Best Current Affairs Questions

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Tata Steel has become the first Indian company to develop hydrogen-compliant pipes for transporting hydrogen. This is a major step in supporting India’s clean energy transition and aligns with the National Hydrogen Mission. These pipes meet all critical requirements for safe hydrogen transportation. This innovation strengthens Tata Steel’s role in sustainable energy and infrastructure development. It supports the global push for clean energy solutions and reinforces India’s commitment to hydrogen as a future energy source.

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The Department of Biotechnology launched the GARBH-INi-DRISHTI data repository at Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI). It provides clinical data, images, and biospecimens from over 12,000 pregnant women, newborns, and postpartum mothers. It is one of South Asia’s largest maternal and child health databases. The repository will help researchers worldwide improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes. THSTI also inaugurated a Ferret Research Facility with high biosafety standards. The facility will support vaccine development, therapeutic testing, and research on emerging infectious diseases.

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The World Health Organization released the 2025 edition of the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11). ICD is a key tool for tracking global health trends and statistics. It supports WHO’s efforts to achieve health-related Sustainable Development Goals and national health targets. ICD is used to understand the causes, extent, and consequences of diseases and deaths worldwide. It is essential for health records, statistics, and cause of death certificates. In India, the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI) handles ICD-related activities as a WHO Collaboration Centre.

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The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) has powered 10 lakh homes with solar energy by March 10, 2025. Over 47.3 lakh applications have been received, with Rs 4770 crore in subsidies disbursed to 6.13 lakh beneficiaries. The scheme offers collateral-free loans up to Rs 2 lakh at 6.75% interest. Chandigarh and Daman & Diu have achieved 100% rooftop solar installations in government buildings. Top states benefiting are Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala lead the way in solar adoption. The goal is to reach 1 crore households by 2026-27.

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The Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) framework aims to expand public Wi-Fi hotspots to build a digital India. Public Data Offices (PDOs) set up and operate WANI-compliant Wi-Fi hotspots and must partner with a Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA) for internet services. As of March 20, 2025, India has 2,78,439 PM-WANI Wi-Fi hotspots. The scheme was launched by the Department of Telecommunication in December 2020. It aims to boost digital infrastructure, especially in rural areas, and generate employment for small and micro-entrepreneurs. It provides low-cost internet to underserved urban poor and rural households.

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In a big step towards clean nuclear energy, China has launched the world’s first Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR) in Wuyi City, Gansu Province, located in the Gobi Desert. This thorium-based reactor started in October 2023 and generates 2 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The project received a $444 million investment since 2011 and is a major shift in global nuclear innovation during China’s trade tensions with the United States (US). China plans to build a 10 MW version by 2030, showing long-term goals in clean energy. Thorium is safer than uranium, creates less radioactive waste, and cannot be easily used for weapons. It must be turned into Uranium-233 (U-233) to be used in reactors, making it complex but promising for safe and sustainable energy.

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A rare inscription from the time of Vikramaditya I of the Badami Chalukya dynasty was recently found at Madapura Lake in Davangere district, Karnataka. Vikramaditya I ruled from 644 Common Era (CE) to 681 CE. He became king after the defeat of his father Pulakeshin II by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I. His most important military success was the recapture of Vatapi, the Chalukya capital, from the Pallavas. He supported temple architecture and encouraged the construction of freestanding temples, a key feature of Chalukya style. The inscription offers new insights into his rule and regional history.

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Indian and US researchers have recently discovered a new subtype of Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY), a rare, inherited form of diabetes. MODY is caused by genetic mutations that lead to impaired insulin production or function. It is typically diagnosed in adolescents or young adults under 35 years of age, without significant obesity. The discovery was made by researchers from the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) in Chennai and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. This breakthrough could change the way certain forms of MODY are diagnosed and treated, offering better solutions for patients. MODY is divided into 14 subtypes, each linked to different gene mutations.

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The 10th International Trade Fair was inaugurated in Nepal by Nepal’s Commerce Minister Damodar Bhandari at Bhrikutimandap. The five-day event features 120 pavilions with participants from Nepal, China, Ukraine, Bangladesh, and Turkey. China set up 40 stalls displaying electric vehicles, electronics, farm tools, clothes, home decor, and Tibetan incense as a major attraction. Nepal’s highlights include wood sculptures, jewellery, ritual items, Himalayan herbs, tea, coffee, spices, processed farm products, and Made in Nepal clothing. Exhibitors shared product details, and Umesh Dalmia from the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries spoke on boosting tourism like Delhi’s Pragati Maidan fair. The fair aims to build business-to-business links for global trade exposure.

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Recently, illegal sand mining in the Chambal River region has become a serious issue across states, harming biodiversity and putting officials and journalists at risk. It threatens conservation in the National Chambal Sanctuary, which protects rare species like the Gharial and the Ganges dolphin. The Chambal River originates from Bhadakla Falls near Janapav Hills in Indore district, Madhya Pradesh, at an elevation of 843 metres. It flows about 1,024 kilometres before joining the Yamuna River in Jalaun district, Uttar Pradesh. The river passes through Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Major right-bank tributaries include Banas, Kali Sindh, Parbati, and Shipra.