Current Affairs Quiz — 28 October 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Who heads the 8th Central Pay Commission, whose Terms of Reference were approved by the Union Cabinet on 28 October 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai
Indian Express and BusinessLine report that the Commission is headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai.
Within what period of its constitution must the 8th Central Pay Commission make its recommendations?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 18 months
PIB: the Commission will make its recommendations within 18 months of the date of its constitution.
Consider the following statements about the 8th Central Pay Commission: 1. It is a temporary body comprising a Chairperson, one part-time Member and a Member-Secretary. 2. Going by the usual ten-year trend, its recommendations would normally take effect from 1 January 2027. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB says the effect of the 8th CPC recommendations would normally be expected from 01.01.2026, not 2027.
According to PIB, how many member and signatory countries does the International Solar Alliance have as of October 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 125
PIB: the ISA, launched in 2015 by India and France at COP21 in Paris, has 125 member and signatory countries.
On which date did 15 countries sign and ratify the ISA Framework Agreement, making ISA the first international intergovernmental organisation headquartered in India?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 6 December 2017
PIB: on 6 December 2017, 15 countries signed and ratified the ISA Framework Agreement, making ISA the first international intergovernmental organisation to be headquartered in India.
Consider the following statements: 1. President Droupadi Murmu's address at the Eighth Session of the ISA Assembly was the first-ever address by a President of India to the ISA Assembly. 2. The International Solar Alliance was launched by India and France at COP21 in Paris in 2015. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per PIB: it was the first-ever address by an Indian President to the ISA Assembly, and ISA was launched in 2015 by India and France at COP21 in Paris.
Near which place did Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha cross the Andhra Pradesh-Yanam coast around midnight of 28-29 October 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Narsapur
IMD: Montha crossed the coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, to the south of Kakinada, close to Narsapur.
Consider the following statements about Cyclone Montha: 1. It crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts as a Severe Cyclonic Storm. 2. By 8:30 am on 29 October 2025 it had weakened into a Deep Depression over coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining Telangana. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per IMD's 29 October 2025 press release.
Where did the Department of Telecommunications set up a 24x7 control room ahead of Cyclone Montha?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Vijayawada
DoT established a 24x7 control room at its Andhra Pradesh LSA office in Vijayawada.
How much did the National Biodiversity Authority release to Red Sanders farmers in Tamil Nadu under the Access and Benefit Sharing framework in October 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — ₹55 lakh to 18 farmers
PIB: NBA released ₹55 lakh to 18 farmers/cultivators of Red Sanders in Tamil Nadu through the State Biodiversity Board.
What is the scientific name of Red Sanders?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Pterocarpus santalinus
PIB refers to Red Sanders as Pterocarpus santalinus.
According to the National Biodiversity Authority, Red Sanders is endemic to the Eastern Ghats and found naturally in which state alone?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Andhra Pradesh
PIB: Red Sanders, an endemic species to the Eastern Ghats, is found in Andhra Pradesh alone; it is cultivated in other states too.
The GI-tagged Indi lime, shipped by air to the UK for the first time on 28 October 2025, comes from which district of Karnataka?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Vijayapura
PIB: 350 kg of GI-tagged Indi Lime from Vijayapura, Karnataka was part of the consignment.
Puliyankudi, often called the 'Lemon City of Tamil Nadu', lies in which district?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Tenkasi
PIB: Puliyankudi, often referred to as the 'Lemon City of Tamil Nadu', lies in Tenkasi district.
When did the Puliyankudi lime officially receive its Geographical Indication (GI) tag?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — April 2025
PIB: the Puliyankudi lime officially received its GI tag in April 2025.
What was the year-on-year growth of India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP) in September 2025 as per the quick estimate?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 4.0%
MoSPI: IIP recorded 4.0% year-on-year growth in September 2025.
What was the growth rate of the manufacturing sector in the IIP for September 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 4.8%
Manufacturing grew 4.8% in September 2025; electricity grew 3.1%.
Which of the three IIP sectors recorded negative growth in September 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Mining
Mining contracted by 0.4% in September 2025, while manufacturing (4.8%) and electricity (3.1%) grew.
According to NITI Aayog's report released on 28 October 2025, the services sector contributed nearly what share of India's national GVA in 2024-25?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 55%
The report states that services contributed nearly 55 per cent of national GVA in 2024-25.
NITI Aayog's twin reports on the services sector, released on 28 October 2025, were the inaugural reports under which series?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Services Thematic Series
PIB: CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam launched two inaugural reports under the Services Thematic Series.
What is the tentative budgetary requirement approved for Nutrient Based Subsidy on P&K fertilisers for Rabi 2025-26?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — About ₹37,952 crore
PIB: the tentative budgetary requirement for Rabi 2025-26 is approximately ₹37,952.29 crore, about ₹736 crore more than Kharif 2025.
Since when has subsidy on Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilisers been governed by the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 April 2010
PIB: the subsidy on P&K fertilisers is governed by the NBS Scheme with effect from 01.04.2010.
On which date was the Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) platform launched by the Prime Minister?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 31 October 2023
PIB: MY Bharat was launched on 31 October 2023 by PM Narendra Modi on National Unity Day.
The MY Bharat platform is designed for youth in which age group?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 15-29 years
PIB: MY Bharat is a one-stop solution for youth aged 15-29 years.
SECL's India Post special cover of October 2025 marked Coal India's Golden Jubilee and SECL's Ruby Jubilee. Which SECL mine does PIB describe as the largest coal mine in Asia?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Gevra
PIB: SECL's Gevra Mine is the largest coal mine in Asia.
The ₹20 crore released in advance to Nagaland in October 2025 was the second instalment of the Central share of which fund?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — State Disaster Response Fund
PIB: ₹20 crore was released as the 2nd instalment of the Central share of SDRF to Nagaland for 2025-26.