Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

Notes:
Punjab has fully utilized ₹4,713 crore under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme. It ranks number one in India for AIF implementation. The state has received an additional ₹2,337 crore allocation. AIF was launched in July 2020 to finance agriculture infrastructure projects. The scheme supports post-harvest infrastructure, including storage, processing, and supply chain improvements. It provides medium to long-term financing to farmers, FPOs, and agri-entrepreneurs. Punjab’s effective use of AIF aims to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance value addition in agriculture.

Notes:
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata, discovered a new soil-dwelling nematode species, Crassolabium dhritiae, in Keonjhar district, Odisha. It was found in the Deccan Peninsular biogeographic zone. The species is named after Dhriti Banerjee, director of ZSI, for her contributions to zoology and taxonomy. It has a slender body, rounded lip region, wide odontostyle, long pharynx, distinctive female reproductive structures, and a uniquely shaped tail.

Notes:
International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8th March to recognize women’s achievements across all boundaries. The theme for 2025: “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” The theme emphasizes equal rights, power, and opportunities for all women and girls. 2025 marks 30 years of the Beijing Declaration, a key global framework for women’s rights. India is shifting from women’s development to women-led development, ensuring equal participation.

Notes:
Punjab’s Minister for Social Security, Women, and Child Development launched Project Hifazat on International Women’s Day. The initiative aims to create a safe environment for reporting domestic violence, workplace harassment, and abuse. The 181 helpline will be central to the project, providing immediate assistance. Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya will support a 24×7 helpline for emergency and non-emergency services. Coordination between departments (social security, police, health) will offer rescue, legal, medical, and psycho-social support. Victims will have access to one-stop centres, legal aid, and rehabilitation services.

Notes:
The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) identified seven pollution sources in the Tunga River. The district administration is investigating encroachments along its banks. The Tunga River flows through Karnataka, originating from Varaha Parvata in the Western Ghats. It merges with the Bhadra River at Koodli, forming the Tungabhadra River, which later joins the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh. Known for its pristine waters, it has religious sites like Sringeri, Sarada Temple, and Vidyasankara Temple. The Gajanur Dam, an S-shaped dam, is built over the river.

Notes:
DRDO has unveiled the BM-04, a short-range ballistic missile with hypersonic speed. It enhances India’s military capability against anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) threats. The missile has a range of 400 to 1500 km and carries a 500 kg warhead. It has high accuracy with a circular error probability (CEP) of less than 30 metres. Designed for quick deployment using a mobile launcher. It places India among the few nations with hypersonic missile technology. BM-04 shares design similarities with Agni I-class missiles, showing progress in hypersonic weaponry.

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:
The Delhi government approved the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana on International Women’s Day. It provides Rs 2,500 per month to women aged 21-60 from weaker economic sections earning up to Rs 3 lakh annually. The scheme aims to empower women with financial support and self-employment opportunities. It has various forms, including monthly allowances, subsidized loans for micro-enterprises, and vocational training. The scheme is designed to help women achieve stable incomes and contribute to their families’ well-being.

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:
On March 9, 2023, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda launched two welfare schemes for girls in Tripura—Mukhyamantri Balika Samriddhi Yojana and Mukhyamantri Kanya Atmanirbhar Yojana. Under the Balika Samriddhi Yojana, BPL families will receive a Rs 50,000 bond for newborn girls, expected to grow to Rs 10 lakh by the time they turn 18. The Kanya Atmanirbhar Yojana will provide free scooties to 140 meritorious girls in Higher Secondary from all education boards.