Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
A Falcated Duck was recently spotted at Sultanpur National Park, Gurugram, Haryana. It is also known as falcated teal. The duck is a gadwall-sized dabbling species, found from eastern Siberia to northern Japan, wintering in Southeast Asia and eastern India. They inhabit freshwater lakes, ponds, and marshes, usually surrounded by forests. Falcated ducks are mainly herbivorous, feeding on plants, seeds, and occasionally small invertebrates. They are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Punjab government has launched SHE COHORT 3.0 (Startups Handholding & Empowerment – Cohort 3.0) initiative in Mohali to empower female startups and students in building tech-based ventures. The initiative is supported by business incubators and ecosystem enablers. More than 250 startups, innovators, and students were briefed on StartUp Punjab’s growth plans. It offers a platform to showcase talent and ideas with potential for economic growth. Aims to contribute to India’s development by 2047.

Notes:
Siachen Glacier now has 4G and 5G services provided by an Indian telecom firm. It is a piedmont glacier in the Karakoram Range, part of the “Third Pole,” containing vast freshwater reserves. It is the world’s second-longest nonpolar glacier after Fedchenko Glacier in Tajikistan. Known as the highest battleground, India gained control in 1984 under Operation Meghdoot.

Notes:
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) launched the Sanchar Saathi mobile app on January 17, 2025, to report fraudulent communications directly from call logs. The app builds on the Sanchar Saathi portal, launched in May 2023, aimed at combating fraud calls and improving mobile security. Users can check and manage mobile connections, disconnect unauthorized ones, and verify device authenticity. The app supports the government’s broader goal of enhancing mobile network accessibility and security for Indian users.

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The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addressed the 3rd International Conference on Sustainable Circularity, organized by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) in New Delhi. The theme focused on ‘Nature Positive Recycling,’ emphasizing the importance of aligning India’s growing automotive sector with environmental sustainability. Government policies supporting sustainability include the Vehicle Scrappage Policy, End-of-Life Vehicles Rules, and promotion of Electric Vehicles (EVs) through schemes like FAME and PLI. The Ministry called for circular economy practices, highlighted the automotive sector’s role in achieving SDGs, and encouraged the industry to lead the transition to sustainability.

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.

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Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has published the report on Sustainable Nitrogen Management in Agrifood systems. The report highlights the challenges of nitrogen use in agrifood systems. Humans add 150 teragrams (Tg) of reactive nitrogen annually through agriculture and industry, with climate change possibly increasing this to 600 Tg by 2100. Nitrogen loss occurs through ammonia, nitrogen oxides, nitrous oxide emissions, and nitrate leaching, harming ecosystems and contributing to air pollution. Livestock sectors, synthetic fertilizers, land-use changes, and manure emissions are key nitrogen polluters. Judicious nitrogen use boosts crop yields, while excess use worsens global warming and environmental degradation.

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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.

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Kashmir’s iconic Chinar trees (Platanus orientalis) have been geo-tagged and equipped with QR codes for digital protection. The trees reach up to 30 meters and take 30 to 50 years to mature, with vibrant seasonal leaf colors. The oldest Chinar, around 700 years old, was planted by Sufi Saint Syed Qasim Shah in Budgam. Its unique leaves change colors with the seasons and have various uses, including medicine, interior furniture, and dyeing. The project, led by the J&K Forest Research Institute, aims to track changes and address risk factors in the tree’s growth and health.