Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
India and the U.S. agreed to co-produce sonobuoys for the Indian Navy’s Undersea Domain Awareness (UDA). Sonobuoys are electro-mechanical acoustic sensors used to detect submarines and ships underwater. They are dropped by naval helicopters or aircraft, deploy automatically upon hitting water, and use inflatable systems for surface communication. Sensors descend to a specific depth to relay underwater acoustic data. Sonobuoys can be used in active or passive modes for tracking. Deploying multiple sonobuoys in a pattern allows precise location tracking of submarines, enhancing naval capabilities.

Notes:
The union Minister of Labour & Employment launched multilingual functionality on the e-Shram portal. The e-Shram portal supports and empowers the unorganized workforce by creating a National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW). The portal now supports 22 languages, upgraded using MEITY’s Bhashini project. Previously, the portal was available only in English, Hindi, Kannada, and Marathi.

Notes:
Kiran Jadhav of the Navy won the 10m air-rifle gold at the 15th Lakshya Cup. Jadhav scored 251.7 points, securing his first victory after years of finals since 2018. Maharashtra’s Gajanan Khandagale came second with 250.9 points, and Mohit Gowda took third with 229.3 points. Paris Olympics finalist Arjun Babuta finished fourth with 208.2 points. National champions Shahu Mane and Ananya Naidu failed to qualify for the finals. Mohit Gowda topped the qualifiers with 630.5 points, while Olympians Divyansh Singh Panwar and Sandeep Singh also missed the finals.

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.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of hospital registrations under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, with 5,834 hospitals, including 2,949 government and 2,885 private facilities. The state has issued Ayushman cards to 5.13 crore beneficiaries out of 7.43 crore eligible individuals. 53.93 lakh patients have received free treatment worth Rs 8,483 crore. All state-run medical colleges, district hospitals, and community health centers are enlisted. The government aims for at least one member from 92% of eligible families to receive the “golden card.”

Notes:
Los Angeles declared a state of emergency on January 8, 2025, as wildfires expanded from 10 to over 2,900 acres. Around 100,000 people have been evacuated, with over 1,400 firefighters battling the blazes. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena was evacuated due to the advancing Eaton Fire. The fires, driven by strong winds, are threatening over 13,000 structures, including areas in Santa Monica, Venice Beach, and Malibu.

Notes:
India has joined the UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics, focusing on using big data for monitoring Sustainable Development Goals. India’s involvement will help shape global standards in data science for official statistics. India’s initiatives like the Data Innovation Lab and use of satellite imagery and machine learning will be highlighted. The membership aligns India’s advancements in big data with international goals and positions the country as a leader in data transformation. India aims to modernize statistical processes, enhance data accuracy, and support evidence-based policy decisions through innovative data techniques.

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:
São Tomé and Príncipe Prime Minister Ilza Amado Vaz resigned after her proposed cabinet list was publicly leaked before informing President Carlos Vila Nova. Amado Vaz, a former justice minister, was appointed prime minister following the dissolution of Patrice Trovoada’s government. São Tomé and Príncipe is a small archipelago in the Gulf of Guinea, covering just over 1,000 sq. km.

Notes:
The ASEAN Secretary-General, Kao Kim Hourn, leads the ASEAN Secretariat’s delegation to the 5th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN) in Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand hosts the meeting as the ADGMIN chair for 2025. The meeting will focus on advancing ASEAN as a digital community and economic bloc, aligning with the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025.