Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
Dr. V. Narayanan, Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), has been appointed as the new ISRO Chairman and Space Secretary. He will succeed S. Somanath on January 14, 2025, for a two-year term or until further orders. Dr. Narayanan, a propulsion expert, joined ISRO in 1984 and has worked on projects like ASLV, PSLV, GSLV Mk-II, and GSLV Mk-III. He chaired the expert committee for Chandrayaan-2’s hard landing and delivered propulsion systems for Chandrayaan-3. His predecessor, S. Somanath, led major missions, including Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and Gaganyaan’s first flight.

Notes:
The Toda tribe in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri Hills celebrated their traditional Modhweth or Buffalo Festival to mark the New Year. The Toda tribe is among the oldest ethnic groups in the Upper Nilgiris plateau. They are divided into five clans: Paiki, Pekkan, Kuttan, Kenna, and Todi. The Toda people have their own language without a script. They live in closed communities called munds. The Modhweth Festival is an annual celebration held in late December or early January, highlighting their cultural significance.

Notes:
Gujarat government launched the Har Ghar Connectivity (Fibre-to-Home) initiative to provide rural households with affordable high-speed internet. The project is under the state’s Science and Technology Department. The pilot phase aims to deliver 25,000 Fibre-to-Home (FTTH) connections with multiple value-added services. Services include Wi-Fi, cable TV (free and paid channels), OTT platforms, and gaming. The initiative will expand after the pilot phase to benefit more rural households.

Notes:
Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) commissioned two units of the 6×170 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project (PHEP-II) in Bhutan. PHEP-II was executed under an India-Bhutan bilateral agreement and is located in Wangdue district, Bhutan. BHEL has previously executed major projects in Bhutan, contributing to nearly 89% of the country’s installed capacity. BHEL is also working on the 6×200 MW Punatsangchhu-I project in Bhutan.

Notes:
India’s passport ranking has dropped to 85th in the Henley Passport Index 2025, down from 80th in 2024. The index evaluates passports based on visa-free access to global destinations. India now allows visa-free travel to 57 countries. The top-ranking passport belongs to Singapore, which offers access to 195 destinations. Over the past two decades, India’s ranking has fluctuated significantly, peaking at 71st in 2006. The index relies on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to assess travel access.

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:
Zoran Milanovic was re-elected as President of Croatia for a five-year term, securing 74% of the run-off vote. The first round of the presidential election on 29 December 2024 saw Milanovic win 49.1% of votes, necessitating a second round on 12 January 2025. Milanovic, backed by the opposition Social Democratic Party, is a critic of the EU and NATO but condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine while criticizing Western military support for Ukraine. The Croatian Democratic Union, the ruling party since 1991, had its candidate, Dragan Primorac, secure 19.2% of votes. The President in Croatia is the Head of State with limited executive powers, while the Prime Minister holds real executive authority. Croatia is located on the Balkan Peninsula along the Adriatic Sea.

Notes:
Russia’s atomic agency has shipped the reactor vessel for the sixth unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant to India. The Kudankulam plant, located in Tamil Nadu, is India’s largest nuclear power plant with six reactors and a total capacity of 6,000 MW. The reactor vessel, weighing 320 tonnes, was manufactured by Rosatom’s division Atommash and shipped from Novorossiysk at the end of 2024. The reactor vessel will travel 6,000 miles by sea to reach the construction site.

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:
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.