Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

Notes:
Google launched the first satellite under the FireSat project, which has successfully entered low Earth orbit. FireSat aims to build a 50-satellite constellation using artificial intelligence to detect and track wildfires as small as 5×5 metres. The first satellite was built by Muon Space, a California-based aerospace startup. It is equipped with six-band multispectral infrared cameras to detect heat signatures from wildfires from long distances. The first phase includes launching three satellites by next year, revisiting any location twice daily. The long-term goal is 50 satellites, providing high-resolution imagery every 20 minutes. Google.org funded the project with $13 million.

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The International Day of Happiness is celebrated every year on March 20 to promote happiness and well-being as universal goals. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 to highlight that progress should focus on human well-being, not just economic growth. The 2025 theme is “Caring and Sharing”, focusing on building stronger communities and improving overall well-being.

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Tamil Nadu topped the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) rankings with 96.32 points, followed by Mizoram (93.96), Uttar Pradesh (92.37), and Telangana (91.87). The mission aims to develop 300 rural clusters with urban-like facilities across 34 States and UTs to bridge the rural-urban divide. Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) was launched in 2016.

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The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) received Oeko-Tex certification for eri silk from Germany. Oeko-Tex ensures textiles are free from harmful substances. Eri silk, produced by the Samia Cynthia Ricini worm, is a natural protein fiber. The worms feed on castor oil plant leaves, and the process doesn’t kill the silkworm, making it Ahimsa Silk. Eri silk is primarily found in the northeastern region of India, particularly in Assam, but also in neighboring states like Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Manipur.

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The Indian Navy recently took part in the Sea Dragon 2025 exercise, a multinational anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drill in the Indo-Pacific region. Exercise Sea Dragon 2025 was hosted by the United States Navy’s 7th Fleet, with the exercise taking place at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The drill involves maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft (MPRA) with advanced sensors and sonobuoys. Initially bilateral between the US and Australia in 2019, it expanded to include allies like India from 2021. Participating Nations are United States, Australia, India, Japan, and South Korea.

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Rajasthan government launched the One Time Settlement Scheme (OTS) to support farmers and small entrepreneurs. The scheme aims to protect them from financial crises and stabilize land development banks. Borrowers who repay 100% of overdue medium and long-term loans by July 1, 2024, will get a 100% interest rebate. A 5% subsidy will help borrowers avail loans again. The scheme benefits 36,351 defaulting loan members with Rs. 760 crore overdue loans. The government will spend Rs. 200 crore to ease loan recovery and improve bank finances. It will boost new loans, production, and business recovery.

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Amid tensions with the United States, Iran installed missile systems on the disputed islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa near the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, specifically the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Musandam (Oman). It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. Iran is on the north coast, while the UAE is on the south coast. The strait is 167 kilometers long, with a width ranging from 39 to 95 kilometers. It allows the passage of large vessels despite narrowing towards the north. Key islands in the strait include Hengam, Hormuz, and Qishm. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global trade route, with 30% of the world’s liquefied gas and 25% of oil passing through it.

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Eminent Hindi poet and writer Vinod Kumar Shukla from Chhattisgarh has been selected for the 59th Jnanpith Award 2024. He is the first from Chhattisgarh and the 12th Hindi writer to receive this prestigious award. The 58th Jnanpith Award 2023 was awarded to Jagadguru Rambhadracharyaji for Sanskrit and Gulzar for Urdu. The Bharatiya Jnanpith Trust administers the Jnanpith and Moorti Devi Awards. The first Jnanpith Award was given to Malayalam writer G. S. Kurup. Vinod Kumar Shukla, born in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, is 88 years old and studied Krishi Vigyan in Jabalpur. His first poetry collection “Lagbhag Jai Hind” was published in 1971.

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Lapis lazuli is a vivid blue rock used as a semi-precious gemstone for millennia. Its blue color comes from lazurite (25-40%), with sulphur affecting its shade. Calcite reduces blueness, while pyrites add a golden sparkle. It is found in Chile, Russia, and the US, but the highest quality is from Badakhshan, Afghanistan, mined for 6,000+ years. India imported it from Badakhshan since 1000 BC, and Indus sites like Mohenjo-daro and Harappa had lapis ornaments. Egyptians used it for jewelry and eye shadow, while Renaissance artists made ultramarine pigment from it.

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DNA polymorphism is widely used in forensics and medicine. It refers to variations in DNA segments or genes among individuals. Detection techniques include Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) and Variable Number of Tandem Repeats (VNTR) polymorphism. DNA profiles are created using polymorphisms in short tandem repeats (STRs). STRs are short DNA sequences repeated multiple times at specific locations. Applications include molecular and personalized medicine, forensic DNA analysis, DNA linkage studies, and identity differentiation.