Current Affairs Quiz — 21 October 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Who was designated Prime Minister of Japan by the Diet on 21 October 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Sanae Takaichi
Kantei (Japan PMO): on 21 October 2025 Ms. Takaichi Sanae was designated Prime Minister; PIB: PM Modi congratulated her on her election.
According to Japan's Prime Minister's Office, Sanae Takaichi is Japan's Prime Minister number ___ since Ito Hirobumi.
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Correct answer: A — 104th
Kantei: Prime Minister Takaichi became the 104th Prime Minister since Ito Hirobumi, the first Prime Minister of Japan.
Consider the following statements regarding leadership changes greeted by PM Modi on 21 October 2025: 1. Sanae Takaichi succeeded Fumio Kishida as Prime Minister of Japan. 2. Rodrigo Paz Pereira was elected Prime Minister of Bolivia. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Neither is correct. BBC: Takaichi became LDP leader after Shigeru Ishiba resigned, so she succeeded Ishiba; PIB: Rodrigo Paz Pereira was elected President (not Prime Minister) of Bolivia.
Off which coastal locations did PM Modi celebrate Diwali 2025 with naval personnel on INS Vikrant?
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Correct answer: A — Goa and Karwar
PIB: the PM said he was among naval personnel on the western seaboard off Goa and Karwar, with INS Vikrant as the flagship.
Which song written by naval personnel did PM Modi mention from the cultural programme on INS Vikrant in October 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Kasam Sindoor Ki
PIB: the PM said the naval personnel penned a song 'Kasam Sindoor Ki' which will remain etched in his memory.
Consider the following statements based on PM Modi's remarks on INS Vikrant (October 2025): 1. INS Vikrant was commissioned at Mumbai. 2. INS Vikrant is the largest warship constructed indigenously. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Only 2 is correct. PIB: the PM called it the largest warship constructed indigenously and recalled the programme in Kochi when it was commissioned — not Mumbai.
Under the Election Commission's arrangement for Bihar 2025, flying squads aim to attend to cVIGIL complaints within how much time?
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Correct answer: A — 100 minutes
PIB: 824 flying squads have been deployed across Bihar so that complaints are attended to within 100 minutes; 94% of cVIGIL complaints were resolved within 100 minutes.
Which call centre number did the Election Commission set up for the public and political parties to lodge complaints during the Bihar elections 2025?
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Correct answer: B — 1950
PIB: a complaint monitoring system including Call Centre number 1950 has been set up and is operational 24x7.
Veteran actor Govardhan Asrani, who died in October 2025, is best remembered for which role in 'Sholay'?
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Correct answer: C — The jailer
The Hindu: Asrani endeared himself to audiences by playing the eccentric jailer in 'Sholay'; India Today also lists Sholay among his best-known films.
Govardhan Asrani, who died on 20 October 2025, was originally from which city?
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Correct answer: B — Jaipur
India Today: he was originally a resident of Jaipur; NDTV: he was born in Jaipur and studied at Rajasthan College, Jaipur.
By how much did the combined Index of Eight Core Industries grow in September 2025 (provisional)?
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Correct answer: B — 3.0%
PIB: the ICI increased by 3.0% (provisional) in September 2025; 2.9% is the April–September cumulative and 6.5% the final August figure.
Which core industry recorded the highest growth in September 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Steel
PIB: steel production increased by 14.1% in September 2025, ahead of cement (5.3%), electricity (2.1%) and fertilizers (1.6%).
Consider the following statements about the Index of Eight Core Industries: 1. The eight core industries comprise 40.27% of the weight of items in the Index of Industrial Production. 2. Among the eight, refinery products carry the smallest weight. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB: the eight core industries comprise 40.27% of IIP weight; petroleum refinery products carry the largest weight (28.04%), while fertilizers have the smallest (2.63%).
On which date was the Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN launched?
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Correct answer: A — 21 October 2016
PIB: UDAN was launched on 21 October 2016 under the National Civil Aviation Policy; 27 April 2017 is the date of the first UDAN flight.
The first UDAN flight, inaugurated by PM Modi on 27 April 2017, connected which two cities?
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Correct answer: D — Shimla and Delhi
PIB: the first UDAN flight was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on 27 April 2017 between Shimla and Delhi.
Consider the following statements about UDAN as of its 9th anniversary (October 2025): 1. The 93 airports connected under UDAN include heliports and water aerodromes. 2. UDAN 5.5 is a special bidding round for seaplanes and helicopters. 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 93 unserved and underserved airports include 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes; UDAN 5.5 is a special bidding round for seaplanes and helicopters.
Police Commemoration Day on 21 October marks the sacrifice of policemen in an ambush by Chinese troops in which year?
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Correct answer: B — 1959
PIB: it was on 21 October 1959 that 10 policemen laid down their lives in an ambush by heavily armed Chinese troops at Hot Springs, Ladakh.
The ambush commemorated on Police Commemoration Day took place at which location?
