Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
Former US President Joe Biden highlighted the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) post the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. IMEC, announced at the 2023 G20 meeting, aims to boost trade between India, the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean, and Europe. Countries involved include India, the EU, the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, and Italy. It features two corridors: eastern (India to Arabian Gulf) and northern (Gulf to Europe). A shipping route links Mumbai and Mundra to the UAE, and a rail network connects the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Haifa. Haifa connects by sea to Piraeus Port, Greece, linking to Europe.

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The Commissioner of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) recently distributed Dogri-language PM SVANidhi plates to street vendors in Jammu and Kashmir. PM SVANidhi, launched by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under Atma Nirbhar Bharat, provides micro-credit loans to street vendors. The scheme aims to improve livelihoods by encouraging regular repayments and digital transactions. Street vendors were advised to avoid placing carts on footpaths or roads, use designated vending zones, and follow guidelines for smoother traffic flow and public convenience.

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The United States announced its exit from the World Health Organization (WHO), with President Donald Trump citing mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and political influence from member states. Trump criticized the WHO for “unfair payments” and claimed it failed to act independently from countries like China. The U.S. contributes around 18% of WHO’s funding, with its 2024-2025 budget at $6.8 billion. Trump accused the WHO of aiding China’s efforts to mislead about COVID-19 origins, a claim the WHO denies. The withdrawal will take 12 months, ending U.S. financial contributions to the agency.

Notes:
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested an Active Cooled Scramjet Combustor for 120 seconds. Scramjets, an upgrade to ramjets, generate thrust via supersonic airflows and combustion. They operate at hypersonic speeds, exceeding Mach 5 (over 5,400 km/hr). Hypersonic missiles can bypass air defense systems for rapid, high-impact strikes. Countries like the USA, Russia, India, and China are advancing hypersonic technology. Scramjets are air-breathing engines sustaining supersonic combustion without moving parts. Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), a DRDO lab in Hyderabad, developed this scramjet-powered hypersonic technology. This milestone boosts hypersonic missiles, fast air transport, and low-cost satellite launches.

Notes:
India has been ranked as the 4th most powerful military in the world according to the Global Firepower Index 2025. The top 3 countries are United States of America, Russia and China. Bhutan ranked lowest at 145th, while Pakistan dropped from 9th to 12th position. The top four countries’ rankings remain unchanged from 2024. The Global Firepower Index compares 145 countries military power based on their war-making capabilities and excludes a country’s nuclear weapon capability.

Notes:
The 15th National Voters’ Day (NVD) is celebrated on January 25, 2025. It commemorates the Election Commission of India’s foundation on January 25, 1950. NVD raises electoral awareness and encourages active participation in democracy. It focuses on enrolling new voters, particularly the youth, and honors them with Elector Photo Identity Cards (EPIC). Celebrations occur nationwide at all levels: national, state, district, constituency, and polling booth. This year’s theme, “Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure,” highlights the importance of voting and pride in participation.

Notes:
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) marks 10 years of encouraging investments in daughters’ futures. It was launched in 2015 under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign. It allows guardians to open a savings account for a girl child at banks or India Post. NRIs are not eligible. SSY promotes financial inclusion and aims to secure the future of girl children by fostering savings.

Notes:
The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare held a workshop on the National Anubhav Awards Scheme, 2025, on January 23, 2025, chaired by the Secretary (Pension). The workshop included Anubhav Nodal Officers from Ministries, Departments, 12 Public Sector Banks, and Central Public Sector Enterprises. The ANUBHAV Awards Scheme, initiated in 2016 by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare for retiring Central Government employees, acknowledges their experiences.

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Border Security Force (BSF) launched a 10-day “OPS Alert” exercise from January 22 to 31, 2025, along the 4,096-km India-Bangladesh border for heightened security during Republic Day celebrations. Patrolling and border domination duties are intensified, focusing on riverine borders and unfenced gaps. Security drills and reconciliation programs with border populations are being conducted.

Notes:
The M23 (March 23 Movement) is an armed rebel group operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly in North Kivu province. It originated in 2012 from a faction of the Congolese army, citing grievances over a 2009 peace agreement. The group is involved in territorial seizures, driven by local ethnic tensions and international backing, with UN reports linking Rwanda’s support, including military involvement. M23 recently captured key areas like Minova and poses a threat to Goma, the provincial capital. DRC’s capital is Kinshasa, and it is traversed by the Congo River, Africa’s second-longest river.