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:
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 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:
Maharashtra launched a 15-day campaign from January 1 to promote reading among students. Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil announced the initiative. Students are encouraged to read books beyond their textbooks. Colleges and universities will organize events like group reading, storytelling, book discussions, workshops, and competitions. A government resolution outlines campaign details and mandates its annual observance in January. Committees at various levels will ensure effective implementation statewide. Final winners of activities will be honored at a special event.

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:
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.

Notes:
Researchers from IIT Guwahati and Bose Institute, Kolkata, created an advanced injectable hydrogel for localized cancer treatment. The hydrogel acts as a stable reservoir, releasing anti-cancer drugs in a controlled way. It minimizes harm to healthy cells while targeting cancer effectively. The breakthrough is expected to revolutionize breast cancer therapy. The hydrogel is made from protein-based ultra-short peptides, stable at injection sites, and insoluble in body fluids. The peptides are biocompatible and biodegradable, ensuring safety and effectiveness.

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:
Tularemia, also called ‘rabbit fever,’ has risen by over 50% in the US recently. It is a rare but potentially deadly infectious disease. It primarily affects children aged 5-9, older men, and American Indians or Alaska Natives. Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, which can infect various animals, especially rabbits and rodents. The disease is transmitted to humans through tick bites, contact with infected animals, or contaminated water. Symptoms can range from skin ulcers to severe respiratory issues.

Notes:
Union Minister of Education launched Sashakt Beti and e-Drishti projects at the University of Delhi’s Samarpan Samaroh event. Project Sashakt Beti empowers orphaned and single-parent female students with family incomes under ₹4 lakh by providing laptops. Project e-Drishti supports visually impaired students by providing tablets to improve their learning and research capabilities.