Current Affairs Quiz - February 2025

Notes:
The world’s largest iceberg, A23a, is drifting toward South Georgia Island after breaking from Antarctica’s Filchner Ice Shelf. South Georgia Island is a mountainous, barren island in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, covering 3,756 sq.km. The island has over 160 glaciers and peaks like Mount Paget (2,935 m).

Notes:
The third annual Deepor Beel Winter Birding Festival 2025 recorded an increase in migratory and resident birds compared to 2024. Deepor Beel is a perennial freshwater lake on the outskirts of Guwahati, Assam. It was once a channel of the Brahmaputra River and spans 4.1 sq. km. It serves as Guwahati’s major stormwater storage basin, with outflow into the Khandajan rivulet. It was declared a Ramsar Site in 2002 and an Important Bird Area (IBA) in 2004. It is Assam’s only Ramsar site. The lake supports migratory birds, including globally threatened species like Spot-billed Pelican, Lesser Adjutant Stork, and Baer’s Pochard.

Notes:
The Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis) was discovered for the first time in Mathikettan Shola National Park, Idukki, after a long gap. This omnivorous bird primarily feeds on insects, slugs, and grass seeds. It is found in grasslands in mountain ranges, particularly in Australia, parts of India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, northern Kerala), and Asia. Male birds have golden-orange plumage during breeding and distinctive calls. The bird is listed as Least Concern by IUCN. Mathikettan Shola is in the Western Ghats, Kerala.

Notes:
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).

Notes:
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.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through the Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal organized a national campaign on “Efficient and Balanced Use of Fertilizer,” including nano-fertilizers. Nano fertilizers were promoted during the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra (VBSY) launched on November 15, 2023. The campaign aimed at educating farmers on the balanced and efficient use of fertilizers, highlighting the role of nano-fertilizers in agriculture.

Notes:
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi launched the ‘Bikashita Gaon, Bikashita Odisha’ (BGBO) scheme to bridge the rural-urban development gap. The scheme has a budget of ₹5,000 crore over five years and aims to develop 60,000 villages. It focuses on improving basic infrastructure for better living conditions in rural areas, covering 80% of the state’s population. Villagers will plan and implement projects, with 40% of funds reserved for tribal areas. Transparent governance ensured through district collectors and social audits.

Notes:
A magnitude-7.6 earthquake struck the Caribbean Sea southwest of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica. It consists of three islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. The islands are peaks of the Cayman Ridge, an underwater mountain range. Known for coral reefs, clear waters, and white sand beaches, Grand Cayman is the largest and most populous island. The territory covers 264 sq. km, with George Town as its capital.

Notes:
Around 12 Bhil families have accused the Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI) of trying to demolish their homes and displace them from ancestral land. Bhils are one of the oldest and most widely distributed tribal groups in India. The name ‘Bhil’ comes from the Dravidian word villu or billu, meaning bow. They belong to the Australoid group and are considered a Dravidian racial tribe of Western India. Bhils are divided into two main groups: central and eastern (Rajput Bhils). Central Bhils mainly live in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. The Baneshwar Fair is one of the most significant festivals for the Bhil community. It takes place during Shivratri.