Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
The union Minister of Labour & Employment launched multilingual functionality on the e-Shram portal. The e-Shram portal supports and empowers the unorganized workforce by creating a National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW). The portal now supports 22 languages, upgraded using MEITY’s Bhashini project. Previously, the portal was available only in English, Hindi, Kannada, and Marathi.

Notes:
The Flamingo Festival 2025 returns to Andhra Pradesh after a four-year break, celebrating migratory birds, especially flamingos, at Pulicat Lake and Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary. The event covers five key locations: Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Atakanithippa, BV Palem (Pulicat Lake), Sullurpet’s Government Junior College, and Sri City. More than 200 bird species, including flamingos, grey pelicans, and open-bill storks, are expected to migrate to the region. Activities include birdwatching, eco-friendly biodiversity sessions, boating, cultural programs, and stalls at Sullurpeta.

Notes:
NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) launched “EmpowHER Biz – Sapno Ki Udaan” in partnership with New Shop under its Award to Reward (ATR) program. The initiative provides mentorship and training in retail management, digital tools, financial literacy, and business development for women entrepreneurs. Fifty women aged 18–35 will be selected through an online application process based on specific criteria. The top 20 participants will receive a 100% waiver on New Shop franchise fees, reducing barriers to owning retail businesses. The program targets women from Delhi NCR, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.

Notes:
Ayodhya will host the Pratishtha Dwadashi festival from January 11 to 13, marking the first anniversary of Ram Lalla’s installation in the grand temple. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will perform Ram Lalla’s ‘abhishek’ on January 11 and inaugurate a cultural programme at Angad Tila. A three-day Shri Ram Raag-Seva programme will feature music, dance, and instrumental performances near the temple’s sanctum. Renowned artistes like Usha Mangeshkar, Rakesh Chaurasia, and Shobhana Narayan will perform throughout the festival.

Notes:
India’s indigenous surgical robotic system, SSI Mantra, conducted two successful robotic cardiac telesurgeries. The first procedure, Telerobotic-assisted Internal Mammary Artery Harvesting, was completed in 58 minutes with 35-40 milliseconds latency. SSI Mantra successfully performed a robotic beating heart Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass (TECAB), one of the most complex cardiac surgeries. SSI Mantra is the only robotic system globally approved for telesurgery and tele-proctoring, revolutionizing rural healthcare access in India. It recently received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940.

Notes:
The Sri Lankan Navy recently arrested 17 Indian fishermen near Neduntheevu Island. Neduntheevu, also called Delft Island, is the largest island in the Palk Strait, Sri Lanka. It covers 50 sq.km, with an 8 km length and 6 km width. The island is flat, oval-shaped, and often wind-swept, offering a soothing environment. It lacks streams; freshwater comes from surface water and artificial ponds. The island has dry shrubs, semi-arid tropical plants, and tall palm trees. A Dutch fort made of coral chunks is located on the island, which has a population of 4,800.

Notes:
More than 30 dermatologists suggest renaming the fungus Trichophyton indotineae as its origin in India is unconfirmed despite reports from over 40 countries. Trichophyton indotineae is a fungal pathogen causing severe, treatment-resistant skin infections. It was named after India in 2020 based on isolates from India and Nepal. The fungus belongs to the dermatophyte group, causing dermatophytosis, which affects the skin, hair, and nails. It causes itchy, inflammatory infections on the groin, gluteal region, trunk, and face, affecting all ages and genders. It spreads via direct skin contact or contaminated objects and is resistant to terbinafine.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh Transport Department proposed a “No Helmet, No Fuel” policy to reduce road accidents involving two-wheelers. The policy will begin in Noida on January 26, 2025, aiming to enforce helmet use and improve road safety. Fuel stations statewide must display “No Helmet, No Fuel” signs and deny fuel to riders and pillions without helmets. The policy was introduced in Gautam Buddh Nagar in 2019 but was inconsistently implemented. Awareness campaigns and education for fuel station operators on the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and related rules are being prioritized.

Notes:
The online ‘central suspect registry’ has prevented six lakh fraudulent transactions, saving ₹1,800 crore. It strengthens fraud risk management with a registry of cybercriminal identifiers. It was created using the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP). It includes data on 1.4 million cybercriminals. It hs been developed by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) with input from banks and financial institutions. Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) , under the Ministry of Home Affairs, coordinates efforts against cybercrime. It also prevents cyberspace misuse by extremist and terrorist groups.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sri Sri Radha Madanmohanji Temple of ISKCON in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, on January 15, 2025. The temple is now the second-largest ISKCON temple in Asia. The design of the temple blends spirituality and knowledge, with various facilities reflecting ISKCON’s mission to serve society.