Current Affairs Quiz - February 2025

Notes:
The Union Cabinet approved a three-year extension for the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK). It was established in 1994 under the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993, but became a non-statutory body in 2004. It functions under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Its purpose is to investigate the conditions of Safai Karamcharis (waste collectors) and make welfare recommendations. It evaluates existing welfare programs, handles grievances, and monitors the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

Notes:
Maharashtra government has introduced Facial Recognition System (FRS) for entry into Mantralaya to enhance security and efficiency. Facial Recognition System (FRS) matches human faces from digital images or video frames with a database. It uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) with machine learning to improve accuracy. Computer Vision helps extract and analyze visual data from images and videos. Biometric Analysis identifies unique facial features for authentication. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are crucial for image recognition and feature extraction.

Notes:
The 15th edition of Aero India, Asia’s largest aerospace and defence exhibition, is held at Yelahanka Air Force Station, Bengaluru, from February 10-14, 2025. The event follows the theme ‘The Runway to a Billion Opportunities’ and promotes India’s self-reliance in defence under ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. More than 900 exhibitors, including 150 foreign companies from 90+ countries, are participating, making it the biggest Aero India ever. India showcases indigenous innovations like Tejas, Prachand, Agni, Astra, and Pinaka missile systems, boosting defence exports and self-sufficiency.

Notes:
Odisha’s first captive breeding of sambar will take place at Satkosia Tiger Reserve. The reserve is located in Odisha, covering Angul, Cuttack, Boudh, and Nayagarh districts. It includes Baisipalli Sanctuary and Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary. The total area is 963.87 sq km, with 523.61 sq km as the core area. It is part of the Mahanadi Elephant Reserve. Satkosia lies at the meeting point of the Deccan Peninsula and Eastern Ghats. The Mahanadi River flows through it.

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US President Trump has officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America”. He designated February 9 as “Gulf of America Day” through an executive order, requiring the Secretary of the Interior to formalize the change within 30 days.

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NASA will launch the Pandora mission in 2025 to study the atmospheres of distant exoplanets. It will focus on clouds, hazes, and water, key factors for habitability. Pandora aims to fill gaps left by existing telescopes like James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), focusing on planetary transits to improve exoplanet models. The mission will explore planetary formation, evolution, and habitability. Pandora will use a specialized telescope to study light interactions with atmospheric particles, enhancing knowledge of planetary climates and chemistry.

Notes:
Russia has offered India the R-37M missile, one of the world’s best air-to-air missiles. It was developed by Russia. The R-37M is designed to target enemy fighter jets and drones beyond visual range (BVR). It evolved from the R-33 missile and targets high-value platforms like tanker aircraft. Its guidance system includes inertial navigation, radar homing, and semi-active radar for the terminal phase. The missile has a range of 300-400 km and speeds up to Mach 6, making it highly effective for long-range interception.

Notes:
Hyderabad-based biotech company, Biovet has received Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) approval for its Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) vaccine, Biolumpivaxin, for dairy cattle and buffaloes. Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is an infectious viral disease caused by the lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), part of the poxviridae family. LSD primarily affects cattle and, to a lesser extent, buffalo, with higher morbidity in cattle. The disease leads to reduced milk production, sterility in bulls, and damage to hides. It spreads through blood-feeding insects and contaminated water or fodder. LSD is not zoonotic, so humans cannot get infected by the virus.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the 3rd India Energy Week in New Delhi on 11th February 2025. The event highlights India’s significance as a global energy market. The first India Energy Week took place in Bengaluru (Feb 2023), and the second in Goa (Feb 2024). The 3rd edition runs from 11-14 February 2025 in New Delhi. It offers a platform for global energy companies to network, showcase technologies, and explore sustainable energy solutions.

Notes:
University of Florida scientists analyzed data from Burmese python contractors to find efficient ways to remove the species. Burmese pythons are one of the largest snakes, growing up to 20 feet and weighing over 250 pounds. They are non-venomous, solitary, nocturnal, and excellent swimmers. They are non-venomous, solitary, and nocturnal, living in various habitats like grasslands, swamps, and rainforests. Native to Southeast Asia and parts of South Asia, they are now invasive in Florida due to the pet trade. The species was recognized as distinct from Python molurus in 2009. They are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN.