Current Affair MCQ for 2025-09-30

Notes: India’s first dedicated space astronomy observatory, AstroSat, completed 10 years of operation on 28 September 2025. It was launched on 28 September 2015 by PSLV-C30 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C30) XL from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. Though designed for 5 years, it continues to provide valuable data after a decade. AstroSat studies the universe across multi-wavelengths: UV (Ultraviolet), Visible, Low and High Energy X-rays. It was developed by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) with collaboration from Indian institutes and partners from Canada and the UK.

Notes: A biodiversity survey recently recorded Beddome’s cat skink (Ristella beddomii) for the first time at Aralam and Kottiyoor Wildlife Sanctuaries. It is also known as Beddome’s ristella and is named after Richard Henry Beddome, a British naturalist. The species is rare and endemic to the Western Ghats. It is a small reddish brown lizard with retractile claws and bicarinate scales. Skink is the common name of lizards in the family Scincidae and this reptile group has existed since the dinosaur era.

Notes: The Indian Navy recently concluded the Jal Prahar 2025 joint exercise with the Indian Army along the eastern seaboard. It is a biannual joint amphibious exercise to strengthen synergy and interoperability between the two forces. The exercise aims to enhance operational readiness, maritime security, and national defence capabilities. The Harbour Phase was held at Visakhapatnam with induction of army troops onboard INS Gharial, onboard training, safety briefings, orientation, and camaraderie activities. The Sea Phase of Jal Prahar 2025 was held from September 21 to 23 at Kakinada. It showcased amphibious operations to test joint capabilities.

Notes: The Uttar Pradesh government recently warned District Magistrates to complete farmer registration under the Agri-Stack scheme within the given time or face strict action. The Agri-Stack scheme is a digital foundation created to provide data-centric services for improving Indian agriculture and empowering farmers. It integrates farmer data, land records, and scheme benefits on a centralized digital platform. The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare with support from State Revenue and Agriculture departments. It acts as a foundational digital layer that allows government and private entities to deliver tailored services using accurate and updated farmer data.

Notes: The Centre recently issued operational guidelines for 72,300 public Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations with an outlay of ₹2,000 crore under the ₹10,900 crore PM E-DRIVE scheme. The PM E-DRIVE (Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement) scheme was launched in October 2024 and will run till March 31, 2026. The aim of scheme is to accelerate EV adoption, create charging infrastructure, support public transport, and build a strong EV manufacturing ecosystem. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is the nodal agency for charging demand aggregation and development of a Unified EV Super App offering real-time charger status, slot booking, payments, and deployment tracking