Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
Uttarakhand becomes the first state in India to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) from January 27, 2025. The UCC aims to bring uniformity in personal civil matters, eliminating discrimination based on caste, religion, or gender. It covers marriage, divorce, succession, and inheritance laws, ensuring equal rights for all. Marriage registration will be mandatory within 60 days, with special provisions for older marriages. Scheduled Tribes and some protected communities are excluded from the Act.

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:
Nagaland launched the Chief Minister’s Mobile Operation Theatre (CMMOT) on the 76th Republic Day. Governor La Ganesan and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio flagged off the initiative at the secretariat plaza. CMMOT aims to provide advanced surgical and healthcare services to rural and remote areas. It is equipped with keyhole surgery capabilities, ultrasound, X-ray, endoscopy, and blood testing tools. A medical team from Kohimas Hospital, along with private and government doctors, will deliver healthcare services. The initiative seeks to enhance health equity and bridge gaps between urban and remote healthcare access.

Notes:
The Union government has expanded PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to cover crop damage by animals, addressing a long-standing farmer demand. The scheme was launched on 18th February 2016. PMFBY is a crop insurance scheme by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. It offers financial protection against crop loss due to natural disasters, pests, and diseases. The scheme provides affordable premiums for farmers and is implemented through insurance companies and banks. Its goals include income stabilization, modern agricultural practices, and crop diversification.

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:
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:
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

Notes:
A 2-year-old tigress was found dead in Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh. Kanha Tiger Reserve, also called Kanha National Park, is the largest national park in Madhya Pradesh. It is located in Mandla and Balaghat districts and lies in the Maikal hills, east of the Satpura range. Established as a national park in 1955, it became a tiger reserve in 1973. The forest in Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” is believed to be inspired by this region. The Gond and Baiga tribes inhabit the area.

Notes:
The Union Minister for Labour & Employment launched State and Union Territory Microsites under the e-Shram initiative and the Occupational Shortage Index (OSI). e-Shram Microsites are state-specific platforms linked to the national e-Shram database, providing workers seamless access to welfare programs and employment opportunities. The microsites offer multilingual support, real-time updates, and data-driven insights for policy-making. The OSI uses real-time labour data to address job market demand-supply gaps, helping align skills with industry needs and support skill development and job matching.

Notes:
The State Cabinet approved the Greater Hessarghatta Grasslands as a conservation reserve near Bengaluru, Karnataka. The reserve covers 5,678 acres of grassland near Yelahanka, threatened by urbanization. The decision faced delays since 2013 due to local opposition but was approved by the State Board for Wildlife in October 2024. The area includes three water bodies, grasslands, and diverse flora and fauna. It is home to 133 bird species, leopards, foxes, wolves, and slender loris.