Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

Notes:
Tuhin Kanta Pandey, currently Finance and Revenue Secretary, replaces Madhabi Puri Buch as SEBI Chairman after her term ends on February 28, 2025. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, approved his appointment for three years or until further orders. A 1987-batch IAS officer from Odisha cadre, Pandey served as Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) Secretary from 2019 and became Finance Secretary in September 2024. He played a key role in Air India’s sale and LIC’s public listing.

Notes:
The Israel-Hamas conflict has escalated, leading to a fragile ceasefire brokered by the US, Egypt, and Qatar. A key issue is Israel’s withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic area along Gaza’s border with Egypt. The corridor is a 14 km long, 100-meter-wide strip, including the Rafah crossing and Kerem Shalom crossing. It was designated a demilitarized zone under the 1979 Camp David treaty. After Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority took control, but Hamas seized it in 2007.

Notes:
The Make the World Wear Khadi campaign was launched by the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It aims to blend India’s textile heritage with global fashion trends and make Khadi a global brand. The campaign targets advertising professionals and freelancers from both domestic and international markets. It is part of the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES). WAVES serves as a key platform for discussions, collaboration, and innovation in the media and entertainment (M&E) industry.

Notes:
Yes Bank was the only Indian bank to be included in the 2025 S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook, which recognizes the top 15% of global banking leaders. Yes Bank was also the highest-rated bank in India for sustainability for the third year in a row. Yes Bank scored 72 out of 100 on the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA).

Notes:
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sought an action taken report from the Keonjhar district magistrate on alleged human rights violations of the Juanga tribe. Juang is one of 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) among 62 tribes in Odisha. As per the 2011 census, their population is around 50,000. They are mainly found in Keonjhar and Dhenkanal districts of Odisha. They speak the Juang language, part of the Munda family within Austroasiatic languages. The Juangs are known for their strong clan structure and kinship organizations.

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:
India’s first World Peace Center was inaugurated in Gurugram, Haryana by former President Ram Nath Kovind and other dignitaries. Established by Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti under the guidance of Jain Acharya Lokesh. The center aims to promote peace, harmony, and spiritual consciousness globally. It will spread the ideals of Bhagwan Mahavir, Lord Buddha, and Guru Nanak. The center will have a global impact, influencing platforms like the United Nations and World Parliament of Religions.

Notes:
A A US Marine Corps (USMC) F-35B Lightning II recently conducted its first test missions with the Meteor air-to-air missile. Meteor is a radar-guided, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) developed by MBDA for six European nations (UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Sweden). It has a ramjet engine, enabling controlled flight speed, complex maneuvers, and a range of over 100 km. It flies at Mach 4+ with a large no-escape zone.

Notes:
The Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs announced the Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3). It is a global alliance promoting city-to-city collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and private sector partnerships. The announcement was made at the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Jaipur. C-3 aims to boost resource efficiency and support a low-carbon economy. It will enhance cooperation among policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers. The initiative focuses on building a sustainable future through circular economy principles.

Notes:
Scientists have captured footage of narwhals using their tusks to hunt for the first time. Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) are medium-sized toothed whales known for their distinctive horn-like tusks. Their tusks are actually teeth with sensory capability and up to 10 million nerve endings. They use tusks to stun and possibly kill fish like Arctic char. Narwhals are found in Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia.