Current Affairs Quiz 21st and 22nd October 2025 Quiz

Exp. ANRF Approves Special Purpose Fund and Guidelines to Operationalize ₹1 Lakh Crore RDI Scheme for Private Sector-Led Innovation

The Executive Council of Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has approved the establishment of a Special Purpose Fund (SPF), Implementation Guidelines, and Governance Framework for the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, aimed at boosting private sector-led R&D in sunrise sectors.

The Department of Science & Technology (DST), with inputs from the Departments of Economic Affairs and Expenditure, prepared the Implementation Guidelines and Special Financial Rules, ensuring efficient governance and smooth execution to promote long-term innovation-driven growth.

The RDI scheme will follow a two-tiered funding model, where the SPF under ANRF will manage the ₹1 lakh crore corpus and channel funds to second-level managers like AIFs, DFIs, and NBFCs, who will recommend investments through expert committees operating independently from the government.

Exp. Ministry of Labour & Employment Signs MoU with Zomato to Offer 2.5 Lakh Flexible Livelihood Opportunities Annually via NCS Portal

The Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoLE) signed an MoU with Zomato in New Delhi to enhance access to flexible and technology-enabled livelihood opportunities through the National Career Service (NCS) platform, aiming to integrate platform economy roles into the formal employment system.

The NCS portal, launched in 2015, has mobilised over 7.7 crore vacancies, becoming a vital bridge between job seekers and employers, while this collaboration with Zomato will help connect more youth and women to dignified livelihoods.

Under the new ‘Aggregator’ category, Zomato will list around 2.5 lakh flexible livelihood opportunities annually on the NCS portal, supporting the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) and the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision to expand formalisation and social security coverage for gig and platform workers.

Exp. Arjun Ram Meghwal Launches LIMBS Live Cases Dashboard to Boost Transparency and Efficiency in Government Litigation Management

Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, inaugurated the Live Cases Dashboard of the Legal Information Management and Briefing System (LIMBS) in New Delhi to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in government litigation management.

The dashboard provides real-time information on all cases scheduled for hearing in the next seven days across the Supreme Court, High Courts, and other courts, allowing ministers and officers to monitor updates directly from their offices.

The LIMBS portal currently tracks around 7 lakh live cases from 53 Ministries and Departments, enabling data-driven insights, better inter-ministerial coordination, and promoting the government’s vision of technology-enabled governance.

Exp. Nirmala Sitharaman Inaugurates BioNEST Incubation Centre at IIT Dharwad

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the BioNEST Incubation Centre (BIC) at IIT Dharwad in collaboration with Research and Technology Incubator (dhaRti), aiming to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among students.

The FM emphasized the government’s commitment to sustainable green models and zero emissions by 2047, highlighting support for renewable energy enterprises through subsidies, green bonds, and CSR funds, while noting the need for advanced technology in sectors like steel and cement to reduce emissions.

Sitharaman stressed the importance of industry-academia collaboration, urging technology institutes to update curricula, provide hands-on experience, and help students develop multiple skill sets to meet the evolving needs of the job market and technological advancements.

Exp. Ministry of Social Justice Signs MoUs with Three Universities to Establish New Dr Ambedkar Chairs

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment signed MoUs with three universities—University of Mumbai, Jaipur National University, and G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology—to establish new Dr Ambedkar Chairs promoting research on Dr B R Ambedkar’s vision and philosophy.

The initiative will strengthen policy-oriented research and enhance public awareness on social justice, equality, and empowerment of marginalised communities.

With the addition of these new Chairs, the total number of operational Dr Ambedkar Chairs in India has increased to 28, furthering the goal of building an equitable and inclusive society as envisioned by Dr Ambedkar.

Recent MoU

• Indian Railways to Collaborate with MapmyIndia’s Mappls App to Boost Swadeshi Digital Infrastructure
• Goodluck India Signs Tripartite MoU for DRDO’s AMCA Programme
• SAIL’s MTI Partners with IIM Jammu to Launch Executive Education Programmes for Future-Ready Leaders
• DoP Signs MoU with IIP to Promote Sustainable Packaging and Enhance Postal Efficiency
• GoI partnered with Zepto to enhance employment opportunities

Exp. Fifth Khelo India University Games to Be Held Across 7 Cities in Rajasthan

The fifth Khelo India University Games (KIUG) will be held from November 24 across 7 cities in Rajasthan—Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota, and Bharatpur—with over 5,000 university athletes participating in 23 medal sports and one demonstration sport, Kho-Kho.

Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted that the Rajasthan edition will showcase India’s growing sports ecosystem, inspire students to balance academics and sports, and strengthen the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ through healthy competition.

This year’s medal sports include archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, fencing, football, hockey, judo, kabaddi, mallakhamb, rugby, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, yogasana, cycling, beach volleyball, canoeing, and kayaking, while Kho-Kho will be featured as a demonstration sport.

