Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

Notes:
A three-day off-season faunal survey in Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary recorded 14 new bird species, 15 butterflies, and 8 odonates. Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1976 and is located in Thodupuzha and Udumbanchola taluks, Idukki District, Kerala. It spans 77 sq.km. of forests surrounding the Idukki Arch Dam. The terrain includes steep mountains, valleys, and hills, with altitudes ranging from 450 to 1272 m. Vanjur Medu is the highest peak at 1272 m. The Periyar and Cheruthoniar rivers flow through the sanctuary, which includes a 33 sq.km. waterbody of the Idukki reservoir.

Notes:
Amazon launched a quantum computing chip named Ocelot. It is a prototype with limited computing power. It consists of two integrated silicon microchips. Its high-quality oscillators are made from superconducting Tantalum. It uses cat qubits, inspired by Schrödinger’s cat experiment. Ocelot can reduce quantum error correction costs by up to 90% compared to current methods.

Notes:
The high court issued notices to South Western Railway and Directorate of Survey and Land Records (DSLR) over a PIL challenging land acquisition at Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary. It is located in the Western Ghats on Goa’s eastern border, the sanctuary covers 240 sq. km. Originally called Mollem Game Sanctuary, it was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and renamed Bhagwan Mahavir. The sanctuary includes Mollem National Park and is home to Dudhsagar waterfall, Devil’s Canyon, Tambdi Surla temple, and other historic sites.

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:
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:
Two new species of jumping spiders, Epidelaxia falciformis and Epidelaxia palustris, were discovered in Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary. This marks the first record of the genus Epidelaxia in India, previously thought to be endemic to Sri Lanka. Males of E. falciformis have a brown carapace with a yellow-brown stripe, while E. palustris males have a pale brown band. These spiders are highly adapted to the dense foliage of the Western Ghats.

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 green sea turtle carcass was found on Marina beach, Chennai. Green sea turtles are the largest hard-shelled sea turtles and are herbivores, feeding mainly on seagrasses and algae. Their diet gives their fat a greenish color, which is the origin of their name. They are found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, with large populations in Costa Rica and Australia. Green sea turtles migrate long distances and are classified as Endangered by the IUCN.

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:
Beneath Antarctica’s Mount Erebus, volcanic ice caves harbor thriving microbial life, offering insight into potential life on alien worlds. Mount Erebus is the southernmost active volcano, located on Ross Island in Antarctica. It was discovered in 1841 by Sir James Clark Ross and named after his ship, Erebus. Its summit stands at 12,448 feet (3,794 meters), making it the second tallest volcano in Antarctica. The volcano has an active lava lake, continuously active since 1972, with small Strombolian eruptions.