Current Affairs Quiz — 20 October 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Which two missiles did PM Modi say proved their capabilities during Operation Sindoor, in his INS Vikrant address of October 2025?
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Correct answer: C — BrahMos and Akash
PIB: the PM said missiles like BrahMos and Akash proved their capabilities during Operation Sindoor and several countries now want to buy them.
According to PM Modi's October 2025 address, how many districts are now affected by Maoist violence, compared with about 125 before 2014?
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Correct answer: B — 11
PIB: before 2014 around 125 districts were affected; today the number has reduced to just 11, with only 3 districts significantly impacted.
Consider the following statements based on PM Modi's INS Vikrant address (October 2025): 1. The Navy hoists the Tricolour on every island of the country on 26 January. 2. Only 3 districts in India remain affected by Maoist violence in any form. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB: the Navy fulfils the resolve of hoisting the Tricolour on every island on Republic Day; 11 districts remain affected, of which only 3 are significantly impacted.
Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), in force in Delhi-NCR on Diwali 2025, corresponds to which AQI band?
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Correct answer: B — 301–400 ('Very Poor')
CAQM order: Stage-II of GRAP corresponds to 'Very Poor' air quality, Delhi AQI 301–400.
Before Stage II was invoked on 19 October 2025, since when had Stage I of GRAP been in force in Delhi-NCR?
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Correct answer: D — 14 October 2025
CAQM order: Stage-I of the extant GRAP was in force vide order dated 14.10.2025; Stage-II was added on 19.10.2025.
Consider the following statements about the invocation of GRAP Stage II in October 2025: 1. It was invoked by the Central Pollution Control Board. 2. It involves a 12-point action plan applied across the entire NCR in addition to Stage I actions. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Only 2 is correct. CAQM: the Sub-Committee on GRAP of the Commission for Air Quality Management (not CPCB) invoked the 12-point Stage II plan across the entire NCR, in addition to Stage I; CPCB only supplies the AQI bulletin.
As part of its Green Diwali campaign in October 2025, where did WWF-India's EIACP centre inaugurate a 'Breathable Art' installation?
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Correct answer: A — Rohini, Delhi
PIB: this Diwali, WWF EIACP inaugurated a 'Breathable Art' installation in Rohini, symbolising community-led action for clean air.
In the Environment Ministry's programme under which WWF-India runs a Programme Centre, what does EIACP stand for?
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Correct answer: C — Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme
PIB: EIACP stands for Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme; WWF-India's Programme Centre–Resource Partner is supported by MoEFCC.
During her Kerala visit of October 2025, at which temple was President Droupadi Murmu scheduled to perform darshan and aarti on 22 October?
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Correct answer: A — Sabarimala Temple
PIB (President's Secretariat): on October 22, the President will perform darshan and aarti at the Sabarimala Temple.
St. Teresa's College, whose centenary celebrations President Murmu was to attend on 24 October 2025, is located in which city?
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Correct answer: C — Ernakulam
PIB (President's Secretariat): on October 24, the President will grace the centenary celebrations of St. Teresa's College, Ernakulam.
How many special trains did Indian Railways say it was operating for Puja, Diwali and Chhath 2025?
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Correct answer: B — 12,011
PIB: IR is operating 12,011 special trains, a significant increase from 7,724 in the same period last year; 3,960 had run between 1 and 19 October.
Which railway zone was operating the highest number of festive special trains in 2025, according to the Railways' figures of 20 October 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Central Railway
PIB: Central Railway (1,998 trains) was ahead of Northern Railway (1,919) and Western Railway (1,501); East Central Railway had 1,217.
Under 'Operation Fire Trail' (October 2025), the DRI seized smuggled Chinese firecrackers at which port?
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Correct answer: D — Nhava Sheva
PIB: DRI officers intercepted a 40-foot container from China at Nhava Sheva port carrying 46,640 pieces of concealed firecrackers.
In the Operation Fire Trail case, the container carrying firecrackers had been declared as carrying which goods?
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Correct answer: A — Leggings
PIB: the container, destined for ICD Ankleshwar, was declared as carrying 'leggings'; the firecrackers were hidden behind a layer of garments.
Consider the following statements about the import of firecrackers into India, as stated by the DRI in October 2025: 1. Import of firecrackers is 'Restricted' under the ITC (HS) classification of the Foreign Trade Policy. 2. It requires licences from both the DGFT and PESO under the Explosives Rules, 2008. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. PIB: firecracker import is 'Restricted' under ITC (HS) and requires valid licences from both DGFT and PESO under the Explosives Rules, 2008.