Best Current Affairs Questions

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Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated annually on January 9th to honor the contributions of the Overseas Indian community. It marks Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa on January 9, 1915, starting a pivotal movement in India’s freedom struggle. The diaspora has played a key role in India’s development in sectors like business, technology, and policy-making. It started in 2003 and is now celebrated every two years since 2015. The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention held from January 8-10, 2025, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, with the theme “The Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat.”

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Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) marks 10 years of encouraging investments in daughters’ futures. It was launched in 2015 under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign. It allows guardians to open a savings account for a girl child at banks or India Post. NRIs are not eligible. SSY promotes financial inclusion and aims to secure the future of girl children by fostering savings.

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Martyrs’ Day is observed on January 30 every year to honour those who fought for India’s freedom. In 2025, India marks the 77th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. The day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made for India’s independence. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse. He was a key leader in the freedom struggle, advocating non-violence against British rule. Gandhi was assassinated on his way to a prayer meeting in Delhi.

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The Finance Minister announced a ₹20,000 crore ‘Nuclear Energy Mission’ to develop indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). SMRs are small nuclear reactors with a maximum output of 300 MWe, producing 7.2 million kWh per day. In comparison, large nuclear plants generate over 1,000 MWe and 24 million kWh per day. SMRs are small, modular, and reactor-based, generating low-carbon electricity. They have small footprints, lower capital costs, and can be factory-built. SMRs can be deployed in locations unsuitable for large nuclear plants. They support incremental power additions, energy hubs, industrial heating, district heating, and hydrogen production.

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Japan plans to consider deploying long-range missiles on Kyushu Island. Kyushu is the southernmost and third-largest of Japan’s four main islands, covering 35,640 sq. km. It is bordered by the East China Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. The Tsushima Strait separates Kyushu from the Korean Peninsula. It has volcanic ranges, including Mount Aso, the world’s largest active volcanic crater.

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Dryad Networks, a Berlin-based environmental Internet of Things (IoT) startup, introduced the Silvaguard drone for ultra-early wildfire detection. The Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based drone enhances fire detection, location, and monitoring using infrared imaging. It works with Silvanet, a solar-powered gas sensor network, detecting fires at the smoldering stage. Each sensor protects an area equal to a football field and attaches to trees. Once Silvanet detects a fire, Silvaguard flies to the location, captures video and infrared images, and sends real-time data to firefighters.

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A controversy has emerged in Manipur over renaming Thangjing Hill, sacred to the Meitei community, as ‘Thangting Camp’ by the Kuki National Front – Military Council (KNF-MC). Thangjing Hill, also known as Thangching or Thangting Hill, is a pilgrimage site for Sanamahism followers and is linked to the Ibudhou Thangjing temple. It is located in Churachandpur district of Manipur, within the Churachandpur-Khaopum Protected Forests.

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India recently hosted the 8th Meeting of the Joint Committee on ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to boost regional trade. AITIGA was signed in 2009 and came into force in 2010, aiming to ease trade between India and ASEAN nations. The agreement ensures National Treatment for goods of each party, as per General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), 1994. India-ASEAN trade reached USD 121 billion in 2023–24, forming 11% of India’s global trade. The next meeting will be held in June 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warned that the world economy is heading towards recession. Its report, Trade and Development Foresights 2025, highlighted growing trade tensions, financial instability, and uncertainty as key causes of the slowdown. The report titled “Trade and Development Foresights 2025: Under pressure – uncertainty reshapes global economic prospects” was released by the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The report predicts a global growth slowdown to 2.3% in 2025, indicating a potential recessionary path for the world economy. Rising tariffs are disrupting supply chains and increasing unpredictability in trade. This uncertainty has delayed investments and reduced job creation. UNCTAD called for strong international cooperation and better coordination of economic policies to protect development goals.

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On 17th Civil Services Day, the PoshanTracker App of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2024 under the Innovation category. The award was accepted by the Secretary of Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD). A special session titled “Promoting Nutrition for Women and Children through Mission Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0” was held under Union Minister Smt. Annpurna Devi. The PoshanTracker also promotes citizen ownership and was praised for its impact.