Current Affairs Quiz - February 2025

Notes:
The Ongole breed of cattle, native to Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, is neglected in India but highly valued abroad. Viatina-19, an Ongole cow, set a world record by selling for $4.82 million (~₹41 crore) in Brazil, making it the most expensive cow ever. It surpassed Japan’s Wagyu and India’s Brahman breeds in value. They are known for strength, disease resistance, and heat tolerance.

Notes:
Jharkhand health department issued a bird flu (H5N1) alert after detection at Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi. Bird flu (Avian Influenza) is caused by Influenza A viruses and can spread from birds to humans. H5N1, H7N9, H5N6, and H9N2 are key virus strains, with H5N1 known for high fatality. Transmission occurs through infected birds, airborne particles, contaminated surfaces, and animal products.

Notes:
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Aadi Mahotsav 2025 at Major Dhyanchand Stadium, New Delhi. The event celebrates tribal entrepreneurship, crafts, culture, cuisine, and commerce. It provides a platform for tribal artisans and entrepreneurs from different states to showcase their creations. Cultural and traditional programs will be featured, promoting unity and diversity in the nation.

Notes:
Karnataka launched its Clean Mobility Policy 2025-2030 to boost the EV sector with ₹50,000 crore investments and create 1 lakh jobs. The policy aims to make Karnataka Asia’s top clean mobility hub with incentives like 25% subsidy on investments and 20% for Bengaluru. Karnataka has 2.5 lakh EVs and 5,403 charging stations, ranking 3rd in India for EV adoption. It plans 2,600 more charging stations and 3 mobility clusters for innovation. The policy supports training programs and aims to reduce carbon emissions while improving air quality.

Notes:
Kerala government allocated an additional Rs 300 crore for the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASAP) health scheme. The total allocation for the scheme in the current financial year is Rs 978.54 crore. KASAP covers over 64 lakh vulnerable people, providing Rs 5 lakh health cover per family annually. The scheme benefits 41.99 lakh poor families (bottom 40% of Kerala’s population). It is available at 197 state-run, 4 central, and 364 private hospitals. Rs 700 crore is earmarked for KASAP in the upcoming state budget.

Notes:
Global Tourism Resilience Day is observed every year on February 17 to highlight the tourism sector’s resilience and adaptability. The day stresses the importance of a strong tourism industry that can recover from setbacks and support economic growth, cultural exchange, and sustainability. Tourism remains vulnerable to global challenges like pandemics, economic crises, and climate change. Established by the UN General Assembly, the day promotes strategies for recovery and collaboration. In 2025, the UN is hosting a global discussion on climate action to advance climate-resilient tourism.

Notes:
The sixth edition of Exercise Dharma Guardian, a joint military exercise between India and Japan, is scheduled to take place at Mount Fuji, Japan from February 25 to March 9. The exercise focuses on enhancing interoperability between the two forces. It involves joint urban warfare and counter-terrorism operations under a UN mandate. The aim is to strengthen military ties through improved interoperability, joint operations, and the exchange of special operations tactics. The exercise helps promote military-to-military relations between India and Japan.

Notes:
Similipal Tiger Reserve successfully used the TrailGuard AI system as an anti-poaching tool. TrailGuard AI is a camera-based alert system designed for wildlife conservation and human-wildlife coexistence in remote areas. It combines durable hardware, AI algorithms, and real-time transmission. The system detects poachers, illegal loggers, and wildlife entering restricted areas. It captures images, processes them to identify animals, humans, or vehicles, and transmits alerts in 30-40 seconds. The system works on low power but switches to high power when detecting movement, ensuring quick intervention.

Notes:
A state of emergency has been declared on Greece’s Santorini, Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi due to a swarm of undersea earthquakes. An earthquake swarm occurs when multiple seismic events of similar intensity hit a small area in quick succession. These swarms often involve thousands of low-intensity quakes without a major shock over weeks. They commonly occur in active geothermal regions where seismic energy builds up and is released in small amounts.

Notes:
Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated India’s first ‘Open-Air Art Wall Museum’ at Mausam Bhawan, New Delhi. The museum marks the 150-year journey of the India Meteorological Department (IMD). It is developed in collaboration with ‘Delhi Street Art’. It transforms IMD’s Lodhi Road headquarters into a visual narrative. The artwork showcases India’s meteorological advancements and the role of weather science in society.