Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
Kerala won their first Senior National Men’s Handball Championship title with a 34-31 victory over Chandigarh. Kerala reached the final after a close semi-final win against Services, 23-21. Chandigarh advanced to the final by defeating Indian Railways 32-30. Kerala’s Devendar was named ‘Best Player of the Championship,’ Rahul won ‘Best Goalkeeper,’ and Sujith was honored as ‘Best Left Wing Player.’ Services and Indian Railways shared third place in the tournament.

Notes:
Scrub typhus cases have been reported in several districts including Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Vellore, with 5,000 cases in 2024. The disease is caused by the bacteria Orientia tsutsugamushi and transmitted through infected mites. Symptoms include fever, headache, body ache, and sometimes a rash. Severe cases can lead to respiratory distress, organ failure, and death. Factors like vector abundance, climate, farming, and sanitation impact its spread. The Elisa test is used for detection. Control measures include cold fogging, clearing bushes, and reducing rodent populations.

Notes:
Prativa Satpathy, renowned Odia poet, was awarded the Gangadhar National Award for Poetry 2023 by Sambalpur University. Satpathy gained prominence in the 1960s with her acclaimed work ‘Sesha Janha’. Her poems have been translated into several languages, gaining international recognition. The Gangadhar National Award, established in 1989, includes a citation, a shawl, and a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000. Previous awardees include Gulzar, K Sachidanandan, and Jayanta Mohapatra.

Notes:
The first photographic proof of Pallas’s cat in Himachal Pradesh was captured during a snow leopard survey. This highlights the urgent need for conserving lesser-known species in the Indian Himalayas. Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul) is a small, long-haired cat in the Felidae family. It was named after Peter Simon Pallas, who first described it in 1776. It is mainly found in Central Asia, including parts of Iran, Mongolia, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Pallas’s cats inhabit mountainous plains and semi-desert foothills. The IUCN lists them as “Least Concern” and they are on CITES Appendix II.

Notes:
China is experiencing an outbreak of respiratory infectious diseases, including rhinovirus and human metapneumovirus (HMPV). HMPV cases, especially among children under 14 in northern provinces, are rising. HMPV symptoms include cough, congestion, fever, fatigue, and breathing difficulties; it can lead to bronchitis and pneumonia in vulnerable groups. There is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for HMPV; preventive measures like handwashing and avoiding contact are advised.

Notes:
The Finance Ministry launched the revamped ‘Baanknet’ e-auction portal as a one-stop platform for buyers and investors. It consolidates e-auction information from all Public Sector Banks (PSBs) on properties like flats, houses, plots, shops, industrial land, vehicles, and machinery. The portal simplifies property discovery and participation in auctions, enhancing transparency and efficiency. It aids PSBs in recovering distressed assets, improving their balance sheets, and boosting credit availability. More than 1,22,500 properties are listed, and PSB executives received training for effective use.

Notes:
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is using the Open Data Kit (ODK) platform to enhance transparency and accountability in public spending. ODK is a secure digital platform for designing, collecting, and managing data. It is integrated with CAG’s Operating System (OIOS) and provides end-to-end encryption. The platform helps identify problem areas and launch multilingual surveys. Beneficiary surveys support audit planning and evidence collection. ODK was used to assess patient satisfaction and audit the performance of AIIMS Mangalagiri and AIIMS Bibinagar.

Notes:
Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) launched two Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), Amulya and Akshay, for the Indian Coast Guard. The launch highlights GSL’s focus on technological and operational excellence. GSL achieved a 100% growth in Gross Revenue, surpassing ₹2,000 crore. The shipyard is recognized as a leading Indian shipbuilder with advanced indigenous capabilities.

Notes:
CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CSIR-CIMFR) successfully conducted India’s first trial blast using the Dozer Push Mining Method, integrating digital technologies for enhanced safety and efficiency. The trial took place at Parsa East and Kanta Basan (PEKB) Coal Mine, Chhattisgarh, operated by Adani Enterprises. The method aims to optimize mining processes while controlling vibrations and flyrock. It uses automated machinery, including unmanned drill machines and large-sized dozers. The method is a cost-effective alternative to traditional mining techniques like truck-shovel and dragline methods.

Notes:
The Odisha government launches the Shahid Madho Singh Haath Kharcha Scheme to promote education among Scheduled Tribe (ST) students. The scheme aims to reduce dropout rates by providing a one-time incentive of ₹5,000 to ST students enrolling in Class IX and Class XI. It is implemented for the 2024-2025 academic year and targets students with annual family incomes below ₹2,50,000. The incentive is available only for ST students in government and government-aided schools within the state. Eligible students receive ₹5,000 directly in their bank accounts, with applications processed through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal.