Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

Notes:
India must grow at 7.8% annually until 2047 to reach high-income status, says the World Bank. World Bank released the report titled “Becoming a High-Income Economy in a Generation”. The report highlights the need for “accelerated reforms.” India’s growth averaged 7.2% in the past three years, but further policy action is required. Investment must rise to 40% of GDP by 2035, supported by ICT and physical capital. Key reforms include stronger financial regulations, easier credit for MSMEs, and simpler FDI policies. Female workforce participation should reach 55% by 2050. Growth-focused sectors include agro-processing, hospitality, transport, and care economy. Efficient land, labour, and capital allocation can boost productivity. A “business as usual” scenario would limit growth to 6.6% per year, making high-income status unattainable.

Notes:
World Civil Defence Day is celebrated annually on March 1 to raise awareness about civil defence strategies and people’s protection. The day highlights the importance of civil defence in safeguarding people and property from accidents, natural disasters, and crises. It was first observed in the 20th century during times of social, technological, and political upheaval, especially due to nuclear weapons concerns. The United Nations created the International Civil Defence Organisation to coordinate global civil defence efforts. The ninth General Assembly in 1990 designated March 1 as World Civil Defence Day.

Notes:
Gujarat leads India in mangrove afforestation, covering 19,020 hectares in two years under the MISHTI scheme. MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes) was launched in 2023 to expand mangrove forests and support coastal livelihoods. The initiative aims to strengthen coastal ecosystems across India’s coastal states and union territories. Gujarat’s rapid afforestation efforts have made it the top performer in the scheme.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and NITI Aayog launched the Swavalambini initiative to promote women entrepreneurship. Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary launched it on 1st March 2025 at Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. The initiative empowers female students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with an entrepreneurial mindset, resources, and mentorship.

Notes:
Forest officials restricted entry along a 5-km stretch from Gokharakuda to Bateswar near the Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam to protect Olive Ridley turtle eggs. The Rushikulya River is a major river in Odisha, flowing through Kandhamal, Ganjam, and Boudh districts. It originates from the Daringbadi hills in the Eastern Ghats at about 1000 meters elevation. The river flows 165 km before entering the Bay of Bengal near Ganjam without forming a delta. Its basin covers around 7500 sq. km, with tributaries like Baghua, Dhanei, and Badanadi. Rushikulya Beach is a key nesting site for Olive Ridley turtles.

Notes:
A Lancet Global Health study found that over a third of newborns with sepsis could die. Neonatal sepsis is a blood infection in infants under 90 days old, caused by bacteria like E. coli, Listeria, and Streptococcus. It is classified into early-onset (within 72 hours) and late-onset (after 3 days). Symptoms include temperature changes, breathing issues, and diarrhea. Treatment involves intravenous antibiotics in hospitals. Neonatal sepsis causes 5,50,000 deaths globally yearly, with India accounting for nearly one-fourth of these deaths.

Notes:
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched the Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. This initiative aims to empower women elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). It focuses on leadership development, decision-making skills, and active participation in governance.

Notes:
Countries around Lake Tanganyika launched a five-year project to tackle biodiversity threats. Lake Tanganyika is an ancient lake in East Africa. It borders Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. It is the world’s longest and one of the deepest lakes, stretching over 400 miles. It is located in the Western Rift Valley, steep land rises along its shores. It marks the division between East and West African floral regions, with oil palms on its shores.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh, home to the highest wolf population, is studying their ecology at Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary. Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary spans Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1975. It is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. It serves as a corridor for Panna and Satpura Tiger Reserves and connects Bandhavgarh via Rani Durgawati Wildlife Sanctuary. It falls under the Deccan Peninsula biogeographic region and is part of the Ganga and Narmada basins.

Notes:
IIT Madras researchers developed a framework to enhance protection of critical infrastructure from ballistic missile threats. The framework helps designers improve the ballistic resistance of reinforced concrete (RC) panels. Findings were published in the journal Reliability Engineering & System Safety. Researchers used computational simulations to study missile impacts on RC. RC is used in military bunkers, nuclear power buildings, bridges, and runways.