Weekly Current Affairs Test : 1st to 7th August 2025

Recently, the Barbados threadsnake, world’s smallest-known snake, was rediscovered in Barbados after nearly 20 years. It belongs to species Tetracheilostoma carlae, named by scientist S. Blair Hedges in 2008. It has pale yellow dorsal lines and eyes on the side of its head. It is blind, burrows underground, feeds on termites and ants, and lays one slender egg. It is Critically Endangered as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Recently Indian Railways commissioned Kavach 4.0 on the Mathura Kota section of the Delhi Mumbai route. Kavach 4.0 is an advanced automatic train protection system developed by Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO) of Indian Railways to enhance safety and efficiency in train operations. It aims to reduce accidents by controlling train speeds and minimizing human errors using advanced technology. Kavach is designed at Safety Integrity Level 4 SIL 4 which is the highest safety standard. Kavach was first tested in South Central Railway from 2015 and got operational certification in 2018.

Infrastructure work on Bhutan’s 1125 MW Dorjilung Hydropower Project began recently. This marks deeper India-Bhutan economic diplomacy with private sector involvement. Tata Power Company Limited from India is partnering with Bhutan’s Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) in a joint venture. Dorjilung is a run-of-river project located in Lhuentse and Mongar districts of Bhutan on the Kurichhu River. It houses six Francis turbines to produce 4.5 terawatt-hours (TWh) annually.

Recently, the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) launched the “Saksham Niveshak” campaign. It is a 100-day national drive running from 28th July to 6th November 2025. IEPFA works under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The campaign aims to help shareholders reclaim unclaimed dividends held by companies. It guides investors to update their Know Your Customer (KYC) and nomination details. Companies are encouraged to proactively contact shareholders to recover pending dividends.

Recently, China faced Typhoon Co-May and tsunami threats from an 8.8-magnitude earthquake near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. Typhoon Co-May, locally called Zhu Jie Cao, hit Shanghai with strong winds of 83 km/h and heavy rain. Nearly 2.83 lakh people were evacuated from Shanghai and nearby areas. A level-one emergency response was issued for flood and typhoon control.

Recently, on 31 July 2025, warship Himgiri (Yard 3022) was delivered to the Indian Navy at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. It is the third ship of the Nilgiri Class under Project 17A (P17A) and the first built by GRSE. Project 17A frigates are multi-mission stealth warships designed for future maritime challenges. Himgiri revives the legacy of INS Himgiri, a Leander-class frigate decommissioned in 2005. It features advanced stealth, firepower, automation, and survivability

Recently, Sikkim became the first Indian state to launch a formal Sabbatical Leave scheme for its government employees. The scheme was introduced in August 2023 for regular employees with at least five years of continuous service. Eligible employees can take leave from 365 days up to 1,080 days with 50% of their basic pay during leave. Their seniority and continuity of service are protected during the leave period. The government can recall an employee anytime with a one-month notice.

Recently, Kerala High Court directed the State Government and State Wetland Authority Kerala (SWAK) to set up an Ashtamudi Wetland Management Unit within two months of notification. The direction aims to conserve the Ashtamudi wetland, which is facing pollution and encroachment issues. Ashtamudi Lake is located in Kollam district, Kerala. It is the second largest lake in Kerala after Vembanad Lake. It was declared a Ramsar site in 2002 under the Ramsar Convention for wetland conservation.

Recently, in the Rajya Sabha, Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal shared updates on the Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Service) programme. As of now, 9,261 Pro Bono Advocates are registered on the platform. Pro Bono Advocate Panels have been formed in 23 High Courts. Till 30 June 2025, around 14,888 women have sought legal help on the app for issues like domestic violence, property, workplace harassment, etc. Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Service) is an initiative of the Department of Justice, Government of India. It aims to provide free legal aid to marginalized sections of society by connecting them with volunteer lawyers through a mobile application. It falls under the “Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice” (DISHA) scheme

Recently, the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) launched two key schemes—Swayamshakti Sahakar Yojna and Nandini Sahakar—to empower women-led cooperatives. Swayamshakti Sahakar Yojna aims to provide low-cost credit to women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and cooperatives for sustainable livelihood activities. It targets Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs), State Cooperative Banks (StCBs), and federated SHG cooperatives. The scheme boosts financial inclusion and promotes self-reliance among rural women. Nandini Sahakar provides holistic support including financial aid, capacity building, and business model development.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to launch the Block 2 BlueBird communication satellite in 3–4 months. BlueBird is developed by U.S.-based AST SpaceMobile. The launch will take place from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, using Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3), formerly GSLV-Mk III. This follows ISRO’s successful launch of NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission on July 30 using GSLV. BlueBird is an advanced American satellite designed for direct smartphone-to-satellite communication. It enables users to make calls and access internet directly from space without ground towers.

