CUET Current Affairs: 21 July 2025

 

INS Sandhayak

News-INS Sandhayak visits Malaysian port to boost maritime, hydrographic cooperation.

• INS Sandhayak – India’s first indigenously built hydrographic survey ship.
• Port Visit – Made maiden visit to Port Klang, Malaysia (July 16–19, 2025).
• Commissioned in– Feb 2024.
• Objective – Enhance hydrographic cooperation and international goodwill.
• MAHASAGAR Vision – Aims for regional maritime cooperation and growth.

Lakshadweep’s Bitra Island

News- Govt begins process to acquire ‘strategic’ Lakshadweep Island for defence use.

• Bitra Island – Smallest inhabited island in Lakshadweep; home to ~105 families.
• Notification Date – July 11, 2025; land acquisition process started.
• Local Opposition – Residents fear eviction; protests and legal action planned.
• Strategic Role – Could become 3rd defence base in Lakshadweep after Kavaratti & Minicoy.
• About Lakshadweep:
  • • Meaning of Name – Lakshadweep means “a hundred thousand islands” in Sanskrit/Malayalam.
    • Capital – Kavaratti.
    • Administrator – Currently governed by an Administrator appointed by the President of India (2025: Praful Khoda Patel).
    • No. of Islands – 36 islands; only 10 inhabited.
    • Area – 32 sq. km – India’s smallest Union Territory.
    • Religion – 100% Muslim-majority UT.

Comet ATLAS

News- Himalayan Chandra Telescope captures comet ATLAS.

• Comet Name – C/2025 N1 (ATLAS), also called 3I/ATLAS.
• Type – Third known interstellar object to visit our solar system.
• Discovery – First spotted on July 1, 2025 by ATLAS telescope in Chile.
• Speed – Moving at a relative speed of 61 km/s.
• Observation in India:
  • Observation Date – On July 3, 2025.
  • Observatory – At the Indian Astronomical Observatory, Hanle, Ladakh.
  • Telescope Used – Used the Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) for observation.

The Resistance Front (TRF)

News- U.S. Designates The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Global Terror Group.

• TRF Designation – The US designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
• Affiliation – TRF is a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
• Reason – Due to its role in the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam attack.
• Casualties – The attack killed 26 civilians – the deadliest on Indian soil since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

International Mathematical Olympiad

News– India Shines at 66th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 2025.

• Event – 66th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), July 2025, Sunshine Coast, Australia.
• India’s Medal Tally – 3 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze.
  • • • Gold:
        • Kanav Talwar (Delhi)
        • Arav Gupta (Delhi)
        • Aditya Mangudi (Maharashtra)
      • Silver:
        • Abel George Mathew (Karnataka)
        • Adish Jain (Delhi)
      • Bronze:
        • Archit Manas (Delhi)
• Global Impact:
• Total Participants– 630 students.
  • • India’s Rank– 7th globally.
    • Total Score– 193 out of 252 — India’s highest-ever score.
    • This is the second time since 1998 India won three gold medals.
    • India has now won 23 golds since 1989, with 12 golds from 2019–2025.

International Moon Day

News- International Moon Day 2025.

• Occasion – International Moon Day observed on July 20.
• Significance – The date marks the anniversary of Apollo 11 missions 1969.
• The first global celebration was held– On July 20, 2022.
• Declared by– the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2021.
• Purpose – Highlights peaceful space exploration and global cooperation.
• Focus Areas – Promotes sustainability, and the scientific & cultural value of lunar missions.

MCQs:

Q1. Which telescope first discovered comet ATLAS?
A) Hubble Space Telescope
B) Pan-STARRS Telescope
C) ATLAS telescope in Chile
D) Spitzer Space Telescope

Q2. What is INS Sandhayak known for?
A) India’s first aircraft carrier
B) India’s first nuclear submarine
C) India’s first indigenously built hydrographic survey ship
D) India’s largest destroyer ship

Q3. What has the U.S. designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as?
A) Peacekeeping Organization
B) Special Military Ally
C) Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist
D) Regional Militia Group

Q4. Where was the 66th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 2025 held?
A) Singapore
B) New Delhi, India
C) Sunshine Coast, Australia
D) Tokyo, Japan

Q5. When is International Moon Day observed?
A) July 18
B) July 20
C) July 22
D) July 16

Q6. Which Lakshadweep Island being considered for defence acquisition in 2025?
A) Minicoy
B) Kavaratti
C) Bitra
D) Agatti