Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of India’s first Green Hydrogen Hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM). NGHM was announced in January 2023 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Its objective is to make India a global hub for green hydrogen production, usage, and export. The target is to produce 5 MMT of green hydrogen annually by 2030.

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:
Madhya Pradesh launched the PARTH Yojana (Police Army Recruitment Training & Hunar) to train youth for careers in the Army, police, and paramilitary forces. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav unveiled the scheme at the State-Level Youth Festival. The initiative fosters patriotism, skill development, and employability among energetic youth. Training includes physical fitness, written exam coaching (general knowledge, math, English), and personality development. Divisional-level training centers will be set up, managed by district sports and youth welfare officers. Rural youth coordinators and departmental employees will support the program. The scheme aims to channel youth enthusiasm into meaningful employment opportunities.

Notes:
The ‘Maa Ki Rasoi’ initiative, inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, offers a full meal for just ₹9 to economically weaker sections in Prayagraj. The initiative is operated by Nandi Sewa Sansthan at Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital. This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to social welfare, especially during the auspicious Mahakumbh festival.

Notes:
Zoological Survey of India scientists recently discovered a new pangolin species, the Indo-Burmese pangolin (Manis indoburmanica), in Arunachal Pradesh. This species is genetically distinct from the Chinese (Manis pentadactyla) and Indian (Manis crassicaudata) pangolins. Genetic analysis shows an 8% difference from the Chinese pangolin, with divergence around 3.4 million years ago. The species is found in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and possibly Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar, at altitudes between 180-1830 meters. It has dark brown and olive-brown scales with a pinkish face, typical of Asian pangolins.

Notes:
US President-elect Donald Trump proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The proposal has sparked debates about its geopolitical and historical implications. Gulf of Mexico borders the southeastern coast of North America, connecting to the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The Gulf is the world’s largest and is often called the “Mediterranean of the Americas.” It formed due to seafloor subsidence and is shallow, with an average depth of 1,615 m. The climate ranges from tropical to subtropical, with severe weather like hurricanes and tornadoes. It holds large petroleum and natural gas deposits in its shallow areas.

Notes:
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the International Overseas Uttarakhandi Conference in Dehradun, fostering ties with global migrants. The state seeks investment in tourism, agriculture, power, wellness, and manufacturing, emphasizing policy reforms and improved infrastructure. A migrant cell and venture fund were announced to support collaboration with migrants. CM Dhami urged migrants to adopt villages or children to address migration issues and preserve heritage.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav launched the Swami Vivekanand Yuva Shakti Mission in Bhopal on National Youth Day. National Youth Day has been celebrated to honor Swami Vivekanand’s birth anniversary. Chief Minister inaugurated the world’s largest 3-D rangoli depicting Swami Vivekananda at Shaurya Smarak, Bhopal. The mission aligns with PM Modi’s GYAN principle, focusing on the poor, youth, farmers, and women. The Chief Minister also launched the Swami Vivekananda Yuva Shakti Mission Portal and theme song.

Notes:
The Sada region in the Konkan area of Maharashtra is experiencing land-use changes, with croplands being converted into orchards and residential areas. It is a flat area formed by centuries of erosion, similar to plateaux found in the Satara district, Maharashtra. The region is rocky and barren most of the year but transforms during the monsoons, harboring unique endemic flora. It has highly weathered lateritic soil that helps recharge groundwater. The region boasts 459 plant species, 31 reptile species, 13 amphibians, 169 birds, and 41 mammals. It also features geoglyphs, believed to be around 10,000 years old.

Notes:
Scientists are concerned about the potential for ‘zombie deer’ disease, or Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), to affect humans. CWD is a fatal neurological disease that primarily affects deer, elk, moose, and reindeer. Caused by prions, misfolded proteins that damage the brain, leading to severe dysfunction and spongy tissue. It spreads through body fluids like saliva, feces, blood, and urine, and can remain infectious in the environment for years. Symptoms include weight loss, behavioral changes, and increased drinking and salivation. There is no cure or vaccine, and although there’s no confirmed human transmission, experts remain cautious.