Current Affairs Quiz - February 2025

Notes:
Himachal Pradesh has approved a pilot project for controlled cannabis cultivation for medicinal and industrial use. It becomes the fourth state in India to allow this, after Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. Cannabis is naturally found in Himachal but was banned under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985; recent amendments now allow regulated cultivation. The focus is on non-narcotic applications like textiles, paper, food, cosmetics, and biofuel. Globally, many countries lead in hemp cultivation, making it a trillion-dollar industry with over 25,000 products.

Notes:
Bharat Parv has been organized annually since 2016 at Red Fort, New Delhi from January 26-31 as part of Republic Day celebrations. Organized by the Ministry of Tourism, it takes place at Lawns and Gyan Path in front of the Red Fort. Bharat Parv 2025 features Republic Day tableaux, Armed Force Band performances, cultural shows, regional cuisines, crafts bazaar, and government pavilions. The theme for 2025 is ‘Dekho Apna Desh’, encouraging citizen participation through People’s Choice Voting.

Notes:
Mount Taranaki in New Zealand was granted legal personhood, becoming the second natural feature to receive this status. The mountain’s legal identity, Te Kāhui Tupua, includes Taranaki and surrounding land. The recognition acknowledges the historical theft of land from the Māori people after colonization. A newly created entity, with members from Māori tribes and the Conservation Minister, will represent the mountain. This law aims to protect the mountain’s health, cultural significance, and traditional practices. New Zealand previously granted personhood to Te Urewera and the Whanganui River.

Notes:
The Finance Minister announced the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana in her 8th Union Budget presentation. It aims to support farmers in 100 districts struggling with low crop yields and financial issues. The scheme will benefit around 1.7 crore farmers through collaboration with state governments. It seeks to create rural opportunities so migration becomes optional, not necessary. The focus areas include boosting agricultural productivity, improving irrigation, increasing credit access, promoting crop diversification, and enhancing post-harvest storage at Panchayat and block levels.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh implemented ‘Operation Eleven’ for crowd management during the Basant Panchami Amrit Snan at Maha Kumbh. The plan ensures one-way traffic and smooth movement on pontoon bridges. Additional police forces and barricades have been deployed to prevent overcrowding at Triveni ghats. Special monitoring is in place at key locations for enhanced security. The initiative follows strict instructions from CM Yogi Adityanath under the state’s “zero-error” programme.

Notes:
The budget allocation for PM Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana (PM-SYM) in 2025-26 increased by 37% compared to last year. PM-SYM provides old-age protection and social security for unorganized workers in India. It is a Central Sector Scheme administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, with LIC managing pensions. The scheme is implemented through Life Insurance Corporation and CSC eGovernance Services.

Notes:
Switzerland will end development aid for Bangladesh, Albania, and Zambia due to budget cuts in foreign aid. The Swiss parliament reduced its 2025 foreign aid budget by 110 million Swiss Francs, and another 321 million Swiss Francs for 2026-2028. These cuts will impact both bilateral and multilateral cooperation. However, Switzerland will still fund humanitarian efforts. This decision is part of Switzerland’s financial adjustments and shift in international aid priorities.

Notes:
Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa won the Tata Steel Masters title for the first time in his career. The 19-year-old from Chennai defeated world champion D Gukesh in a tiebreaker. Both players tied with 8.5 points after the 13th round. Praggnanandhaa came from behind to win 2-1 in the tiebreaker.

Notes:
The Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) in Bengaluru, India developed the high-entropy alloy (HEA) catalyst for hydrogen production. CeNS is an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The catalyst is made of platinum, palladium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese (PtPdCoNiMn). The catalyst was prepared using two methods: electrodeposition and solvothermal processes.  The catalyst is more efficient than pure platinum and uses seven times less platinum than commercial catalysts.  The catalyst is stable and efficient for over 100 hours in alkaline seawater.

Notes:
Shri. S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, inaugurated the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Chip Design at Noida. It aims to enhance India’s semiconductor design and VLSI (Very Large-Scale Integration) capabilities. The Centre will provide research, innovation, and training to develop a skilled workforce. Facilities include a Project Lab for chip design and a Smart Classroom for immersive learning. A VLSI-based Intellectual Property (IP) demonstration showcased its commitment to semiconductor advancement.