Current Affairs Quiz - February 2025

Notes:
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the first SOUL Leadership Conclave at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on February 21, 2025. The event was attended by Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay and other dignitaries. The two-day conclave (Feb 21-22) featured leaders from politics, sports, arts, media, business, and public policy sharing insights on leadership. It aimed to inspire young audiences by discussing successes, failures, and leadership challenges. SOUL (School of Ultimate Leadership) is a new leadership institution in Gujarat to train leaders based on merit, commitment, and public service.

Notes:
Bangladesh marks February 25 as National Military Martyrdom Day, announced by the interim government on February 23, 2025. The day commemorates the February 25-26, 2009 Pilkhana killings, where 74 military personnel, including 57 army officers, died in a failed mutiny by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR). The mutineers looted weapons and attempted a coup but were crushed. The interim government, led by Prof. Muhammed Yunus, has ordered a fresh probe, led by A.L.M Fazlur Rahman, into the mutiny.

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.

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:
The Indian Navy crew has arrived in St. Petersburg for the commissioning of INS Tamal, a stealth frigate built in Russia. INS Tamal is a state-of-the-art stealth guided missile frigate. It is an upgraded Krivak-III class frigate, part of a $2.5 billion India-Russia deal for four frigates. Two frigates were built in Russia, while the other two are being made at Goa Shipyard Limited. INS Tushil was commissioned in December 2024. INS Tamal will be the last warship imported, as India now designs and builds its own warships.

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:
Indian Army signed a contract on 25 February 2025 to procure 223 Automatic Chemical Agent Detection and Alarm (ACADA)
systems from L&T Ltd for Rs 80.43 crore under the ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’ category. The system will boost Atmanirbhar Bharat with 80% local components. ACADA is developed by DRDO’s Defence Research and Development Establishment, Gwalior. It detects chemical warfare agents (CWA) and toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) using Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS).

Notes:
Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS), the Delhi based laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is hosting the International Radio Biology Conference in Delhi from 27th Feb to 1st March 2025. Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser, inaugurated the event. Dr. Samir V. Kamat, DRDO Chairman, was the Guest of Honour. The conference focuses on space radiation risks for astronauts during long missions. Experts from various fields are discussing biomedical countermeasures to protect astronauts. Topics include radiation effects, stress factors, carcinogenesis, muscle & bone loss, and medical countermeasures. The goal is to develop innovative technologies for future deep-space missions.

Notes:
Union Minister or Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal inaugurated the ‘Bharat Calling Conference 2025’ in Mumbai. The event was organized by IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The theme was ‘Path to Viksit Bharat 2047: Pioneering Prosperity for All’. The conference emphasized India’s position as a leader in global economic growth. India offers unmatched investment opportunities in various sectors. The country has a strong economy, a large consumer market, and government policies that support business growth. India is set to become one of the world’s top investment destinations.

Notes:
The National Horticulture Fair 2025 is organizing at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research in Bengaluru. It takes place from February 27 to March 1. The theme for this year is ‘Horticulture for Viksit Bharat – Nutrition, Empowerment and Livelihood’. The event aims to promote horticultural varieties and technologies to improve nutrition in India. It focuses on helping socio-economically deprived groups through better productivity and income.