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

The Kaushalya Dam is located near Pinjore in Haryana on the Kaushalya river, a tributary of Ghaggar. It plays a vital role in flood management and water storage in the Ghaggar basin; Haryana is the only state with such a dam on this river.

The Ghaggar River, known as the “River of Sorrow” due to frequent floods, is located in the Malwa region of Punjab, particularly affecting districts like Patiala, Sangrur, and Mansa. The river is seasonal and originates in the Shivalik foothills of Himachal Pradesh, flowing into Punjab near Dera Bassi, where its sudden surges during the monsoon can cause significant damage. Its unpredictable flooding, worsened by embankment issues and encroachments, has triggered disasters in 1988, 1993, 2008, 2019, and 2023.

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which includes the Gulf Stream, circulates warm water from the tropics northwards and cold water south; its collapse, as warned in recent studies, could disrupt global climate, impact rainfall and temperature patterns, and is weaker than at any point in 1,600 years.

Rapid warming of the Mediterranean has led to higher sea temperatures, attracting jellyfish and the Portuguese man o’ war—prey for blue dragons. As these food sources increase, blue dragons follow, disrupting marine ecosystems. Climate change underlies this rare phenomenon.

The court determined that Trump’s invocation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 1977 to implement tariffs was incompatible with the intent of the law. IEEPA is traditionally used to address significant international threats, such as crises involving national security or foreign policy—not for economic trade imbalances. Previous presidents have used the act for events like the 1979 Iran hostage crisis or after the 9/11 attacks. The court clarified that IEEPA does not justify tariffs of unlimited scope, specifically in trade deficit contexts.

Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) has launched Operation SWARNA (Swarnamukhi Waterbody Action for River and Nala Awareness). The plan aims to rescue Swarnamukhi River from land grabbers, revive its flow area and rejuvenate it for long-term sustenance. Swarnamukhi River is an east-flowing river in Andhra Pradesh with a catchment area of 3,225 sq.km. It originates near Pakala village, Chittoor district at 300 m elevation in the Eastern Ghats. The river runs 130 km northeast, passing through Tirupati hills before joining the Bay of Bengal. Swarnamukhi is an independent river system, relying mainly on rainfall in its upper catchment for flow.

Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2025 report by the Energy Policy Institute, University of Chicago, shows air pollution is India’s top health threat. Dirty air cuts 3.5 years from average life expectancy, higher than malnutrition (1.6 years), tobacco use (1.5 years), and unsafe water (8.4 months). All 1.4 billion Indians live in areas exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) safe PM2.5 limit of 5 µg/m³. Northern India is the world’s most polluted region. Delhi-NCR residents face the highest loss with 8.2 years of life expectancy cut due to air pollution. Bihar residents lose 5.6 years of life expectancy. Haryana residents lose 5.3 years of life expectancy. The report urges urgent emission control to prevent loss of healthy years due to toxic air.

United States (U.S.) and Japan are holding a joint military exercise where the Typhon intermediate-range missile system will be temporarily deployed in Japan. The Typhon missile system, also known as Mid-Range Capability (MRC) or Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF), was developed by the United States and manufactured by Lockheed Martin. It uses a modular design that allows it to fire SM-6 missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles. SM-6 missiles can engage targets beyond 320 km, while Tomahawk missiles offer deep-strike capability up to 1,500 km. The system is containerized, road-mobile, and highly survivable, allowing rapid deployment across allied regions.

For decades, aspirin was the main drug to prevent heart attacks and strokes. A new study presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress and published in The Lancet shows clopidogrel, a blood-thinning antiplatelet drug, may be more effective. Review of seven clinical trials with 29,000 coronary artery disease patients found clopidogrel 14% more effective than aspirin in lowering major cardiovascular risks. Importantly, there was no higher risk of serious bleeding compared to aspirin. Clopidogrel (a P2Y₁₂ inhibitor) works by blocking platelet receptors to stop dangerous blood clots. It is low-cost, widely available, and safe, making it a strong candidate to replace aspirin in treatment guidelines.

