Current Affair MCQ for 2025-08-06

Notes: 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.

Notes: 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.

Notes: 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.

Notes: 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.

Notes: 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.