Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
The Rajasthan government recently dissolved nine districts and three divisions created in 2023. Rajasthan now has 41 districts and seven divisions. The divisions of Pali, Sikar, and Banswara were annulled. Eight districts, including Dudu, Kekri, Shahpura, and others, were abolished due to administrative necessity. Retained districts include Balotra, Beawar, Didwana-Kuchaman, and others. A High-Level Committee report deemed the new districts unviable, and a Cabinet Sub-Committee was formed to review their status.

Notes:
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin inaugurated India’s first-ever glass bridge at Kanyakumari. The bridge connects the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar statue. It is part of a Rs 37-crore initiative by the Tamil Nadu government. The bridge enhances the region’s tourism infrastructure.

Notes:
The One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative democratizes access to global scholarly knowledge in India, aligning with NEP 2020 and ViksitBharat@2047 goals. A ₹6,000 crore budget is allocated for its first phase (2025–2027). The primary objective of the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) is to provide equitable access to scholarly research journals and articles from top international publishers to all eligible students, faculty, and researchers across India. The initiative promotes interdisciplinary research, particularly benefiting Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. A unified portal will streamline digital processes for students, researchers, and faculty. The Department of Higher Education will lead awareness campaigns for maximum user adaptation.

Notes:
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced a 100% conviction rate for 2024, convicting 68 individuals in 25 high-profile cases. The NIA arrested 210 individuals across 80 cases, with 28 involving Left Wing Extremism and 18 related to North East insurgency. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was established in 2008 after the Mumbai terror attacks to combat terrorism. The agency operates under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, with its headquarters in New Delhi, led by the Director-General.

Notes:
Quad nations (India, US, Australia, Japan) reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. The pledge commemorates 20 years of Quad cooperation, initially formed after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Quad aims to counter challenges like China’s growing influence in the region. The coalition emphasizes the centrality of ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific framework. The grouping focuses on upholding international order based on the rule of law.

Notes:
A four-day faunal survey at Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary enriched its biodiversity records. Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kollam, Kerala, in the southern Western Ghats. It covers 172 sq. km and is part of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve. The terrain is mostly hilly with ravines, featuring rich biodiversity. The sanctuary’s rivers, Shendurney, Kazhuthuruthy, and Kulathupuzha, merge to form the Kallada River. The sanctuary plays a key role in conserving the unique flora and fauna of the Western Ghats.

Notes:
Telangana will implement the Rythu Bharosa scheme, replacing the Rythu Bandhu scheme, starting from Sankranti. The scheme, launched in 2018-19, provides investment support to farmers for agriculture and horticulture crops. It offers Rs. 5,000 per acre per season for the purchase of inputs, with no cap on the number of acres. Eligible farmers must be residents of Telangana, own agricultural land, and have a Record of Forest Rights (ROFR) document if cultivating forest land. Small, marginal, and Scheduled Tribe farmers are eligible, but commercial and tenant farmers are not.

Notes:
The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions issued guidelines for the 28th National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2025. The NAeG is one of the most prestigious awards for digital governance in India. The National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) scheme aims to promote excellence in e-Governance initiatives. The awards include a Trophy, Certificate, and cash incentives—Rs 10 lakh for Gold Awardees and Rs 5 lakh for Silver Awardees. 16 awards will be given this year, with 10 Gold and 6 Silver. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions is the nodal ministry.

Notes:
Manastu Space, a start-up from IIT Bombay, successfully tested its green propulsion system, VYOM 2U. This environmentally friendly technology represents a significant advancement in satellite propulsion, offering a safer alternative to conventional toxic propellants. The test was conducted aboard ISRO’s PSLV C60 as part of the POEM-4 initiative, which provides a platform for innovative space experiments. The successful test marks a key milestone in the commercialization of sustainable propulsion technology for future space missions.

Notes:
The government has initiated a review of the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) to update its base year from 2011-12 to 2022-23. This change aims to reflect structural economic changes and enhance the accuracy of inflation measurement and GDP calculations. The 18-member committee, led by NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand, will also explore transitioning to a Producer Price Index (PPI) to include services, which constitute over half of India’s economic output, thus aligning with international practices.