Concerns were recently raised about unauthorised road construction and repair inside Srivilliputhur–Meghamalai Tiger Reserve (SMTR) in Theni district, Tamil Nadu. It was created in February 2021 by merging the Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary and Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary. It spans Theni, Virudhunagar, and Madurai districts in Tamil Nadu. The reserve links Kerala’s Periyar Tiger Reserve with Tamil Nadu’s Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, ensuring wildlife corridor connectivity. It depends on Vaigai, Suruliyaru, and Shanmuganathi rivers for water resources.

Assam will likely get the 16th-century “Vrindavani Vastra” from the British Museum in London for exhibition in 2027. The Vrindavani Vastra is a silk textile woven in Assam. It depicts childhood stories and divine pastimes of Lord Krishna in Vrindavan. It was created under the guidance of Vaishnav saint Srimanta Sankardeva. Koch king Nara Narayan commissioned it and gave refuge to Sankardeva after conflict with the Ahom kingdom. The textile travelled from Assam to Tibet and was acquired by the British Museum in 1904. It is a sacred masterpiece and central to Assamese Vaishnavism.

A team of Indian and international researchers has discovered a new diatom species named Climaconeis heteropolaris in Udupi estuarine waters. It was found where the Sita and Swarna rivers meet before entering the Arabian Sea, Karnataka. Diatoms are photosynthetic, single-celled microscopic algae forming a key part of phytoplankton. They are found in lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and oceans worldwide. Some float freely in water, while others attach to plants, rocks, or sediments as benthic diatoms. Diatoms produce oxygen, support aquatic life, and generate up to 50% of global atmospheric oxygen annually. They are vital in nutrient cycling of both marine and freshwater ecosystems.

The National Annual Report & Index on Women’s Safety (NARI) 2025 was released by the National Commission for Women (NCW). The survey covered 12,770 women across 31 cities in India. The national safety score is 65%, meaning 40% of women feel unsafe despite government assurances. 60% of women reported feeling safe, while younger women under 24 reported harassment at 14%, double the national average. Kohima, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar and Mumbai are the safest cities. Patna, Jaipur, Faridabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Srinagar and Ranchi are the least safe cities. The report frames women’s safety as a developmental issue, encompassing physical, psychological, financial, and digital security.

Swedish defense company Saab announced the development of a new missile named Nimbrix. Nimbrix is a counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) missile designed to target small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It is Saab’s first dedicated C-UAS missile. The missile is designed to minimize costs using additive manufacturing and commercial and military off-the-shelf parts. It is a fire-and-forget guided missile with a range of up to 5 km. It uses an active seeker to track targets.

India unveiled its first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor, Vikram 3201, at Semicon India 2025. It is designed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) and fabricated by Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Chandigarh. Vikram 3201 is designed specifically for rockets and satellites, unlike processors in smartphones or laptops. It is an upgrade of Vikram 1601, a 16-bit processor used in ISRO launch vehicles since 2009. The processor manages navigation, control, and mission management in launch vehicles. The launch supports India’s semiconductor self-reliance, with five units under construction under the Design-Linked Incentive scheme.

The Union Cabinet approved a Rs.1,500 crore Incentive Scheme to recycle critical minerals from secondary sources. This scheme is part of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) to build domestic capacity and strengthen supply chain resilience. The scheme will run for six years from Financial Year (FY) 2025-26 to FY 2030-31. The total outlay of the scheme is Rs.1,500 crore. The scheme will benefit large recyclers, small recyclers and start-ups with one-third of the funds reserved for them. It will support investments in new units, expansion of capacity, modernization and diversification of existing units. The scheme will incentivize only those involved in actual extraction of critical minerals and not those doing only black mass production.

Less than 40% of India’s Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) have received a Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card. More than 11 lakh applications are pending, with 60% delayed for more than six months. The UDID sub-scheme under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) creates a national database and enables access to schemes. UDID cards allow PwDs to get benefits like Assistance to Persons with Disabilities (ADIP) scheme, scholarships, and job reservations. Coverage is above 50% only in Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Odisha, and Karnataka, while West Bengal has just 6%.

