Current Affairs Quiz - February 2025

Notes:
The first Raisina Middle East Conference was held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on 28-29 January 2025. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar was the Chief Guest. Dr. Jaishankar visited the UAE from 27-29 January 2025. This was his third visit to the UAE since his reappointment in June 2024. The Raisina Dialogue is India’s top conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics. The event was organised by the Observer Research Foundation, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and India’s Ministry of External Affairs. The conference brought together policymakers, academics, media, and business leaders to discuss regional and global integration.

Notes:
World Wetlands Day is celebrated on 2nd February every year. India added four new Ramsar sites on World Wetlands Day, February 2. The total number of Ramsar sites in India has now reached 89. The new sites include Sakkarakottai and Therthangal Bird Sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu, Khecheopalri Wetland in Sikkim, and Udhwa Lake in Jharkhand. Sikkim and Jharkhand have received their first-ever Ramsar sites. Wetlands support diverse aquatic life and play a crucial role in the ecosystem.

Notes:
The Indian women’s U19 cricket team won the 2nd ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup, defeating South Africa by nine wickets. The final was played on 2 February 2025 at Bayuemas Cricket Oval, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The team, led by Niki Prasad, had earlier won the inaugural ACC Women’s U19 Asia Cup 2024 in Malaysia. The tournament, organised by the ICC, took place in Malaysia from 18 January to 2 February 2025.

Notes:
Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) Fund 2.0 aims to revive stalled real estate projects by providing financial support. The Union Budget 2025-26 has allocated ₹15,000 crore to complete one lakh housing units. Real estate developers and National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) had long requested the fund’s second tranche. SWAMIH Fund I, launched earlier, was created to complete stressed and stalled housing projects. It is sponsored by the Ministry of Finance. It is a Category-II AIF (Alternate Investment Fund) debt fund registered with SEBI.

Notes:
Bart De Wever was sworn in as Belgium’s Prime Minister by King Philippe on 3rd February 2025. He replaced Alexander De Croo, who led a seven-party coalition government. The June 2024 elections did not give a decisive mandate to any party or coalition. Belgium has a complex political system, divided into Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia. De Wever is the first nationalist Flanders leader to become PM.

Notes:
The 38th Surajkund International Crafts Fair 2025 held from February 7 to 23 in Surajkund, Faridabad, Haryana. It is organized by the Union Ministries of Tourism, Culture, External Affairs, Textiles, and the Haryana government. The fair showcases India’s and other countries’ crafts, textiles, culture, and cuisine. The 37th edition in 2024 saw participation from 45+ countries, 592 foreign artists, and 1.3 million visitors. For 2025, BIMSTEC is proposed as the partner organization, enhancing international collaboration.

Notes:
The Union Home Ministry urged states to prevent the misuse of the State Emblem of India, emphasizing that the Lion Capital is incomplete without “Satyameva Jayate” in Devanagari. The emblem is an adaptation of Ashoka’s Lion Capital at Sarnath, featuring four lions on a circular abacus with Dharma Chakras, an elephant, horse, bull, and lion. Adopted on 26 January 1950, it shows three visible lions, omitting the bell-shaped lotus. “Satyameva Jayate”, meaning “Truth alone triumphs”, is from the Mundaka Upanishad. Its use is restricted under the 2005 Act and 2007 Rules.

Notes:
Janjati Sanskritik Samagam 2025 is held at Mahakumbh, Prayagraj, with more than 15,000 tribals attending. The event celebrates India’s tribal communities, their heritage, traditions, art, and contributions. Cultural performances, traditional dances, music, and handicraft exhibitions highlights tribal identities. 2025 is declared Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh to honor Birsa Munda’s 150th birth anniversary.

Notes:
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu laid the foundation for north India’s first 1-MW green hydrogen plant in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. The plant, costing Rs 9.04 crore, will produce 423 kg of green hydrogen daily using renewable energy. It aligns with the state’s goal to become India’s first green energy state by March 2026. Developed by Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) and Oil India Limited, the plant will be completed within a year. The plant will use electrolysis and renewable energy to produce hydrogen, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting cleaner energy.

Notes:
India is now the world’s second-largest mobile manufacturing country after China, followed by Vietnam. 99.2% of mobile phones sold in India are made domestically. Mobile phones account for 43% of India’s total electronics production. The electronics sector grew rapidly, reaching a valuation of USD 155 billion in FY23. Electronics production nearly doubled from USD 48 billion in FY17 to USD 101 billion in FY23. Electronics is now India’s fifth-largest export commodity. Despite growth, India holds less than 1% of the global electronics export share.