Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
The Z-Morh tunnel will be a key milestone in creating a year-round strategic corridor between Kashmir and Ladakh. It is a 2-lane road tunnel between Gagangir and Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Leh Highway in Jammu and Kashmir. The tunnel is named after the Z-shaped road section near the site. The tunnel is necessary due to the area’s high altitude (over 8,500 ft) and frequent snow avalanches, which make the road impassable during winter months.

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Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath launched the All India Radio Kumbhvani FM channel (103.5 MHz) for Maha Kumbh 2025 at Circuit House, Prayagraj. The channel will bring Mahakumbh to remote areas, providing live commentary for those unable to attend. It aims to spread the ambience of the Mahakumbh globally, promoting India’s religious traditions and providing vital information to devotees.

Notes:
India celebrates National Youth Day on January 12, honoring Swami Vivekananda’s legacy of youth empowerment. The National Youth Festival (NYF) 2024, held on January 10-12 at Bharat Mandapam, is reimagined as the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue. It is organized under the National Programme for Youth and Adolescent Development (NPYAD) by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, with shared costs between the Centre and the host state/UT. The festival includes cultural events, youth conventions, exhibitions, and adventure activities, involving around 7,500 delegates.

Notes:
Silver nanowire-based conductive ink technology was transferred to two startups at NIT Warangal. The startups are M/s Chematico Technologies Private Limited (incubated at IIT Ropar) and M/s Vasanthbala Functional Materials Pvt Ltd (incubated at NIT Warangal). The technology was developed under a project funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). It aims to reduce dependency on foreign countries and tap into the growing demand for advanced electronic materials. The ink is used in flexible electronics, wearable devices, solar panels, RFID tags, and more. The global market for this ink is expected to surpass 16.87B by 2032. India imports conductive ink worth 15,72,000 annually from countries like the US, China, and Taiwan.

Notes:
Rajasthan received an additional 5,000 MW allocation under the PM-KUSUM (Component A) scheme. The scheme targets commissioning projects by December 31, 2025, before sunsetting in March 2026. The scheme was launched in 2019. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme aims to reduce diesel usage in farming and boost farmers’ income. It supports India’s goal of achieving 40% installed power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy oversees implementation, requiring progress updates via the PM-KUSUM portal.

Notes:
Odisha has launched a pension scheme providing ₹20,000 per month for individuals detained during the Emergency (1975–1977). The scheme also covers medical expenses for eligible recipients alive as of January 1, 2025. Similar pension schemes exist in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Assam. Those arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act, Defence of India Rules, and related laws during the Emergency can apply. Over 300 people in Odisha are eligible, with an annual cost of ₹8 crore for the state government. Applications are required for pension and medical benefits.

Notes:
The “One Plate, One Bag” campaign was launched at the Maha Kumbh, Prayagraj, to promote a plastic-free event. Cloth bags and steel plates and glasses are being distributed to replace plastic and disposable items. Around 70,000 cloth bags have been distributed from six centers so far. More than 2 million steel plates and glasses collected nationwide are being supplied to langars and food outlets. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath urged pilgrims to adopt eco-friendly practices and avoid single-use plastic during the pilgrimage.

Notes:
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.

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.

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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.