Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

Notes:
The OAMS (Online Assurances Monitoring System) is a digital platform developed by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) to track and monitor assurances made by Ministers in Parliament. These assurances are promises or undertakings made during debates or questions and must be fulfilled within three months. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA), under the 1961 Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, ensures the proper implementation and follow-up of these assurances. The platform helps in systematically tracking and fulfilling government commitments.

Notes:
Stuart Young was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago at the President’s House in St. Ann’s. He succeeds Dr. Keith Rowley, who has officially stepped down. Trinidad and Tobago is an island country in the southeastern West Indies, close to Venezuela and Guyana. It is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Notes:
Betwa River, also called Vetravati in Sanskrit, is struggling to maintain its natural flow due to human activities. It originates from Jhiri Village, Raisen District, Madhya Pradesh, in the Vindhya Range, near Hoshangabad (Narmadapuram). It flows through Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Historically, Suktamati, capital of the Chedi Kingdom, was on its banks and it is mentioned in the Mahabharata. Betwa River Board (BRB) was set up under the Betwa River Board Act, 1976. Ken-Betwa River Link Project was approved in 2021.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet approved an incentive scheme to promote low-value BHIM-UPI (Person-to-Merchant – P2M) transactions for FY 2024-25. The scheme aims to strengthen BHIM-UPI, boost transaction volumes to ₹20,000 crore, and promote UPI 123PAY & offline UPI Lite/LiteX. It encourages UPI adoption in rural and remote areas. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It enables users to link multiple bank accounts in a single mobile app for instant money transfers. BHIM-UPI, launched in 2016, is a government-backed app for seamless, fast, and secure digital payments.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet approved the Revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) with an additional ₹1,000 crore, raising the total budget to ₹3,400 crore for 2021-2026 under the 15th Finance Commission. Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) was launched in December 2014 to conserve and develop indigenous bovine breeds. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying implements the mission. It aims to develop and conserve indigenous bovine breeds, upgrade the genetic quality of cattle, and boost milk production. The mission seeks to enhance dairy farming profitability for farmers.

Notes:
Byadgi chilli prices have dropped due to excess stock, strict export tests, and high production costs. It is a famous chilli variety from Karnataka, named after Byadgi in Haveri district. The chilli is bright red, 12-15 cm long, with wrinkled pods and a strong fragrance. It is widely used in pickles, masalas, chilli powder, and oleoresin extraction. Byadgi chilli has received Karnataka Geographical Indication status.

Notes:
Rajasthan government launched the One Time Settlement Scheme (OTS) to support farmers and small entrepreneurs. The scheme aims to protect them from financial crises and stabilize land development banks. Borrowers who repay 100% of overdue medium and long-term loans by July 1, 2024, will get a 100% interest rebate. A 5% subsidy will help borrowers avail loans again. The scheme benefits 36,351 defaulting loan members with Rs. 760 crore overdue loans. The government will spend Rs. 200 crore to ease loan recovery and improve bank finances. It will boost new loans, production, and business recovery.

Notes:
The 6th edition of Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain – 2025 was launched in Panchkula, Haryana on World Water Day, 22 March 2025. It focuses on 148 water-stressed districts across India. This was the first time the campaign was launched outside New Delhi. It promotes water conservation awareness and community participation. The campaign runs during the monsoon season. The initiative was launched by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti in partnership with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and the Government of Haryana. The 2025 campaign theme is “Peoples’ Action for Water Conservation – Towards Intensified Community Connect.”

Notes:
March 24 is observed as World Tuberculosis (TB) Day to raise awareness and promote efforts to eliminate TB. The 2025 theme is “Yes, We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, and Deliver.” The President of India praised the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) for reducing TB cases and increasing awareness. India aims to eliminate TB by 2025, ahead of the 2030 global target set by WHO under the End TB Strategy. TB is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affecting the lungs but also other body parts. It spreads through airborne transmission, via coughs or sneezes of an infected person.

Notes:
Telangana Assembly adopted a resolution to implement the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 (Central Act No. 42 of 1994). The Act regulates organ transplantation and prevents commercial dealings in human organs and tissues. Telangana had its own Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1995 (Act No. 24 of 1995) but opted for the Central Act due to its 2011 amendments. The 2011 amendments included tissue transplantation, establishment of state and national-level bodies, and stricter penalties for violations. The adoption allows Telangana to enforce the 2011 amendments effectively.