Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

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:
At least 14 BRO workers were recently rescued from an avalanche in Mana, Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is India’s road construction force supporting the Armed Forces. It operates under the Ministry of Defence and was established on May 7, 1960. BRO builds and maintains roads in border areas and friendly neighboring countries.

Notes:
Due to heavy rain and snowfall in Himachal Pradesh, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) opened the spillway gates of Pandoh Dam as a precautionary measure. Pandoh Dam is an embankment dam located in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh. It is built on the Beas River and primarily serves hydroelectric power generation. The dam is a concrete gravity structure, standing 76 meters (249 feet) tall.

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:
March 3 is observed as World Wildlife Day to promote the conservation of flora and fauna. The 2025 theme is ‘Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet.’ The day highlights the need for financial investment in wildlife conservation amid a crisis threatening over one million species. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013. The date marks the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973.

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:
A study suggests Mars’ red color may be due to the iron-containing mineral ferrihydrite. Ferrihydrite is a poorly crystalline nanomineral made of 20% (FeO₄) and 80% (FeO₆) polyhedra. It forms through rapid oxidation and hydrolysis and exists in a disordered structure. It is an initial corrosion product of iron, leading to goethite and hematite formation. Found in soils, weathered rocks, and around iron-rich springs, especially with iron-metabolizing bacteria. It traps water, protects organic molecules, and forms rapidly in cool water. Present in meteorites as a pre-terrestrial weathering product.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Vantara Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, on March 4, 2025. Vantara is a unique conservation, rescue, and rehabilitation initiative for animals. The centre spans 3,000 acres within the Jamnagar Refinery Complex. It serves as a sanctuary for abused, injured, and endangered animals. Vantara is India’s first initiative of its kind, conceptualized under Anant Ambani’s leadership. PM Modi highlighted India’s commitment to protecting wildlife and ecological sustainability.

Notes:
Uttarakhand government launched the Chief Minister Single Women Self-Employment Scheme. The scheme aims to support women’s economic independence. Single, deserted, or widowed women will receive financial assistance up to ₹2 lakh. The initiative helps women start their own businesses and achieve self-reliance.

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.