Weekly Current Affairs Test : 8th to 14th August 2025

A new species of rain snake named Smithophis leptofasciatus was recently discovered by researchers from Mizoram University. The species belongs to the Smithophis genus, known for semi-aquatic snakes found in rain-prone areas. The name leptofasciatus means “narrow-banded” in Greek and Latin, describing its unique dorsal markings. It is commonly called the narrow-banded rain snake. It was found in tropical montane forests of Mizoram at elevations between 900–1,200 meters. With this discovery, the total number of known Smithophis species becomes five, all from northeastern India and nearby regions.

National Commission for Women (NCW) launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy Program named “Yashoda AI” in May 2025. The program aims to equip women across India with AI literacy for better digital inclusion. It focuses on empowering women in areas like cyber security, digital privacy, and safe online practices. Till date, around 2500 women from rural and semi-urban areas have received training under this program. Beneficiaries include Self-Help Group (SHG) members, elected representatives like Sarpanchs, MLAs, ASHA workers, students, faculty, micro-entrepreneurs, police, and government officials. This update was shared by Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur in Rajya Sabha.

India has achieved a record-low price of ₹55.75/kg for Green Ammonia in the first Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) auction. This milestone was achieved under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Scheme. The scheme is a flagship financial component of the National Green Hydrogen Mission. The scheme aims to scale up green hydrogen production and use in India. It seeks to make green hydrogen cost-competitive with fossil fuels. It also focuses on creating domestic demand in key sectors like industry and transport.

An albino Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata) with a bright yellow shell and skin was recently spotted in a freshwater lake at Chikodra village, Gujarat. It is found in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, inhabiting shallow, quiet, stagnant waters like rivers, ponds, lakes, marshes, canals, and tanks, preferring sand or mud bottoms for burrowing. The species is identified by femoral flaps that cover its limbs when withdrawn and an oval soft shell. It is classified as Vulnerable under the IUCN Red List.

Kabak Yano, a mountaineer from Arunachal Pradesh, has successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak. She is on a Seven Summits expedition to scale the tallest peaks on all seven continents. Mount Kilimanjaro, located in northeastern Tanzania near the Kenya border, stands 5,895 meters above sea level. It is Africa’s tallest peak and the world’s highest free-standing mountain. Kilimanjaro is a stratovolcano with three cones — Kibo (dormant), Mawenzi, and Shira (both extinct).

Recently, a sudden landslide at the under-construction Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project in Helang, Chamoli, Uttarakhand injured 12 workers, with 4 critically hurt. It is located is on the Alaknanda River, a major tributary of the Ganga River, in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. It is a 444-megawatt run-of-river scheme expected to generate 1,665 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually.

Recently, the United States deployed its “Dark Eagle” Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) during the Talisman Sabre military drills in Australia. The Dark Eagle hypersonic missile system is developed by the United States. It is designed for strategic attack missions to penetrate anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) defenses and deliver rapid precision strikes. The land-based weapon can hit targets up to 1,700 miles (2,735 km) away.

World Tribal Day is observed every year on August 9 to protect the rights of indigenous people worldwide. It is also called World Indigenous Day or International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. The 2025 theme is “Indigenous Peoples and Artificial Intelligence – Defending Rights, Shaping the Future. The United Nations General Assembly declared this observance in December 1994. The date marks the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in Geneva in 1982.

The Ministry of Law and Justice launched the Notary Portal to provide online services under the Notaries Act, 1952 and Notaries Rules, 1956. It connects Notaries appointed by the Central Government with the Government of India for various services. The portal ensures a faceless, paperless, transparent, and efficient system. Currently, modules for eligibility verification and issuance of digitally signed Certificates of Practice to new Notaries are live. As of 31 July 2025, over 34,900 such certificates have been issued across States and Union Territories. This information was shared by Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal in the Rajya Sabha.

Recently, the Great Barrier Reef recorded its steepest decline in hard coral cover in nearly 40 years due to climate change-induced heat stress, cyclones, and coral-eating starfish outbreaks. It is located in the Coral Sea, off northeastern Australia. It is the world’s longest and largest reef complex and the largest living structure on Earth. It stretches over 2,000 km, covering around 350,000 sq. km, and forms about 10% of global coral reef ecosystems. It consists of about 2,100 individual reefs and 800 fringing reefs, with 400 coral types, 1,500 fish species, and 4,000 mollusk species.

Scientists have recently discovered a new plant species, Heptapleurum assamicum, in Assam’s Dima Hasao and West Karbi Anglong districts. It is a lush evergreen shrub from the family Araliaceae, which includes the ornamental umbrella plant. It has narrow lance-shaped leaflets under 1.2 cm wide and purple flowers instead of greenish-yellow. Its population is very small and localised, and it is listed as “Data Deficient” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Recently, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs informed the Rajya Sabha about the success of the Madak-Padarth Nished Asoochna Kendra (MANAS) Helpline-1933. It was launched on 18 July 2024 by Ministry of Home Affairs. It aims to fight drug menace and enable anonymous reporting of drug trafficking, illicit cultivation, and related crimes. It is a secure, bilingual digital platform offering a confidential multi-channel interface. Citizens can report drug crimes, seek counselling via Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) Helpline 14446, and access awareness resources. It also engages citizens in Drug-Free Bharat activities via quizzes, posters, and contests on MyGov.

