Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2025

Notes:
Scientists discovered a new species of ‘supergiant’ sea bug in Vietnam, named Bathynomus vaderi, due to its resemblance to Darth Vader’s helmet. This species can grow up to 32.5 cm and weigh over a kilogram, making it one of the largest isopods. These sea bugs have become a delicacy in Vietnam, raising concerns about overfishing due to their slow reproduction rate.

Notes:
The “Hamara Samvidhan – Hamara Swabhiman” campaign marked 75 years of the Indian Constitution and Republic Day. It was organized under the Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice (DISHA) Scheme by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice. The scheme was launched in 2021. It aims to ensure “Justice” for all as stated in the Preamble and Articles 39A, 14, and 21 of the Constitution. The scheme expands access to Tele-Law, Pro Bono Legal Services (Nyaya Bandhu), and Legal Literacy programs in both quality and reach.

Notes:
The International Solar Conference celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory. The observatory, established in 1899, is currently owned and operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. It is located in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, in the Palani range of hills, chosen for its proximity to the equator and dust-free high-altitude setting. The observatory’s objective is to gather data on how the sun affects Earth’s atmosphere and to better understand monsoon patterns.

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 white-naped tit was recently documented in Kappatagudda hills, North Karnataka, for the first time. It is also known as the pied tit or white-winged tit. Its scientific name is Machlolophus nuchalis. The bird is endemic to India, with populations in Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. It inhabits dry thorn scrub forests. The white-naped tit is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Notes:
A new species of phytopathogenic fungi, Epicoccum indicum, was discovered at Banaras Hindu University. The species is named after India, where it was found. Phytopathogenic fungi cause plant diseases, leading to significant agricultural losses, affecting roots, stems, leaves, and fruits. These fungi are responsible for 70–80% of plant diseases. Most phytopathogenic fungi belong to Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes. They use various enzymes to break down plant cell walls and may either kill plants (necrotrophs) or live off them (biotrophs).

Notes:
Nagoba Jatara is an eight-day tribal festival of the Mesram clan of Gond tribes, celebrated in Keslapur village, Adilabad district, Telangana. It is the second-largest tribal festival in India, after the Sammakka Saralamma Jatara. Tribal people from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh also participate. The festival’s deity is ‘Nagoba’ (Sri Shek – Cobra). Rituals include bringing holy water from the Godavari River and the ‘Bheting’ ceremony, where new brides are introduced to the clan. The Gusadi Dance, performed by Gond tribe dancers, is a major attraction.

Notes:
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved the revision of ethanol procurement prices for Oil Marketing Companies (OMCS) for the Ethanol Supply Year 2024-25 (Nov 1, 2024 – Oct 31, 2025). The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme aims to reduce pollution, conserve foreign exchange, and support the sugar industry in clearing cane price arrears for farmers. The EBP programme, launched in 2003 by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, promotes the use of environment-friendly alternative fuels.

Notes:
Chinese researchers developed a new voice-based method for early Alzheimer’s detection. The study was led by Prof. Li Hai at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Alzheimer’s disease is a brain condition that causes memory loss and cognitive decline. It affects thinking, learning, and organizing skills over time. It is the most common type of dementia, making up 60-80% of cases. The disease impacts brain regions responsible for thought, memory, and language.

Notes:
WHO announced that Guinea has eliminated the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, as a public health problem. This is the first neglected tropical disease eliminated in Guinea. HAT is caused by tsetse fly bites and can lead to fatal neurological issues if untreated. Guinea’s HAT cases resurfaced in the 1990s, prompting the launch of a national control program in 2002. Key strategies included mass screenings, vector control, and insecticide-impregnated mini-screens from 2012.