Daily Current Affairs Quiz: March 22, 2025

Notes:
Punjab became the first Indian state to broadcast Legislative Assembly proceedings in sign language. Dr Baljit Kaur, Minister for Social Security, Women, and Child Development, announced the initiative. It aims to make legislative discussions accessible to people with deafness disability. The Governor’s speech at the Budget Session was broadcast in sign language. The initiative was led by the Ministry of Social Security, Women, and Child Development. It follows Section 40 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan approved it for the 16th Punjab Legislative Assembly.

Notes:
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) issued regulations for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) under the National Pension System (NPS), 2025. PFRDA is a statutory regulatory body established under the PFRDA Act, 2014. Its objective is to promote old-age income security by regulating pension funds and protecting subscriber interests. PFRDA operates under the Ministry of Finance. It is headquartered in New Delhi with regional offices across India.

Notes:
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh announced North India’s first nuclear power project in Gorakhpur, Haryana. The project is a key milestone in India’s nuclear energy expansion and clean energy goals. It includes two twin units with Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR), totaling 2800 MW capacity. PHWR uses Heavy Water (D₂O) as both coolant and moderator, with natural uranium as fuel. Heavy Water contains deuterium instead of regular hydrogen. It slows down neutrons effectively and has a low probability of neutron absorption.

Notes:
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) criticized the Union Ministry of Tourism for poor implementation of the Swadesh Darshan Scheme. The scheme was launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Tourism to develop sustainable, responsible tourism destinations through thematic circuits. It is a 100% centrally funded scheme. The Ministry provides financial assistance to State Governments, UT Administrations, and Central Agencies. States/UTs are responsible for operation and maintenance. Key features include theme-based tourism circuits, infrastructure development, eco-tourism, and heritage conservation efforts.

Notes:
The 2025 United Nations World Water Development Report was published by UNESCO. It highlights the crucial role of mountains and alpine glaciers (water towers) in sustaining ecosystems, economies, and societies. Forests cover 40% of mountain areas, with grasslands and alpine tundra at higher elevations. Two-thirds of global irrigated agriculture depends on mountain runoff. Mountain permafrost stores 66 Pg of soil organic carbon, 4.5% of the global pool. Mountains host 25 of 34 biodiversity hotspots, preserving vital plant gene pools. Glacier loss threatens water security, with Hindu Kush Himalayas projected to lose 50% of glaciers by 2100. Watermelon snow (glacier blood) effect accelerates melting due to red algae blooms. Urbanization disrupts the hydrological cycle and amplifies ecological disasters. Atmospheric pollution increases black carbon levels in ice cores and lake sediments.