Current Affairs Quiz - February 2025

Notes:
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.

Notes:
NASA will launch the Pandora mission in 2025 to study the atmospheres of distant exoplanets. It will focus on clouds, hazes, and water, key factors for habitability. Pandora aims to fill gaps left by existing telescopes like James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), focusing on planetary transits to improve exoplanet models. The mission will explore planetary formation, evolution, and habitability. Pandora will use a specialized telescope to study light interactions with atmospheric particles, enhancing knowledge of planetary climates and chemistry.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi co-chaired the ‘AI Action Summit’ in Paris on 11th February 2025 with French President Emmanuel Macron. France hosted the third International AI Summit on 10th-11th February 2025 to promote global cooperation in AI development. PM Modi announced that India will host the next Global AI Summit, following discussions at the Paris summit.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the 3rd India Energy Week in New Delhi on 11th February 2025. The event highlights India’s significance as a global energy market. The first India Energy Week took place in Bengaluru (Feb 2023), and the second in Goa (Feb 2024). The 3rd edition runs from 11-14 February 2025 in New Delhi. It offers a platform for global energy companies to network, showcase technologies, and explore sustainable energy solutions.

Notes:
IIT Guwahati researchers have developed a water-repellent, conductive textile that converts electricity and sunlight into heat to keep wearers warm in extreme cold. It helps prevent blood clotting, breathing issues, and weak immunity caused by prolonged cold exposure. The textile is made by spraying ultra-thin silver nanowires onto cotton fabric, making it lightweight, flexible, and durable. A lotus leaf-inspired coating makes it waterproof, stain-resistant, and oxidation-proof, ensuring long-lasting performance. It maintains 40°C-60°C for 10+ hours using a battery or solar energy.

Notes:
Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupted again, sending lava 300 feet high into the air. This marks its ninth eruption since December 2024. Kilauea volcano is located in the United States, on the island of Hawaii. It’s part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Kilauea is the world’s most active volcano. It’s located on the southeastern part of Hawaii’s Big Island. Kilauea is a shield volcano, and the youngest and most active of the Hawaiian shield volcanoes.

Notes:
The UN launched the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative in 2022 to protect people from hazardous weather, water, and climate events through early warning systems by 2027. The initiative aims to safeguard vulnerable populations as climate-related disasters become more frequent and intense. In 2023, early warning systems received record-high funding, but its distribution remains uneven. 54% of national EWS investments are concentrated in five countries—China, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) face significant funding gaps. The Global Observatory for Early Warning System Investments was launched in December 2024 by the WMO and UNDRR to track and optimize investments. As of February 12, 2025, the observatory tracks 329 projects across 127 countries, funded by institutions like the World Bank and Green Climate Fund.

Notes:
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai led the Indian delegation to the 4th No Money for Terror (NMFT) Conference. The conference was held in Munich, Germany on 13th February 2025. The conference covered terror financing, financial inclusion, risk-based approaches, and organized crime. More than 200 officials and experts from the Egmont Group and international organizations attended. Previous conferences were held in Paris (2018), Melbourne (2019), and New Delhi (2022).

Notes:
China has approved the construction of a deep-sea research facility in the South China Sea. This facility, also known as a “deep-sea space station”, is expected to be operational by 2030. The facility will be located 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) below the ocean’s surface.  It will be one of the deepest and most technologically advanced underwater installations ever attempted.  The facility will study cold seep ecosystems, which are methane-rich hydrothermal vents.  It will accommodate six scientists for missions lasting up to a month.

Notes:
Measles, a highly contagious virus, is resurging in the U.S., especially in Texas, due to low vaccination rates and international travel. It is an airborne disease caused by a paramyxovirus, spreading through direct contact and the air. The virus infects the respiratory tract and can cause severe complications and death. Symptoms start with high fever for 4-7 days, followed by cough, runny nose, red eyes, and white spots in the mouth. A rash appears on the face and neck, then spreads to the whole body, lasting around five to six days before fading.