Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
Vitul Kumar, a 1993 batch IPS officer from Uttar Pradesh, is appointed Acting Director General of the CRPF after Anish Dayal Singh’s retirement. Born in Bhatinda, Punjab, Kumar holds a degree in Electronics Engineering, enhancing his analytical skills in law enforcement. He has held key positions in the CRPF, progressing from Deputy Inspector General in 2009 to Special Director General in 2023. Kumar’s awards include the President’s Police Medal (2021) and Police Medal (2009).

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its biannual Financial Stability Report (FSR), focusing on the health and resilience of the Indian financial system. The RBI’s Financial Stability Report (FSR) highlights improvements in the banking sector’s asset quality and resilience. Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) achieved a 12-year low Gross Non-Performing Asset (GNPA) ratio of 2.6% by September 2024. The Provisioning Coverage Ratio (PCR) rose to 77%, mainly due to proactive provisioning by Public Sector Banks (PSBs). The slippage ratio increased slightly to 0.7%, showing controlled NPA growth. Household debt in India reached 42.9% of GDP by June 2024, rising gradually. India’s Real GDP growth is projected at 6.6% for 2024-25, supported by rural consumption, government investments, and services exports.

Notes:
The Denmark Strait Cataract is an underwater waterfall that defies traditional waterfall characteristics. The Denmark Strait Cataract is the largest waterfall on Earth, located between Iceland and Greenland. It has a vertical drop of 2,000 meters, more than three times the height of Angel Falls. The cataract spans 480 kilometers across the Denmark Strait. Despite its massive size, it remains hidden underwater and cannot be seen from the surface. This invisible waterfall influences global ocean circulation and plays a role in shaping ecosystems.

Notes:
The Alappuzha district administration will launch a plastic-cleaning drive for the Vembanad Lake rejuvenation project in January. The campaign aims to make Vembanad plastic-free and is part of ongoing conservation efforts for the lake, a Ramsar site and India’s second-largest wetland. Vembanad Lake, a Ramsar site and the second-largest wetland system in India, is the largest lake in Kerala and the longest in India. The lake is fed by four rivers: Meenachil, Achankovil, Pampa, and Manimala. Vembanad is separated from the Arabian Sea by a barrier island and hosts the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race.

Notes:
The government is focusing on a citizen-centric approach for a developed Bharat with active public participation. CPGRAMS (Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System) plays a crucial role in addressing citizens’ concerns. From 2022 to 2024, CPGRAMS resolved over 70 lakh grievances. CPGRAMS is an online platform available 24×7 for citizens to lodge grievances related to service delivery. It functions under the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances.

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:
The Tobacco Board has initiated several strategic activities to ensure the sustainability and growth of the tobacco industry. The Tobacco Board of India was established on January 1, 1976, under the Tobacco Board Act, 1975. It is headed by a chairperson and works towards the development of the tobacco industry. Its main functions include promoting tobacco exports, regulating FCV tobacco production and distribution, and supporting domestic and international tobacco trade. India is the second-largest producer of tobacco globally, after China. India is also the second-largest exporter of unmanufactured tobacco, after Brazil.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has amended the rules for selecting experts for the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC). GEAC is a statutory committee under the 1989 rules for hazardous and genetically engineered organisms framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. It was renamed from the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee to Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee in 2010. GEAC operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

Notes:
State Bank of India launched two new deposit schemes, Har Ghar Lakhpati and SBI Patrons, to provide better financial options. SBI Patrons is a fixed deposit scheme specifically for senior citizens aged 80 and above. It offers higher interest rates, acknowledging the loyalty of senior customers. Both new and existing term deposit customers can avail the SBI Patrons scheme. Depositors under this scheme earn an additional 10 basis points higher interest than standard rates for senior citizens.

Notes:
Bangladesh is reportedly considering purchasing Abdali Short Range Ballistic Missiles (Hatf 2) from Pakistan amid rising India-Bangladesh tensions. Abdali (Hatf 2) is a short-range, road-mobile ballistic missile developed by Pakistan’s Space Research Commission (SUPARCO). The missile is 6.5 m long, 0.56 m in diameter, weighs 1,750 kg, and has a range of 180-200 km. It carries a 250-450 kg high explosive or submunition warhead with a CEP of 150 m. It targets military bases, airfields, and critical infrastructure.