Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
K S Manilal, a renowned taxonomist and Padma Shri awardee, passed away on 1st January 2025 in Thrissur, Kerala. He is celebrated for translating and annotating Hortus Malabaricus, a 17th-century Latin botanical treatise on the flora of Kerala, Karnataka, and Goa. Manilal spent 35 years making the 12-volume work accessible to academics during his tenure as a botany professor at the University of Calicut (1976–1999). His contributions include 198 research papers, 15 books, and extensive work on medicinal plants and taxonomy. He played a key role in conserving Kerala’s Silent Valley rainforest in the 1980s.

Notes:
Sultanpur National Park in Gurugram, Haryana, plans to develop two water bodies to attract migratory flamingoes from the nearby Najafgarh wetland. The park is a popular bird sanctuary and a haven for bird watchers. It hosts both migratory and resident birds, especially during the winter season.

Notes:
The Prime Minister emphasized Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC’s) role in empowering small businesses and transforming e-commerce. ONDC was launched in 2022 by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce. It aims to provide equal opportunities for MSMEs in digital commerce and democratize the e-commerce sector. ONDC promotes open networks for exchanging goods and services through digital platforms. Partners like Paytm, Meesho, Magicpin, Mystore, Craftsvilla, and Spice Money enable users to order food or products from businesses listed on the ONDC platform.

Notes:
Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) launched the ‘Faral Sakhi’ initiative to empower women entrepreneurs in Mira Bhayandar, Maharashtra. It focuses on training women in traditional snack production to build sustainable ventures. MBMC collaborates with NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) under the ‘Award to Reward’ program. ‘Faral Sakhi’ set up a central kitchen, enabling SHG women to produce and sell snacks professionally, with municipal support for sales and advertising. The initiative aims to create sustainable employment and inspire societal transformation.

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:
PM Modi inaugurated the Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The Mahotsav runs from January 4 to 9, 2025, with the theme “Building a Resilient Rural India for a Viksit Bharat 2047.” It focuses on enhancing rural infrastructure, financial inclusion, and sustainable agriculture, with special attention to North-East India. It promotes rural innovation, collaboration, and showcases cultural heritage through performances and exhibitions.

Notes:
The Export Inspection Council (EIC) has launched a study on food testing infrastructure for exports. It was set up under the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963. It ensures quality control and inspection of Indian exports. EIC is the official certification body for exports, ensuring products meet quality and safety standards for importing countries. It provides mandatory certification for specific food products and voluntary certification for others. EIC operates through Export Inspection Agencies in major cities, with NABL accredited laboratories and 30 sub-offices. It works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Notes:
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention takes place in Bhubaneswar from January 8 to 10, 2025. The theme is ‘Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat’, celebrating the diaspora’s role in India’s development. Prime Minister Modi inaugurates the event on January 9, and President Christine Carla Kangaloo of Trinidad & Tobago addresses virtually. More than 50 countries’ diaspora members participate, and Modi flags off the Pravasi Bharatiya Express tourist train.

Notes:
India’s first organic fisheries cluster was launched in Sikkim’s Soreng District, promoting sustainable fish farming without harmful chemicals. The cluster focuses on sustainable fish farming, avoiding harmful chemicals and pesticides. It aims to protect aquatic ecosystems and cater to the rising demand for organic fish products in domestic and international markets. The project is part of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

Notes:
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has directed Madhya Pradesh to address complaints from 52 villages regarding non-recognition of forest rights and forceful eviction near the Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve. Villagers from Damoh, Narsinghpur, and Sagar districts allege violations of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) after the reserve was notified in September 2023. The Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve is located in Madhya Pradesh. The reserve is spread across the districts of Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur, covering an area of 2,339 square kilometers.