Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the International Overseas Uttarakhandi Conference in Dehradun, fostering ties with global migrants. The state seeks investment in tourism, agriculture, power, wellness, and manufacturing, emphasizing policy reforms and improved infrastructure. A migrant cell and venture fund were announced to support collaboration with migrants. CM Dhami urged migrants to adopt villages or children to address migration issues and preserve heritage.

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Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav launched the Swami Vivekanand Yuva Shakti Mission in Bhopal on National Youth Day. National Youth Day has been celebrated to honor Swami Vivekanand’s birth anniversary. Chief Minister inaugurated the world’s largest 3-D rangoli depicting Swami Vivekananda at Shaurya Smarak, Bhopal. The mission aligns with PM Modi’s GYAN principle, focusing on the poor, youth, farmers, and women. The Chief Minister also launched the Swami Vivekananda Yuva Shakti Mission Portal and theme song.

Notes:
India has successfully tested the Bhargavastra, its first micro-missile system to counter swarm drones. It is designed to counter the threat of swarm drones. It was developed by Economic Explosives Ltd. Bhargavastra detects small flying machines over 6 km and hits targets over 2.5 km. It uses guided micro-munitions and can fire more than 64 micro missiles simultaneously. The system operates in all terrains, including high-altitude areas. It fulfills Army Air Defence requirements, marking India’s first counter-drone system with micro missiles.

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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.

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Union Home Minister launched the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Program (FTI-TTP) at seven major Indian airports: Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Ahmedabad. The program, part of the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, was first introduced in Delhi in June 2024. FTI-TTP aims to provide seamless, secure, and world-class immigration facilities for travellers.

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Around 100 tribal people from Pulicat will receive training in pearl spot culture, crab fattening, and clownfish aquaculture, organized by the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR). NBFGR was established in 1983 under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), focuses on fish germplasm conservation. Its infrastructure was set up in Lucknow in 1999. NBFGR’s vision includes the sustainable utilization and conservation of fish genetic resources. The bureau works on documenting fish diversity, developing databases, genotyping, and genebanking to support fish population health and sustainability.

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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.

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The Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs launched the toolkit for the 9th edition of Swachh Survekshan (SS), the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey. A new category, the “Super Swachh League,” has been introduced to recognize cities excelling in cleanliness. Cities are now categorized into five groups based on population, with awards for top cities in each group. Assessment will focus on parameters like waste management, sanitation, and cleanliness at tourist spots. The field assessment phase will run from February 15 to March 2025.

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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.

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Satellite images show a nearly completed airstrip on Yemen’s Abd al-Kuri Island, likely built by the UAE. Abd al-Kuri Island is 65 miles southwest of Socotra, in the Indian Ocean, part of the Socotra Archipelago. Although it belongs to Yemen, the island is geographically closer to Somalia, about 110 km northeast of Cape Gwardafuy. The island is rocky, 35 km long, and 5 km wide, with its highest point at 700 meters, Mount Jebel Saleh. With fewer than 500 residents, its inhabitants mainly rely on fishing, and settlements are connected by dirt roads. The island features the endemic Euphorbia abdalkuri plant.