Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 20, 2025

Answer: b

Observed every year on 20^th August.

• Occasion: Birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, the youngest Prime Minister of India.
• Meaning: Sadbhavna = goodwill, harmony, bonafide.
• Objective: To promote peace, communal harmony, and goodwill among people of India, regardless of religion, language, or region.

Answer: c

Observed every year on 20^th August.

• Aim : To commemorate Sir Ronald Ross’s discovery (1897) that female Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans.
• Objective: To raise awareness about mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika.

Answer: b

Observed every year on 20^th August (since 2004).

Aim: To raise awareness about renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro, biomass, etc.).

Answer: c

Current Context: 10 States along with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission recorded a disposal rate of over 100 percent on the E-Jagriti platform in July 2025.

ABOUT E-JAGRITI PLATFORM

• Launched on: 1 January 2025
• Ministry: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution
• Purpose: To provide a unified, tech-enabled avenue for uploading, tracking, and managing consumer grievances across multiple adjudicatory bodies.
• Objective: Computerization and networking of all Consumer Commissions at national, state, and district levels for transparency, efficiency, and speedy resolution of consumer disputes.
• Functions:
  • Online filing of complaints
  • Tracking of case status
  • Accessing judgments

Imp. fact : Disposal rate” usually means: The percentage of cases resolved (disposed of) out of the total cases filed or pending in a given time.

Answer: C

Current Context: An Arunachalee Mountaineer has successfully scaled Mount Elbrus, the highest peak of Europe.

ABOUT MOUNT ELBRUS

• Location: Western Caucasus mountain range, in Russia (near the border of Georgia).
• Height: 5,642 metres (18,510 ft) – the highest peak in Europe.
• Range: Part of the Greater Caucasus Mountains.
• Type: Dormant stratovolcano (last eruption recorded around 50 AD).

PHYSICAL FEATURES

• Glaciers: More than 20 glaciers, feeding the Baksan, Kuban, and Malka rivers.
• Climate: Harsh alpine; snow-covered year-round.
• Significance:
  • Highest peak of Europe and Russia
  • Part of the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on each continent)

Answer: b

Current Context: The Indian Army inaugurated an “Arogyam Health & Wellness Centre” in Tawang under Operation Sadbhavana.

ABOUT OPERATION SADBHAVANA

• Launched by: Indian Army in 1998 (Jammu & Kashmir)
• Aim: Apply “healing touch” and Win Hearts and Minds (WHAM) of people affected by terrorism and insurgency
• Purpose: Extend Army’s role from border defence and counter-insurgency to development and community welfare
• Focus Areas: Education, Healthcare, Women empowerment, Skill development, Sports, Infrastructure, Ecology and environment.

Answer: b

Current Context : Recently, seven senior military leaders were conferred with the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM) for their distinguished service and leadership during Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

ABOUT SARVOTTAM YUDH SEVA MEDAL (SYSM)

• Nature of Award: India’s highest wartime distinguished service honour.
• Purpose: Awarded for exceptional leadership during war, conflict, or hostilities.
• Prestige: Equivalent to Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), which is conferred for peacetime distinguished service.
• Rarity: Has been awarded only three times before (including during the Kargil War).

AWARDEES OF SYSM 2025

Indian Air Force (IAF) – 4 Recipients

• Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari
• Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor
• Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra
• Air Marshal A.K. Bharti

Indian Navy – 1 Recipient

• Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh (Retd) – first Navy officer ever to receive SYSM.

Indian Army – 2 Recipients

Answer: c

Current Context : Naib Subedar Satish Kumar of the 4 Dogra Regiment has been awarded the Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest wartime gallantry award, for exceptional bravery during Operation Sindoor.

About the Awardee

• Unit: 4 Dogra Regiment.
• Native Place: Samohali village, Buhala Bhadiyara Gram Panchayat, Jogindernagar subdivision, Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh.

ABOUT THE VIR CHAKRA

• Type: Third-highest wartime gallantry award in India (after Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra).
• Established: 26 January 1950 (with retrospective effect from 15 August 1947).
• Eligibility:
  • Officers and men of the Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force).
  • May also be conferred on members of Reserve, Territorial Forces, Nursing services, and civilians engaged in defense of the nation.
• Purpose: Awarded for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, sea, or air.

Answer: A

Current Context : Chandrarekha Dhadwal, renowned litterateur and educationist from Dharamsala, has been honoured with the Himachal Gaurav Award by the Government of Himachal Pradesh.

ABOUT THE AWARD

• Introduced By: Government of Himachal Pradesh
• Nature: One of the highest civilian honours of the state
• Purpose: To recognise individuals for their outstanding contributions in various fields such as literature, art, culture, social service, education, science, sports, and public life.
• Occasion of Presentation: Usually conferred during State-level Independence Day or Republic Day celebrations.

ABOUT CHANDRAREKHA DHADWAL

• Profession: Litterateur and Educationist
• Residence: Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh
• Teaching Career: Over 30 years in the field of education
• Literary Contribution: Over four decades; works include poetry, ghazals, short stories, novels, and folk literature
• Prominent Themes: Contemporary Hindi and Himachali literature; focus on women’s struggles, empowerment, and folk traditions

Notable Published Works

• Poetry: Zaroorat Bhar Suvidha (2018)
• Novels: Samay Mere Anuroop Hua (2019), Aag (2022)
• Story Collections: Seevane Updati Hui (2019), Roshni Ke Baabjood (2023), Pachchis Kahaniyan (2025)
• Himachali Works: Akkhar-Akkhar Jugnu, Akkharan De Diye