Recently, the Sea of Galilee in Israel turned red due to the bloom of Botryococcus braunii algae. The Sea of Galilee is a large freshwater lake located in northeastern Israel. It lies in the Jordan Rift Valley, mainly fed by the Jordan River and some underground springs. Known by names like Sea of Kinneret, Lake of Gennesaret, and Lake of Tiberias, it is bordered by plains in the north and hills of Lower Galilee in the west and southwest. Botryococcus braunii is a single-celled green algae found in freshwater or brackish lakes, known for producing hydrocarbons and forming protective biofilm structures.

Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) certified Kenya as having eliminated human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness. It is a parasitic disease spread by infected tsetse fly bites, endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. It has two forms: Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (92% cases, chronic, found in West and Central Africa) and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (8% cases, acute, found in East and Southern Africa). Rural communities relying on farming, fishing, herding, or hunting face higher risk. WHO has validated the gambiense form’s elimination in Togo, Benin, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Chad, Guinea, and now Kenya.

Recently, under the three-day “Parthenium Free Pobitora” campaign, 5.2 hectares of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam’s Morigaon district were cleared of the invasive weed Parthenium grass. Parthenium hysterophorus L., also called carrot weed, white top, or congress grass, is an annual plant of the Asteraceae family. This invasive weed is poisonous, aggressive, and harmful to humans and livestock, causing dermatitis, asthma, and respiratory issues. It reduces park aesthetics, blocks pathways, and invades agricultural, forest, and wasteland areas.

Recent research discovered a new genus and two new species of freshwater crabs named Kasargodia sheebae and Pilarta vaman in the Western Ghats of Kerala. They belong to the freshwater crab family Gecarcinucidae. Kasargodia sheebae’s genus name is derived from Kasargod, the northernmost district of Kerala. It has a brownish-orange carapace with many black spots and orange claws with black spots. Pilarta vaman is named after Vaman, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, referring to its small size.

Recently, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis launched the ‘Garud Drishti’ social media monitoring and cyber intelligence project in Nagpur to curb online hate, misinformation, and cybercrime. ₹10 crore recovered from cybercrime cases was distributed to victims during the event. The tool will help police detect hate posts, anti-India propaganda, caste-tension content, and online drug sales. It will be extended to other units to strengthen state-wide law and order.

Recently, Rajasthan launched India’s first drone-based artificial rain trial at Ramgarh Dam, shifting from aeroplane-assisted to unmanned aerial vehicles for cloud seeding. The project uses around 60 drones and is a joint effort between the state agriculture department and GenX AI (US and Bengaluru-based). It aims to revive the 129-year-old dam, which has been dry for 20 years. The project involves multi-department coordination with approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for drone use. Cloud seeding uses particles like silver iodide to boost rainfall, with potential up to 20%, though results vary.

The Border Security Force (BSF) launched Operation Alert along the Rajasthan border from 11 to 17 August to strengthen security before Independence Day. The operation includes intensified patrols, drills, and a review of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to counter potential threats. BSF aims to implement strict border management and improve preparedness through monitoring and counterplanning using advanced gadgets.

International Youth Day is celebrated globally every year on August 12 to recognize youth contributions, challenges, and potential. It was first proposed in 1991 at the World Youth Forum in Vienna, Austria. The World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth declared August 12 as International Youth Day in 1999. The United Nations General Assembly endorsed it in December 1999. The first celebration was held on August 12, 2000. The 2025 theme is “Local Youth Actions for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Beyond.”

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved ₹8,146.21 crore for the 700 Megawatt (MW) Tato-II Hydro Electric Project in Shi Yomi district, Arunachal Pradesh. The Tato-II Hydro Electric Project (THEP) is on the Siyom river near Tato village in West Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh. It is a 700 Megawatt (MW) run-of-river project with a reservoir capacity of 56 million cubic meters. The project has 4 turbines of 175 MW each, generating 2,738.06 million units annually. Arunachal Pradesh will get 12% free power and 1% for the Local Area Development Fund (LADF). It is a joint venture between North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd (NEEPCO) and the state government.

The government recently approved four new semiconductor manufacturing projects in Odisha, Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM). India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) is a specialized and independent institution operates under the guidance of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). It operates as a business division within the Digital India Corporation. It aims to create a strong semiconductor and display ecosystem, making India a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design.

Scientists recently discovered possible artefacts of the oldest known Wallacean hominids on Sulawesi island, Indonesia. Earlier, Homo erectus in Wallacea were believed to have settled only on Flores and Luzon islands about 1.02 million years ago. They were thought incapable of long-distance sea travel, making the Sulawesi discovery important for migration theories. Archaeologists from Australia and Indonesia found small, chipped tools in Soppeng, South Sulawesi, used for cutting small animals and carving rocks. Wallacea is a region in Eastern Indonesia, including Sulawesi, Lombok, Flores, Timor, and Sumbawa.

The Minister of State for Jal Shakti recently informed the Lok Sabha about the BHU-NEER Portal. It is a state-of-the-art portal launched in 2024 by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. It aims to regulate groundwater development and management by providing an easy platform for filing No Objection Certificate (NOC) applications for groundwater abstraction. It has a centralized database for groundwater compliance, policies, and sustainable practices. It is meant for industries, infrastructure, and mining projects. It helps enforce guidelines to curb over-extraction and promote sustainable groundwater use.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently launched the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (SHRESTH) virtually. It is India’s first national initiative to benchmark and strengthen state drug regulatory systems using a transparent, data-driven framework. It is proposed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). It ensures consistent drug safety and quality standards. It has 27 indices for manufacturing states and 23 for primarily distribution states, covering themes like human resources, infrastructure, licensing, surveillance, and responsiveness.