Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

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:
Russia has formed an emergency task force to address an oil spill in the Kerch Strait. The Kerch Strait links the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov and separates Crimea from Russia’s Taman Peninsula. It is 3 km long, 15 km wide, and 18 meters deep, with its narrowest point being 3-5 km. Kerch city is situated on the Crimean side of the strait. The Kerch Strait is a crucial global shipping route.

Notes:
The National Green Tribunal has directed a rejuvenation committee to set a new timeline for the action plan to reduce pollution in the Pavana River. The Pavana River flows in western Maharashtra, crossing Pune and dividing Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. It originates from the Western Ghats. It flows through Dehu, Chinchwad, Pimpri, and Dapodi before joining the Mula River near Pune. It is about 60 km long and feeds into the Bhima River.

Notes:
The ISRO mission that successfully germinated lobia seeds (also known as cowpea seeds) in space is called the “CROPS” experiment, which stands for “Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies”. The seeds sprouted on the fourth day, with leaves visible by the fifth day, marking a major milestone in space research. The experiment aims to develop sustainable food sources for long-term space missions and test plant growth in microgravity and controlled environments. Success supports astronauts by enabling food growth, oxygen generation, and CO₂ recycling in space. It highlights India’s capability in managing complex life-support systems and contributes to global space farming initiatives.

Notes:
Indichip Semiconductors and Japan’s Yitoa Micro Technology will establish India’s first private semiconductor manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh. The investment exceeds ₹14,000 crore and focuses on producing silicon carbide (SiC) chips. The facility will start with a capacity of 10,000 wafers/month, scaling up to 50,000 wafers/month in 2–3 years. The project aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision, supporting electric vehicles and renewable energy solutions. Andhra Pradesh’s semiconductor policy aims to make the state a global manufacturing hub. The initiative will create thousands of jobs, spur innovation, and boost India’s semiconductor footprint.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 2nd Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 on 17 January 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The first expo was held in February 2024 in New Delhi. The event unites the entire mobility sector, including automobiles, transportation infrastructure, electric vehicles, and digital technologies. It highlights India’s role as a global mobility hub, showcasing cutting-edge innovations. The expo is hosted at Bharat Mandapam, Yashoboomi in Delhi, and Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, from 17-22 January 2025.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Culture and the Gujarat Government inaugurated a state-of-the-art museum and archaeological interpretation center in Vadnagar. Vadnagar, a 2,500-year-old town, was a hub on ancient trade routes, boasting rich heritage sites like Kirti Toran, Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple, and Sharmistha Lake. The museum complex spans 12,500 sq. m., features nine galleries, a 4,000 sq. m. excavation site, and highlights 5,000 artifacts. The ₹298 crore project integrates sustainability and includes five years of operations and maintenance.

Notes:
INS Mumbai, an indigenously built guided missile destroyer, is participating in the fourth edition of Exercise LA PEROUSE. The exercise involves navies from Australia, France, the UK, the US, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Canada. It focuses on enhancing maritime situational awareness, surveillance, interdiction, air operations, and information sharing. The exercise highlights India’s naval synergy, interoperability, and commitment to a rules-based maritime order. It aligns with India’s SAGAR vision to ensure security and growth in the Indo-Pacific region.

Notes:
Kokborok Day is celebrated on January 19 annually. It holds great importance for the indigenous Tripuri people, especially in Tripura, India. The day honors the cultural heritage, history, and linguistic contributions of the Kokborok language. Kokborok is the mother tongue of the Tripuri community. The celebration promotes the language, traditions, and unity of the Tripuri people. It also raises awareness about preserving and promoting Kokborok.

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.