Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
The Uttarakhand High Court criticized authorities for unregulated soapstone mining in Bageshwar, which has over 160 mines. Soapstone, also known as Steatite, is a metamorphic rock made of talc, used in construction and design for countertops, sinks, and sculptures. It forms at convergent plate boundaries under heat and pressure, with other minerals like mica and chlorite. Soapstone is soft, dense, and heat-resistant. Major producers are China, India, Brazil, USA, and Finland. India’s largest reserves are in Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. Soapstone is used in products like baby powder, ceramics, and cosmetics.

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:
Larsen & Toubro launched the second multi-purpose vessel, INS Utkarsh, for the Indian Navy at Kattupalli Shipyard near Chennai. INS Utkarsh, meaning “Superior in Conduct,” is built by L&T Shipbuilding Limited. The vessel is 106m long, 18.6m wide, with a displacement over 3,750 tonnes, and a maximum speed of 15 knots. It will enhance maritime surveillance, patrolling, and disaster relief capabilities of the Navy. The launch follows the first MPV, INS Samarthak, within three months. This aligns with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, showcasing indigenous shipbuilding progress.

Notes:
India has successfully tested the Bhargavastra, its first micro-missile system to counter swarm drones. It is designed to counter the threat of swarm drones. It was developed by Economic Explosives Ltd. Bhargavastra detects small flying machines over 6 km and hits targets over 2.5 km. It uses guided micro-munitions and can fire more than 64 micro missiles simultaneously. The system operates in all terrains, including high-altitude areas. It fulfills Army Air Defence requirements, marking India’s first counter-drone system with micro missiles.

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:
The Parshuram Kund Mela has started in Arunachal Pradesh. Parshuram Kund is a Hindu pilgrimage site on the Brahmaputra plateau near the Lohit River. It is also known as the “Kumbh of the Northeast,” the festival attracts thousands of devotees from India and abroad.

Notes:
Union Home Minister launched the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Program (FTI-TTP) at seven major Indian airports: Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Ahmedabad. The program, part of the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, was first introduced in Delhi in June 2024. FTI-TTP aims to provide seamless, secure, and world-class immigration facilities for travellers.

Notes:
The Future Minerals Forum (FMF) 2025 held in Riyadh with more than 85 countries discussing challenges in the mineral sector. Union Minister G Kishan Reddy joined ministers from 50 nations at the event held at King Abdulaziz International Conference Center. The forum focuses on enhancing mineral supply chains, green technologies, and sustainable practices. The forum focuses on enhancing mineral supply chains, green technologies, and sustainable practices.

Notes:
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) discovered ancient Buddhist artifacts, including a Buddha head and inscribed relics, at Odisha’s Ratnagiri. Ratnagiri has been associated with Buddhism since Emperor Ashoka’s invasion of Kalinga. It was a significant center for Mahayana and Tantrayana (Vajrayana) Buddhist learning, rivaling Nalanda. Ratnagiri, along with Lalitagiri and Udayagiri, forms the Diamond Triangle of Buddhist centers in Odisha.

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.