Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
India has joined the UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics, focusing on using big data for monitoring Sustainable Development Goals. India’s involvement will help shape global standards in data science for official statistics. India’s initiatives like the Data Innovation Lab and use of satellite imagery and machine learning will be highlighted. The membership aligns India’s advancements in big data with international goals and positions the country as a leader in data transformation. India aims to modernize statistical processes, enhance data accuracy, and support evidence-based policy decisions through innovative data techniques.

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The Sri Lankan Navy recently arrested 17 Indian fishermen near Neduntheevu Island. Neduntheevu, also called Delft Island, is the largest island in the Palk Strait, Sri Lanka. It covers 50 sq.km, with an 8 km length and 6 km width. The island is flat, oval-shaped, and often wind-swept, offering a soothing environment. It lacks streams; freshwater comes from surface water and artificial ponds. The island has dry shrubs, semi-arid tropical plants, and tall palm trees. A Dutch fort made of coral chunks is located on the island, which has a population of 4,800.

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Five Maoists, including two women, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Indravati National Park, Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. Indravati National Park is located in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh. It was established in 1981. It became a tiger reserve in 1983 under India’s Project Tiger. The park is named after the Indravati River, which flows east to west and forms its northern boundary with Maharashtra.

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China launched the world’s largest Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) project, “Nengchu-1”. It has begun full operation in Yingcheng, Hubei Province, China. It marks a milestone in China’s energy storage technologies and is the largest CAES facility globally. CAES stores electrical energy as potential energy by compressing air into sealed spaces like underground mines or salt rock caverns. Energy is stored during off-peak hours and released to the grid during peak demand.

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Uttar Pradesh Transport Department proposed a “No Helmet, No Fuel” policy to reduce road accidents involving two-wheelers. The policy will begin in Noida on January 26, 2025, aiming to enforce helmet use and improve road safety. Fuel stations statewide must display “No Helmet, No Fuel” signs and deny fuel to riders and pillions without helmets. The policy was introduced in Gautam Buddh Nagar in 2019 but was inconsistently implemented. Awareness campaigns and education for fuel station operators on the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and related rules are being prioritized.

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The industry has urged the government to extend the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme for Export-Oriented Units (EOUs) and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) until September-end amid global economic uncertainties. RoDTEP was introduced under the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, effective from January 1, 2021. The scheme offsets taxes and duties on exported goods that are not otherwise refunded. It aims to boost exports by reducing taxes on exported products. RoDTEP replaced the Merchandise Export Incentive Scheme (MEIS) to ensure WTO compliance. The Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance administers RoDTEP, which follows global trade principles.

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Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav launched the Swami Vivekanand Yuva Shakti Mission in Bhopal on National Youth Day. National Youth Day has been celebrated to honor Swami Vivekanand’s birth anniversary. Chief Minister inaugurated the world’s largest 3-D rangoli depicting Swami Vivekananda at Shaurya Smarak, Bhopal. The mission aligns with PM Modi’s GYAN principle, focusing on the poor, youth, farmers, and women. The Chief Minister also launched the Swami Vivekananda Yuva Shakti Mission Portal and theme song.

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Larsen & Toubro launched the second multi-purpose vessel, INS Utkarsh, for the Indian Navy at Kattupalli Shipyard near Chennai. INS Utkarsh, meaning “Superior in Conduct,” is built by L&T Shipbuilding Limited. The vessel is 106m long, 18.6m wide, with a displacement over 3,750 tonnes, and a maximum speed of 15 knots. It will enhance maritime surveillance, patrolling, and disaster relief capabilities of the Navy. The launch follows the first MPV, INS Samarthak, within three months. This aligns with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, showcasing indigenous shipbuilding progress.

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Pune hosts the Army Day Parade for the first time on 15 January 2025. The parade commemorates Field Marshal K M Cariappa’s appointment as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief in 1949. Traditionally held in Delhi, the parade started rotating to other cities in 2023, with Bengaluru and Lucknow hosting it before Pune. Pune, the headquarters of the Indian Army’s Southern Command, was chosen for its historical ties to the Armed Forces. Indian Army Day, celebrated annually on January 15, marks a significant moment of pride for every Indian.

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National Startup Day is celebrated on January 16 to honor the entrepreneurial spirit of startup founders in India. India is the third-largest startup hub with over 99,000 registered firms and a $500 billion ecosystem. The Startup India Scheme, launched in 2016, fostered a supportive environment for startups with financial incentives and simplified procedures. In 2022, PM Modi declared January 16 as National Startup Day.