Current Affairs Quiz - February 2025

Notes:
Chhota Bheem, a famous tiger from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, recently died while being treated for multiple fractures in Bhopal’s Van Vihar. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is located in Madhya Pradesh’s Satpura and Vindhya ranges, covering 1536 sq. km. The reserve includes a 716 sq. km core zone and an 820 sq. km buffer zone. It has one of the highest tiger densities globally and features a landscape with valleys, hills, and the Bandhavgarh Fort. The reserve’s flora includes Sal forests and grasslands, while fauna includes tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and other species.

Notes:
A Parliamentary committee urged the government to develop a clear SOP and obtain approvals for timely completion of projects under the PRASHAD scheme. 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. Key objectives include improving infrastructure, connectivity, and conservation of heritage sites. It promotes local employment through skill development and supports eco-friendly tourism. The scheme is 100% publicly funded, with additional support from CSR and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).

Notes:
A new species of water flea, Bryospilus (Indobryospilus) bharaticus, was discovered on moss-covered walls of Korigad Fort near Pune. It belongs to the Bryospilus genus and is the first discovery of its kind in Tropical Asia. It uses antennae with large spines to crawl through thick, debris-filled water films. It lacks a main eye due to reduced light in its habitat. It is found in rainforests of West Africa, South and Central America, and New Zealand. Ancestors likely existed in India before Gondwanaland split 200 million years ago. Water fleas are tiny crustaceans that filter algae from water.

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:
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:
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:
Thousands of Kodavas participated in the final leg of the “Kodavame Balo Padayatra” in Madikeri, Karnataka, covering 84 km. The march, organized by Akhila Kodava Samaja, aimed to seek constitutional safeguards for Kodava culture and traditions. The Kodava tribe, also called Coorgs, is an indigenous warrior community from Kodagu, Karnataka. They have a distinct ethnic identity, rich history, and vibrant culture. Their population is estimated to be over a hundred thousand, with most residing in Kodagu.

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:
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has warned against the Morand-Ganjal Irrigation Project in Madhya Pradesh. The project involves building two dams on the Morand and Ganjal rivers to improve irrigation in Hoshangabad, Betul, Harda, and Khandwa districts. It may displace 644 families, including 604 tribal families. It could destroy a critical tiger corridor between Satpura and Melghat Tiger Reserves, endangering species like leopards, wolves, wild dogs, and hyenas.

Notes:
BHU zoologists confirmed around 1,000 pollutants in the Varuna River. Research found 580 pollutants in Varuna and 349 in Assi River. Toxic chemicals like Tert alkylphenols, Octylphenols, Butylphenols, and Hexadecylphenols were detected. Varuna River is a tributary of the Ganga, originating from Phulpur in Prayagraj. It merges with the Ganga near Sarai Mohana in Varanasi. Varanasi is named after the Varuna and Assi rivers. Sarnath is located at the confluence of the Ganga and Varuna rivers.