Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

Notes:
Supreme Court directed Forest Research Institute (FRI) to conduct a tree census in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ). TTZ covers 10,400 sq km around the Taj Mahal to protect it from pollution. It includes three UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri. 1996 Supreme Court ruling banned coal/coke use in TTZ industries, mandating a switch to natural gas or relocation. Centre formed TTZ Pollution Prevention Authority under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. TTZ has four zones: Red, Green, Orange, and White.

Notes:
Lohum Company launched India’s first lithium-grade refinery in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The refinery will produce 1,000 metric tonnes of battery-grade lithium annually, with plans to expand to 20,000 tonnes by 2029. Black mass from e-waste will be recycled to extract lithium. The company refines 90% of India’s lithium and is expanding its Cathode Active Material (CAM) production. The refinery’s technical efficiency competes with China and is more economical than US/European facilities. This expansion reduces India’s dependence on China for lithium supply, especially with growing EV demand.

Notes:
A bar-headed goose (Anser indicus), a rare migratory bird, was sighted for the first time in Morshing village, West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh. It is one of the highest-flying birds, reaching altitudes of 25,000 feet while migrating over the Himalayas. Native to Central Asia, it migrates to India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Japan during winter. In India, it is found from the northeast to southern regions.

Notes:
A Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, was recently sighted in Dehing Patkai National Park using a camera trap. The park is located in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam. Known as the ‘Amazon of the East’, it has India’s largest stretch of tropical lowland rainforests covering 231.65 sq. km. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 2004 and upgraded to a national park in 2020. The park is home to diverse ethnic groups, including Tai Phake, Singpho, Ahom, and Moran.

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.

Notes:
Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh was declared the 58th tiger reserve in India on March 9, 2025. It is the 9th tiger reserve from the state. Located on the northern edge of the Central Highlands, it is part of the Upper Vindhyan Hills. The park has two significant lakes: Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar, supporting aquatic biodiversity. The park’s rivers, including the Sind and Amarnadi, contribute to its drainage pattern. The eastern section of the park has sedimentary rocks, such as sandstone, shale, and limestone.

Notes:
Indian Grandmaster Pranav Venkatesh, aged 18, won the FIDE World Junior Chess Championship 2025 on March 7, 2025, in Montenegro. He became the fourth Indian to win this prestigious title. He follows Viswanathan Anand, Pentala Harikrishna, and Abhijeet Gupta in achieving this feat. This victory marks a historic moment in Indian chess.

Notes:
Jayshree Vencatesan, co-founder of Care Earth Trust, is the first Indian to receive the Ramsar award for ‘Wetland Wise Use.’ She is among 12 women changemakers in wetlands, recognized by the Ramsar secretariat in Geneva. She has dedicated decades to conserving India’s wetlands, especially Chennai’s Pallikaranai Marsh. She leads an all-women research team and mentors future conservationists. She dedicates her award to her late father and advocates for women’s technical roles in wetland management. She stresses persistence in conservation efforts despite bureaucratic challenges. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is a global treaty for wetland conservation.

Notes:
Fugitive ex-IPL chief Lalit Modi has applied to surrender his Indian passport and has acquired Vanuatu citizenship. Vanuatu is a small island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of 83 islands, with only 65 inhabited, forming an irregular Y shape. It lies east of Australia and north of New Zealand, between Australia and Fiji. The landscape includes mountains, plateaus, hills, terraces, and coral reefs. It has several active volcanoes, including Mount Yasur. The capital and largest city is Port Vila on Efate Island. The country’s currency is the vatu.

Notes:
New Delhi is hosting its first-ever World Para-Athletics Grand Prix 2025 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The event takes place from March 11 to March 13, featuring over 280 para-athletes from 20 countries. The tournament includes over 90 competitions with nations like Saudi Arabia, Germany, Australia, Brazil, Nepal, and Japan participating.