Daily Current Affairs Quiz: March 18, 2025

Notes:
The first honey harvest was recently conducted near Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary in Raigad district, Maharashtra. This is a success for conservation experts, naturalists, and tribal communities. Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Murud region of Raigad district, Maharashtra. It was created to protect the coastal woodland ecosystem of the Western Ghats. It spans 17,250 acres of forest, grasslands, and wetlands. The area was once a hunting reserve of the Murud-Janjira princely state.

Notes:
The Union Home Minister addressed the 57th annual conference of the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) in Kokrajhar, Assam. He highlighted the success of the Bodo Peace Accord (2020). The accord aimed to bring peace and stability to Bodo-dominated areas, especially the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). It was signed by the Government of India, the Assam Government, and Bodo organizations, including the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) was renamed BTR with greater autonomy. Non-Bodo villages in BTC were excluded. BTC’s powers were expanded under the Sixth Schedule. Bodo was recognized as an associate official language of Assam.

Notes:
The Five Eyes intelligence alliance faces challenges due to shifts in U.S. foreign policy under Donald Trump’s presidency. It is a secretive and powerful intelligence-sharing alliance of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It was formed after World War II, based on the UK-USA Agreement of 1946. The alliance is known for global surveillance using satellites, telephone networks, and fiber optic cables.

Notes:
The Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs in Telangana’s Narayanpet district, dating back 3,500 to 4,000 years, are now on India’s Tentative UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Menhirs are large upright standing stones, often part of megalithic burial or ritual sites. They are found in Europe, Africa, and Asia, with the highest concentration in Western Europe. Menhirs vary in size, shape, and arrangement, including circles, semicircles, and parallel rows. The Carnac Stones in France, with 2,935 menhirs, is the most famous alignment. Some menhirs have engravings linked to fertility rites and seasonal cycles. Megaliths are stone structures used as burial sites or memorials.

Notes:
National Vaccination Day is observed on March 16 to highlight India’s commitment to immunisation. It marks the first dose of the oral polio vaccine given on March 16, 1995, under the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme. This programme played a key role in eliminating polio from India. The day emphasises the need for universal vaccination coverage. It reflects on India’s immunisation achievements. The focus remains on protecting future generations through vaccines.