Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
The eighth Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge, LSAM 22, was inducted on 06 Jan 2025 at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. The contract for 11 ACTCM Barges was signed with M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt. Ltd., a Thane-based MSME, on 05 Mar 2021. Seven ACTCM Barges have already been delivered, and the shipyard is also building four Sullage Barges for the Navy. The barges are indigenously designed and tested for seaworthiness at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, Visakhapatnam. Built under Indian Register of Shipping rules, these barges promote Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.

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:
The artesian condition was recently observed in Taranagar village, Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan. The term “artesian” refers to water confined under pressure below layers of impermeable rock. This water is located deeper beneath the earth’s surface, surrounded by poorly permeable rocks, creating high underground pressure. Artesian conditions occur when groundwater moves from a recharge area to a discharge point at a lower elevation. Unlike normal tube wells, artesian water can naturally sprout from underground without any external assistance.

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.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
LingoSat, a joint project of Japan’s Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, is the first wooden satellite launched into orbit. It uses wood from honoki, a magnolia tree native to Japan, and is assembled using traditional Japanese crafts without screws or glue. The satellite’s name comes from the Latin word “Ligno,” meaning wood. LignoSat 1 is a CubeSat measuring 10 cm on each side and weighing 900 grams. LignoSat 2, a 2U CubeSat, is planned for launch in 2026.

Notes:
Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) has been selected by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to host South India’s first Infectious Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (IRDL). The lab will focus on research and diagnostics for bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections, enabling quicker and more accurate disease management. This is part of a nationwide initiative to enhance medical research infrastructure in India. The lab will also study antibiotic resistance, fungal infections, and tropical diseases.

Notes:
US President-elect Donald Trump proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The proposal has sparked debates about its geopolitical and historical implications. Gulf of Mexico borders the southeastern coast of North America, connecting to the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The Gulf is the world’s largest and is often called the “Mediterranean of the Americas.” It formed due to seafloor subsidence and is shallow, with an average depth of 1,615 m. The climate ranges from tropical to subtropical, with severe weather like hurricanes and tornadoes. It holds large petroleum and natural gas deposits in its shallow areas.

Notes:
The INROAD (Indian Natural Rubber Operations for Assisted Development) project, backed by ₹100 crore, enhances natural rubber quality in Northeast India and parts of West Bengal. It aims to develop skills among rubber growers and establish model infrastructure. Supported by major tyre companies – Apollo, Ceat, JK, and MRF – it showcases agriculture-industry collaboration. The project is overseen by the Rubber Board of India, it involves direct engagement from tyre manufacturers. In four years, 1,25,272 hectares of rubber plantations have been established across 94 districts. The project uses digital platforms to train farmers in effective rubber tapping and processing for quality improvement.

Notes:
The National Green Tribunal has directed a rejuvenation committee to set a new timeline for the action plan to reduce pollution in the Pavana River. The Pavana River flows in western Maharashtra, crossing Pune and dividing Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. It originates from the Western Ghats. It flows through Dehu, Chinchwad, Pimpri, and Dapodi before joining the Mula River near Pune. It is about 60 km long and feeds into the Bhima River.