Current Affairs Quiz - February 2025

Notes:
LIC launched the ‘One Man Office’ (OMO) initiative on February 17, 2025. It is a digital initiative to enhance LIC agents’ efficiency with 24×7 digital services. The initiative aligns with LIC’s vision of ‘Insurance for All by 2047.’ It provides online tools for policy sales, customer service, and business management. LIC aims to make its agents independent and productive through digital transformation. The initiative eliminates the need for a traditional office setup. It benefits both policyholders and LIC by integrating technology into insurance services.

Notes:
Haryana Witness Protection Scheme, 2025 was launched by Haryana government to protect witnesses in serious criminal cases. It applies to offences punishable by death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment of seven years or more, including Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act cases. Witnesses are categorized into three levels based on threat perception. Protection measures include separating witnesses from the accused, monitoring communication, and close security. Witnesses may get new identities or relocation based on threats. A Witness Protection Cell will be set up in each district to implement the scheme.

Notes:
Human activities outside protected areas are causing biodiversity loss. Extinction filtering removes species sensitive to human disturbances, leaving only those that adapt to degraded habitats. Species evolved in high-disturbance environments are more likely to survive habitat loss and fragmentation. In tropical forests, human overpopulation has driven sensitive mammals to local extinction, while adaptable species persist. This process leads to less diverse and more uniform species in forests. Over time, it weakens ecosystems and reduces their ability to recover from environmental changes.

Notes:
Vietnam’s foreign ministry recently published a map defining its claim in the Gulf of Tonkin. The Gulf of Tonkin is also called “Beibu Gulf” in Chinese and “Bac Bo Gulf” in Vietnamese. It is a shallow, semi-enclosed water body in the northwestern South China Sea. It is bordered by Vietnam’s northern coast, China’s Guangxi region, the Leizhou Peninsula, and Hainan Island. It connects to the South China Sea via its southern mouth and the Hainan Strait in the northeast. Major ports include Haiphong and Ben Thuy in Vietnam and Beihai in China.

Notes:
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for Bageshwar Dham Medical and Science Research Institute in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, on February 23. The institute will provide free treatment to underprivileged cancer patients. It will be built on 10 acres, with a 100-bed hospital in the first phase. The hospital will have state-of-the-art machines and specialist doctors for cancer treatment.

Notes:
US President Donald Trump announced the Gold Card, a new immigration initiative offering a direct path to US citizenship for $5 million. It is described as a “premium version” of the Green Card, granting long-term residency and naturalization. The Gold Card will replace the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program, which required job creation. The program aims to attract wealthy investors and generate government revenue.

Notes:
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 2nd edition of the Time Use Survey (TUS) 2024. The National Statistics Office (NSO), MoSPI conducted the first all-India TUS in 2019. The latest survey was conducted from January to December 2024. It analyzes how Indians allocate time to employment, caregiving, and leisure. A key finding is the rise in women’s participation in paid jobs, shifting from unpaid domestic work. This trend reflects economic and social changes, impacting India’s labor market dynamics.

Notes:
World Protein Day is celebrated annually on February 27 to highlight the importance of protein in our diet. It raises awareness about protein deficiency and promotes nutritional security through protein-rich foods. The US Soybean Export Council (USSEC) initiated this day to educate people on sufficient protein intake for better health. Over time, it has become a global campaign involving organizations and experts. The day emphasizes preventing malnutrition and deficiency-related diseases by promoting adequate protein consumption.

Notes:
National Science Day is celebrated on February 28 every year. It marks Sir C.V. Raman’s discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’ in 1928. Raman won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, becoming the first Indian Nobel laureate in science. The celebration started in 1987 to promote scientific inquiry and innovation. The 2024 theme is “Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in Science & Innovation for VIKSIT BHARAT.” It highlights youth’s role in making India a global science leader. The day aims to raise awareness, showcase achievements, and inspire future scientists.

Notes:
A child died of measles in rural West Texas, marking the first US measles death in 10 years. The outbreak began last month, with 124 cases reported across nine counties. It started in a rural Mennonite community in Gaines County, where many children are unvaccinated and home-schooled. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease affecting the respiratory tract. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash covering the body. Severe cases can be fatal. The virus spreads through breathing, coughing, or sneezing. Vaccination is an effective protection against measles.