Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

Notes:
India launched its first ancient stitched ship at Divar Island, Goa on February 26, 2025. The wooden vessel is modeled after a 5th-century ship depicted in the Ajanta caves. It was designed and built in Goa by Hodi Innovations with Kerala master artisans. Unlike modern ships, its wooden planks are stitched with coconut coir rope, an ancient Indian technique. The hull is treated with sardine oil, natural resins, and seasoned wood for durability. The ship will sail to Oman and Indonesia by the end of 2025, retracing old trade routes.

Notes:
The RBI released its quarterly House Price Index (HPI) for the December 2024-25 quarter on February 27, 2025. The all-India HPI grew by 3.1% in Q3 2024-25, lower than 4.3% in the previous quarter and 3.8% a year ago. Data is based on transactions from 10 major cities: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Mumbai. Kolkata saw the highest annual HPI growth (8.1%), while Kanpur had the lowest (0.1%). On a quarterly basis, HPI rose by 0.4%, with most major cities recording a price increase.

Notes:
The Ministry of Ayush conferred the National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards to three distinguished practitioners. Union Minister Shri Prataprao Jadhav presented the awards in Mumbai on 20.02.2025. Awardees include Vaidya Tara Chand Sharma, an expert Nadi Vaidya and author; Vaidya Maya Ram Uniyal, a Dravyaguna Vigyana scholar with 60 years of service; and Vaidya Sameer Govind Jamadagni, founder of Vishwa Vyakhyanmala. Each recipient received a citation, a trophy featuring Lord Dhanwantari, and ₹5 Lakh. The awards highlight India’s commitment to holistic healthcare and preserving traditional medicine.

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:
Scientists have developed a new gene therapy for Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD), a rare genetic disorder. MSUD is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme complex needed to break down branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) like leucine, isoleucine, and valine. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, requiring both parents to pass on the gene mutation. The disorder prevents proper amino acid metabolism, leading to neurological symptoms and life-threatening brain damage.

Notes:
The UK hosted a European leaders’ summit to support Ukraine and discuss a ceasefire plan. Britain, France, and Ukraine agreed to draft a ceasefire proposal for the US. The summit followed a key meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump, raising concerns about US support. The summit included representatives from Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Romania. Britain, France, and Ukraine agreed to present the ceasefire proposal to the US.

Notes:
The Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) Yojana offers a monthly pension for unorganized sector workers after 60 years of age. It ensures a minimum ₹3,000 monthly pension for workers earning up to ₹15,000. The scheme is aimed at the unorganized workers contributing around 50% of India’s GDP, including street vendors, domestic workers, and agricultural workers. Over 30.51 crore unorganized workers are registered on the e-Shram portal as of December 2024. It was launched in the Interim Budget 2019. PM-SYM is administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment with with Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and Common Service Centres e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC SPV) for implementation.

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.

Notes:
The Wallace Line is an invisible boundary separating Asian and Australian animal species. It was first identified by English naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in the 19th century. The line runs through the Malay Archipelago, between Bali and Lombok, and between Borneo and Sulawesi. Asian side species (Borneo, Bali) resemble mainland Asian animals like tigers and monkeys. Australian side species (Sulawesi, Lombok) resemble Australian wildlife like kangaroos and cuscuses. Scientists now view it as a transition zone rather than a strict boundary. Climate change and habitat destruction threaten these ecosystems and species adaptation.

Notes:
The State of India’s Digital Economy (SIDE) Report 2025 by Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) highlights India’s digital growth. India is the 3rd-largest global economy but ranks 28th in digital user spending, showing a gap in per capita digital adoption. The CHIPS framework (Connect-Harness-Innovate-Protect-Sustain) measures digitalization across technology, economy, and society. India’s digital economy is growing twice as fast as its overall economy and may contribute 20% of GDP by 2029. India ranks 11th in AI research and 16th in AI infrastructure, while the US, China, South Korea, Singapore, and the Netherlands lead AI innovation. Overall, India ranks 8th globally in digital user economy when adjusted for economic size. ICRIER is an independent think tank researching economic growth, trade, digital economy, and climate change.