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Correct answer: D — Hot Springs, Ladakh
PIB: the 10 policemen were killed in an ambush laid by Chinese troops at Hot Springs, Ladakh, in 1959.
Consider the following statements about Police Commemoration Day 2025: 1. Ten policemen were killed in the 1959 ambush that the day commemorates. 2. The National Police Memorial in New Delhi was established in 2018. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. PIB: 10 policemen died in the Hot Springs ambush of 21 October 1959; the Raksha Mantri said the government established the National Police Memorial in 2018.
The GI-tagged Lakhori Mirchi, mentioned in the October 2025 PIB backgrounder on GST cuts, comes from which district of Uttarakhand?
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Correct answer: D — Almora
PIB backgrounder: the GI-tagged Lakhori Mirchi from Almora is known for its distinctive aroma and flavour.
Pahari Toor Dal in Uttarakhand is traditionally cultivated as part of which mixed cropping system?
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Correct answer: A — Barahnaja
PIB backgrounder: Pahari Toor Dal is cultivated by small rain-fed farmers as part of the traditional Barahnaja mixed cropping system.
Consider the following statements based on the PIB backgrounder on GST cuts in Uttarakhand (October 2025): 1. Aipan is a traditional art form practised mainly in the Garhwal region. 2. GST on petrol vehicles up to 1200cc has been reduced from 28% to 18%. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Only 2 is correct. PIB backgrounder: Aipan is practised across the Kumaon region (Almora, Bageshwar, Nainital), not Garhwal; GST on vehicles up to 1200cc (petrol) and 1500cc (diesel) fell from 28% to 18%.
In October 2025, the CCI approved the acquisition of J.B. Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals by which company, subject to voluntary modifications?
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Correct answer: C — Torrent Pharmaceuticals
PIB: the CCI approved the proposed acquisition of J.B. Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Limited by Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited with voluntary modifications.
In October 2025, how much did Gujarat receive as the second instalment of XV Finance Commission untied grants for 2024–25?
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Correct answer: B — ₹522.20 crore
PIB: Gujarat received ₹522.20 crore as the 2nd instalment of untied grants for 2024–25; ₹195.13 crore went to Haryana and ₹13.60 crore was a withheld first-instalment portion for Gujarat.
Consider the following statements about the release of XV Finance Commission grants to Panchayati Raj Institutions: 1. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Jal Shakti recommend the release, and the Ministry of Finance releases the grants. 2. The grants are recommended and released in two instalments in a financial year. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. PIB: MoPR and the Ministry of Jal Shakti (DDWS) recommend release of XV FC grants, which are then released by the Ministry of Finance in two instalments in a financial year.
TRAI's August 2025 Independent Drive Tests in Agartala and Silchar were conducted under the supervision of which TRAI Regional Office?
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Correct answer: C — Kolkata
PIB: the drive tests in both Agartala (Tripura) and Silchar (Assam) were conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office, Kolkata.
In TRAI's August 2025 drive test of Silchar city, Hailakandi and Karimganj (Assam), which operator recorded both the highest average download speed and a 100% call setup success rate?
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Correct answer: B — Reliance Jio (RJIL)
PIB: RJIL's average download speed was 219.13 Mbps and its call setup success rate 100.00% in auto-selection mode in Silchar, Hailakandi and Karimganj.
PFRDA's October 2025 consultation paper proposes which valuation approach for long-dated government securities held in NPS and APY?
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Correct answer: A — Dual valuation — accrual and fair market
PIB: the consultation paper proposes adoption of a dual valuation framework ('accrual' and 'fair market') for long-dated G-Secs held in NPS/APY.
Consider the stated purposes of PFRDA's dual valuation proposal (October 2025). Which of the following is NOT one of them?
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Correct answer: D — Raise the equity exposure limit for NPS schemes
PIB: the three purposes are stable depiction of pension wealth, reducing short-term interest-rate volatility on NAV, and aligning investments with long-term capital formation; raising equity limits is not mentioned.
Jayant Chaudhary's Knowledge Exchange Mission to the Philippines (20–22 October 2025) was facilitated by which organisation?
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Correct answer: B — World Bank
PIB: the high-level Knowledge Exchange Mission to the Philippines from 20–22 October 2025 was facilitated by the World Bank.
Which Philippine body, met by the Indian delegation in October 2025, is responsible for technical education and skills development?
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Correct answer: C — TESDA
PIB: the mission engaged the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), along with DMW, PSA and OWWA.
The October 2025 study showing that black-hole radiation and radio jets jointly drive galactic gas outflows was led by astronomers of which institute?
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Correct answer: A — Indian Institute of Astrophysics
PIB: the study was led by astronomers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), an autonomous institute of DST.
According to the IIA study (October 2025), galactic gas outflows driven by active galactic nuclei can reach speeds of up to:
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Correct answer: D — 2,000 km/s
PIB: these powerful winds can travel at speeds of up to 2,000 km per second, fast enough to escape the galaxy's gravitational pull.