Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
Pakistan constructs its largest nuclear power plant, Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit 5 (C-5), with a capacity of 1200 MWe. The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) issued the licence after reviewing safety, radiation protection, and nuclear security standards. C-5 features a Chinese Hualong third-generation Pressurised Water Reactor with advanced safety systems and a lifespan of 60 years. The plant will cost USD 3.7 billion and is Pakistan’s third nuclear plant of this design. Nuclear energy contributes 27% of Pakistan’s electricity, with an installed capacity of 3,530 MW.

Notes:
West Bengal won the Santosh Trophy national football championship by defeating Kerala in the final of the 78th edition. The final match was held on 31st December 2024 at GMC Balayogi Stadium, Hyderabad, Telangana. The Santosh Trophy is a premier state-level football tournament for men in India, organized by the All India Football Federation. The 78th edition’s final round was hosted by the Telangana Football Association from 14th to 31st December 2024 in Hyderabad.

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:
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:
Trinidad and Tobago has declared a state of emergency due to increased violence, including gang-related shootings. The capital is Port of Spain. The country is located northeast of Venezuela, south of Grenada, in the Atlantic Ocean. It has significant rivers like the Ortoire, Caroni, and Nariva Rivers. The Northern Range mountain range is in Trinidad, with El Cerro del Aripo being the highest peak at 940 meters.

Notes:
On 15 January 2025, the Indian Navy will commission three major combatants: INS Nilgiri, INS Surat, and INS Vagsheer. INS Surat is the fourth and final ship of the Project-15B Vishakhapatnam Class stealth destroyer. It is designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagaon Dock Limited. It has 72% indigenous content and is India’s first AI-enabled warship. The ship has a displacement of 7,400 tons, is 163 meters long, and can reach speeds up to 60 km/h. It has a range of 15,000 km and is equipped with BrahMos missiles, Barak-8 missiles, and advanced anti-submarine weapons.

Notes:
Chhattisgarh became the first state in India to link its forest ecosystem with Green GDP. Chhattisgarh has introduced a plan linking forest ecosystem services to Green GDP, highlighting environmental contributions like clean air, water conservation, and biodiversity. The initiative aims to balance economic development with environmental preservation for future generations. Forest services, including climate regulation, soil enrichment, water purification, and carbon absorption, will be integrated into economic planning. With 44% forest cover, Chhattisgarh’s forests support livelihoods, provide forest products, and mitigate climate change. The plan aligns with the ‘Developed India 2047’ vision, emphasizing ecological and economic sustainability. Forest valuation will include CO2 absorption, water provision, biodiversity, and eco-tourism contributions.

Notes:
IIT Madras is collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture on Project VISTAAR to enhance agricultural extension through digitalization. Project VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources) aims to strengthen the agricultural extension system. The project highlights opportunities for start-ups to innovate and improve agriculture and allied sectors. Start-ups can help farmers with technologies for better productivity and market information. IIT Madras’ Centre for Research on Start-ups developed a platform with data on 12,000 agriculture-related start-ups. The MoU enables farmers and stakeholders to access start-up capabilities and improve agricultural efficiency.

Notes:
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has fully implemented the Centralized Pension Payments System (CPPS). CPPS allows 7.85 million pensioners to access their pensions from any bank or branch nationwide. It eliminates physical verifications and ensures seamless pension disbursement. The new system replaces the decentralised model, which relied on limited agreements with specific banks. Pensioners no longer need to transfer pension payment orders (PPO) when moving or changing banks. Pension amounts are immediately credited upon release, enhancing convenience and ease of living.

Notes:
The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways announces the completion of the 2.35 km Banihal Bypass on NH-44 in Jammu & Kashmir. Built at a cost of ₹224.44 crore, it is a four-lane bypass addressing traffic bottlenecks in Banihal town. The bypass eliminates congestion caused by roadside markets and shops, ensuring smoother traffic flow. It significantly reduces travel time for tourists and defense vehicles heading to the Kashmir Valley.