Current Affairs Quiz - February 2025

Notes:
The loggerhead turtle can remember the magnetic signature of an area and associates certain locations with food, performing a “turtle dance” when in those areas. It belongs to the Cheloniidae family and is the world’s largest hard-shelled turtle. Loggerheads use the geomagnetic field to navigate long distances. They have a wide distribution, found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, and the Mediterranean Sea. The turtle is omnivorous, feeding on bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Its conservation status is “Vulnerable” according to the IUCN.

Notes:
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to inaugurate the National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA) program in 152 Urban Local Bodies across 26 states and 3 UTs in Raisen, Madhya Pradesh. The program, led by the Department of Land Resources, aims to update land records in urban areas for better documentation and dispute reduction. It will enhance urban planning, improve ease of living, and promote transparency in property records. Survey of India is the technical partner, conducting aerial surveys. The project will cost ₹194 crore, fully funded by the Government of India.

Notes:
Karnataka’s property registration portal, Kaveri 2.0, faced severe disruptions due to a DDoS attack. A DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack floods a server or network with excessive traffic, causing service failures. The attack uses a botnet—a network of compromised devices—to overload the target system.

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Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited launched a 14-day awareness campaign called SAKSHAM. The campaign focuses on green energy and fuel conservation. It aims to promote fuel conservation and responsible use of petroleum products for a safer environment and sustainable energy future.

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The Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation has introduced a real-time monitoring and networking system in Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary. Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, covering 53 sq km. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1983. The sanctuary includes the catchment area of Peppara Dam, built on the Karamana River. The new system aims to enhance wildlife protection and conservation efforts in the region.

Notes:
The 2nd All India State Water Ministers Conference was held in Udaipur, Rajasthan, on 18-19 February 2025. It was organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. The conference aimed to adopt effective water management strategies and ensure water security. The theme was “India@2047 – Water Secure Nation”, aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of a developed and water-secure India.

Notes:
Manu Bhaker won the 2024 BBC Indian Sportwomen of the Year award. She is a double Olympic medalist shooter. In 2020, she won the BBC Emerging Athlete of the Year award. The BBC Indian Sportwomen of the Year award was started in 2019 to honor top Indian sportswomen. Nominees are chosen by Indian sports journalists and experts, and winners are selected through public voting.

Notes:
Lake Kivu witnessed devastation after an armed group captured Goma, a city in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It lies on the border between Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It is situated in the Albertine Rift, a seismically active zone. It drains into the Ruzizi River, which flows into Lake Tanganyika. Lake Kivu contains large amounts of methane and carbon dioxide, making it a potential hazard for a limnic eruption.

Notes:
A new plant species, Strobilanthes gigantra, was discovered in Arunachal Pradesh within the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). It is exceptionally large, sometimes growing into a tree, with unique floral features like densely imbricate bracts and a curved corolla tube. Strobilanthes is the second-largest genus in the Acanthaceae family, with 167 species in India. Arunachal Pradesh is a biodiversity hotspot with 41 Strobilanthes species. The discovery highlights the rich but understudied flora of the region, reinforcing its importance in botanical research.

Notes:
A flock of rare northern pintail ducks was spotted at an extraordinary altitude of 13,500 feet in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. The northern pintail duck, with the scientific name Anas acuta, is a migratory waterfowl known for its striking appearance and fascinating behavior. It migrates across continents, excluding Antarctica, and avoids living or breeding south of the equator. Males have a buff-gray color with a chocolate head, while females are mottled brown. These ducks can grow over 60 cm long, weigh more than 1 kg, and have a wingspan of 91 cm.