Current Affairs Quiz - February 2025

Notes:
India ranked 96 out of 180 in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), with a score of 38. India’s score dropped from 39 in 2023 and 40 in 2022, ranking 93rd in 2023. Among neighbors, Pakistan ranked 135, Sri Lanka 121, Bangladesh 149, and China 76. Denmark topped the list, followed by Finland and Singapore. Corruption threatens climate action by misusing funds and obstructing policies. 32 countries improved since 2012, but 148 stagnated or worsened. Over two-thirds of countries scored below 50, with a global average of 43. Corruption fuels authoritarianism, instability, and human rights violations.

Notes:
The 12th World Government Summit held in Dubai, UAE, on February 10, 2025, and runs until February 13, 2025. It gathers global leaders, experts, and decision-makers to shape the future of governments. The summit’s theme is “Shaping Future Governments.” It is organized by a non-governmental organization founded by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2013.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings on Thaipusam. Thaipusam is named after the Tamil month “Thai” and the star “Poosam.” It honors Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war, victory, and wisdom. The festival marks the day when Goddess Parvati gave Lord Murugan the divine vel (spear) to defeat the demon Surapadma. It is celebrated on the full moon day of the Tamil month Thai. It is widely observed by Tamils in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, and other countries.

Notes:
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Euclid space telescope discovered a rare Einstein ring around the galaxy NGC 6505. NGC 6505 is an elliptical galaxy located 590 million light-years away in the Draco constellation. The discovery is considered extraordinary, especially for Euclid’s early data. An Einstein ring is a circular light ring formed due to gravitational lensing by a galaxy, dark matter, or a galaxy cluster.

Notes:
February 13th marks World Radio Day, celebrating radio’s role in communication, entertainment, education, and community connection, especially in remote areas. Radio, invented in the early 19th century, became widely used for mass media in India in the 20th century. UNESCO declared World Radio Day in 2011, with the UN General Assembly adopting it in 2012. The day highlights radio’s resilience, its importance in emergencies, and its role in tackling global issues like climate change. The 2025 theme is “Radio and Climate Change,” focusing on radio’s role in addressing this critical issue.

Notes:
The West Bengal government announced the “Nodi Bandhan” scheme in the 2025-26 budget to develop Bengal’s riverine areas and check erosion along the Ganga. “Nodi Bandhan” aims to link rivers and wetlands, creating livelihood opportunities. The scheme will support pisciculture, irrigation, and small-scale industries related to agriculture and fisheries.

Notes:
National Women’s Day is celebrated in India on February 13 to honor Sarojini Naidu. She was a freedom fighter, poet, and the first woman President of the Indian National Congress (1925). She was also the first woman governor of an Indian state. Known as the “Nightingale of India”, she played a key role in India’s independence movement. The day highlights women’s empowerment, gender equality, and leadership. The Indian government designated February 13 to recognize her contributions to social justice and literature, inspiring generations.

Notes:
The oldest known Jurassic bird fossil was recently found in China’s Fujian Province. The fossil is of a species called Baminornis zhenghensis and is estimated to be 149 million years old. The discovery of Baminornis zhenghensis is considered a landmark discovery and one of the most important bird fossils ever found. It shows that birds and dinosaurs lived alongside each other in China during the Jurassic period.

Notes:
IIT Kanpur introduced an innovative solar dehydration technique to preserve agricultural produce using solar energy. This method helps farmers dry fruits and vegetables, providing a cost-effective way to store produce and sell at better prices. The project is supported by NABARD. It aims to expand to more villages, reducing waste and increasing farmers’ incomes.

Notes:
India and the U.S. launched the TRUST (Transforming Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology) initiative to boost cooperation in critical minerals like lithium and rare earth elements. Announced during PM Modi’s visit to Washington, it aims to strengthen supply chains for essential materials. The initiative focuses on critical minerals, advanced materials, and pharmaceuticals. It aims to reduce barriers to technology transfer by streamlining regulations. It seeks to address export controls for smoother trade in strategic resources. It also promotes high-tech commerce, enhancing collaboration in advanced sectors.