Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
AnemiaPhone, developed by Cornell University, is now part of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) programs for anemia, women’s health, and maternal and child health in India. It offers quick, accurate, and low-cost iron deficiency assessment. Anemia affects 50% to 70% of pregnant women in India, with iron deficiency as the main cause. The device uses a drop of blood on a test strip, similar to a COVID-19 test, providing results in minutes. Data is uploaded to a clinical database via mobile devices, enabling healthcare workers to provide immediate guidance, referrals, or interventions.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh launched the PARTH Yojana (Police Army Recruitment Training & Hunar) to train youth for careers in the Army, police, and paramilitary forces. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav unveiled the scheme at the State-Level Youth Festival. The initiative fosters patriotism, skill development, and employability among energetic youth. Training includes physical fitness, written exam coaching (general knowledge, math, English), and personality development. Divisional-level training centers will be set up, managed by district sports and youth welfare officers. Rural youth coordinators and departmental employees will support the program. The scheme aims to channel youth enthusiasm into meaningful employment opportunities.

Notes:
The UK announced the world’s first sanctions regime to combat people smuggling and block illicit finance supporting such crimes. The sanctions focus on irregular migration and organized immigration crime. Authorities can now target individuals and entities enabling dangerous journeys, such as smuggling vulnerable people via sea crossings in Europe. The regime is expected to be implemented within the year.

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:
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) delivered the sixth Scorpene-class submarine, INS Vaghsheer, to the Indian Navy on Jan 9, 2025. This marks the completion of Project P-75, enhancing India’s submarine fleet. INS Vaghsheer underwent rigorous trials and features advanced stealth technology, precision-guided weapons, and indigenous systems. The submarine strengthens India’s self-reliance in defence technology. MDL is poised for Project 75(I), building nuclear-powered submarines. The shipyard now has the capacity to build up to 10 capital warships and 11 submarines simultaneously, advancing India’s naval capabilities.

Notes:
HIMKAVACH is a multi-layer clothing system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is designed for extreme cold conditions ranging from +20°C to -60°C. It has successfully passed user trials and is specifically tailored for use in the Himalayan region. The system ensures optimal protection and functionality for soldiers facing harsh weather. Its effectiveness emphasizes India’s commitment to improving military preparedness in challenging environments, especially in border areas with extreme cold conditions.

Notes:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a regional conference on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’ at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. The conference, organized by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), aimed to address drug trafficking and its impact on national security. Amit Shah launched the Drug Disposal Fortnight and inaugurated the new office complex of the Bhopal Zonal Unit of NCB. He also extended the MANAS-2 helpline to all 36 states and Union Territories. The conference focused on tackling drug trafficking in eight northern Indian states and union territories.

Notes:
China launched the world’s largest Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) project, “Nengchu-1”. It has begun full operation in Yingcheng, Hubei Province, China. It marks a milestone in China’s energy storage technologies and is the largest CAES facility globally. CAES stores electrical energy as potential energy by compressing air into sealed spaces like underground mines or salt rock caverns. Energy is stored during off-peak hours and released to the grid during peak demand.

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:
Raksha Mantri congratulated DRDO on the successful Field Evaluation Trials of the Nag Mk 2 missile. The Nag Mk 2 is a third-generation, indigenously developed Anti-Tank Fire-and-Forget Guided Missile. It is developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It features fire-and-forget technology for precision targeting with minimal operator intervention. The missile can neutralize modern armored vehicles with explosive reactive armor (ERA). The Nag Missile Carrier version-2 was also field evaluated, and the weapon system is now ready for induction into the Indian Army.