Daily Current Affairs Quiz: March 23-24, 2025

Notes:
The Indian Navy recently took part in the Sea Dragon 2025 exercise, a multinational anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drill in the Indo-Pacific region. Exercise Sea Dragon 2025 was hosted by the United States Navy’s 7th Fleet, with the exercise taking place at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The drill involves maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft (MPRA) with advanced sensors and sonobuoys. Initially bilateral between the US and Australia in 2019, it expanded to include allies like India from 2021. Participating Nations are United States, Australia, India, Japan, and South Korea.

Notes:
Rajasthan High Court sought a reply from top officials over alleged encroachment on the Gambhiri River floodplain, which supplies water to Ghana Bird Sanctuary. The Gambhir River, also called the Utangan River, is a seasonal river in Rajasthan, flowing only during the rainy season. It originates in the Aravalli Hills near Hindaun and flows south to north before joining the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh. It spans 288 km and forms the Rajasthan-Uttar Pradesh boundary. The river becomes perennial after meeting the Parbati and supplies water to Keoladeo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Notes:
Scientists discovered new species on the seafloor exposed by the A-84 iceberg, which broke off the George VI Ice Shelf on January 13, 2025. An ice shelf is a floating mass of ice, fed by glaciers from land, extending over the sea. Antarctica and Greenland ice sheets hold two-thirds of Earth’s freshwater, with the West Antarctic Ice Sheet being one of the largest. When ice sheets gain mass, sea levels fall, and when they lose mass, sea levels rise. The discovery was part of the Challenger 150, a UNESCO-endorsed global deep-sea research initiative. Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) SuBastian explored the seabed 1,300 meters deep.

Notes:
Gunter Bloschl, a renowned hydrologist, won the 2025 Stockholm Water Prize for his research on flood risks and climate change impacts. The Stockholm Water Prize is a prestigious global award recognizing achievements in water science, management, and protection. It is presented by the Stockholm Water Foundation in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Established in 1991 during the Stockholm Water Festival, it highlights Sweden’s commitment to clean water. The award honors individuals or organizations contributing to water conservation, management, and sustainability across science, engineering, policy, and environmental advocacy.

Notes:
A Eurasian goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), a medium-large raptor, was recently spotted at Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra, by a forest guard. It belongs to the Accipitridae family, which includes eagles, buzzards, and harriers. It is widely found in Europe, Asia, and parts of North America, where it is called the Northern Goshawk. It prefers dense forests, especially coniferous and mixed woodlands. It has short, broad wings, a long tail, and varies in color from blue-grey to nearly black or white. Females are larger than males. Its conservation status is “Least Concern” according to the IUCN Red List.