Current Affair MCQ for 2025-10-24

Notes: Researchers studied the ratio of small to large earthquakes beneath Mount Etna and found it strongly linked to volcanic activity over the past 20 years. Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano located on the island of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea. Sicily is a part of Italy. It lies at the convergent boundary of the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate. It is the tallest active volcano in Europe and the highest mountain in Italy south of the Alps. The volcano’s eruptive history dates back 500,000 years, with 2,700 years well documented. It was featured in ancient Greek legends. Mount Etna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Notes: Ukraine recently carried out a bold strike on a Russian chemical plant in Bryansk using UK-made Storm Shadow long-range missiles, breaching Moscow’s air defenses. Storm Shadow is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile. It was jointly developed by the United Kingdom and France. The missile is called SCALP in France. It is designed for stealth and precision strikes in all weather conditions. It targets high-value stationary assets like airbases, radar sites, and communication hubs. It is used by the air forces of Egypt, India, Italy, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. India has integrated SCALP missiles with Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force.

Notes: Birdwatchers recently made the first-ever sighting of the Indian Scops Owl near the Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary in Karnataka. The Indian Scops Owl is a small woodland owl native to southern Asia. It is found in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Iran. It lives in forests, scrublands, and agricultural areas and is non-migratory. The owl measures 17–20 cm in height with a wingspan of about 45 cm. It has large bright yellow eyes, a round head, and brown-grey feathers with fine patterns. It hunts at night, mainly feeding on insects. It is listed as Least Concern under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Notes: India is promoting an AI-ready generation through the Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) programme. Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) programme was launched by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). It aims to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) learning into school education and teacher training. The programme targets students from class six to twelve and educators across India. Students receive three 15-hour modules; teachers receive a 45-hour module covering AI, machine learning, data literacy, and ethical technology use. Union Budget 2025–26 allocated ₹500 crore to establish a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Education.

Notes: Every year, the Department of Fisheries, Manipur, organises the Annual Fish Fair cum Fish Crop Competition before the Ningol Chakouba festival. Ningol Chakouba is celebrated on the second day of Hiyangei month of the Meitei calendar. ‘Ningol’ means married woman and ‘Chakouba’ means invitation for feast; married women are invited to their parental homes for a feast. The festival dates back to King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba’s rule in Manipur.