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:
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:
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:
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander successfully landed in the Mare Crisium region of the Moon after a controlled descent. It carries 10 NASA payloads under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program to boost private-sector lunar exploration. The mission aims to study the lunar environment, using a vacuum for soil collection and a drill measuring temperatures up to 3 meters deep. It will analyze heat flow, plume-surface interactions, and the Moon’s magnetic and electric fields to understand its geological history. The lander will function for 14 Earth days to conduct scientific studies and tech demonstrations.

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:
World Obesity Day 2025 was observed on March 4 to address the global obesity crisis. It is organized by the World Obesity Federation with global partners. The theme for 2025 is “Changing Systems, Healthier Lives”. It aims to raise awareness, improve policies, and promote obesity prevention and treatment. India is projected to have over 440 million obese and overweight people by 2050, second only to China. Obesity among Indian boys may rise to 1.6 crore and among girls to 1.44 crore by 2050.

Notes:
The Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) monitoring committee decided to ban new commercial construction within 1 km of the BRT Tiger Reserve boundary or up to the ESZ, whichever is nearer. Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve is in Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka. It serves as a bridge between the Western and Eastern Ghats in South India. It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2011, covering 574.82 sq. km. The reserve is named after “Biligiri,” meaning “white rocky cliff,” home to the ancient Rangaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Notes:
IIT Bombay and Monash University, Australia, have developed a cost-effective sensor to detect toxic metals in water. The project received funding from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), India. The sensor uses a copper-based metal-organic framework (MOF) called copper-tetra carboxyphenyl porphyrin (Cu-TCPP) for efficient detection. It can detect lead, cadmium, and mercury even in trace amounts. The MOF structure allows metal ion replacement without collapsing, improving detection capability. Tests on tap and lake water confirmed its accuracy. The sensor performs as well as or better than DNA-based sensors, with simpler design and efficiency.

Notes:
The government launched the Modified Ethanol Interest Subvention Scheme to support Cooperative Sugar Mills (CSMs). It helps convert sugarcane-based ethanol plants into multi-feedstock plants using maize and damaged food grains (DFG). The scheme offers 6% annual interest subvention or 50% of the bank interest rate, whichever is lower. The subvention is available for five years, including a one-year moratorium. This initiative aligns with the Ethanol Blended with Petrol (EBP) Programme, promoting biofuel production and energy sustainability.

Notes:
The 12th India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR-XII held in Kyrgyzstan from 10 to 23 March 2025. It began in 2011 and has become an annual event, alternating between India and Kyrgyzstan. The 2024 edition was held in India. The Indian Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) and the Kyrgyz Scorpion Brigade are participating. It focuses on Counter-Terrorism, Special Forces Operations, sniping, and mountain warfare. Cultural exchanges, including the Nowruz festival, will strengthen ties. It reinforces India-Kyrgyzstan cooperation in regional security and counterterrorism efforts.