For the first time, beach volleyball, canoeing and kayaking, and cycling are being introduced in the KIUG programme, reflecting the initiative’s aim to expand sports opportunities and promote talent development nationwide.

Exp. NMDC Steel Becomes First Indian Company to Receive BIS License for Hot Rolled Steel for Pipeline Transportation

NMDC Steel Limited has become the first company in India to receive the BIS license for Hot-Rolled Steel Strip, Sheet, and Plates for Welded Steel Pipes for Pipeline Transportation Systems under IS 18384:2023.

The certification was presented by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) during World Standards Day 2025 in Raipur and received by Shri Amrit Narayan, Chief General Manager (Steel), NMDC Steel, from Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai.

The IS 18384:2023 certification underscores NMDC Steel’s commitment to technological advancement, superior product quality, and sustainable manufacturing for the petroleum and natural gas pipeline sector.

Exp. Allianz Appoints Ritu Arora as Country Head for India to Lead Growth and Investment Strategy

Allianz has appointed Ritu Arora as Country Head for India, effective immediately, to lead the company’s growth strategy in the country.

Previously, Arora served as CEO and CIO of Allianz Investment Management in Asia-Pacific, managing assets of approximately $50 billion across 12 countries and boosting investments in Indian public and private markets.

Ritu Arora has a long-standing career in India’s insurance sector, having held leadership roles at major institutions and being a founding member of PNB MetLife and Canara HSBC Insurance, contributing since the industry’s deregulation in 2003.

Exp. Bharti Airtel Partners with IBM to Expand Cloud Services and Launch Multizone Regions in India

Bharti Airtel has partnered with IBM to offer the tech giant’s services through its Airtel Cloud platform, catering to growing demand for computing capacity.

The partnership enables Airtel Cloud customers to deploy AI-ready servers and other IBM offerings in regulated sectors like banking, healthcare, and government.

IBM and Airtel plan to establish two new Multizone Regions (MZRs) in Mumbai and Chennai to strengthen cloud infrastructure in India.

Airtel’s collaboration with IBM complements its ongoing partnership with Google for a data center in Visakhapatnam, following Google’s $15 billion AI investment plan in Andhra Pradesh.

Exp. 17 October – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Observed annually on 17 October, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty highlights the global commitment to end poverty in all its forms and dimensions.

Theme 2025 – Stop the stigma

The day emphasises the importance of recognising and including the voices of people living in poverty in the fight against inequality and injustice.

It was officially declared by the United Nations in 1992, inspired by Father Joseph Wresinski, founder of the International Movement ATD Fourth World.

Exp. BSNL Launches ₹1 Diwali 4G Plan Offering 30 Days of Free Services for New Customers

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has launched a special ₹1 Diwali 4G plan as a festive offer for new customers across India.

The plan, valid from 15th of this month to 15th of next month, provides 30 days of free mobile services including unlimited calls, 2GB data per day, and 100 SMS per day.

BSNL CMD A. Robert J. Ravi announced that the offer lets users experience the Make-in-India 4G network, along with five additional festive plans for different customer segments.

Exp. 18 October – World Menopause Day

World Menopause Day is observed every year on 18 October to raise awareness about menopause and support women’s health during midlife and beyond.

Theme 2025 – Lifestyle Medicine

The day was established by the International Menopause Society (IMS) in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

It aims to promote understanding of the physical, emotional, and psychological challenges faced by women during menopause.

Q.13. Which team did India defeat to reach the Sultan of Johor Cup final?

भारत ने सुल्तान ऑफ जोहोर कप फाइनल में पहुँचने के लिए किस टीम को हराया?

(a) Australia

(b) England

(c) Malaysia

(d) Germany

(e) South Korea

Ans.13.(c)

Exp. India Beats Malaysia 2-1 to Reach Sultan of Johor Cup Men’s Hockey Final Against Australia

India defeated hosts Malaysia 2–1 in their final pool-stage match to reach the final of the Sultan of Johor Cup Men’s Hockey Tournament in Johor, Malaysia.

Gurjot Singh scored the opening goal for India in the 22nd minute, while Sourabh Anand Kushwaha netted the winning goal from a penalty corner in the 48th minute.

With this victory, India advanced to the final, where they will face Australia in the title clash.

Exp. Armenia Joins IUCN, Boosting Global Biodiversity Conservation and Preparing for COP17

Armenia became the newest State Member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) during the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, highlighting its commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

The membership will provide Armenia access to global expertise, innovative tools, and international partnerships, supporting its preparations to host COP17 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2026.

Armenia, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, is home to diverse habitats and several rare species like the Caucasian leopard, Bezoar goat, and Sevan trout, and continues to advance biodiversity policies, forest restoration, and Nature-based Solutions.

About Armenia

• Capital- Yerevan
• Currency- Armenian Dram
• Official language- Armenian
• Continent- Asia
• Prime minister- Nikol Pashinyan