Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

Notes:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released the Third Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (SoW-PGRFA) on March 24, 2025. The report warned of high dependency on nine crops and threats to global plant genetic diversity. SoW-PGRFA is a global assessment of the conservation, use, and status of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The report guides global action plans to protect plant genetic diversity and ensure food security.

Notes:
India’s bioeconomy is valued at over 165 billion, contributing 4.2% of GDP, as per the India BioEconomy Report 2024. The sector is projected to grow to 300 billion by 2030 and 1 trillion by 2047. Bioeconomy involves using biological resources for industrial production, including biofuels, bioplastics, and pharmaceuticals. The industrial sector contributed 78 billion (47%), while pharma contributed 35%, led by vaccines. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh generated over two-thirds of bioeconomy value. Eastern and Northeastern regions contributed less than 6%. India BioEconomy Report 2024 is released by Department of Biotechnology.

Notes:
A new species of snakehead fish, Channa nachi, was discovered in Meghalaya. It was found in a shallow, slow-flowing stream near Chokpot village, which is part of the Simsang River system. The habitat consists of sand, leaf litter, and pebbles, making it ideal for lesser-known aquatic species. The stream also hosts other freshwater fish like Schistura reticulofasciata, Dario kajal, Pseudolaguvia sp., and Barilius bendelisis. Channa nachi stands out due to its unique appearance and distinct characteristics.

Notes:
The Maasai tribe in Tanzania is resisting international carbon credit projects, fearing land loss and threats to their traditional way of life. The Maasai are semi-nomadic pastoralists and a prominent indigenous community in East Africa, primarily in Tanzania and Kenya. They speak Maa, a Nilo-Saharan language, and are known for their distinct dress, beadwork, and warrior traditions. Their society follows a patrilineal structure with age-set systems, transitioning from junior warriors to senior elders. They rely on livestock for meat, milk, and blood, practice transhumance, and live in kraals with mud-dung houses and thorn fences.

Notes:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) could help speed up the diagnosis of Coeliac Disease, an inherited autoimmune disorder. It is caused by an immune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Eating gluten triggers intestinal damage, leading to malabsorption of nutrients. Symptoms include diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating, and anemia. In children, it can affect growth and development. 1 in 10 people with a first-degree relative having the disease are at risk. 1 in 100 people worldwide are affected. The only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet.

Notes:
Nepal celebrated “Ghode Jatra”, the Horse Racing Day, with a special ceremony at the Army Pavilion in Kathmandu. The Nepal Army Cavalry organizes the festival annually, attended by the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and other officials. The festival falls on Chaitra Krishna Aunsi, the last month of the Nepali Bikram Sambat calendar. It commemorates the death of the demon Tundi, who terrorized Tundikhel, and was believed to be trampled by horses. King Pratap Malla (787 BCE) started the horse procession in Kathmandu, later spreading to Patan and Bhaktapur. Farmers sow beans and cucumbers to mark the festival and welcome the Nepali New Year.

Notes:
National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Private Limited successfully completed the trial run of Unit 2 (200 MW) of the Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project in Himachal Pradesh. The Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project is a run-of-the-river project in Sainj, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, harnessing the lower Parbati River, a tributary of the Beas River. A concrete gravity dam at Pulga village diverts water through a 31.52 km head race tunnel to a powerhouse in Suind village, Sainj Valley. The project has a total capacity of 800 MW (four units of 200 MW each). Once fully operational, it will generate 3,074 million units of electricity annually. National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Private Limited owns 100% of the project.

Notes:
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Tonga, triggering a tsunami warning. Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga, is an archipelago of 169 islands, with 36 inhabited. It lies south of Samoa, east of Fiji, and north of the Tropic of Capricorn in the South Pacific Ocean. The western islands are volcanic, with four active volcanoes, while the eastern islands are coral and low-lying. Tongatapu, Ha’apai, and Vava’u are the largest islands, with Nuku‘alofa as the capital. Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, Tonga frequently experiences volcanic activity.

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.

Notes:
The 37th Kathak Mahotsav 2025, organized by Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, a unit of Sangeet Natak Akademi, concluded successfully. The six-day festival featured the world’s first-ever Kathak Literary Festival, along with seminars, exhibitions, and dance performances. All major Kathak gharanas—Lucknow, Jaipur, Banaras, and Raigarh—were showcased through performances by renowned artists. The event was a landmark celebration of Kathak, bringing together scholars, dancers, and art enthusiasts.