Current Affairs Quiz - February 2025

Notes:
Indian Air Force officer and ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla was named the pilot for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). Ax-4 is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission is organized by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA. The crew will launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. They will spend up to 14 days on the ISS conducting scientific research and technology demonstrations.

Notes:
Indian researchers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru developed a new method to measure solar storms’ size and speed. The method improves predictions of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), which can disrupt Earth’s communication systems and power grids. It measures CME radial size and expansion speed, crucial for understanding their impact on Earth’s magnetic field. The approach estimates instantaneous expansion speed using a single observation point, making it more efficient. The method was tested on a 2010 CME event and will be used with Aditya-L1 for better space weather forecasting.

Notes:
RBI released the Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI) to measure the growth of digital transactions in India. Digital payments grew by 11.1% YoY as of September 2024. The RBI-DPI for September 2024 stood at 465.33, up from 445.50 in March 2024. The index tracks five key factors: Payment Enablers, Infrastructure (Demand & Supply), Payment Performance, and Consumer Centricity. UPI’s share in digital payments surged from 34% in 2019 to 83% in 2024, with a CAGR of 74%. UPI transactions grew from ₹5.86 lakh crore (2018) to ₹246.83 lakh crore (2024).

Notes:
Niger has become the first African country to eliminate onchocerciasis, or river blindness. It joins Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Guatemala as WHO-verified onchocerciasis-free nations. Onchocerciasis is a parasitic disease affecting the eyes and skin, causing severe disability. It leads to disfiguring skin conditions, vision loss, and permanent blindness in severe cases. The disease has severely impacted livelihoods for decades. Over 99% of cases still occur in 31 African countries.

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Karnataka Cabinet has approved the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Satellite Township, covering 8,032 acres between Bidadi and Harohalli. The project aims to decongest Bengaluru and will span 10 villages in Ramanagara district. Satellite towns, including Devanahalli and Magadi, will be developed with improved road and rail connectivity. The vision includes reducing urban congestion, creating jobs, and building sustainable infrastructure. A committee will oversee implementation, with a global tender for designing the township based on the “work-live-play” concept. The Greater Bangalore Development Authority will manage all development activities in the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region.

Notes:
The Samudrayaan project under the Deep Ocean Mission received Rs 600 crore in the Union Budget 2025-26. It is managed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The aim is to develop a self-propelled manned submersible capable of carrying 3 people to a depth of 6,000 meters for deep ocean exploration. It will have an operational endurance of 12 hours and 96 hours in emergencies. The project focuses on biodiversity assessment and exploring mineral resources like manganese, cobalt, and copper, contributing to the Blue Economy.

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The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the Central government on using Gambusia affinis (Mosquitofish) and Poecilia reticulata (Guppy) for mosquito control. Gambusia affinis is native to the southeastern United States and has been used globally for over a century. The IUCN lists it among the 100 worst invasive species due to its impact on ecosystems. Poecilia reticulata is a non-migratory fish from South America that threatens native species. These fish have been released in multiple Indian states for mosquito control, raising ecological concerns.

Notes:
China has successfully demonstrated artificial photosynthesis in space, with their astronauts on the Tiangong space station producing oxygen and rocket fuel using this technology. The astronauts used a process mimicking natural photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and rocket fuel components using solar energy. The experiment was conducted on China’s Tiangong space station. This breakthrough is considered a major step forward in space exploration, as it could enable future missions to generate necessary resources in space.

Notes:
Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill, 2025 was introduced in Lok Sabha to establish India’s first national cooperative university at Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) in Gujarat. The university is declared an institution of national importance and focuses on education, training, and research in the cooperative sector. It aims to develop skilled professionals for managerial, technical, and administrative roles in cooperatives. It will have sector-specific schools for dairy, fishery, banking, rural credit, and more. Affiliated colleges will be set up nationwide. Digital learning will be integrated with the SWAYAM e-learning platform.

Notes:
Bhopal has banned begging in all public places, following Indore’s similar move. The district collector issued orders prohibiting both begging and giving alms. Violators may face FIRs and legal action under section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. Disobeying the order can lead to imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to ₹2,500. If disobedience causes danger, imprisonment may extend to one year with a fine of ₹5,000. The Bombay Prevention of Beggary Act, 1959, was the first anti-begging law in India. In 2018, the Delhi High Court decriminalized begging.