Current Affairs Quiz - February 2025

Notes:
Two young Indian Navy officers aboard INSV Tarini recently crossed Point Nemo in the southern Pacific during Navika Sagar Parikrama-II. Point Nemo is the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility, the farthest point from any landmass on Earth. It is located in the South Pacific Ocean and is named after Captain Nemo from Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. It lies about 2,688 km from the nearest land. The closest human presence is often astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The region has minimal marine life and is used for space junk disposal due to its remoteness.

Notes:
World Economic Forum has published “Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network 2023-2024 Impact Report”. The report highlights key innovations tackling global challenges. It focuses on seven core areas, including AI, agriculture, health, biotechnology, and energy transition. Drones are being used to deliver healthcare in India. Autonomous mobility in Saudi Arabia has improved transport efficiency and safety. Alternative proteins, including plant-based and cultivated sources, are being developed for food security. The Saagu Baagu pilot in Telangana helped 7,000 chili farmers increase incomes and reduce agriculture’s environmental impact through agritech.

Notes:
IIM Sambalpur will research the impact of Subhadra Yojana in Odisha. An MoU was signed with the Women and Child Development (W&CD) Department at Utkarsh Odisha: Make in Odisha Conclave-2025. The institute will conduct real-time assessments, provide policy recommendations, and develop monitoring frameworks. The scheme provides ₹10,000 annually to eligible women for five years (₹50,000 total). It aims to foster women’s entrepreneurship and support child development. The scheme is expected to benefit over 1 crore women in Odisha.

Notes:
Himachal Pradesh has approved a pilot project for controlled cannabis cultivation for medicinal and industrial use. It becomes the fourth state in India to allow this, after Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. Cannabis is naturally found in Himachal but was banned under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985; recent amendments now allow regulated cultivation. The focus is on non-narcotic applications like textiles, paper, food, cosmetics, and biofuel. Globally, many countries lead in hemp cultivation, making it a trillion-dollar industry with over 25,000 products.

Notes:
Bharat Parv has been organized annually since 2016 at Red Fort, New Delhi from January 26-31 as part of Republic Day celebrations. Organized by the Ministry of Tourism, it takes place at Lawns and Gyan Path in front of the Red Fort. Bharat Parv 2025 features Republic Day tableaux, Armed Force Band performances, cultural shows, regional cuisines, crafts bazaar, and government pavilions. The theme for 2025 is ‘Dekho Apna Desh’, encouraging citizen participation through People’s Choice Voting.

Notes:
Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH), Greater Noida has launched BIMCOIN, a blockchain-powered digital currency for campus transactions. It is the first business school in India to introduce such technology, following IIT Madras. BIMCOIN aims to provide students with real-world fintech experience and promote blockchain learning. It operates on a permissioned blockchain, ensuring secure, transparent, and decentralized transactions. Unlike traditional banking, BIMCOIN minimizes fraud and errors by securely recording transactions on the blockchain. This initiative sets a new trend for integrating digital currency in academic institutions.

Notes:
The Economic Survey projects 6.3-6.8% growth for 2025-26, driven by a strong external account, fiscal consolidation, and stable private consumption. It stresses that domestic growth drivers will be more crucial than external factors in the future. The Survey calls for deregulation and reforms to focus on economic freedom for individuals and organizations. India’s growth is estimated at 6.4% in 2024-25, the slowest in four years. The retreat of globalization means India must leverage its demographic dividend and strong domestic balance sheets for future growth.

Notes:
The US President signed an executive order to prepare a large-scale migrant detention center at Guantánamo Bay. Guantánamo Bay, located in southeastern Cuba, is a sheltered inlet with strategic importance, near the Windward Passage. It is served by the ports of Caimanera and Boquerón. “Gitmo” has housed terrorism suspects since 9/11 and has a Migrant Operations Centre for migrants from Haiti and Cuba. The current facility is small and cannot accommodate the 30,000 detainees expected in the new center.

Notes:
World Wetlands Day is celebrated on 2nd February every year. India added four new Ramsar sites on World Wetlands Day, February 2. The total number of Ramsar sites in India has now reached 89. The new sites include Sakkarakottai and Therthangal Bird Sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu, Khecheopalri Wetland in Sikkim, and Udhwa Lake in Jharkhand. Sikkim and Jharkhand have received their first-ever Ramsar sites. Wetlands support diverse aquatic life and play a crucial role in the ecosystem.

Notes:
The elusive rusty-spotted cat was recently spotted in the jungles of West Bengal’s Purulia district for the first time. It is the world’s smallest and lightest cat, weighing less than 1.5 kilograms. Scientifically known as Prionailurus rubiginosus, it features a fawn-grey coat with rusty spots, a short rounded head with white streaks by the eyes, and a moderately long, unmarked rusty tail. Its large eyes aid its nocturnal habits, while short legs and black-soled feet enhance agility. India holds 80% of its population, and it is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.