Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

Notes:
Nitesh won bronze in the Greco-Roman 97kg category at the Asian Wrestling Championships 2025 in Amman, Jordan. This was India’s second medal at the event. He defeated Kazakhstan’s Ilyas Guchigov 9-0 via technical superiority (VSU) in his opening match. In the semi-finals, he lost 9-0 to Olympic champion Mohammad Hadi Saravi of Iran. In the bronze medal match, he beat Amanberdi Agamammedov of Turkmenistan 9-0 (VSU). Sunil Kumar had earlier won bronze in the 87kg category.

Notes:
Climate change is rapidly melting glaciers on Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest mountain. Lewis Glacier, once a major ice mass, has shrunk drastically and may disappear by 2030. The Lewis Glacier is located on Mount Kenya. Mount Kenya is an extinct stratovolcano and Africa’s second-highest mountain after Kilimanjaro. The glacier’s retreat highlights the severe impact of global warming on Africa’s high-altitude ice.

Notes:
The 18th All India Police Shooting (Sports) Championship 2024-25 was held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, from 24 to 29 March 2025. It was organized at Revati Range, Indore, by the Central School of Armament & Warfare Skills (CSWT), Sisubal. The All India Police Sports Control Board (AIPSCB) oversaw the event. The last competition was held in Pune, Maharashtra, in 2019. Around 600 male and female shooters participated. A total of 17 competitions were held for 204 medals. Teams from Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and various state police forces participated.

Notes:
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) hosted India’s first Nano Electronics Roadshow on March 27, 2025, at the National Science Seminar Complex, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru. It was organized in collaboration with IISc Bengaluru and five Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) – Bombay, Madras, Delhi, Kharagpur, and Guwahati. The event showcased over 100 intellectual properties, 50 technologies, and innovations from 35 startups, supported by nanoelectronics centers across India. The roadshow highlighted India’s semiconductor ecosystem, supporting the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Notes:
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the National Conference on Environment 2025 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on 29th March 2025. The two-day conference ends on 30th March 2025. It was organised by the National Green Tribunal, the conference focuses on environmental laws and their implementation. It aims to foster collaboration, raise awareness, and promote sustainable environmental management.

Notes:
The Government of India will establish the Second National Gene Bank to conserve 10 lakh crop germplasm for future food and nutritional security. This initiative is part of the “Investing in Innovations” theme of Union Budget 2025-26. A Gene Bank stores seeds, pollen, and plant tissues to protect plant species, aid crop breeding, and ensure biodiversity conservation. India’s First National Gene Bank was established in 1996 by Indian Council of Agricultural Research – National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR), New Delhi. It is the second-largest Gene Bank globally, housing 4,71,561 accessions of 2,157 species.

Notes:
Amur or Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) faces a threat due to road accidents in the Russian Far East. A study recorded 26 collisions between 1980 and 2023, with 22 on roads and 4 on rail tracks. It is the largest cat on Earth and is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Its population is estimated at 265–486 in Russia, with some in China and possibly North Korea. It inhabits birch forests, preys on elk and wild boar, and has adaptations like thick fur for cold climates.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme with Rs.22,919 crore funding. The scheme aims to boost electronics manufacturing, increase Domestic Value Addition, and integrate Indian companies with Global Value Chains. It targets Rs.59,350 crore investment, Rs.4,56,500 crore production, and 91,600 direct jobs along with many indirect jobs. Differentiated incentives will help Indian manufacturers overcome challenges, develop technology, and scale production. The initiative supports India’s goal of becoming self-reliant in the electronics supply chain under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Notes:
A recent faunal survey by the Forest Department recorded 63 new species of odonates, butterflies, and birds in Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is in Malappuram district, Kerala, covering 227.97 sq.km on the western slopes of the Nilgiri Hills. It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme. Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary shares boundaries with Mukurthi National Park in Tamil Nadu and Silent Valley National Park in Kerala. The name ‘Karimpuzha’ comes from the Karimpuzha River, a tributary of River Chaliyar. The terrain varies from 40 m to 2550 m, supporting rich biodiversity.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh MSME Minister announced India’s first Textile Machine Park near Kanpur on 875 acres in Chaparghata village, Bhongaon. The park will follow the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to reduce imports and promote Make in India. It aims to manufacture textile machines currently imported from China, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, and Europe. More than 200 large and medium units will be set up for machine production. Machines like circular knitting, flat knitting, printing, and technical textile machines will be manufactured. Local technical experts will be trained for repair and maintenance. Uttar Pradesh’s textile sector is witnessing rapid growth.