Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
Researchers discovered two rare Neuroptera species, Indophanes barbara and Glenochrysa zeylanica, in Kerala. Indophanes barbara, an antlion from the Myrmeleontidae family, does not build pits like other antlion larvae and lives in loose soil for protection. Adult Indophanes barbara resemble damselflies but can be identified by their long antennae and belong to holometabolous Neuroptera insects, unlike hemimetabolous damselflies. Glenochrysa zeylanica, a green lacewing from the Chrysopidae family, was rediscovered in Wayanad after 111 years and reported for the first time in India. Neuroptera, commonly called lacewings, are terrestrial insects with complex wing vein patterns.

Notes:
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has moved 33 border outposts (BOPs) closer to the India-China border under its forwardisation plan. It was raised in 1962 after the Sino-Indian War. ITBP is a Central Armed Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs. ITBP guards the 3,488 km India-China border with 197 outposts at altitudes of 9,000 ft to 18,750 ft. It became a full-fledged force in 2004 under the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Act, 1992. The force’s motto is “Shaurya-Dridhata-Karma Nishtha” (Valour, Determination, Devotion to Duty).

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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced a partnership with India’s AI Mission to upskill 500,000 people and promote inclusive growth by 2026. An MoU was signed to drive AI innovation, productivity, and inclusivity across India. An AI Center of Excellence, ‘AI Catalysts,’ will support 100,000 developers and rural AI innovation through hackathons and solutions. ‘AI Productivity Labs’ at 20 institutes will provide foundational AI education to 20,000 educators. Citizen-centric AI solutions will address healthcare, education, accessibility, and agriculture. A five-year partnership with RailTel will boost digital and AI transformation in Indian Railways and public sectors.

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The Himachal Pradesh government approved renaming the Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) to Dr. Manmohan Singh Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration. This honors Dr. Singh’s contributions to national and state development. The Cabinet acknowledged his transformative role during his tenure as Prime Minister and Union Finance Minister.

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A group of 12 critically endangered Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) was recently spotted at Desert National Park (DNP) in Rajasthan, boosting conservation efforts. Desert National Park (DNP) is located in the Thar Desert near Jaisalmer and spans over 3,160 sq. km, making it one of India’s largest national parks. The park lies in an extremely arid region with annual rainfall below 100 mm. Its terrain includes craggy rocks, salt lake bottoms, dunes (20% of the park), and three main lakes: Rajbaugh, Malik Talao, and Padam Talao.

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:
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.

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Union Minister of Commerce and Industry launched the Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform at the Bharat Climate Forum 2025 in New Delhi. The initiative aims to strengthen India’s cleantech sectors, including solar, wind, hydrogen, and battery storage. The platform will help Indian firms collaborate, innovate, secure financing, and share technologies. India aims to achieve 500 GW of clean energy by 2030, with 200 GW already in place. India leads globally in renewable energy progress and has the largest interconnected grid.

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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:
The Gangasagar Mela organizers introduced initiatives like certificates for pilgrims, e-Anushandhan for facilities access, and e-Parichay QR code identity bands. The Gangasagar Mela is an annual Hindu festival held on Sagar Island, West Bengal, at the confluence of the Ganges and the Bay of Bengal. It includes rituals like the sacred bath and Deepdan and is celebrated during Makar Sankranti, marking the Sun’s transition into Capricorn. It is the second-largest religious gathering in India after the Kumbh Mela. The mela has ancient roots, with mentions in the Mahabharata’s Vana Parva (1500–2000 BC).