Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

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:
Former New Zealand cricketer Martin Guptill retired from international cricket after a 14-year career (2009–2022). He played 367 matches (198 ODIs, 122 T20Is, 47 Tests) and scored 23 international centuries. Guptill is New Zealand’s leading T20I run-scorer (3,531 runs) and third-highest ODI run-scorer (7,346 runs). He scored New Zealand’s first ODI double-century (237*) in the 2015 ICC World Cup and a century on ODI debut in 2009. Known for spectacular fielding, he famously ran out MS Dhoni in the 2019 World Cup semifinal.

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:
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) conducted the engine ground run of the Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior on January 11, 2025, ahead of Aero India 2025. Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) is an Indian unmanned and manned combat aircraft teaming system. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) developed this system. The system enhances surveillance, strike capabilities, and reduces human error.

Notes:
Pune hosts the Army Day Parade for the first time on 15 January 2025. The parade commemorates Field Marshal K M Cariappa’s appointment as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief in 1949. Traditionally held in Delhi, the parade started rotating to other cities in 2023, with Bengaluru and Lucknow hosting it before Pune. Pune, the headquarters of the Indian Army’s Southern Command, was chosen for its historical ties to the Armed Forces. Indian Army Day, celebrated annually on January 15, marks a significant moment of pride for every Indian.

Notes:
The ISRO mission that successfully germinated lobia seeds (also known as cowpea seeds) in space is called the “CROPS” experiment, which stands for “Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies”. The seeds sprouted on the fourth day, with leaves visible by the fifth day, marking a major milestone in space research. The experiment aims to develop sustainable food sources for long-term space missions and test plant growth in microgravity and controlled environments. Success supports astronauts by enabling food growth, oxygen generation, and CO₂ recycling in space. It highlights India’s capability in managing complex life-support systems and contributes to global space farming initiatives.

Notes:
India becomes the fourth country to successfully achieve Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), after the US, Russia, and China. The technology allows two satellites to dock in space, enabling the assembly of larger modules and overcoming rocket payload limits. This technology is crucial for long-duration missions, Mars exploration, lunar sample return, and the planned Bharatiya Antariksh Station for resupply and crewed missions.

Notes:
Union Minister Jayant Singh Chaudhary launched Solar Mobile Van Training Units in New Delhi to enhance financial and digital literacy in rural areas. Two new solar-powered vans equipped with modern technologies were flagged off to serve rural areas in Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The vans provide training on financial literacy, digital skills, cyber security, technical knowledge, and generative AI. By FY 2025, the program will expand to 7 more districts, benefiting 58 lakh people, including students, women, youth, and ex-servicemen. The project aims to make rural India self-reliant and empowered through technology and partnerships.

Notes:
Australopithecus had a plant-based diet, as shown by isotope data from 3.5-million-year-old fossils in South Africa. Australopithecus, an extinct genus of primates, lived between 4.4 million and 1.4 million years ago during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs. Fossils were found in eastern, north-central, and southern Africa; the name means “southern ape.” The famous “Lucy” fossil from Ethiopia dates to 3.2 million years ago. They combined human-like traits (upright walking, small canines) with ape-like features (flat nose, small brain, strong arms).

Notes:
The Pralay missile, India’s first tactical quasi-ballistic missile, will be showcased in the Republic Day parade. It is a short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of 150-500 km, developed to meet the Army’s tactical needs. Pralay can carry a 350-700 kg conventional warhead and strike enemy positions with high accuracy. It was developed by DRDO.