Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated annually on January 9th to honor the contributions of the Overseas Indian community. It marks Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa on January 9, 1915, starting a pivotal movement in India’s freedom struggle. The diaspora has played a key role in India’s development in sectors like business, technology, and policy-making. It started in 2003 and is now celebrated every two years since 2015. The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention held from January 8-10, 2025, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, with the theme “The Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat.”

Notes:
Anahat Singh won the U-17 title at the British Junior Squash Open in Birmingham on January 6, 2025. She defeated Malika El Caracsi of Egypt in the final. Anahat had previously won Under-11 and Under-15 category titles. She became India’s youngest player at the Commonwealth Games in 2022. Anahat has also won bronze medals at the Asian Games and Asian Championships.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The first Kho Kho World Cup began on 13 January 2025 at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi. It was inaugurated by Sudhanshu Mittal, President of the Kho Kho Federation of India. It was organized by the Kho Kho Federation of India with support from the Indian Olympic Association, the event runs from 13–19 January 2025. Each team has 12 players, with 9 taking the field during a match. The tournament features men’s teams from 20 countries and women’s teams from 19 countries, divided into four groups. India’s men’s team is led by Pratik Waikar, and the women’s team by Priyanka Ingle.

Notes:
The INROAD (Indian Natural Rubber Operations for Assisted Development) project, backed by ₹100 crore, enhances natural rubber quality in Northeast India and parts of West Bengal. It aims to develop skills among rubber growers and establish model infrastructure. Supported by major tyre companies – Apollo, Ceat, JK, and MRF – it showcases agriculture-industry collaboration. The project is overseen by the Rubber Board of India, it involves direct engagement from tyre manufacturers. In four years, 1,25,272 hectares of rubber plantations have been established across 94 districts. The project uses digital platforms to train farmers in effective rubber tapping and processing for quality improvement.

Notes:
The Indian Railways organized a “Paint My City” campaign in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh to beautify the city’s railway stations for the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela. The campaign aimed to showcase the city’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage to pilgrims and tourists. The campaign transformed Prayagraj railway station into art and culture centers. The campaign featured murals depicting Hindu mythology, Indian traditions, and women’s empowerment.

Notes:
Researchers at the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, China, developed Electrokinetic Mining (EKM) for eco-friendly extraction of rare earth elements (REEs). EKM uses an electric field to concentrate REEs, simplifying their separation. REEs are 17 metallic elements with critical properties for modern technologies, including magnetic, electronic, and chemical applications. EKM relies on electrokinetics, which involves the movement of particles or fluids under an electric field to extract REEs from ore.

Notes:
Around 100 tribal people from Pulicat will receive training in pearl spot culture, crab fattening, and clownfish aquaculture, organized by the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR). NBFGR was established in 1983 under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), focuses on fish germplasm conservation. Its infrastructure was set up in Lucknow in 1999. NBFGR’s vision includes the sustainable utilization and conservation of fish genetic resources. The bureau works on documenting fish diversity, developing databases, genotyping, and genebanking to support fish population health and sustainability.

Notes:
Tungabhadra River water turned green near villages in Mundargi taluk, Gadag district, Karnataka, causing panic. It is a major tributary of the Krishna River, sacred to Hindus, and mentioned as “Pampa” in the Ramayana. The river originates from the Tunga (147 km) and Bhadra (178 km) streams in the Western Ghats and runs 531 km to meet the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh. It passes through Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and forms an interstate boundary.

Notes:
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry launched the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge and PRABHAAV Factbook to boost innovation and mentorship in India. The initiatives highlight India’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and focus on fostering growth in startups. The government aims to position India as a global leader in technology and entrepreneurship. These efforts reflect India’s commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and driving economic growth through a robust startup ecosystem.