Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
A male tiger from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yavatmal, Maharashtra, traveled 500 km to Solapur, an unusual journey. Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Yavatmal district, Maharashtra. It is called as the “Green Oasis” of southern Maharashtra. It is irrigated by rivers like Purna, Krishna, Bhima, and Tapti, providing abundant water. The sanctuary lies in a basalt region formed by ancient lava activity.

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The Uttarakhand High Court criticized authorities for unregulated soapstone mining in Bageshwar, which has over 160 mines. Soapstone, also known as Steatite, is a metamorphic rock made of talc, used in construction and design for countertops, sinks, and sculptures. It forms at convergent plate boundaries under heat and pressure, with other minerals like mica and chlorite. Soapstone is soft, dense, and heat-resistant. Major producers are China, India, Brazil, USA, and Finland. India’s largest reserves are in Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. Soapstone is used in products like baby powder, ceramics, and cosmetics.

Notes:
US President-elect Donald Trump proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The proposal has sparked debates about its geopolitical and historical implications. Gulf of Mexico borders the southeastern coast of North America, connecting to the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The Gulf is the world’s largest and is often called the “Mediterranean of the Americas.” It formed due to seafloor subsidence and is shallow, with an average depth of 1,615 m. The climate ranges from tropical to subtropical, with severe weather like hurricanes and tornadoes. It holds large petroleum and natural gas deposits in its shallow areas.

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China launched the world’s largest Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) project, “Nengchu-1”. It has begun full operation in Yingcheng, Hubei Province, China. It marks a milestone in China’s energy storage technologies and is the largest CAES facility globally. CAES stores electrical energy as potential energy by compressing air into sealed spaces like underground mines or salt rock caverns. Energy is stored during off-peak hours and released to the grid during peak demand.

Notes:
IIT Roorkee researchers developed a method to degrade plasticizers like diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) using bacterial enzymes. DEHP is found in plastics and personal care products, posing health risks. Esterase enzyme from Sulfobacillus acidophilus breaks DEHP into mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and 2-ethyl hexanol. The enzyme was structurally studied using X-ray crystallography and remains active for about a month. Researchers used four additional enzymes from Comamonas testosteroni to complete the degradation process. Integrating enzymes into bacteria ensures prolonged activity and continuous degradation without needing fresh batches. Plasticizers enhance flexibility and shine in products but can be absorbed through the skin, posing health dangers.

Notes:
The Prime Minister will launch ‘Mission Mausam’ on the 150th foundation day of the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The mission aims to make India a ‘Weather-ready and Climate-smart’ nation by advancing weather and climate science. It has a budget of Rs 2,000 crore over two years and will be implemented by India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting. It focuses on improving forecasting accuracy, real-time local weather updates, and weather management technologies. The program includes cutting-edge technologies like high-resolution observations, next-gen radars, satellites, and high-performance computers. It addresses climate change, improves air quality data, and prepares citizens for extreme weather events.

Notes:
The Lokpal of India has declared January 16 as “Lokpal Day,” with the first observance on January 16, 2025. The decision was made during a meeting on March 14, 2024. Lokpal Day highlights the establishment of the Lokpal and aims to raise awareness about its role in promoting transparency and accountability in governance.

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The Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development is implementing the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY) to develop degraded and rainfed areas. Activities include ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil conservation, rainwater harvesting, nursery raising, and pasture development. WDC-PMKSY 1.0 improved groundwater, surface water, crop productivity, and farmers’ income. In 2021-22, 1150 projects covering 50 lakh hectares were sanctioned under WDC-PMKSY 2.0 with ₹12,303 Crores. 56 new projects worth ₹700 Crores are sanctioned in 10 top-performing states, covering 2.8 lakh hectares to improve farmers’ income, combat land degradation, and enhance climate resilience.

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Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, launched the registration portal for the 3rd edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS). KTS 3.0 will start on 15th February 2025 and run until 24th February 2025 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The event aims to celebrate and reaffirm the historical connection between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, two ancient centers of learning. KTS is an initiative by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, focusing on celebrating the civilizational link between these two regions.

Notes:
The Twipra Student Federation (TSF) protested in Agartala, demanding the Roman script for the Kokborok language. Kokborok is the language of the Borok people, officially recognized in Tripura on January 19, 1979. It is a Sino-Tibetan language with roots traced back to the 1st century AD. Historical records of Tripuri kings in Raj Ratnakar were written in Kokborok. The term “Kokborok” combines Kok (verbal) and Borok (people). As of the 2011 Census, 8,80,537 people in Tripura speak Kokborok, comprising 23.97% of the state’s population.