Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
The Election Commission of India released 42 statistical reports for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and 14 reports for assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim. This initiative aims to boost public trust and enhance transparency in the electoral system. In 2024, 47.63 crore women electors were registered, accounting for 48.62% of the total electors. Puducherry and Kerala had the highest female electors at 53.03% and 51.56%.

Notes:
Google launched the quantum processor ‘Willow,’ advancing quantum computing to solve practical problems. Willow has 105 physical qubits and operates at near absolute zero temperatures (-273.15°C). It features better error correction and faster performance than other quantum computers. The coherence time of Willow’s qubits is around 100 microseconds, improved by error correction. Willow’s architecture enables lower error rates with more qubits. It outperformed classical computers in testing, completing a Random Circuit Sampling task in minutes.

Notes:
Scientists are using two telescopes as part of the Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT) to detect high-energy neutrinos beneath the Mediterranean Sea. The Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT) is located at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. Neutrinos are tiny, electrically neutral particles, discovered in 1959, and the second most abundant particles after photons. They rarely interact with matter, earning the nickname “ghost particles.” Detecting neutrinos is challenging due to their minimal interactions. KM3NeT, an underwater telescope, detects neutrino interactions via Cherenkov radiation in the sea, which provides ideal conditions for detection.

Notes:
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting to review progress on defense reforms and projects. 2025 has been declared the ‘Year of Reforms’ for the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The goal is to transform the Armed Forces into a technologically advanced, combat-ready force. Key focus areas include improving Jointness & Integration, enhancing cyber and space capabilities, and integrating emerging technologies like AI, robotics, and hypersonics. Acquisition procedures will be simplified, and public-private partnerships will be promoted. The reforms aim to improve defense exports, optimize resources, and ensure veterans’ welfare.

Notes:
The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions issued guidelines for the 28th National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2025. The NAeG is one of the most prestigious awards for digital governance in India. The National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) scheme aims to promote excellence in e-Governance initiatives. The awards include a Trophy, Certificate, and cash incentives—Rs 10 lakh for Gold Awardees and Rs 5 lakh for Silver Awardees. 16 awards will be given this year, with 10 Gold and 6 Silver. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions is the nodal ministry.

Notes:
Sultanpur National Park in Gurugram, Haryana, plans to develop two water bodies to attract migratory flamingoes from the nearby Najafgarh wetland. The park is a popular bird sanctuary and a haven for bird watchers. It hosts both migratory and resident birds, especially during the winter season.

Notes:
Gujarat government and Bird Conservation Society of Gujarat (BCSG) conducted India’s first coastal and wader bird census from January 3 to 5, 2025, at the Marine National Park and Marine Sanctuary in Jamnagar. Jamnagar district in Gujarat hosts 300+ bird species, including 50+ wader bird species. The three-day event includes expert talks on Day 1, bird counting on Day 2, and a closing ceremony with knowledge sharing on Day 3. The census will focus on wader and coastal bird species in the Marine National Park and Marine Sanctuary.

Notes:
IIT Bombay researchers developed a solution to tackle soil pollution using bacteria that consume toxic pollutants and produce essential nutrients. These bacteria degrade harmful substances, boost plant growth hormones, inhibit harmful fungi, and improve nutrient availability for plants. This innovation can reduce reliance on chemical pesticides and enhance soil health and fertility. The bacteria, mainly from the genera Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter, were isolated from highly toxic environments and contaminated soils. They effectively break down aromatic pollutants like carbaryl, naphthalene, and phthalates, commonly found in pesticides and industrial by-products. The research offers an eco-friendly alternative to expensive traditional soil remediation methods.

Notes:
The first photographic proof of Pallas’s cat in Himachal Pradesh was captured during a snow leopard survey. This highlights the urgent need for conserving lesser-known species in the Indian Himalayas. Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul) is a small, long-haired cat in the Felidae family. It was named after Peter Simon Pallas, who first described it in 1776. It is mainly found in Central Asia, including parts of Iran, Mongolia, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Pallas’s cats inhabit mountainous plains and semi-desert foothills. The IUCN lists them as “Least Concern” and they are on CITES Appendix II.

Notes:
Eminent physicist Rajagopala Chidambaram, key figure in India’s nuclear tests of 1974 and 1998, passed away at 88. Born in 1936, Chidambaram studied at Presidency College, Chennai, and Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.. He served as Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India (2001-2018) and director of BARC (1990-1993). Chidambaram was chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, DAE (1993-2000). He also chaired the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 1994-1995.