Current Affairs 16st August 2025 : Daily GK Update in English
1. Who has been appointed as the new Managing Director and CEO of IndusInd Bank?
a) Rajiv Kumar
b) Rajiv Anand
c) Shyam Srinivasan
d) Sandeep Bakhshi
Answer: b) Rajiv Anand
Explanation: Rajiv Anand has been appointed as the new Managing Director and CEO of IndusInd Bank, effective August 6, 2025.
2. Which two Indian Naval Ships arrived in Sri Lanka for the naval exercise SLINEX-25?
a) INS Kolkata and INS Sahyadri
b) INS Ranvijay and INS Satpura
c) INS Rana and INS Shivalik
d) INS Vikramaditya and INS Chakra
Answer: C) INS Rana and INS Shivalik
Explanation: The Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise (SLINEX-25) commenced with the arrival of the guided missile destroyer INS Rana and INS Shivalik in Sri Lanka.
3. What is the name of the new AI-powered tool launched by the government to generate structured minutes of Gram Sabha meetings?
a) Gramya
b) GramSamvaad
c) SabhaSaar
d) Panchayat Mitra
Answer: C) SabhaSaar
Explanation: On August 14, 2025, the Union Minister of Panchayati Raj launched 'SabhaSaar,' an AI-powered tool to create structured minutes of gram sabha meetings from video and audio recordings.
4. The "Himalayan Kingfisher" was recently unveiled as the mascot for which event?
a) Asian Games 2026
b) Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025
c) National Games 2025
d) World Aquatics Championship 2025
Answer: b) Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025
Explanation: The Himalayan Kingfisher was announced as the mascot for the first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025 in Srinagar.
5. Which country has adopted Assam's 'Hargila Army' model for stork conservation?
a) Malaysia
b) Indonesia
c) Cambodia
d) Nepal
Answer: C) Cambodia
Explanation: Cambodia has introduced the "Hargila Army" model, which is a women-centric conservation strategy for the Greater Adjutant Stork, in its Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. The model was pioneered by biologist Purnima Devi Barman in Assam.
6. Which Indian state has declared Ganeshotsav as the state festival?
a) Gujarat
b) Karnataka
c) Maharashtra
d) Goa
Answer: c) Maharashtra
Explanation: The Maharashtra government has issued a Government Resolution (GR) to formally declare Ganeshotsav as the state festival, with provisions for grants to Bhajani Mandals.
7. What is "Ideonella sakaiensis," which was recently in the news?
a) A newly discovered plant species
b) A rare type of coral
c) A bacterium that degrades PET plastic
d) A medicinal herb from the Himalayas
Answer: C) A bacterium that degrades PET plastic
Explanation: Ideonella sakaiensis is a bacterium that can break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic into harmless compounds, making it a promising agent for plastic waste management.
8. Where was the first integrated multi-state mock drill exercise called "Suraksha Chakra" organized?
a) Mumbai
b) Chennai
c) Delhi NCR
d) Hyderabad
Answer: C) Delhi NCR
Explanation: The first-ever integrated multi-state mock drill exercise, "Suraksha Chakra," was conducted in the Delhi NCR region to test the readiness of various security and emergency response agencies.
9. The Tato-II Hydroelectric Project is located in which state?
a) Sikkim
b) West Bengal
c) Assam
d) Arunachal Pradesh
Answer: d) Arunachal Pradesh
Explanation: The Tato-II Hydroelectric Project is a Cabinet Committee-approved initiative located in Arunachal Pradesh.
10. India's first hydrogen-powered train, which was recently in the news, will run on which route?
a) Mumbai-Pune
b) Delhi-Jaipur
c) Kalka-Shimla heritage route
d) Howrah-Puri
Answer: C) Kalka-Shimla heritage route
Explanation: India's first hydrogen-powered train is set to run on the Kalka-Shimla heritage route as part of the country's push for green and sustainable transport.
11. Which state's 'JP Senani Pension Scheme' was recently amended to double the pension amount for political activists jailed during the Emergency?
a) Uttar Pradesh
b) Rajasthan
c) Gujarat
d) Bihar
Answer: d) Bihar
Explanation: The Bihar government has doubled the pension amount for 'JP Senanis,' political activists who were jailed during the Emergency period for their involvement in the movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan.
12. What is the name of the new species of crab discovered recently?
a) Pilarta vaman
b) Both A and B
c) Kasargodia sheebae
d) None of the above
Answer: b) Both A and B
Explanation: Researchers recently discovered two new species of crabs, Kasargodia sheebae and Pilarta vaman, in the Western Ghats region.
