Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

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.

Notes:
The Ministry of Home Affairs introduced two special visas: ‘e-student visa’ and ‘e-student-x visa’ for international students. The ‘e-student visa’ is for foreign nationals admitted to full-time programs in India, while the ‘e-student-x visa’ is for their dependents. Both visas are available for students registered on the Study in India (SII) portal and are valid for up to five years. The SII portal offers access to over 600 institutions and 8,000 courses across various disciplines, supporting higher education in India.

Notes:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the BHARATPOL portal, developed by the CBI, on January 7, 2025, in New Delhi. The portal enhances real-time information sharing for Indian law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to access international police assistance. CBI, as India’s National Central Bureau for INTERPOL, manages international cooperation in criminal matters. BHARATPOL addresses growing transnational crimes like cybercrime, financial fraud, and human trafficking. It streamlines requests for INTERPOL notices and boosts field officers’ efficiency in handling crimes.

Notes:
Golden jackals, also called common jackals, are medium-sized wolf-like canids. They are adapting to environmental changes and are less inclined to avoid humans. In human-inhabited areas, they are strictly nocturnal but may be partly diurnal in other regions. They inhabit valleys, rivers, lakes, canals, and seashores, but are rare in low mountains. They are found in parts of Africa, Europe, South Asia, and India. Their conservation status is “Least Concern” under IUCN.

Notes:
IIT-Madras has commissioned Asia’s largest shallow wave basin research facility at its Discovery campus in Thaiyur. The facility handles complex wave and current interactions, addressing challenges in Indian ports, waterways, and coastal engineering. Developed indigenously, it is supported by the National Technology Centre for Ports Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC). The facility can test coastal structures, post-impact analysis, solar floating plants, and climate change effects. It is equipped with a mobile wave maker, enabling multiple projects and international research collaborations. This facility strengthens IIT-Madras as a global leader in marine science and engineering.

Notes:
The eighth Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge, LSAM 22, was inducted on 06 Jan 2025 at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. The contract for 11 ACTCM Barges was signed with M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt. Ltd., a Thane-based MSME, on 05 Mar 2021. Seven ACTCM Barges have already been delivered, and the shipyard is also building four Sullage Barges for the Navy. The barges are indigenously designed and tested for seaworthiness at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, Visakhapatnam. Built under Indian Register of Shipping rules, these barges promote Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.

Notes:
World Hindi Day is celebrated on 10 January every year to highlight the importance of Hindi globally. It was first commemorated in 2006, marking the first World Hindi Conference held in 1975 in Nagpur, India. The aim is to promote Hindi as a global language and encourage its use worldwide. The theme for World Hindi Day 2025 is “A Global Voice of Unity and Cultural Pride,” emphasizing linguistic and cultural exchange. National Hindi Day, observed on September 14, marks the recognition of Hindi as India’s official language in 1949. World Hindi Day focuses on international promotion, while National Hindi Day celebrates its national significance.

Notes:
Goa launched the Bima Sakhi Yojana, becoming the second state after Haryana to implement this scheme under PM Modi’s vision. The scheme aims for “insurance for all” and empowers women aged 18–70 years, who have passed Class X. Women receive training to become LIC agents, a stipend of ₹7,000 in the first year, ₹6,000 in the second, and ₹5,000 in the third year, totaling ₹2.16 lakh over three years. Graduates may qualify for LIC development officer roles. The scheme focuses on financial literacy, women’s empowerment, and expanding life insurance coverage at the grassroots level.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of India’s first Green Hydrogen Hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM). NGHM was announced in January 2023 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Its objective is to make India a global hub for green hydrogen production, usage, and export. The target is to produce 5 MMT of green hydrogen annually by 2030.

Notes:
India launched the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) Portals, making 10,000 whole genome samples accessible globally. The data set enables advancements in genomics, personalized healthcare, and medicine. IBDC supports seamless access to genetic data, aiding researchers in studying genetic variations and developing precise genomic tools. The Framework for Exchange of Data Protocols (FeED) ensures ethical and secure genomic data sharing under Biotech-PRIDE Guidelines. The GenomeIndia project, led by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), creates a comprehensive genetic diversity database for cutting-edge research. India plans to sequence 10 million genomes, enhancing innovation in healthcare, agriculture, and biotechnology.