Scientists have found that tiny interstellar dust grains act as storytellers of the universe. A team led by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, provided the strongest observational evidence of how these dust grains align with magnetic fields in the Milky Way. Dust grains are a few micrometers in size, made of silicates and carbonaceous material, and exist throughout the interstellar medium. They play a key role in star and planet formation and cause starlight polarization detected since 1949.

Personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Chhattisgarh Police, District Reserve Guard (DRG), and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were felicitated in New Delhi for ‘Operation Black Forest’. ‘Operation Black Forest’ is the biggest anti-Naxal operation ever on Karreguttalu hill along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. The operation destroyed a major Naxal base camp, including material dumps and supply chains, despite extreme heat, high altitude, and threats from improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The government aims to make India Naxal-free by March 31, 2026.

Only 17.2% of India’s suitable habitat for Dalbergia latifolia (Indian rosewood) lies within protected areas, according to the Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST), Bengaluru. The species is native to Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris, Anamalai, and Parambikulam ranges. Field studies across 12 States (2019–2025) show Tamil Nadu has the lowest rosewood density at 2.85 trees per 0.1 hectare. Karnataka showed a higher density of 6.19 trees per 0.1 hectare, and Kerala had 5.38 trees per 0.1 hectare. Indian rosewood improves soil fertility, acts as a carbon sink, and is a keystone ecological species. Economically, it is called “Ivory of the Forests,” used in furniture, musical instruments, and handicrafts.

Acanthamoeba, a free-living amoeba, is now a public health concern in Kerala causing eye (keratitis) and brain infections (amoebic meningoencephalitis). Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba found in water, soil, dust, swimming pools, hot tubs, and drinking water systems. It can also exist in humidifiers and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. It causes infections in brain, skin, eyes, and sinuses. It enters through cuts, wounds, inhalation, or contact lens use.

Union Minister of State for Ayush inaugurated the National Ayush Mission (NAM) and Capacity Building Summit at All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi. The event was organised by the Ministry of Ayush. It focused on six key areas: Financial Management, Ayush-Modern Healthcare Integration, Human Resource Strengthening, Infrastructure & Service Delivery, Quality Assurance of ASU&H Medicines, and Digital Services. Ayurveda Day will now be celebrated on 23 September every year, with the 10th anniversary theme “Ayurveda for People and Planet.”

India’s Crude Birth Rate (CBR) declined from 19.1 in 2022 to 18.4 in 2023, a fall of 0.7 points. Total Fertility Rate (TFR) fell for the first time in two years to 1.9 in 2023 from 2.0 in 2021–22. Bihar reported the highest CBR at 25.8, while Tamil Nadu had the lowest at 12. Bihar also had the highest TFR at 2.8, while Delhi reported the lowest at 1.2. 18 States and Union Territories (UTs) recorded TFR below the replacement level of 2.1. Northern States with above-replacement TFR include Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. Data comes from the Sample Registration Survey (SRS) 2023 released by the Registrar General of India.

India’s largest Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery manufacturing plant was inaugurated in Haryana on 5 September 2025. When fully operational, it will produce 20 crore battery packs annually, meeting nearly 40% of India’s 50 crore pack requirement. The plant was set up under the Centre’s Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) scheme. Li-ion batteries are rechargeable, with lithium ions moving between graphite (negative electrode) and lithium metal oxides (positive electrode) through a non-aqueous electrolyte. They offer high energy density (75-200 Wh/kg), are lightweight, use fewer toxic metals, and provide good cycle stability and efficiency. They have low self-discharge and no memory effect, ensuring reliable performance.

Shri Manohar Lal, Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, launched Angikaar 2025 on 4th September 2025 in New Delhi under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0). The campaign will run till 31st October 2025 across 5,000+ Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) with door-to-door awareness, camps, loan melas and cultural events. It aims to accelerate PMAY-U 2.0, fast-track verification of applications, and complete pending houses. Focus is on Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Trust for Low Income Housing (CRGFTLIH), PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, and Special Focus Groups. Under PMAY-U, 120 lakh houses sanctioned, 94.11 lakh completed, rest targeted via Angikaar 2025. PMAY-U 2.0 launched in September 2024 to give ₹2.50 lakh financial support to 1 crore additional urban families.