Current Affairs Quiz - February 2025

Notes:
Two young Indian Navy officers aboard INSV Tarini recently crossed Point Nemo in the southern Pacific during Navika Sagar Parikrama-II. Point Nemo is the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility, the farthest point from any landmass on Earth. It is located in the South Pacific Ocean and is named after Captain Nemo from Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. It lies about 2,688 km from the nearest land. The closest human presence is often astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The region has minimal marine life and is used for space junk disposal due to its remoteness.

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For the first time, India is fully funding its contingent for the Asian Winter Games under the Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) Scheme. The 9th Asian Winter Games will be held in Harbin, China, from 7-14 February 2025. An 88-member Indian contingent, including 59 athletes and 29 officials, will compete. Athletes in Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Figure Skating, Short Track Speed Skating, and Speed Skating (Long Track) will receive financial support. The ANSF scheme funds athlete training, foreign coaches, and support staff for international events.

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The Finance Minister announced that National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) will establish a partial credit enhancement facility for corporate bonds in the infrastructure sector. NaBFID is a specialized Development Finance Institution (DFI) supporting infrastructure development in India. It was established in 2021 under the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Act, 2021. Its objectives include filling gaps in long-term infrastructure financing, developing bond and derivatives markets, and boosting economic growth. NaBFID is regulated and supervised by the RBI as an All-India Financial Institution (AIFI). It focuses on long-term credit solutions for infrastructure projects in India.

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The Finance Minister announced the National Geospatial Mission in Budget 2025-26. It aims to modernize land records and improve urban planning across India. The initiative will use the PM Gati Shakti framework to develop geospatial infrastructure. It will help in better design and execution of infrastructure projects. The mission addresses land disputes and inefficient land use, which hinder growth. A robust geospatial database will make land reforms more efficient and transparent. It will benefit government agencies and private geospatial and drone companies. The mission will enhance efficiency and accountability in public services.

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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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Andhra Pradesh launched ‘Mana Mitra’, India’s first WhatsApp-based governance platform. It provides 161 civil services, making government services easily accessible. Citizens can avail public services directly via WhatsApp, enhancing digital governance. Developed in collaboration with Meta, the platform marks a major innovation in service delivery. More services will be added in the future to further improve accessibility.

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New Delhi hosted the 15th International Meeting of World Pharmacopoeias from 5-7 February 2025. The event brought together global pharmacopoeial leaders, regulators, and industry experts to enhance cooperation in pharmaceutical standards. Key discussions focused on pharmaceutical harmonization, regulatory convergence, and improving public health. The first meeting was held in Geneva in 2012, and the 10th in Strasbourg in 2020. WHO defines pharmacopeia as a legally binding collection of quality standards for medicines. The meeting was organized by WHO and hosted by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC).

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The Ministry of Ayush launched the “Shatavari – For Better Health” campaign to promote awareness of medicinal plants. It was inaugurated by Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush. The campaign is led by the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), which has previously promoted Amla, Moringa, Giloe, and Ashwagandha. Financial assistance of ₹18.9 lakh will support eligible organizations in promoting Shatavari. The initiative strengthens India’s focus on traditional medicine and holistic well-being.

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ISRO unveiled the latest version of Finite Element Analysis of Structures (FEAST) software at the 8th National Finite Element Developers’ Meeting at IIT-Hyderabad. More than 250 industry leaders, academicians, and researchers attended to promote indigenous structural analysis software. FEAST, developed by ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), analyzes structures under various loads in aerospace, automobile, civil, and mechanical fields.

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The Environment Ministry’s Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) approved the use of Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) technology for research inside Dibru Saikhowa National Park. Dibru Saikhowa is both a National Park and a Biosphere Reserve in Assam, located on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River. It is bordered by the Brahmaputra and Lohit Rivers in the north and the Dibru River in the south. The park consists of moist mixed semi-evergreen and deciduous forests.