Current Affairs Quiz - February 2025

Notes:
On 22 February 2025, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for India’s first biopolymer plant in Kumbhi, Lakhimpur Kheri. The plant will be built by Balrampur Sugar Mills Limited at a cost of ₹2,850 crore. It will produce biopolymers using biological methods, supporting eco-friendly industrial growth. The project aims to replace plastic with sustainable biopolymers, promoting environmental protection. This initiative aligns with India’s goal of self-reliance and sustainability.

Notes:
The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) completed the first phase of the Desh Ka Prakriti Parikshan Abhiyaan with five Guinness World Records. This initiative, under the Ministry of AYUSH, aims to bring Ayurveda to every home by helping people understand their unique Prakriti (Ayurvedic body type). The campaign encourages people to adopt personalized health practices and be part of a nationwide wellness movement.

Notes:
Historians urged the government to push for Lepakshi Temple’s inclusion in the UNESCO heritage list. The 16th-century temple in Andhra Pradesh is known for its Dravidian-style architecture, intricate carvings, and monolithic structures. It is dedicated to Lord Veerabhadra, a form of Lord Shiva. In March 2023, UNESCO placed the temple on its provisional list of heritage sites. The State and Central governments are now studying its architecture, sculptures, murals, and the world’s largest monolithic Nandi statue to submit a detailed report for final UNESCO recognition.

Notes:
Himachal Pradesh government has launched a bio-engineering initiative to combat landslides using vetiver grass. The Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA) is leading the pilot project. The initiative is in collaboration with Vetiver Foundation-Climate Resilience and Sustainability Initiatives (CRSI), Tamil Nadu. 1,000 vetiver saplings have been planted in a nursery at Berti village, Solan. Vetiver’s deep roots (up to 4 meters) bind soil, prevent erosion, and reduce landslide risks by slowing water runoff.

Notes:
Nagaland launched its first ‘Adolescent Girls Club’ under Mission Shakti. These clubs are set up in both government and private schools for girls aged 10-19 years. The initiative aims to empower girls through education, health awareness, and life skills. The club in Wokha follows the motto “Live the promise.” It focuses on building confidence, knowledge, and leadership skills in adolescent girls.

Notes:
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella showcased Project Farm Vibes in Baramati, Maharashtra, demonstrating AI-driven solutions that improved crop yields by 40% and reduced fertilizer use by 25%. The Agricultural Development Trust, Baramati, in collaboration with Microsoft, is expanding the project from 1,000 to 50,000 farmers. Project Farm Vibes is an AI-driven agricultural technology suite developed by Microsoft Research to improve farming efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. The project involves partnerships with Microsoft Research, Azure AI Team, and Oxford University AI researchers.

Notes:
TRIFED signed MoUs with Reliance Retail, HCL Foundation, and Torajamelo Indonesia to boost tribal entrepreneurship and economic inclusion. Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) operates under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, to support tribal communities. It was established in August 1987 under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984. The organization promotes the marketing of tribal products to improve socio-economic conditions. Its mandate includes institutionalizing the trade of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and Surplus Agricultural Produce (SAP) collected or cultivated by tribals.

Notes:
Saurav Ghosal returned from retirement to win the Octane Sydney Classic 2025 Squash Tournament. He had announced retirement from professional squash in April 2024. The Octane Sydney Classic 2025 was part of the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour. The tournament had a prize money of $6000. It was held in Sydney, Australia, from 19-23 February 2025.

Notes:
Rajasthan government launched Shiksha Sanjeevani Bima Yojana to provide accidental insurance to schoolchildren. It offers personal accident insurance coverage of Rs 1 lakh to 1.3 lakh for children and parents in state government schools. Initially, the scheme covers schools in the Udaipur Division. State Education and Panchayati Raj Minister Madan Dilawar launched the scheme on 26th February 2025 at Residency School, Udaipur. The scheme will be gradually expanded to all schools in Rajasthan, benefiting around 1 crore students.

Notes:
NASA plans to launch the SPHEREx telescope aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) is a megaphone-shaped space telescope with a 2-year mission. It will map the universe using optical and infrared cosmic light. It will study cosmic inflation, which occurred 14 billion years ago when the universe expanded faster than light. It will analyze galaxy formation, cosmic evolution, and life-forming molecules in the Milky Way. It will use spectroscopic imaging to map 450 million galaxies in 3D. It will complement the work of the James Webb and Hubble telescopes.