Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

Notes:
Indian banks must strengthen credit risk management by adopting International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS 9) and improving loan supervision, collateral valuation, and borrower group assessments. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) highlighted this in its Financial System Stability Assessment (FSSA) report. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the report’s findings on 24 March. The Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) is a joint initiative of the IMF and World Bank for financial sector analysis. The last FSAP for India was in 2017, with the FSSA report published on December 21, 2017. India’s financial system has become more resilient and diverse since 2017, driven by rapid economic growth. India remains committed to adopting global financial standards while considering domestic needs and economic conditions.

Notes:
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP) in Darjeeling, West Bengal, is India’s first zoo to preserve DNA samples of wildlife from snowy regions. The DNA preservation is part of the Cryogenic Preservation Initiative in collaboration with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad. The initiative aims to protect genetic material for research and conservation in case of species extinction. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP) is India’s highest-altitude zoological park. It is known for its conservation programs for the Snow Leopard and Red Panda.

Notes:
The 20th meeting of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA-20) has begun in Rome. Global leaders are discussing strategies to conserve plant and forest genetic resources and will release two major global reports. CGRFA is a permanent intergovernmental body under the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), established in 1983 and expanded in 1995. It aims to promote sustainable biodiversity use, enhance food security, and ensure fair benefit-sharing. The headquarters of CGRFA is in Rome, Italy.

Notes:
National Conference on National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was held in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. It was organized by Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation and World Resources Institute (WRI) India. The Chief Minister stressed environmental protection and carbon emission reduction. He highlighted that Net Zero (2070) requires technology and public awareness. Since 2017, 17 lakh halogen street lights have been replaced with LEDs, saving ₹1000 crore and reducing energy use. A banana fibre-based product plant was launched in Lakhimpur, with biodegradable products decomposing in three months. Strategies were discussed to eliminate open waste burning in Gorakhpur by 2027.

Notes:
Sunil Kumar won India’s first medal at the 2025 Senior Asian Wrestling Championship in Amman, Jordan, securing a bronze in the 87kg Greco-Roman category. He defeated China’s Jiaxin Huang 3-1 after an initial 10-1 win over Tajikistan’s Sukhrob AbdulKhaev but lost the semifinal to Iran’s Yasin Ali Yazdi. This is Sunil’s fifth senior Asian Championship medal, including a 2020 gold, 2019 silver, and bronze in 2022 and 2023.

Notes:
Telangana won the Best National Performance Award in NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) testing under the 100-Day ‘TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ campaign. The award was presented by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on World TB Day in New Delhi. Telangana achieved over 100% screening in nine TB-affected districts, identifying over 4,600 new TB cases.

Notes:
Haryana government launched AI-powered chatbot ‘Sarathi’ for easy access to government documents. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini introduced it as part of digital governance efforts. The chatbot provides instant access to over 17,820 official documents spanning 73,622 scanned PDF pages. It retrieves government orders, acts, policies, and circulars using AI-powered search. ‘Sarathi’ eliminates manual searches, improving efficiency and transparency. Features include 24/7 availability, user-friendly interface, and instant document retrieval. The initiative aligns with India’s broader trend of using AI in governance.

Notes:
B Sumeeth Reddy announced his retirement from professional badminton to focus on coaching. He was part of India’s silver medal-winning squad at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. In men’s doubles, he partnered with Manu Attri, reaching a career-high world ranking of 17. He won gold at the 2016 South Asian Games and qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics. His achievements include titles at the 2015 Mexico City Grand Prix and 2016 Canada Open. In mixed doubles, he partnered with top Indian players, finishing runner-up at the 2017 Syed Modi International.

Notes:
Dryad Networks, a Berlin-based environmental Internet of Things (IoT) startup, introduced the Silvaguard drone for ultra-early wildfire detection. The Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based drone enhances fire detection, location, and monitoring using infrared imaging. It works with Silvanet, a solar-powered gas sensor network, detecting fires at the smoldering stage. Each sensor protects an area equal to a football field and attaches to trees. Once Silvanet detects a fire, Silvaguard flies to the location, captures video and infrared images, and sends real-time data to firefighters.

Notes:
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) released the report “Education and Nutrition: Learn to Eat Well” at the ‘Nutrition for Growth’ event in France on March 27-28, 2025. The report highlights poor nutritional quality in school meals and urges governments to improve food standards. In 2024, 47% of primary school students received school meals, but many lacked proper nutrition. In 2022, 27% of school meals were not designed with nutritionist input. Out of 187 countries, only 93 had school food policies, and 65% had cafeteria food standards. Childhood obesity has more than doubled since 1990, while food insecurity remains a challenge. UNESCO recommends fresh, locally sourced food over ultra-processed options.