Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
Indian Grandmaster Iniyan Panneerselvam, 22, won the 9th Johor International Open chess tournament in Malaysia on January 24, 2025. He scored 8.5 points in nine rounds, outperforming 84 participants from 8 countries, including 4 International Masters and 1 Grandmaster. Iniyan secured his victory with a decisive final-round win against Vietnamese Grandmaster Nguyen Van Huy. He finished 1.5 points ahead of his closest competitor, showcasing a dominating performance.

Notes:
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) recently set up a new Regional Office in Varanasi. IWAI, established under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act (1985), focuses on developing and maintaining Inland Water Transport infrastructure on national waterways. It receives grants from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. The headquarters is in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, with regional offices in Guwahati, Patna, Kochi, Bhubaneswar, and Kolkata. The Varanasi office will oversee development works on the Ganga and its tributaries in Uttar Pradesh, including rivers like Betwa, Chambal, and Gomti.

Notes:
Andhra Pradesh’s Etikoppaka toys were prominently featured at the Republic Day parade. They are traditional wooden toys made by artisans from Etikoppaka village, Andhra Pradesh, near the Varaha River. Natural dyes from seeds, bark, roots, leaves, and lacquer are used to color these toys. The softwood from ‘ankudu’ trees (Wrightia Tinctoria) is primarily used. The toys are rounded with no sharp edges, ensuring safety. Etikoppaka toys received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2017.

Notes:
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) launched the enhanced Certificate of Origin (eCoO) 2.0 System to simplify export certification and boost trade efficiency. It features multi-user access, allowing exporters to authorize multiple users under one Importer Exporter Code (IEC). Aadhaar-based e-signing is now supported, along with digital signature tokens for greater flexibility. The system includes an integrated dashboard for easy access to eCoO services, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) info, and trade events. Over 7,000 eCoOs are processed daily, connecting 125 issuing agencies across the country.

Notes:
Wing Commander Akshay Saxena of the Indian Air Force received the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) for supporting the Navy’s anti-piracy operations. The mission was part of Operation Sankalp, launched by the Indian Navy on March 16 last year in the Arabian Sea. The operation aimed to counter piracy and Houthi rebel threats to merchant vessels in the Indian Ocean. Key areas of operation included the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and off the East Coast of Somalia. The Navy saved lives, seized narcotics, and rescued hijacked merchant vessels during the operation.

Notes:
Christine Carla Kangaloo, President of Trinidad and Tobago, was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for her contributions to public affairs and promoting India’s global prestige. She served as the chief guest at the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, in January 2025. Kangaloo highlighted the deep historical ties between India and Trinidad, dating back to 1845 with the arrival of Indian indentured workers. She praised India’s global contributions in education, medicine, and mathematics, and acknowledged the Indian diaspora’s impact worldwide.

Notes:
Serbia’s Prime Minister Milos Vucevic resigned after massive anti-corruption protests over a deadly canopy collapse in Novi Sad. The collapse in November killed 15 people and sparked public outrage against President Aleksandar Vucic’s rule. Vucevic said his resignation aims to ease tensions and restore dialogue in the country. Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric also resigned. The resignation may lead to early parliamentary elections.

Notes:
IIT-Madras researchers have extracted silicon carbide (SiC) from simulated moon soil, aiding future lunar habitat construction. Silicon carbide (SiC), also called carborundum, is a synthetic crystalline compound of silicon and carbon. It is extremely hard, has high thermal conductivity, and offers excellent resistance to wear, oxidation, and chemical reactions.

Notes:
Martyrs’ Day is observed on January 30 every year to honour those who fought for India’s freedom. In 2025, India marks the 77th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. The day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made for India’s independence. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse. He was a key leader in the freedom struggle, advocating non-violence against British rule. Gandhi was assassinated on his way to a prayer meeting in Delhi.

Notes:
India has finalized a Rs 3,800 crore deal to export BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Indonesia after supplying them to the Philippines. The BrahMos missile is a joint venture between India and Russia. The missile is developed by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Russian Federation’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya. It is named after the Brahmaputra River in India and the Moscow River in Russia. The base version has a 290 km range while the extended range (ER) version reaches 800-900 km