Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

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 Gaan Ngai festival is celebrated by the Zeliarong community in Manipur after the harvest season. It marks gratitude for a good harvest, prayers for prosperity, and the beginning of the new year. The festival includes music, dance, and spiritual rituals, promoting unity and joy. The Zeliarong community, comprising the Rongmei, Liangmei, and Zeme tribes, is one of Manipur’s prominent tribal groups. Gaan Ngai lasts for five days and is typically celebrated in December or January, with the date varying each year.

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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.

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The Indian Armed Forces conducted Exercise Devil Strike from January 16 to 19. It involved elite airborne soldiers from the Army and Air Force. The exercise was held in training areas and firing ranges. The focus was on refining logistics and sustaining troops in tough conditions. Advanced technologies ensured precise delivery of forces to remote locations. The exercise aimed to enhance operational readiness and adaptability. It emphasized the commitment to maintaining military excellence and preparing for future challenges.

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Union Minister of Commerce and Industry launched the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge and PRABHAAV Factbook to boost innovation and mentorship in India. The initiatives highlight India’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and focus on fostering growth in startups. The government aims to position India as a global leader in technology and entrepreneurship. These efforts reflect India’s commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and driving economic growth through a robust startup ecosystem.

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The Union Cabinet approved a Third Launch Pad (TLP) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. TLP will support ISRO’s Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV) and human spaceflight missions. It will serve as a backup for the Second Launch Pad (SLP) and support LVM3 vehicles with advanced stages. The project costs ₹3984.86 crore and is expected to be completed in four years. TLP will boost launch frequencies, enabling India’s space goals, including the Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035 and crewed lunar landing by 2040. It enhances India’s capacity for heavier and advanced launch vehicles.

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The Trajan 155 mm towed artillery gun system, developed by India and France, has secured an export order from Armenia. It is a 155 mm, 52-calibre towed gun system, jointly developed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and KNDS France, and manufactured in India. The gun has a range exceeding 40 km, depending on the ammunition, and is designed for modern combat. It features advanced targeting, fire-control systems, modular design for easy transport, rapid firing rates, and terrain adaptability.

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The National Science Drama Festival 2024-25, organized by the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), took place on January 18, 2025, at the National Science Centre, Delhi. The event was preceded by block, district, and state-level competitions across all 28 States and 8 Union Territories, involving over 40,000 students. Students presented creative science dramas on topics like Artificial Intelligence, Climate Change, Water Conservation, and medical breakthroughs. The festival highlighted the integration of science with literature and theatre, promoting cross-curricular learning and fostering scientific thinking. NCSM used drama as an innovative tool to engage audiences and combat misinformation, encouraging a scientific mindset among citizens.

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Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), SJVN Ltd., GMR Energy Ltd., and Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to develop the 900 MW Upper Karnali Hydro-electric Project in Nepal. The project, located on the Karnali River, is a run-of-the-river hydropower initiative. It will supply electricity to Nepal, India, and Bangladesh for 25 years under a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model. It will generate 3,466 million units of electricity and reduce two million tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

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A family of four drowned in the Bharathapuzha River recently. Bharathapuzha is Kerala’s second longest river, flowing 209 km. The Bharathapuzha River flows through the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It’s also known as the Nila River or Ponnani River. The Bharathapuzha originates in the Annamalai hills in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu. It flows northwest through the Pollachi taluk of Coimbatore district in Tamil Nadu It enters the Palghat district of Kerala through the Palghat gap It drains into the Arabian Sea near Ponnani town in Kerala. The Malampuzha dam is the largest dam on the river.