Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

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:
The Jalanatheswarar Temple in Thakkolam, Ranipet district, Tamil Nadu, is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is worshipped as Jalantheeswarar, represented by a sand lingam known as Theenda Thirumeni. The temple was originally built by the Pallavas and later expanded by the Cholas, with its current structure dating back to the 16th-century Nayak period. It covers 1.5 acres, featuring a three-tiered gopuram and granite walls. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, glorified in the Tevaram hymns by Tamil Saivite Nayanars like Sambandar.

Notes:
The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) has powered 10 lakh homes with solar energy by March 10, 2025. Over 47.3 lakh applications have been received, with Rs 4770 crore in subsidies disbursed to 6.13 lakh beneficiaries. The scheme offers collateral-free loans up to Rs 2 lakh at 6.75% interest. Chandigarh and Daman & Diu have achieved 100% rooftop solar installations in government buildings. Top states benefiting are Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala lead the way in solar adoption. The goal is to reach 1 crore households by 2026-27.

Notes:
India topped the medals table at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025 with 134 medals, including 45 golds, 40 silvers, and 49 bronzes. Indian athletes excelled across track and field events, proving their strength in global para-athletics. India’s dominance in field events and multiple podium finishes confirmed their rising status in para-athletics. The event was held in New Delhi.

Notes:
The Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs in Telangana’s Narayanpet district, dating back 3,500 to 4,000 years, are now on India’s Tentative UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Menhirs are large upright standing stones, often part of megalithic burial or ritual sites. They are found in Europe, Africa, and Asia, with the highest concentration in Western Europe. Menhirs vary in size, shape, and arrangement, including circles, semicircles, and parallel rows. The Carnac Stones in France, with 2,935 menhirs, is the most famous alignment. Some menhirs have engravings linked to fertility rites and seasonal cycles. Megaliths are stone structures used as burial sites or memorials.

Notes:
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy launched the ‘Rajiv Yuva Vikasam’ scheme to create self-employment opportunities for five lakh unemployed youth in Telangana. The government allocated ₹6,000 crore for the initiative, highlighting its commitment to youth empowerment and economic development. The scheme aims to empower Telangana’s youth and promote self-reliance through strong economic support.

Notes:
10-year-old Alberto Davila Aragon from Bristol, UK, set a world record by recalling 280 decimal places of Pi in one minute on Pi Day. Pi Day, or International Day of Mathematics celebrated on March 14, honors the mathematical constant Pi (π) and promotes interest in mathematics. The 2025 theme is ‘Mathematics, Art, and Creativity’.

Notes:
India has identified the Northeast as the next saffron cultivation hub after Jammu & Kashmir’s Pampore. Mission Saffron was launched in 2010-11 to promote saffron farming with financial, technical, and infrastructural support. Since 2021, the initiative expanded to the Northeast (Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya) under the “Saffron Bowl Project” by NECTAR (North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach). The Northeast offers suitable agro-climatic conditions for saffron cultivation.

Notes:
The Government of India is drafting the National Wildlife Health Policy (NWHP) to strengthen wildlife disease surveillance, research, and diagnostics. The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) initiated the program to improve wildlife health and manage zoonotic diseases. NWHP is a key part of the National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-31) and follows the One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health. The National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-31) includes 103 conservation actions, 250 projects, and standard disease surveillance protocols for tiger reserves and protected areas.

Notes:
India ranked 24th out of 33 countries in the Free Speech Index, according to a survey by The Future of Free Speech, a U.S.-based think tank. The report, “Who in the World Supports Free Speech?”, highlights a global decline in support for controversial speech. India scored 62.6, ranking between South Africa (66.9) and Lebanon (61.8). The findings suggest a gap between public perception and actual free speech conditions in India.