Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
Hyderabad is seeing an increase in scarlet fever cases among children aged 5 to 15, along with other viral fevers during winter. Scarlet fever, also known as scarlatina, is a bacterial infection that causes a red rash, sore throat, and fever. It’s caused by group A streptococcus bacteria, also known as strep throat bacteria. Symptoms include a bright red, sunburn-like rash, sore throat, high fever, and peeling skin on hands and feet. Antibiotics can fully treat scarlet fever, but patients must complete the entire course. If untreated, scarlet fever can cause serious complications like kidney damage, heart issues, and pneumonia.

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:
Lunar landers by U.S. and Japanese companies launched together on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, showcasing private sector involvement in space exploration. The mission includes two lunar spacecraft: Blue Ghost by Firefly Aerospace (U.S.) and Resilience by ispace-Europe (Luxembourg, Japan). Blue Ghost carries 10 NASA instruments to study Earth’s magnetosphere, lunar dust, and Moon’s thermal properties while testing advanced navigation and computing. Resilience includes the Tenacious micro rover with a high-definition camera and regolith-scooping technology, exploring Mare Frigoris on the Moon’s far north. The mission promotes technological advances, global collaboration, and cost-effective strategies for future lunar sustainability under NASA’s Artemis program.

Notes:
The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) launched the Internet Governance Internship and Capacity Building Scheme. The program aims to create awareness and develop expertise in internet governance (IG) among Indian citizens. The initiative will build a pool of Indian talent to address emerging IG issues. The program offers bi-annual internships: six-month and three-month tracks. Interns receive mentorship from global experts and a stipend of ₹20,000/month, along with support for mandatory outreach programs.

Notes:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) retained India’s growth projection at 6.5% for FY26 and FY27, citing it as “in line with potential.” Growth in India slowed due to an unexpected deceleration in industrial activity, with 5.4% growth reported for the September quarter. The World Bank maintained its higher growth projection for India at 6.7% for FY26 and FY27, predicting it to remain the fastest-growing major economy. The World Bank highlighted growth driven by the services sector, strengthened manufacturing, improved logistics, and tax reforms. NSO’s First Advance Estimates project FY25 growth to slow to 6.4%, below RBI’s 6.6% forecast for FY25.

Notes:
The Startup India mission’s success owes much to funding mechanisms like the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS). FFS was launched in 2016 with a Rs 10,000 crore corpus, aligned with the 14th and 15th Finance Commissions. Its goal is to boost the Indian startup ecosystem and provide access to domestic capital. FFS does not invest directly in startups but funds SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), which invest in startups via equity and equity-linked instruments. The scheme is operated by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

Notes:
Jharkhand Forest Department is studying ways to revive the declining Bison (Gaur) population at Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR). It is located in the western part of Latehar district on the Chhotanagpur plateau in Jharkhand. It is part of the Betla National Park and was one of the first nine tiger reserves under ‘Project Tiger.’ It holds historical significance as the first reserve where a tiger census was conducted in 1932 using pugmark counting.

Notes:
Kalaripayattu, a traditional martial art from Kerala, is included only as a demonstration event in the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand. According to mythology, the warrior sage Parasurama introduced Kalaripayattu. The term Kalaripayattu combines “kalari,” meaning a place of combat, and “payattu,” meaning fighting in Malayalam. Uttarakhand will host the National Games 2025 from January 28 to February 14, 2025.

Notes:
Assam police chief Gyanendra Pratap Singh is appointed as Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The CRPF, India’s premier central police force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, ensures internal security. It was established in 1939 as the Crown Representative’s Police during political unrest in princely states.

Notes:
Karnataka men’s senior cricket team won its 5th Vijay Hazare Trophy by defeating Vidarbha by 36 runs in the 2024-25 final. The final was held on 18 January 2025 at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara, Gujarat. This victory ended Karnataka’s five-year title drought in domestic cricket. Vijay Hazare Trophy, organized by BCCI, is a premier 50-over one-day tournament featuring 38 Ranji teams.