Scientists and tribal farmers from Northeast India urged the Central Government to include Mithun (Bos frontalis) under the National Livestock Mission (NLM). Mithun is a semi-domesticated bovine species native to Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and parts of Assam. India hosts 95% of the global mithun population, with 91% found in Arunachal Pradesh alone, as per the 2019 livestock census. Mithun is the state animal of both Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland and holds ecological, economic, and cultural importance.

Rajasthan Forest Department recently altered the boundaries of Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary (NWS), reportedly benefiting luxury hotels and commercial establishments within the sanctuary and its Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ). The move was submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) without approval from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), violating Section 26A of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Rajasthan. It is named after Nahargarh Fort, built in the 18th century by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, founder of Jaipur.

Recently, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari received the 43rd Lokmanya Tilak National Award in Pune. The award was instituted in 1983 by the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust. It is given annually on 1st August, the death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak. The award honours individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the progress and development of the nation. Lokmanya Tilak was born as Keshav Gangadhar Tilak and was a key figure in India’s freedom struggle. He was a nationalist, social reformer, and strong advocate of Swaraj or Self-Rule.

Recently, Telangana Police rescued over 7,600 children under the nationwide Operation Muskaan-XI initiative. The month-long drive ended on 31st July and was led by the Women Safety Wing. It was conducted in coordination with the Women Development and Child Welfare Department, Labour Department, health officials, NGOs, and child protection units. Out of the rescued children, 529 were girls.

The United States military unveiled a mockup of China’s HQ-16 missile at the Experimental Aircraft Association ‘AirVenture Show’ in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. HQ-16 is a Chinese Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system with NATO name CH-SA 16. It is based on Russia’s Buk missile family. It is designed to target aircraft, cruise missiles, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It uses a vertical launch system for 360-degree coverage in complex terrains.

India has revived the 1,856-MW Sawalkote Hydroelectric Power Project on the Chenab River after keeping the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance since April. The project, first conceived in the 1960s, was delayed due to Indus Water Treaty restrictions and Pakistan’s objections. It is a 2,185 megawatt (MW) run-of-the-river hydroelectric project in Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir. It will be the largest hydropower project in the Union Territory and one of the biggest in North India. It is being developed by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDC).

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently approved the recruitment of 58,000 more personnel for the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). This move prepares CISF for securing future industrial hubs in Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas. CISF is a Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, headquartered in New Delhi. CISF was established in 1969 through the CISF Act, 1968, with an initial strength of just three battalions. It was declared an Armed Force of the Union in 1983 after amending the Act.

Telangana has recorded the highest number of organ donations in India. The state was awarded by the Central Government on National Organ Donation Day in Delhi. Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash (J.P.) Nadda gave the award to Telangana’s Jeevandan programme team. As per the Union Health Ministry, Telangana had 4.88 organ donations per 10 lakh population in 2024. The national average for organ donation stood at 0.8 per 10 lakh population. The award was given by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO).

India lacks a comprehensive data-based flood severity index despite frequent and damaging floods in many regions. To address this, researchers from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and IIT Gandhinagar developed a District Flood Severity Index (DFSI). DFSI is based on mean flood duration, percentage of historically flooded area, total deaths, injuries, and district population. Districts were chosen as the analysis unit since they are key for administrative planning and flood management in India.

Rising tensions between the United States (US) and Russia have brought focus back to the RS-28 Sarmat Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), also called ‘Satan 2’ by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Russia showcased the missile after the US reportedly deployed two nuclear submarines near Russian waters. The RS-28 is a super-heavy, liquid-fueled ICBM with a massive range of up to 18,000 kilometers, enabling it to strike any global target. It is designed to replace the Soviet-era R-36M and was first successfully tested on April 20, 2022. The missile can carry 10–15 nuclear warheads using Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.

