Current Affairs Quiz - February 2025

Notes:
The Guru-Shishya Parampara Scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Culture to promote traditional performing arts. It offers financial assistance to cultural organizations for training artists under the guidance of a Guru. Cultural organizations across India that follow the Guru-Shishya tradition can apply. The scheme supports shishyas aged 3 and above in music, dance, theatre, and traditional arts. It provides Rs. 15,000 per month for each Guru/Director, with up to 18 shishyas in theatre and 10 in music/dance. The objective is to ensure regular training in the traditional Guru-Shishya system.

Notes:
China has successfully demonstrated artificial photosynthesis in space, with their astronauts on the Tiangong space station producing oxygen and rocket fuel using this technology. The astronauts used a process mimicking natural photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and rocket fuel components using solar energy. The experiment was conducted on China’s Tiangong space station. This breakthrough is considered a major step forward in space exploration, as it could enable future missions to generate necessary resources in space.

Notes:
Santorini, a Greek island in the Southern Aegean Sea, is on high alert after experiencing over 200 undersea earthquakes in four days, with magnitudes up to 4.6. It’s part of the Cyclades archipelago and is controlled by Greece. Known for the Santorini Caldera, one of the most active volcanic centers in the South Aegean Volcanic Arc. The island has historical volcanic activity, including the Minoan eruption around 3,600 years ago. Frequent seismic activity is due to tectonic movements between the African Plate and Aegean Sea Plate.

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Bhopal has banned begging in all public places, following Indore’s similar move. The district collector issued orders prohibiting both begging and giving alms. Violators may face FIRs and legal action under section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. Disobeying the order can lead to imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to ₹2,500. If disobedience causes danger, imprisonment may extend to one year with a fine of ₹5,000. The Bombay Prevention of Beggary Act, 1959, was the first anti-begging law in India. In 2018, the Delhi High Court decriminalized begging.

Notes:
Australia passed strict anti-hate crime laws on February 6, 2025, introducing mandatory minimum sentences. Sentences range from 12 months for minor hate crimes, like Nazi salutes, to six years for terrorism offences. The law criminalizes threats or violence based on race, religion, nationality, gender, and other identities. Recent attacks on synagogues, cars, and Jewish community buildings prompted stronger laws. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese initially opposed mandatory sentences but later supported them. New South Wales plans to align its hate speech laws with Western Australia and Victoria.

Notes:
Maharashtra government has introduced Facial Recognition System (FRS) for entry into Mantralaya to enhance security and efficiency. Facial Recognition System (FRS) matches human faces from digital images or video frames with a database. It uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) with machine learning to improve accuracy. Computer Vision helps extract and analyze visual data from images and videos. Biometric Analysis identifies unique facial features for authentication. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are crucial for image recognition and feature extraction.

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New Zealand’s Foreign Minister expressed “significant concern” over the Cook Islands signing a cooperation deal with China. The Cook Islands is located in the South Pacific Ocean, between Tonga and French Polynesia. It is a self-governing nation with a “free association” pact with New Zealand. The Cook Islands consist of 15 islands, divided into northern (coral atolls) and southern (volcanic, densely populated) groups.

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The Union Minister for Education launched 41 new books under the PM YUVA 2.0 scheme. PM YUVA 2.0 (Young, Upcoming and Versatile Authors) was launched in 2022 by the Ministry of Education as part of the India@75 Project (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav). It is an Author Mentorship Programme to train young writers below 30 years of age. The scheme aims to promote reading, writing, and book culture while projecting India’s literature globally. It helps develop writers focusing on Indian heritage, culture, and knowledge systems.

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The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has warned against the Morand-Ganjal Irrigation Project in Madhya Pradesh. The project involves building two dams on the Morand and Ganjal rivers to improve irrigation in Hoshangabad, Betul, Harda, and Khandwa districts. It may displace 644 families, including 604 tribal families. It could destroy a critical tiger corridor between Satpura and Melghat Tiger Reserves, endangering species like leopards, wolves, wild dogs, and hyenas.

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Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh will become India’s second cheetah habitat. Six to eight cheetahs from South Africa are expected to arrive before summer 2025. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in northwestern Madhya Pradesh. It lies in the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion along the Chambal River. Declared a sanctuary in 1974, it covers 368 sq. km and is recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA). The sanctuary features diverse topography, including hills, plateaus, and the catchment area of the Gandhi Sagar Dam, enhancing its ecological richness.