Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
The Kumani Bank mud volcano erupted in 2023, creating a temporary “Ghost Island.” Kumani Bank mud volcano is located 25 km off Azerbaijan’s eastern coast in the Caspian Sea. The island, about 400 meters across, formed in 2023 and eroded back into the sea by late 2024. Ghost Islands are temporary land masses created by volcanic activity that disappear over time. The island provides geological insights into tectonic processes and subsurface pressure dynamics. It offers clues about similar features on Mars for planetary exploration. The area is linked to methane and gas emissions and highlights Azerbaijan’s unique geological landscape with over 300 mud volcanoes.

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:
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry launched the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge and PRABHAAV Factbook to boost innovation and mentorship in India. The initiatives highlight India’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and focus on fostering growth in startups. The government aims to position India as a global leader in technology and entrepreneurship. These efforts reflect India’s commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and driving economic growth through a robust startup ecosystem.

Notes:
The “One Plate, One Bag” campaign was launched at the Maha Kumbh, Prayagraj, to promote a plastic-free event. Cloth bags and steel plates and glasses are being distributed to replace plastic and disposable items. Around 70,000 cloth bags have been distributed from six centers so far. More than 2 million steel plates and glasses collected nationwide are being supplied to langars and food outlets. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath urged pilgrims to adopt eco-friendly practices and avoid single-use plastic during the pilgrimage.

Notes:
Jharkhand Forest Department is studying ways to revive the declining Bison (Gaur) population at Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR). It is located in the western part of Latehar district on the Chhotanagpur plateau in Jharkhand. It is part of the Betla National Park and was one of the first nine tiger reserves under ‘Project Tiger.’ It holds historical significance as the first reserve where a tiger census was conducted in 1932 using pugmark counting.

Notes:
The World Economic Forum (WEF) released a report titled “Embracing the Quantum Economy: A Pathway for Business Leaders.” The report highlights the economic potential of quantum technologies and their transformative impact. WEF’s Quantum Economy Network (QEN) helps stakeholders prepare for the economic influence of quantum advancements.

Notes:
Scientists discovered that metal lumps, called polymetallic nodules, on the dark seabed produce oxygen. Dark oxygen is created without sunlight or photosynthesis, which was previously thought to be the only way oxygen is produced. The oxygen comes from electrochemical activity in the nodules, not plants. Polymetallic nodules, made of metals like manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, and lithium, split H2O molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. This discovery challenges previous understanding and opens up new avenues for studying deep ocean processes and oxygen production at extreme depths.

Notes:
Nepal’s Yala Glacier, a key glacier in the Langtang Valley, is projected to disappear by the 2040s. It is part of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region and is extensively studied in the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) database. Yala Glacier is the only Himalayan glacier on the Global Glacier Casualty List. Globally, there are over 275,000 glaciers, covering 700,000 sq km and storing 70% of Earth’s fresh water, including ice sheets. Yala Glacier is crucial for studying the cryosphere and understanding climate impacts on Himalayan glaciers.

Notes:
The 27th International Congress on Glass (ICG) 2025 conference was held from January 20–24, 2025 at the Biswa Bangla Convention Center in Kolkata, India. The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology. The theme of the congress was “Glass: A Smart and Indispensable Material for Sustainable Society”. The conference was organized by CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI). Glass’s critical role in space, defense, and other sectors was highlighted. More than 550 delegates, including 150 international participants, attended ICG 2025.

Notes:
Madras High Court directed local bodies to submit an action plan to prevent pollution in the Vaigai River. Vaigai River originates from Varusanadu and Megamalai hills of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu. It flows southeast through the Pandya Nadu region, rarely flooding, and drains into the Palk Strait near Pamban Bridge. The river is 258 km long, with a basin area of 7,741 sq. km entirely in Tamil Nadu. Vaigai is fed by the Periyar Dam in Kerala, with water diverted through a tunnel in the Western Ghats. Vaigai is mentioned in Sangam literature and is central to Madurai, the ancient Pandya kingdom’s capital.