Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
The Gurung community celebrates Tamu Lhosar, marking the New Year and bidding farewell to the past year. The festival is observed in Nepal’s hilly and mountainous districts, including Lamjung, Gorkha, Tanahun, and others. A special celebration is held at Tundikhel, Kathmandu, where Gurung women wear traditional attire, including Makhamali blouses, Ghalek shawls, Patuki, and sarees. Men dress in cultural outfits like Bhoto, Bhangra, and Kachhad, performing a vibrant dance. Tamu Lhosar is celebrated on the 15th of the Nepali month Push (December-January), with a public holiday announced.

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The Election Commission of India released 42 statistical reports for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and 14 reports for assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim. This initiative aims to boost public trust and enhance transparency in the electoral system. In 2024, 47.63 crore women electors were registered, accounting for 48.62% of the total electors. Puducherry and Kerala had the highest female electors at 53.03% and 51.56%.

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Total student enrollment dropped by over a crore in 2023-24, according to Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) report. The ‘UDISE Plus’ Report was recently released by the Ministry of Education. UDISE+ is a large data system covering 14.72 lakh schools, 98.08 lakh teachers, and 24.8 crore students. It is an online portal managed by the Ministry of Education for school data on enrollment, infrastructure, and teachers. Boys’ enrollment fell by 4.87%, and girls’ by 4.48% from 2018-19 to 2023-24. States like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra saw significant enrollment drops.

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The 24th Rashtriya Vanvasi Krida Pratiyogita held in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Tribal athletes from across India, including the Andaman-Nicobar Islands and Manipur, participated in the event. The event was organized by the Vanvasi Vikas Samiti under the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram. More than 800 tribal youth from 33 provinces are competing in sports like football and archery.

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Scientists have shown that a nano-formulation of melatonin enhances its antioxidative and neuroprotective properties, offering potential for treating Parkinson’s disease (PD). Melatonin is a neurohormone secreted by the pineal gland in response to darkness, regulating sleep-wake cycles. It peaks secretion in the middle of the night, gradually reducing toward morning. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder affecting movement, balance, and the nervous system. The average onset age for PD is 60 years, with men being more commonly affected than women. Risk of Parkinson’s naturally increases with age.

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The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry released the 6th edition of the “Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2024” report in New Delhi. It was initiated in 2018 by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. LEADS 2024 evaluates logistics performance across four pillars: Infrastructure, Services, Operating Environment, and Sustainable Logistics. The report highlights initiatives by States and UTs and identifies region-specific opportunities. It aims to enable informed decision-making and improve logistics efficiency nationwide.

Notes:
State Bank of India launched two new deposit schemes, Har Ghar Lakhpati and SBI Patrons, to provide better financial options. SBI Patrons is a fixed deposit scheme specifically for senior citizens aged 80 and above. It offers higher interest rates, acknowledging the loyalty of senior customers. Both new and existing term deposit customers can avail the SBI Patrons scheme. Depositors under this scheme earn an additional 10 basis points higher interest than standard rates for senior citizens.

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The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways announces the completion of the 2.35 km Banihal Bypass on NH-44 in Jammu & Kashmir. Built at a cost of ₹224.44 crore, it is a four-lane bypass addressing traffic bottlenecks in Banihal town. The bypass eliminates congestion caused by roadside markets and shops, ensuring smoother traffic flow. It significantly reduces travel time for tourists and defense vehicles heading to the Kashmir Valley.

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Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan inaugurated the 8th edition of Indusfood 2025 in Greater Noida on January 8. The event is organized by the Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) with Department of Commerce support. Indusfood is Asia’s largest annual food and beverage trade show. The event features 2,300+ exhibitors from 30+ countries across 120,000 square meters and expects 7,500 international buyers and 15,000 Indian visitors.

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Residents of Srirangam have requested the installation of lights beneath the outer gopurams of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. The measure aims to ensure safety amid a heavy turnout of devotees visiting the temple. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, located in Srirangam near Trichy, Tamil Nadu, is India’s largest functioning Hindu temple. Spanning 156 acres, it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his reclining form, Ranganatha. Its history dates back to 2nd century BC, with inscriptions from the 10th century CE. The temple showcases Dravidian architecture with 21 gopurams, 7 enclosures, and a 236-feet Rajagopura, India’s tallest temple tower. It features a golden Vimana over the sanctum and a 1000-pillar hall with intricate sculptures from the Vijayanagara period.