Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
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:
Goa launched the Bima Sakhi Yojana, becoming the second state after Haryana to implement this scheme under PM Modi’s vision. The scheme aims for “insurance for all” and empowers women aged 18–70 years, who have passed Class X. Women receive training to become LIC agents, a stipend of ₹7,000 in the first year, ₹6,000 in the second, and ₹5,000 in the third year, totaling ₹2.16 lakh over three years. Graduates may qualify for LIC development officer roles. The scheme focuses on financial literacy, women’s empowerment, and expanding life insurance coverage at the grassroots level.

Notes:
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.

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The Z-Morh tunnel will be a key milestone in creating a year-round strategic corridor between Kashmir and Ladakh. It is a 2-lane road tunnel between Gagangir and Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Leh Highway in Jammu and Kashmir. The tunnel is named after the Z-shaped road section near the site. The tunnel is necessary due to the area’s high altitude (over 8,500 ft) and frequent snow avalanches, which make the road impassable during winter months.

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Project ‘Veer Gatha 4.0’ has received a huge nationwide response as part of Republic Day celebrations. It was launched in 2021 under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The project aims to spread awareness of Gallantry awardees’ bravery and life stories, instilling patriotism and civic values in students. It is a joint initiative by the Ministries of Defence and Education. The initiative’s inspiring journey has expanded its reach nationwide.

Notes:
Five Maoists, including two women, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Indravati National Park, Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. Indravati National Park is located in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh. It was established in 1981. It became a tiger reserve in 1983 under India’s Project Tiger. The park is named after the Indravati River, which flows east to west and forms its northern boundary with Maharashtra.

Notes:
Uttarakhand government exempted solar entrepreneurs from mandatory GST registration under the Mukhyamantri Saur Swarojgar Yojana. This initiative aims to encourage renewable energy investments and simplify processes. Launched in 2020, the scheme promotes self-employment through solar energy farming. The goal is to produce green energy and offer job opportunities to Uttarakhand’s youth and returning migrants. Each beneficiary is allocated a 25-kilowatt solar plant under the scheme.

Notes:
The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife approved oil and gas exploration in Assam’s Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary. It is located in Jorhat district, Assam. It is the only sanctuary in India named after gibbons and has the densest gibbon population in Assam. The sanctuary’s terrain slopes from southeast to northwest, with the Bhogdoi River creating a waterlogged region.

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A flagship river-link irrigation project in Rajasthan will submerge 37 sq. km of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR), dividing it into two sections. It is situated at the junction of the Aravallis and Vindhyas ranges in Rajasthan. It was once a royal hunting ground for Jaipur’s Maharajas and is now one of northern India’s largest tiger reserves. The reserve is ideal for tiger monitoring due to its unique climate and vegetation. It is bordered by the Chambal River in the south and the Banas River in the north. The Ranthambhore Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies within the reserve.

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The Sada region in the Konkan area of Maharashtra is experiencing land-use changes, with croplands being converted into orchards and residential areas. It is a flat area formed by centuries of erosion, similar to plateaux found in the Satara district, Maharashtra. The region is rocky and barren most of the year but transforms during the monsoons, harboring unique endemic flora. It has highly weathered lateritic soil that helps recharge groundwater. The region boasts 459 plant species, 31 reptile species, 13 amphibians, 169 birds, and 41 mammals. It also features geoglyphs, believed to be around 10,000 years old.