Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

Notes:
The Indian senior women’s basketball team won the 3rd SABA Women’s Basketball Championship 2025, defeating Maldives 107-32 in the final. This was India’s first participation in the SABA Women’s Championship. The tournament was organised by the South Asian Basketball Association and hosted by the Basketball Federation of India. It took place at KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, from 23-26 February 2025. The SABA Women’s Championship includes eight eligible countries: India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.

Notes:
The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways launched the One Nation-One Port Process (ONOP). ONOP aims to standardize port operations across India’s major ports. The initiative removes inconsistencies in documentation, reduces inefficiencies, lowers costs, and minimizes delays. The Ministry reduced container operation documents by 33%, from 143 to 96. Bulk cargo documents were cut by 29%, from 150 to 106.

Notes:
The Cape Vulture has returned to South Africa’s Eastern Cape after three decades. It is an Old World vulture species in the Accipitridae family and is endemic to southern Africa. It is mainly found in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, and parts of northern Namibia. There are 23 vulture species globally—16 Old World vultures in Africa, Europe, and Asia, and 7 New World vultures in the Americas. Vultures prevent disease spread by disposing of carcasses efficiently. Their decline increases disease risks from scavengers like feral dogs and rats. The Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Notes:
Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) , Bengaluru, has developed a new technique to improve next-gen lighting. Organic LEDs (OLEDs), Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode (QLEDs), and Micro/Mini-LEDs are shaping future lighting but face challenges like cost, toxicity, and production limits. Perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs) combine the benefits of OLEDs and QLEDs but struggle with heat, moisture sensitivity, and color instability. CeNS researchers minimized anion migration in perovskite nanocrystals using applied argon-oxygen plasma treatment. This method enhances stability, slows anion exchange, and improves color stability. The breakthrough, published in Nanoscale, advances durable and efficient optoelectronic devices.

Notes:
A new species of spined loach, Cobitis beijingensis, has been discovered in Beijing, China, after 40 years. This is the first time a fish species has been named globally using the pinyin “Beijing.” The Beijing loach is about 5 cm long, with a body covered in yellow and black patterned markings. The species was confirmed by a research team from the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. It was collected from the Chaobai River in Shilipu Town, Miyun District, Beijing.

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:
The elusive marbled cat was recently spotted through camera traps at Dehing Patkai National Park, Assam. The marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata) is a small wild cat found in South and Southeast Asia. It is closely related to the clouded leopard and bay cat. In India, it is found in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland. It has a marbled fur pattern for camouflage and is an excellent climber.

Notes:
Barda Dungar Sanctuary has been officially declared the second habitat for Asiatic lions under Project Lion. 17 lions, including six adults and 11 cubs, now inhabit Barda Wildlife Sanctuary. The idea of Barda as a lion habitat was proposed in 1993 during a Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) workshop. Project Lion, launched on August 15, 2020, aims to conserve and expand the Asiatic lion population. The 10-year project has a budget of Rs 2,927.71 crore and focuses on habitat management and community participation.

Notes:
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi launched India’s first AI-powered solar manufacturing line at Goldi Solar’s new facility in Kosamba, Surat, Gujarat. The AI-powered facility enhances precision, scalability, and efficiency, supporting India’s net-zero transition. The plant has a planned production capacity of 14 GW and integrates industry-first AI innovations. High-speed stringers use AI automation to produce 10,000 solar cells per hour with minimal errors and waste. AI-powered Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) ensures real-time defect detection.

Notes:
Punjab has fully utilized ₹4,713 crore under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme. It ranks number one in India for AIF implementation. The state has received an additional ₹2,337 crore allocation. AIF was launched in July 2020 to finance agriculture infrastructure projects. The scheme supports post-harvest infrastructure, including storage, processing, and supply chain improvements. It provides medium to long-term financing to farmers, FPOs, and agri-entrepreneurs. Punjab’s effective use of AIF aims to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance value addition in agriculture.