Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
Lok Sabha Speaker inaugurates ‘Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0’ at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan. It is organised by the National Commission for Women (NCW) with the Lok Sabha Secretariat and Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The event commemorates the 150th birth anniversary of tribal leader Bhagwan Birsa Munda. It gathers 502 elected women representatives from Scheduled Tribes across 22 states and Union Territories. Its primary focus is to empowering women representatives by enhancing their knowledge of constitutional provisions, parliamentary procedures, and governance.

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Lionel Messi was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden, the highest civilian honor in the U.S. Messi is the first Argentine and first male soccer player to receive this award. He could not attend the ceremony due to prior commitments, sending a letter expressing gratitude. The award recognizes significant contributions to society, world peace, or public welfare. Messi was honored for being the most decorated soccer player and his philanthropic work through the Leo Messi Foundation and as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the BHARATPOL portal, developed by the CBI, on January 7, 2025, in New Delhi. The portal enhances real-time information sharing for Indian law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to access international police assistance. CBI, as India’s National Central Bureau for INTERPOL, manages international cooperation in criminal matters. BHARATPOL addresses growing transnational crimes like cybercrime, financial fraud, and human trafficking. It streamlines requests for INTERPOL notices and boosts field officers’ efficiency in handling crimes.

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The 74th Senior National Basketball Championship is organized by the Gujarat State Basketball Association under the Basketball Federation of India. The tournament is hosted at Sidsar Sports Complex Indoor Stadium, Bhavnagar, Gujarat. More than 900 national and international players, along with more than 150 officials and state representatives, are participating. India aims to host the 2036 Olympics, with Gujarat planning five world-class sports events in 2025, 2026, and 2029.

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Karnataka launched the ‘Garudakshi’ online FIR system to curb wildlife crimes. Garudakshi allows the public to register complaints about forest offenses via mobile phones or emails. The system is similar to the Police Department’s FIR system. It was developed in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India.

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AnemiaPhone, developed by Cornell University, is now part of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) programs for anemia, women’s health, and maternal and child health in India. It offers quick, accurate, and low-cost iron deficiency assessment. Anemia affects 50% to 70% of pregnant women in India, with iron deficiency as the main cause. The device uses a drop of blood on a test strip, similar to a COVID-19 test, providing results in minutes. Data is uploaded to a clinical database via mobile devices, enabling healthcare workers to provide immediate guidance, referrals, or interventions.

Notes:
Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) commissioned two units of the 6×170 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project (PHEP-II) in Bhutan. PHEP-II was executed under an India-Bhutan bilateral agreement and is located in Wangdue district, Bhutan. BHEL has previously executed major projects in Bhutan, contributing to nearly 89% of the country’s installed capacity. BHEL is also working on the 6×200 MW Punatsangchhu-I project in Bhutan.

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NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) launched “EmpowHER Biz – Sapno Ki Udaan” in partnership with New Shop under its Award to Reward (ATR) program. The initiative provides mentorship and training in retail management, digital tools, financial literacy, and business development for women entrepreneurs. Fifty women aged 18–35 will be selected through an online application process based on specific criteria. The top 20 participants will receive a 100% waiver on New Shop franchise fees, reducing barriers to owning retail businesses. The program targets women from Delhi NCR, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.

Notes:
India’s passport ranking has dropped to 85th in the Henley Passport Index 2025, down from 80th in 2024. The index evaluates passports based on visa-free access to global destinations. India now allows visa-free travel to 57 countries. The top-ranking passport belongs to Singapore, which offers access to 195 destinations. Over the past two decades, India’s ranking has fluctuated significantly, peaking at 71st in 2006. The index relies on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to assess travel access.

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Joseph Aoun, Lebanon’s army chief, was elected President on 9 January 2025, filling a two-year vacancy since Michel Aoun’s term ended. His election signals reduced influence of Hezbollah, following its war with Israel, and revived Saudi and international involvement in Lebanon. Aoun pledged to ensure state control over arms, rebuild areas affected by war, and prevent Israeli attacks. Aoun’s presidency aims to revive governance and tackle Lebanon’s economic crisis.