Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

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.

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Indore is launching India’s first PPP-model green waste processing plant under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban. The plant aims to convert green waste into valuable resources like wooden pellets as an alternative to coal, promoting energy conservation. The plant is built on 55,000 square feet land in Bicholi Hapsi, transforming green waste into valuable products. The initiative helps control Air Quality Index (AQI), reduces pollution, and supports environmental sustainability. The project promotes waste management, cleanliness, and revenue generation for IMC, aligning with the Garbage-Free Cities vision.

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IIT Guwahati developed India’s first VR-enabled metaverse platform for schools, called Gyandhara. Gyandhara provides an immersive and engaging learning experience. It helps students understand scientific and academic concepts that are difficult to grasp through traditional learning. The platform enhances education through virtual reality, making learning interactive and effective.

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Serbian government is accused of using a banned sonic weapon to disperse protesters in Belgrade. Sonic weapons, also called acoustic weapons, emit loud, painful sounds over long distances. They can use audible or inaudible sound waves to disrupt, disorient, or incapacitate people. Some versions amplify voices for crowd control. It was first developed for military use. The U.S. used them in Iraq in 2004. They work with transducers that convert energy into sound waves. Highly concentrated sound beams can cause discomfort, pain, and disorientation. Authorities control frequency, volume, and duration for targeted impact.

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The State of Climate 2024 report was published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Global warming has pushed greenhouse gas levels to their highest in 800,000 years. The last 10 years are the warmest on record since 1850, as per WMO. The cryosphere (frozen parts of Earth’s surface) is melting at an alarming rate. Extreme weather events in 2024 caused the highest displacements since 2008.

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A Eurasian goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), a medium-large raptor, was recently spotted at Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra, by a forest guard. It belongs to the Accipitridae family, which includes eagles, buzzards, and harriers. It is widely found in Europe, Asia, and parts of North America, where it is called the Northern Goshawk. It prefers dense forests, especially coniferous and mixed woodlands. It has short, broad wings, a long tail, and varies in color from blue-grey to nearly black or white. Females are larger than males. Its conservation status is “Least Concern” according to the IUCN Red List.

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India will host the 11th Asian Swimming Championship at Naranpura Sports Complex, Ahmedabad. The Swimming Federation of India received approval from the Gujarat government and Asia Aquatics. The championship will take place from October 1 to 15. Events will include swimming, diving, artistic swimming, and water polo. Top swimmers from Japan and South Korea are expected to participate. This is the first time India is hosting the championship. The last international swimming event in India was the 10th Asian Age Group Championships in 2019.

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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.

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The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was held on 22nd March 2025 in New Delhi. Elections for the post of Chairman and Governing Council members were conducted successfully. Shri. Ashok Singh Thakur was elected as Chairman for a 3-year term. INTACH, India’s premier heritage conservation organisation, was established on 27th January 1984. It is a national registered Society under the Societies Registration Act (1860). INTACH works to conserve heritage, environment, and intangible culture while providing financial and technical expertise. The INTACH Charter, adopted in 2004, is being revised for interdisciplinary heritage conservation.

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The North and South Blocks in New Delhi will house the Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum. This project is part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. The museum will showcase India’s thousands-year-old civilizational and cultural heritage. An agreement was signed on 19th December 2024 between the National Museum and France Museums Development for technical cooperation. The project timeline and budget depend on the feasibility study and further formalities. The museum aims to celebrate India’s heritage, connect the past with the present, and inspire the future. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared this information in Lok Sabha.