Current Affairs Quiz - February 2025

Notes:
Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa won the Tata Steel Masters title for the first time in his career. The 19-year-old from Chennai defeated world champion D Gukesh in a tiebreaker. Both players tied with 8.5 points after the 13th round. Praggnanandhaa came from behind to win 2-1 in the tiebreaker.

Notes:
India leads the global index in digital well-being with a score of 67 out of 100. 58% of Indians are satisfied with their digital experiences, the highest among major countries. India has the strongest support networks for youth, with 9-12 sources of guidance. 78% of Indian Gen Z sought support, up from 65% in 2023. Parental engagement increased, with 70% of parents monitoring teens’ online activities.

Notes:
The Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) in Bengaluru, India developed the high-entropy alloy (HEA) catalyst for hydrogen production. CeNS is an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The catalyst is made of platinum, palladium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese (PtPdCoNiMn). The catalyst was prepared using two methods: electrodeposition and solvothermal processes.  The catalyst is more efficient than pure platinum and uses seven times less platinum than commercial catalysts.  The catalyst is stable and efficient for over 100 hours in alkaline seawater.

Notes:
NASA is set to launch SPHEREx, a revolutionary space telescope, to explore the universe’s origins. It will cost $488 million, far less than the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Unlike JWST, which zooms in on deep-space objects, SPHEREx will survey the entire sky in 102 infrared colors. The telescope will take 600 images daily, completing four full sky scans in 27 months. SPHEREx will map 450 million galaxies, revealing how the universe evolved after the Big Bang. It will also study 100 million Milky Way stars, tracing life’s building blocks in space.

Notes:
Tribal families in Neelabandha celebrated their first electricity supply since Independence with the ‘Dhimsa’ dance. Dhimsa is a popular tribal dance in Andhra Pradesh performed by Bagata, Valmiki, Poraja, Khond, Gadaba, Kondadora, Mukadora, and Kotia tribes. It symbolizes unity and cultural heritage, with themes based on mythology, folktales, economic activities, kinship, and marital life.

Notes:
Researchers have developed a self-actuating drug delivery system for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It releases therapeutic agents only when needed by targeting inflammation in joints. RA is an autoimmune disease that attacks healthy cells, mainly affecting joints in hands, wrists, and knees. Symptoms include chronic pain, joint damage, unsteadiness, and deformity; it can also affect organs like the lungs, heart, and eyes. The system uses microspheres loaded with methotrexate, a common anti-rheumatic drug. It includes polymer-lipid hybrid micro-composites, ensuring high drug efficiency and responsiveness to inflammation-related enzymes.

Notes:
The Framework Agreement on the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) has officially come into force. India established IBCA through the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC). It was launched on April 9, 2023, marking 50 years of Project Tiger. It aims to conserve seven big cats: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma. Member countries are Nicaragua, Eswatini, India, Somalia, and Liberia. The alliance aims to collaborate, share expertise, and secure financial support to conserve big cats globally.

Notes:
The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the Central government on using Gambusia affinis (Mosquitofish) and Poecilia reticulata (Guppy) for mosquito control. Gambusia affinis is native to the southeastern United States and has been used globally for over a century. The IUCN lists it among the 100 worst invasive species due to its impact on ecosystems. Poecilia reticulata is a non-migratory fish from South America that threatens native species. These fish have been released in multiple Indian states for mosquito control, raising ecological concerns.

Notes:
The Union Home Ministry urged states to prevent the misuse of the State Emblem of India, emphasizing that the Lion Capital is incomplete without “Satyameva Jayate” in Devanagari. The emblem is an adaptation of Ashoka’s Lion Capital at Sarnath, featuring four lions on a circular abacus with Dharma Chakras, an elephant, horse, bull, and lion. Adopted on 26 January 1950, it shows three visible lions, omitting the bell-shaped lotus. “Satyameva Jayate”, meaning “Truth alone triumphs”, is from the Mundaka Upanishad. Its use is restricted under the 2005 Act and 2007 Rules.

Notes:
Indrayani River in Pune is covered with toxic white foam amid rising Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) cases linked to water contamination. It is located in Maharashtra. It originates from the Western Ghats near Lonavala and flows 103.5 km through Pune district before merging into the Bhima River, a tributary of the Krishna River. The river is rain-fed and supports irrigation and agriculture. It has religious significance, with Alandi (samadhi of Dnyaneshwar) and Dehu (hometown of Saint Tukaram) on its banks. Valvan Dam at Kamshet on the river is used for hydroelectric power generation.