's bank guarantee to the extent of 1% for each month or part of a month.
Consider the following statements about mineral block auctions as described by the Ministry of Mines in October 2025: 1. All 585 major mineral blocks auctioned since 2015 are critical mineral blocks. 2. For a mining lease auction, the total penalty-free timeline from LoI to lease execution is 7 years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Neither is correct. PIB: of 585 major mineral blocks auctioned, 34 are critical mineral blocks auctioned by the Centre; the penalty-free timeline is 3 years for a mining lease and 7 years for a composite licence.
Of the ₹1,950.80 crore SDRF advance approved in October 2025, which state received the larger share?
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Correct answer: C — Maharashtra
PIB: Maharashtra was approved ₹1,566.40 crore and Karnataka ₹384.40 crore out of ₹1,950.80 crore.
As of 19 October 2025, how much had the Centre released to states under SDRF during 2025-26?
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Correct answer: D — ₹13,603.20 crore to 27 states
PIB: the Centre released ₹13,603.20 crore to 27 states under SDRF; the other figures relate to NDRF (₹2,189.28 crore), SDMF (₹4,571.30 crore) and NDMF (₹372.09 crore).
Consider the following statements about disaster response funding and deployment in 2025: 1. The advance release to Karnataka and Maharashtra was the second instalment of the Central share of SDRF for 2025-26. 2. During the 2025 monsoon, NDRF teams were deployed in only 15 States/UTs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB: the ₹1,950.80 crore was the 2nd instalment of the Central share of SDRF; up to 199 NDRF teams were deployed in 30 States/UTs (15 is the number of states that received NDRF funds).
Under which Article of the Constitution does the Election Commission exercise the plenary powers used to appoint Central Observers?
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Correct answer: C — Article 324
PIB: the Commission appoints Central Observers under the plenary powers conferred by Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 20B of the RP Act, 1951.
Which section of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides for the appointment of observers by the Election Commission?
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Correct answer: A — Section 20B
PIB: Central Observers are appointed under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 20B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Consider the following statements about observers for the Bihar elections 2025: 1. 121 General Observers were deployed for Phase 2. 2. 8 General and 8 Police Observers were deployed for the bye-elections in 8 Assembly constituencies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Only 2 is correct. PIB: Phase 1 had 121 General Observers and Phase 2 had 122; 8 General and 8 Police Observers were deployed for the 8 bye-elections.
Which phrase did PM Modi use on 19 October 2025 while urging citizens to buy Indian products during the festive season?
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Correct answer: A — Garv Se Kaho Yeh Swadeshi Hai
PIB: the PM said, 'Let's buy Indian products and say — Garv Se Kaho Yeh Swadeshi Hai!' and asked people to share their purchases on social media.
In October 2025, the Army Chief reviewed high-altitude formations in the central sector in which district of Uttarakhand?
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Correct answer: B — Pithoragarh
PIB: the COAS reviewed formations deployed in high-altitude areas of Pithoragarh and adjacent forward posts.
Tent-based homestays reviewed by the Army Chief under the Vibrant Village Programme in October 2025 are located at which places?
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Correct answer: C — Garbyang and Kalapani
PIB: the COAS reviewed initiatives under Operation Sadbhavna and the Vibrant Village Programme, including tent-based homestays in Garbyang and Kalapani.
Consider the following statements about the Army Chief's visit of October 2025: 1. He described the Kumaon region as a gateway to border areas with Bhutan and China. 2. The visit was to forward areas in the western sector. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Neither is correct. PIB: he called Kumaon a gateway to border areas with Nepal and China (not Bhutan), and the visit was to the central sector.
According to the Ayush Ministry's World Osteoporosis Day 2025 note, Ayurveda associates osteoporosis primarily with the vitiation of which dosha?
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Correct answer: D — Vata
PIB: according to Ayurveda, osteoporosis is primarily associated with the vitiation of Vata dosha, which weakens bone strength and density.
Which classical Ayurvedic concept did the CCRAS Director General say aligns closely with the modern understanding of bone fragility (October 2025)?
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Correct answer: C — Asthi Saushirya
PIB: Prof. Rabinarayan Acharya, DG, CCRAS, said the classical concept of Asthi Saushirya aligns closely with the modern understanding of bone fragility.
Under the Notaries (Amendment) Rules, 2025, the maximum number of notaries in which state was raised from 2,900 to 6,000?
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Correct answer: B — Gujarat
PIB: for Gujarat the figure 2,900 was replaced by 6,000; Tamil Nadu went from 2,500 to 3,500 and Rajasthan from 2,000 to 3,000.
The Notaries (Amendment) Rules, 2025 were made under which provision?
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Correct answer: D — Section 15 of the Notaries Act, 1952
PIB: the rules were notified in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 15 of the Notaries Act, 1952, amending the Notaries Rules, 1956.
Consider the following statements about the Notaries (Amendment) Rules, 2025: 1. The maximum number of notaries in Nagaland was doubled. 2. Tamil Nadu's limit was raised by 1,000. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. PIB: Nagaland went from 200 to 400 (doubled) and Tamil Nadu from 2,500 to 3,500 (an increase of 1,000).
How many Anganwadi Centres have been made functional in PVTG areas under PM-JANMAN, according to the WCD Ministry (October 2025)?
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Correct answer: A — More than 2,000
PIB: more than 2000 Anganwadi Centres have been made functional in Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) areas under PM JANMAN.
At which event did the WCD Ministry receive its award for PM-JANMAN implementation in October 2025?
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Correct answer: B — National Conclave on Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan
PIB: the felicitation took place during the National Conclave on 'Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan' at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
In the Operation Fire Trail case at Tuticorin port (October 2025), the Chinese firecrackers had been mis-declared as:
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Correct answer: A — Engineering goods
PIB: the two containers at Tuticorin held 83,520 Chinese firecrackers mis-declared as engineering goods. (The Nhava Sheva case reported on 20 October involved goods declared as leggings.)
At which port did the DRI seize 83,520 pieces of Chinese firecrackers worth ₹5.01 crore, as reported on 19 October 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Tuticorin
PIB: DRI intercepted two forty-foot containers at Tuticorin Port containing 83,520 pieces of Chinese firecrackers valued at ₹5.01 crore.