13. Which country is preparing for fresh tests of its Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile?
a) United States
b) China
c) Russia
d) France
Answer: C) Russia
Explanation: Russia is preparing for new tests of its Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile from the Pankovo range in the Arctic.
14. Palamau Tiger Reserve, which is in the news for a decline in the Gaur population, is located in which state?
a) Karnataka
b) Jharkhand
c) Kerala
d) Maharashtra
Answer: b) Jharkhand
Explanation: Palamau Tiger Reserve is located in Jharkhand and is known as the last stronghold of Gaur (Indian Bison) in the state.
15. What is the name of the new plant species discovered recently in Assam?
a) Heptapleurum assamicum
b) Heptapleurum assamicum
c) Heptapleurum assamicum
d) Heptapleurum assamicum
Answer: b) Heptapleurum assamicum
Explanation: Scientists have recently discovered a new plant species named Heptapleurum assamicum in the state of Assam.
16. Who has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission?
a) S. Radha Chauhan
b) Ajay Bhalla
c) V. Anitha
d) Rajiv Gauba
Answer: a) S. Radha Chauhan
Explanation: Mrs. S. Radha Chauhan has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission.
17. Which Indian state won the Junior Boys' National Football Championship 2025?
a) West Bengal
b) Madhya Pradesh
c) Jharkhand
d) Manipur
Answer: d) Manipur
Explanation: Manipur won the Junior Boys' National Football Championship for the Dr. B.C. Roy Trophy (Tier 1) after defeating West Bengal in the final.
18. What is the name of the resolution introduced by India at Ramsar CoP15 held in Zimbabwe?
a) Mission Wetland: A Clean Future
b) Promoting Water Security for All
c) Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles for the Wise Use of Wetlands
d) Responsible Tourism and Wetlands Protection
Answer: c) Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles for the Wise Use of Wetlands
Explanation: At the Ramsar CoP15, India successfully introduced a resolution on 'Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles for the Wise Use of Wetlands,' which was adopted with the support of 172 contracting parties.
19. Which of the following describes the Kancha Gachibowli Forest (KGF)?
a) A tropical rainforest in Kerala
b) A coastal mangrove forest in Odisha
c) An urban Deccan scrub forest in Telangana
d) A Himalayan coniferous forest
Answer: C) An urban Deccan scrub forest in Telangana
Explanation: The Kancha Gachibowli Forest (KGF) is a vital urban forest in Telangana, belonging to the Deccan scrub forest ecosystem.
20. Which of the following is the mascot for the first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025?
a) Indian Bison
b) Himalayan Kingfisher
c) White-bellied Heron
d) Black-necked Crane
Answer: b) Himalayan Kingfisher
Explanation: The Himalayan Kingfisher was launched as the mascot for the inaugural Khelo India Water Sports Festival in Srinagar.
21. Who among the following was appointed as the Governor of Nagaland and passed away recently?
a) S.C. Jamir
b) La Ganesan
c) Jagdish Mukhi
d) Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya
Answer: b) La Ganesan
Explanation: Nagaland Governor and former Tamil Nadu BJP Chief La Ganesan passed away at the age of 80 on August 16, 2025.
22. What is the name of the new scheme launched by PM Modi on India's 79th Independence Day to create 3.5 crore jobs?
a) Pradhan Mantri Atmanirbhar Bharat Yojana
b) Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
c) Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana
d) Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
Answer: C) Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana
Explanation: On August 15, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ₹1 lakh crore Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana to create 3.5 crore jobs.
23. Which country recently proposed a two-slab GST overhaul, with rates of 5% and 18%?
a) United States
b) India
c) Canada
c) Canada
d) Australia
Answer: b) India
Explanation: India's central government recently proposed a major overhaul of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) with a two-slab structure.
24. Where was the first-ever Indus Valley settlement in Rajasthan's arid region discovered?
a) Kalibangan
b) Rakhigarhi
c) Lothal
d) Ratadiya Ri Dheri
Answer: d) Ratadiya Ri Dheri
Explanation: Archaeologists recently discovered the first-ever known Indus Valley settlement in Rajasthan at the site of Ratadiya Ri Dheri in the Jaisalmer district.
25. Which of the following events occurred on the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370?
a) A new legislative assembly was formed in Jammu & Kashmir.
b) The first-ever elections were held in Ladakh.
c) The Supreme Court of India gave a final verdict on the abrogation.
d) It marked the sixth anniversary of the revocation of special status for Jammu & Kashmir.
Answer: d) It marked the sixth anniversary of the revocation of special status for Jammu & Kashmir.
Explanation: August 5, 2025, marked the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, which revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories.