Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
The Indian Railways organized a “Paint My City” campaign in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh to beautify the city’s railway stations for the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela. The campaign aimed to showcase the city’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage to pilgrims and tourists. The campaign transformed Prayagraj railway station into art and culture centers. The campaign featured murals depicting Hindu mythology, Indian traditions, and women’s empowerment.

Notes:
Neeraj Chopra was named the best javelin thrower of 2024 by the US-based Track and Field News. He won the silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a throw of 89.45m. He narrowly beat Anderson Peters of Grenada for the top spot in the rankings; Peters won three Diamond League events in 2024. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who threw 92.97m to win Olympic gold, ranked fifth due to limited appearances. Track and Field News, founded in 1948, is highly respected in athletics.

Notes:
Experts link the severity of wildfires in the USA to hydroclimate whiplash, intensified by climate change. Hydroclimate whiplash is a rare condition where a wet season is followed by an extremely dry one. This leads to increased hazards like flash floods, wildfires, landslides, and disease outbreaks. It can harm water quality due to harmful algal blooms and excess organic or mineral content. It also affects food security by reducing plant productivity, causing crop failures, and leading to livestock mortality.

Notes:
The Parshuram Kund Mela has started in Arunachal Pradesh. Parshuram Kund is a Hindu pilgrimage site on the Brahmaputra plateau near the Lohit River. It is also known as the “Kumbh of the Northeast,” the festival attracts thousands of devotees from India and abroad.

Notes:
Punjab government has launched SHE COHORT 3.0 (Startups Handholding & Empowerment – Cohort 3.0) initiative in Mohali to empower female startups and students in building tech-based ventures. The initiative is supported by business incubators and ecosystem enablers. More than 250 startups, innovators, and students were briefed on StartUp Punjab’s growth plans. It offers a platform to showcase talent and ideas with potential for economic growth. Aims to contribute to India’s development by 2047.

Notes:
India ranks second after the US in the QS World Future Skills Index 2025 for job market preparedness in AI, digital, and green sectors. India scores highly in the “Future of Work” indicator, trailing the US by less than a point. The country excels in readiness for digital roles alongside Mexico. However, India faces challenges in its higher education system, industry collaboration, and equipping graduates with in-demand skills. Despite strong GDP growth and a youthful population, India lags in sustainability and innovation metrics. To unlock potential, India needs better integration between education and industry.

Notes:
Indichip Semiconductors and Japan’s Yitoa Micro Technology will establish India’s first private semiconductor manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh. The investment exceeds ₹14,000 crore and focuses on producing silicon carbide (SiC) chips. The facility will start with a capacity of 10,000 wafers/month, scaling up to 50,000 wafers/month in 2–3 years. The project aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision, supporting electric vehicles and renewable energy solutions. Andhra Pradesh’s semiconductor policy aims to make the state a global manufacturing hub. The initiative will create thousands of jobs, spur innovation, and boost India’s semiconductor footprint.

Notes:
Tungabhadra River water turned green near villages in Mundargi taluk, Gadag district, Karnataka, causing panic. It is a major tributary of the Krishna River, sacred to Hindus, and mentioned as “Pampa” in the Ramayana. The river originates from the Tunga (147 km) and Bhadra (178 km) streams in the Western Ghats and runs 531 km to meet the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh. It passes through Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and forms an interstate boundary.

Notes:
The world’s first 52-foot Mahamrityunjaya Yantra has been installed at Tapovan Ashram, Jhunsi Havelis, Prayagraj, a sacred Maha Kumbh site. The Yantra is a spiritual marvel believed to connect devotees with the higher consciousness of Lord Shiva. It symbolizes “Victory over Death,” helping individuals overcome fears of death, disease, and danger. The Yantra enhances courage, positivity, and spiritual energy among devotees. This monumental installation holds immense significance for spiritual seekers and devotees of Lord Shiva.

Notes:
Indian and Argentine armies jointly summited Mt Aconcagua, the tallest peak in the Americas at 6,995 meters, on Army Day, January 15, 2025. The expedition began on January 3, 2025, and featured 23 participants, including an eight-member Indian team led by Lt Col Manoj Joshi and a 15-member Argentine contingent. Mt Aconcagua, located in the Andes of Argentina, is the highest peak in South America and outside Asia, standing at 6,962 meters. The mountain is of volcanic origin but is not currently active.