Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
National Tourism Day is celebrated annually on January 25 to promote responsible, sustainable, and accessible tourism. The 2025 theme, “Tourism for Inclusive Growth,” emphasizes tourism’s role in economic growth while benefiting all segments of society. India established a tourism department in 1948 to preserve heritage and enhance tourist destinations. Tourism is a major industry in India, contributing to economic growth, cultural exchange, and international understanding.

Notes:
Alexander Lukashenko won a seventh term as Belarusian president with 86.8% of the vote, per the Central Election Commission. Lukashenko has won every presidential election since 1994, often amid controversy. Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It shares borders with Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. The capital and largest city of Belarus is Minsk.

Notes:
A new research paper identifies Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CPA), a life-threatening fungal infection, mostly in tuberculosis survivors in Assam’s tea plantations. Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CPA) is caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus that infects individuals with weak immune systems. It commonly affects people with pre-existing lung damage, like from TB, and shares symptoms with TB. Symptoms include coughing up blood, weight loss, fatigue, shortness of breath, and wheezing. Treatment involves antifungal medication and sometimes surgery. Aspergillus fungi are widely found in soil, decaying plants, and grains, but only a few species pose a threat to humans.

Notes:
The Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has launched the MSME Trade Enablement and Marketing (TEAM) initiative to help small businesses adopt digital commerce. It has a budget of ₹277.35 crore for three years and aims to onboard 5 lakh MSMEs onto Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). The initiative focuses on inclusivity, targeting 50% women-led enterprises. MSMEs will get digital storefronts, payment solutions, and logistics support via ONDC. More than 150 workshops will educate MSMEs, especially women-led and SC/ST-led businesses. A dedicated portal will offer training, financial aid, and grievance support. The initiative aligns with India’s digital transformation goals and complements schemes like PM Vishwakarma and Digital MSME.

Notes:
Recently, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that Dibrugarh would be upgraded to a full-fledged city and serve as the second capital of Assam. This decision aims to enhance the Ease of Living and improve connectivity within the region. The announcement coincided with the Republic Day celebrations, marking transformation for a city once associated with militancy.

Notes:
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha received the Maharaja Hari Singh Award in Reforms and Planning at a grand ceremony in Jammu. The event was organized by Gulistan News Network as part of the Maharaja Hari Singh Peace and Harmony Award 2024-25 celebrations. The award recognized LG Sinha’s contributions to reforms and planning in Jammu and Kashmir. He paid tributes to Maharaja Hari Singh, highlighting his role in J&K’s integration with India. He also honored Pandit Prem Nath Dogra, Pandit Girdhari Lal Dogra, and Shri Devender Singh Rana for their dedication to public welfare. Maharaja Hari Singh was praised as a key architect of modern Jammu and Kashmir for his revolutionary reforms.

Notes:
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Utkarsh Odisha – Make in Odisha Conclave 2025’ on January 28 in Bhubaneswar. The event was attended by Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Ministers, and business leaders. It is Odisha’s largest business event to date, aimed at promoting investment and industrial growth. The conclave highlighted Odisha’s potential as a key economic hub in Eastern India.

Notes:
The official logo and mascot for the 23rd National Para Athletics Championship 2025 were unveiled in Chennai. The event will be held from February 17 to 20, featuring over 1,700 para-athletes from across India. The championship highlights resilience, determination, and sporting excellence. The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT), in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Para Sports Association, is supporting the event.

Notes:
The central government approved the Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme (MCGS-MSMEs) for micro, small, and medium enterprises. The scheme guarantees loans up to ₹100 crore with 60% coverage by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC). Eligible MSMEs must have a valid Udyam Registration Number. At least 75% of the loan must be used for equipment or machinery. Loans up to ₹50 crore have an 8-year repayment period with 2 years moratorium. Higher loan amounts get extended repayment and moratorium periods. 5% upfront contribution is required at the time of application. No annual guarantee fee in the first year; 1.5% for three years, then 1% annually. The scheme is valid for four years or till ₹7 lakh crore in guarantees are issued.

Notes:
South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope discovered a new giant radio galaxy (GRG) named ‘Inkathazo,’ meaning ‘trouble’ in Xhosa and Zulu. The galaxy spans 3.3 million light-years, 32 times the size of the Milky Way, and is 1.44 billion light-years from Earth. GRGs are massive structures that emit jets of hot plasma powered by supermassive black holes. These jets glow at radio frequencies and stretch millions of light-years into space. Once considered rare, GRGs are now being discovered frequently due to advanced radio telescopes like MeerKAT in South Africa’s Northern Cape.