Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
The Union Home Ministry is considering a proposal to regularize nautor land in Ladakh, granting locals ownership of government wastelands they have used for years. Nautor Land refers to barren government land allocated for cultivation or productive use with official approval. It originated in 1932 under Hari Singh in Jammu and Kashmir and was later adopted in Himachal Pradesh in 1968 before being halted. The policy targets hilly and remote areas like Leh, Kargil, and parts of Himachal Pradesh. Regularization ensures ownership for locals, safeguards resources from outsiders, and preserves cultural and economic traditions.

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:
The world’s first 52-foot Mahamrityunjaya Yantra has been installed at Tapovan Ashram, Jhunsi Havelis, Prayagraj, a sacred Maha Kumbh site. The Yantra is a spiritual marvel believed to connect devotees with the higher consciousness of Lord Shiva. It symbolizes “Victory over Death,” helping individuals overcome fears of death, disease, and danger. The Yantra enhances courage, positivity, and spiritual energy among devotees. This monumental installation holds immense significance for spiritual seekers and devotees of Lord Shiva.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet approved a Third Launch Pad (TLP) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. TLP will support ISRO’s Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV) and human spaceflight missions. It will serve as a backup for the Second Launch Pad (SLP) and support LVM3 vehicles with advanced stages. The project costs ₹3984.86 crore and is expected to be completed in four years. TLP will boost launch frequencies, enabling India’s space goals, including the Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035 and crewed lunar landing by 2040. It enhances India’s capacity for heavier and advanced launch vehicles.

Notes:
The Indian men’s and women’s teams won the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025 titles at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. The men’s team defeated Nepal 54-36, while the women’s team beat Nepal 78-40 in their respective finals. The tournament, backed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), featured 20 men’s and 19 women’s teams. Both finals showcased India’s dominance, with strong attacking and defensive performances.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh High Court launched the TWARIT (Transmission of Warrants, Summons, and Reports by Information Technology) platform to digitally transmit warrants, summons, and reports. The platform replaces paper-based systems, making legal proceedings faster, more efficient, and transparent. It enhances the justice delivery system, reducing delays and saving time for courts, law enforcement, and the public. TWARIT enables electronic delivery of legal documents like court summons and arrest warrants.

Notes:
Union Minister Jayant Singh Chaudhary launched Solar Mobile Van Training Units in New Delhi to enhance financial and digital literacy in rural areas. Two new solar-powered vans equipped with modern technologies were flagged off to serve rural areas in Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The vans provide training on financial literacy, digital skills, cyber security, technical knowledge, and generative AI. By FY 2025, the program will expand to 7 more districts, benefiting 58 lakh people, including students, women, youth, and ex-servicemen. The project aims to make rural India self-reliant and empowered through technology and partnerships.

Notes:
ISRO successfully demonstrated the restart of its Vikas liquid engine at the Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri. The test is a significant step towards developing reusable launch vehicle technologies to reduce future space mission costs. The Vikas engine, named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, was conceptualized and designed by ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). LPSC specializes in designing and developing liquid propulsion stages for ISRO’s launch vehicles. The Vikas engine powers the liquid stages of PSLV, GSLV, and GSLV Mk-III launch vehicles, enhancing their payload capacities.

Notes:
Madras High Court directed local bodies to submit an action plan to prevent pollution in the Vaigai River. Vaigai River originates from Varusanadu and Megamalai hills of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu. It flows southeast through the Pandya Nadu region, rarely flooding, and drains into the Palk Strait near Pamban Bridge. The river is 258 km long, with a basin area of 7,741 sq. km entirely in Tamil Nadu. Vaigai is fed by the Periyar Dam in Kerala, with water diverted through a tunnel in the Western Ghats. Vaigai is mentioned in Sangam literature and is central to Madurai, the ancient Pandya kingdom’s capital.

Notes:
The Commerce Ministry introduced the Diamond Imprest Authorization (DIA) Scheme to boost India’s diamond industry’s global competitiveness. Effective from April 1, 2025, it allows duty-free import of natural cut and polished diamonds under ¼ carat for export purposes. The scheme mandates a 10% value addition export obligation. It supports MSME exporters by creating a level playing field with larger players. Inspired by diamond beneficiation policies in countries like Botswana, it aims to maintain India’s global leadership in the diamond value chain.