The critically endangered Asian Giant Tortoise has been reintroduced into Zeliang Community Reserve in Peren district, Nagaland. The initiative was led by the Nagaland Forest Department and the India Turtle Conservation Programme (ITCP). These tortoises were born in 2019 under a conservation project that began in 2018 with rescued pet tortoises. The species, once common in Nagaland, had nearly vanished over a decade ago. Also known as “small elephants of the forest,” they aid in seed dispersal, forest regeneration, and cleaning the forest floor. A habitat suitability study identified Zeliang Reserve as ideal for reintroduction.

Seeds of seabuckthorn and Himalayan tartary buckwheat grown in Ladakh’s cold desert are part of NASA’s Crew-11 experiment on the International Space Station (ISS). The seeds were sourced by Indian space start-up Protoplanet based in Bengaluru. The mission launched on August 1, 2025, from Florida and docked at ISS on August 2, 2025. The experiment aims to test how seeds react to space stress and microgravity before germination. It focuses on gene activation and metabolic processes vital for space agriculture. Himalayan tartary buckwheat and seabuckthorn are rich in nutrients and suitable for long-duration space missions.

NITI Aayog recently launched the India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI). India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) is a first-of-its-kind tool to track and rank States and Union Territories (UTs) on electric mobility progress. It evaluates all States and UTs out of 100 across 16 indicators under 3 core themes. Transport Electrification Progress measures electric vehicle (EV) adoption on the demand side. Charging Infrastructure Readiness tracks EV charging network development. EV Research and Innovation Status evaluates supply-side research and development.

Russia recently signed a key nuclear agreement with Niger, strengthening its influence in the Sahel region of West Africa. The Sahel region is located in Africa, forming a 5,000-kilometre-long semi-arid belt. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Red Sea in the east. It lies between the Sahara Desert in the north and the humid savannas in the south. It passes through African countries like Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, and Eritrea.

The Indian government has deactivated over 4 crore fake or inactive LPG connections under the PAHAL scheme, as informed recently in Parliament. PAHAL (Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh) is a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for LPG subsidies launched by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Under the scheme, consumers pay the full market price for LPG, and the subsidy is directly transferred to their registered bank account. It is the world’s largest cash transfer program, covering over 17 crore LPG users. The scheme ensures transparency, removes middlemen, and prevents diversion of LPG.

Indian space-tech startup Dhruva Space is set to launch its first commercial satellite mission named LEAP-1. LEAP-1 will carry payloads for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Earth observation. It uses the indigenously developed P-30 satellite platform, which was space-qualified on ISRO’s PSLV-C58 in January 2024 during the LEAP-TD mission. The mission is jointly developed by Dhruva Space, Akula Tech (Australia), and Esper Satellites (Australia).

NITI Aayog released a report titled ‘Unlocking a $200 Billion Opportunity: Electric Vehicles in India’ to accelerate India’s electric mobility shift. India aims for 30% electric vehicle (EV) share in total vehicle sales by 2030. EV sales in India rose from 50,000 in 2016 to 2.08 million in 2024. In contrast, global EV sales rose from 918,000 in 2016 to 18.78 million in 2024. India’s EV penetration grew from one-fifth of global levels in 2020 to over two-fifth in 2024, showing steady progress. The report was based on 7 stakeholder consultations held at NITI Aayog. It highlights key challenges, strategic unlocks, and next steps to fast-track EV adoption.

On August 5, 2025, the Ministry of Textiles launched the “Haat on Wheels” during the 11th National Handloom Day celebrations in New Delhi. It is a mobile handloom retail platform aimed at promoting authentic Indian handloom products in urban areas. The initiative is implemented in partnership with the National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC). It promotes the theme “My Handloom, My Pride; My Product, My Pride”. The mobile vans travel across Delhi NCR, covering markets, residential areas, and cultural spots. It showcases 116 traditional weaves from various regions of India.

Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina 2.0 scheme in Guwahati. The scheme provides monthly financial support to increase girls’ enrolment in higher education. Application forms were ceremonially distributed at Gauhati University and across the state. Nijut Moina 2.0 is a flagship initiative to reduce school dropout rates and empower girl students. Girls from all families, regardless of economic status, are eligible for the scheme.