Best Current Affairs Questions

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:
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.

Notes:
India’s largest solar cell and module manufacturing unit was inaugurated at Gangaikondan SIPCOT Industrial Growth Centre, Tamil Nadu. The facility is set up by TATA Power’s TP Solar Limited with an investment of ₹3,800 crore. It will produce 30-GW photovoltaic cells and modules annually for solar power generation. Equipped with advanced robotic automation, it features TOPCon and Mono Perc technology for high efficiency. The plant will also manufacture raw materials for solar modules. Vikram Solar is setting up an additional 3-GW solar cell and 6-GW module facility at the same site.

Notes:
The first Olympic Esports Games will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027. This is part of a 12-year deal with Saudi Arabia signed last year. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) aims to engage a younger audience through Esports, as its traditional fanbase ages. In 2021, the Olympic Virtual Series was launched as a pilot for Esports. A six-member committee will decide which games will be included in the first Olympic Esports Games. Saudi Arabia has invested billions in sports, facing criticism for “sportswashing” due to human rights concerns.

Notes:
Farmers at Punjab and Haryana borders observed February 23 as Pagri Sambhal Diwas to honor Ajit Singh, uncle of Bhagat Singh. The Pagri Sambhal Jatta movement was launched by Ajit Singh in 1907 to oppose British agricultural laws. The slogan “Pagri Sambhal Jatta” was coined by poet Banke Dayal, symbolizing self-respect and resistance. The movement protested three British laws: Punjab Land Alienation Act (1900), Punjab Land Colonisation Act (1906), and Doab Bari Act (1907). These laws restricted farmers’ rights, increased debt, and transferred land ownership to the British. Ajit Singh and Kishan Singh formed the Bharat Mata Society to support farmers, with Lala Lajpat Rai also backing the movement.

Notes:
Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia represented India at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. He engaged with industry leaders, addressed key sessions, and explored tech innovations. India showcased its rapid 5G expansion, lowest data tariffs, indigenous telecom infrastructure, and strong cybersecurity framework. Scindia stressed the importance of tech governance, balancing innovation with regulation, and fostering global partnerships. The event included the unveiling of India Mobile Congress 2025 and the inauguration of the Bharat Pavilion, highlighting India’s telecom capabilities.

Notes:
Chinese architect Liu Jiakun won the 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize for designs that celebrate everyday life. The Pritzker Prize is the most prestigious award in international architecture. Liu is the 54th laureate and was chosen for his focus on people and communities over his 40-year career. He is the third Chinese architect to win, after IM Pei and Wang Shu. The Pritzker Architecture Prize, often called “architecture’s Nobel Prize,” is an international award established in 1979 by the Pritzker family through their Hyatt Foundation, recognizing a living architect (or architects) for their significant contributions to humanity and the built environment.

Notes:
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched a mobile app for the Prime Minister Internship Scheme and encouraged more companies to join. The PM Internship Scheme provides 12-month internships for youth (aged 21-24) from low-income households in India’s top 500 companies. The pilot phase aims to target 1.25 lakh youth, with a goal of providing internships for 1 crore young individuals in five years. Internships cover 24 sectors, including oil, gas, energy, travel, hospitality, automotive, banking, and financial services.

Notes:
The Ministry of Tourism provides financial assistance through the ‘Swadesh Darshan (SD)’ and ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ schemes for Buddhist Tourism development. The PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive) scheme was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in 2014. It aims to enhance cultural preservation and spiritual tourism at pilgrimage sites across India.

Notes:
Mridulika Jha of Aaj Tak won the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism 2025 for reporting on the “Dunki route” used by Haryana youths to illegally enter the United States of America. 27 journalists were awarded across 20 categories at the 19th Ramnath Goenka Awards held in New Delhi on 19 March 2025. The award, instituted by the Indian Express Group in 2005, honors Print/Digital & Broadcast journalists for excellence despite political and economic pressures. President Droupadi Murmu was the chief guest and presented the awards. Winners received a citation, a trophy, and ₹1 lakh cash prize.