Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

Notes:
The Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Hostel Scheme is a scheme launched by the Uttar Pradesh government. The Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Hostel Scheme is a significant initiative aimed at providing residential facilities for students, particularly those from marginalized communities like Scheduled Castes (SCs), who might face difficulties in pursuing higher education due to financial constraints or lack of accommodation. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh government, is implementing this scheme and other initiatives related to educational opportunities for marginalized communities.

Notes:
Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Sh. Manohar Lal, inaugurated GRIDCON 2025 in New Delhi. The event was an International Conference cum Exhibition. It was organized by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID). The theme of the conference was “Innovations in Grid Resilience.”

Notes:
e-Shram portal was launched by Ministry of Labour and Employment on 26th August 2021 to create a National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) linked with Aadhaar. It provides unorganised workers with a Universal Account Number (UAN) for access to social security benefits. As of 3rd March 2025, over 30.68 crore workers have registered, with 53.68% being women. On 21st October 2024, the e-Shram One-Stop-Solution was introduced to integrate 13 central welfare schemes into a single platform. On 7th January 2025, the portal added multilingual functionality using Bhashini, allowing access in 22 Indian languages.

Notes:
The Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) under the National Water Mission (NWM), Ministry of Jal Shakti, organized the “Water Sustainability Conference 2025” in collaboration with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). The conference focused on Industrial Water Use Efficiency and was held on 12th March 2025 at NDMC Convention Centre, Palika Kendra, Sansad Marg, New Delhi. Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Patil, inaugurated the event, emphasizing the government’s commitment to water conservation. The event brought together Ministries, Policymakers, Industry Leaders, and Experts to discuss innovative technologies and strategies for efficient industrial water use.

Notes:
Andhra Pradesh is considering increasing the monthly pension for thalassemia patients and extending it to those above the poverty line due to high treatment costs. Currently, treatment is provided to below-poverty-line patients under the NTR Vaidya Seva scheme. Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder where the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin, leading to severe anemia. Patients require blood transfusions every 2-3 weeks for survival. Symptoms include weak bones, slow growth, iron overload, poor appetite, enlarged spleen or liver, and pale skin.

Notes:
The Ministry of Education launched the third edition of the Prime Minister’s Scheme for Mentoring Young Authors (PM-YUVA 3.0) scheme to mentor young authors under 30. The program promotes reading, writing, and book culture in India while providing mentorship and publishing opportunities. It focuses on three themes: Indian Diaspora’s role in nation-building, the Indian Knowledge System, and Makers of Modern India (1950-2025). The scheme aligns with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to build a knowledge-driven ecosystem. The National Book Trust, India, will implement PM-YUVA 3.0.

Notes:
Researchers have named a new shrub species, Uniyala keralensis (family Asteraceae), after Kerala. It is endemic to southwest India and grows as a small to large shrub, reaching 1 to 3 meters in height with light purple florets. It has larger leaves, long petioles, and fewer lateral veins. Flowering and fruiting occur from August to April. It is found in the western slopes of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve (ABR) at 700-1,400 meters altitude. The population consists of around 5,000 plants in four subpopulations over 250 square kilometers. It is classified as Data Deficient (DD) under IUCN Red List Criteria (2024).

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:
Prasar Bharati received the Hockey India Jaman Lal Sharma Award 2024 for promoting and broadcasting hockey. The award was given at the Hockey India 7th Annual Awards 2024 in New Delhi. Hockey India honored the 1975 World Cup-winning squad with the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award and ₹50 lakh. Savita Punia and Harmanpreet Singh won the Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year 2024.

Notes:
The 353rd Governing Body meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from March 10 to 20, 2025. Representatives from governments, workers, and employers discuss key labour and employment policies. India’s delegation, led by Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, highlighted India’s labour welfare and employment efforts. India supported the UN-led Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar. India has doubled its social protection coverage to 48.8%, exceeding the global average by 5%.