Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

Notes:
India launched its first ancient stitched ship at Divar Island, Goa on February 26, 2025. The wooden vessel is modeled after a 5th-century ship depicted in the Ajanta caves. It was designed and built in Goa by Hodi Innovations with Kerala master artisans. Unlike modern ships, its wooden planks are stitched with coconut coir rope, an ancient Indian technique. The hull is treated with sardine oil, natural resins, and seasoned wood for durability. The ship will sail to Oman and Indonesia by the end of 2025, retracing old trade routes.

Notes:
Yes Bank was the only Indian bank to be included in the 2025 S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook, which recognizes the top 15% of global banking leaders. Yes Bank was also the highest-rated bank in India for sustainability for the third year in a row. Yes Bank scored 72 out of 100 on the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA).

Notes:
A 4,000-year-old Neolithic wooden circle was discovered in Denmark, similar to Stonehenge. It consists of 45 wooden piles arranged in a 30-meter diameter, likely for rituals or sun worship. A nearby Bronze Age (1700–1500 BCE) settlement included a chieftain’s grave and a bronze sword. The Bronze Age (2000–700 BCE) was when people widely used bronze tools. The discovery suggests cultural links between Denmark and Britain through shared artifacts. Stonehenge (3100–1600 BCE) in England is a prehistoric monument with massive stone circles.

Notes:
Andhra Pradesh launched the Thalliki Vandanam Scheme 2025 to support students from financially unstable families. The scheme helps students from Class 1 to 12 continue their education without financial worries. Eligible students who struggle to pay fees can apply for assistance. The government aims to reduce dropout rates and ensure uninterrupted education. The scheme reflects the state’s commitment to education accessibility and financial support for underprivileged students.

Notes:
Exercise Desert Hunt 2025 was held at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan, from 24 to 28 February 2025. It is a tri-service special forces exercise conducted by the Indian Air Force. Participants included the Indian Army’s Para (SF), Navy’s Marine Commandos, and Air Force’s Garud (SF). The exercise focused on interoperability, coordination, and synergy among special forces. It included airborne insertion, precision strikes, hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, combat free falls, and urban warfare.

Notes:
World Seagrass Day is observed on March 1 to raise awareness about seagrass conservation. Seagrass is crucial for marine biodiversity, coastline stability, and carbon absorption. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared this observance on May 22, 2022, based on Sri Lanka’s proposal. Seagrass is a flowering marine plant found in shallow coastal waters worldwide, except Antarctica. Unlike seaweed, seagrass has roots, stems, and leaves, making it similar to land plants. It provides food and shelter to many marine species and plays a key role in ecosystem health.

Notes:
March 3 is observed as World Wildlife Day to promote the conservation of flora and fauna. The 2025 theme is ‘Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet.’ The day highlights the need for financial investment in wildlife conservation amid a crisis threatening over one million species. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013. The date marks the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973.

Notes:
Vidarbha won their third Ranji Trophy title 2034-2025 by securing a first-innings lead against Kerala in the final. The final was held at Vidarbha Cricket Stadium, Nagpur, from 26 February to 2 March 2025. The Ranji Trophy, India’s top domestic first-class cricket championship, was established by BCCI in honor of K.S. Ranjit Singhji. Vidarbha previously won in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Kerala reached their first-ever Ranji Trophy final.

Notes:
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) became India’s first urban body to include a separate climate chapter in its 2025-26 budget. The “sustainable and climate budget” allocates ₹5,619.58 crore (over a third) of AMC’s ₹15,502 crore budget for climate action. The fund will support a net-zero, climate-resilient city action plan aligned with India’s net-zero target of 2070. Other metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Coimbatore have been slow to institutionalize climate action in their budgets, though Mumbai has allocated 33% for climate projects in 2024-25.

Notes:
The Ministry of AYUSH launched the ‘One Day as a Scientist’ initiative to engage students in scientific research. It is inspired by PM Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ call to develop a scientific mindset among students. The program encourages students to explore research labs and gain hands-on experience. AYUSH institutions opened their doors to showcase modern technology and traditional medicine. The initiative aims to foster curiosity and promote interest in science and innovation.