Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
The Forest Department is urging residents of Sheribikanahalli Tanda, in the Chincholi Wildlife Sanctuary, to relocate due to the area’s ecological sensitivity. Chincholi Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kalburgi District, North Karnataka, and spans 134.88 sq.km. It was declared a sanctuary in 2011. It is the first dry land wildlife sanctuary in South India and is also referred to as the Ooty of Telangana. The sanctuary is home to the Chandrampalli dam and four smaller dams. It also shelters the Lambani Tandas, a protected tribal community living in the forest.

Notes:
The Startup India mission’s success owes much to funding mechanisms like the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS). FFS was launched in 2016 with a Rs 10,000 crore corpus, aligned with the 14th and 15th Finance Commissions. Its goal is to boost the Indian startup ecosystem and provide access to domestic capital. FFS does not invest directly in startups but funds SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), which invest in startups via equity and equity-linked instruments. The scheme is operated by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

Notes:
Former US President Joe Biden highlighted the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) post the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. IMEC, announced at the 2023 G20 meeting, aims to boost trade between India, the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean, and Europe. Countries involved include India, the EU, the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, and Italy. It features two corridors: eastern (India to Arabian Gulf) and northern (Gulf to Europe). A shipping route links Mumbai and Mundra to the UAE, and a rail network connects the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Haifa. Haifa connects by sea to Piraeus Port, Greece, linking to Europe.

Notes:
Tropical Cyclone Sean, currently Category 3, is affecting Western Australia, expected to weaken further by January 22, 2025. It peaked as a Category 4 cyclone, forming on January 20, 2025, due to warm sea temperatures and favourable atmospheric conditions. Karratha recorded its heaviest daily rainfall at 274 mm, causing flooding and infrastructure disruptions. Floodwaters impacted roads and homes; emergency services are managing rescues and power outages. The cyclone, now offshore about 400 km, poses no direct threat to the mainland. Authorities urge vigilance, though no additional cyclones are forecasted in the region.

Notes:
The Asan Wetland in Dehradun, Uttarakhand hosted the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) in January 2025. The census recorded 5,225 birds from 117 species. The census is part of the International Waterbird Census (IWC), which is a global program that monitors waterbirds and their habitats. Asan Wetland is located in Dehradun district at the confluence of the Asan River and Eastern Yamuna Canal, near the Uttarakhand-Himachal Pradesh border. The wetland was created in 1967 due to the damming of the Asan River during the construction of the Dhalipur powerhouse.

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.

Notes:
The India Open 2025 badminton tournament concluded in New Delhi with outstanding performances. Viktor Axelsen of Denmark won his third India Open men’s singles title, defeating Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong China 21-16, 21-8. Axelsen previously won the India Open in 2017 and 2019. An Se-young of South Korea dominated the women’s singles final, defeating Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-12, 21-9 in just 39 minutes. Both champions are Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalists, showcasing their world-class talent.

Notes:
The US President signed an executive order renaming Denali to Mount McKinley. It is the highest peak in North America, located in south-central Alaska in the Alaska Range. Denali is a massive granite block uplifted by tectonic activity about 60 million years ago. It rises 18,000 feet from the Denali Fault to its southern summit. The upper half is covered with snowfields feeding glaciers like Kahiltna, Muldrow, Peters, Ruth, and Traleika. Denali is the central feature of Denali National Park and Preserve.

Notes:
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs held a National Conference of District Magistrates in New Delhi to accelerate the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN). Launched on November 15, 2023, PM JANMAN aims to improve socio-economic conditions of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). With a ₹24,000 crore budget for 2023-2026, the program focuses on housing, healthcare, education, clean water, roads, and livelihoods. District Magistrates from 88 districts in 18 states discussed key areas, including Anganwadi Centres, school hostels, and Multi-Purpose Centres. The conference emphasized tribal participation, shared best practices, and action plans to strengthen grassroots development.

Notes:
India has been ranked as the 4th most powerful military in the world according to the Global Firepower Index 2025. The top 3 countries are United States of America, Russia and China. Bhutan ranked lowest at 145th, while Pakistan dropped from 9th to 12th position. The top four countries’ rankings remain unchanged from 2024. The Global Firepower Index compares 145 countries military power based on their war-making capabilities and excludes a country’s nuclear weapon capability.