CURRENT AFFAIRS

CURRENT AFFAIRS

08 January, 2025

1.      DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KUMBH MELA AND MAHAKUMBH MELA –

•        The Kumbh Mela and Mahakumbh Mela are two of the largest religious gatherings in India, attracting millions of devotees. Both events hold immense significance in Hinduism, where people gather to bathe in holy rivers to cleanse their sins.

•        However, they differ in terms of their frequency, spiritual importance and scale. While the Kumbh Mela is held every 3 years, the Mahakumbha Mela takes place once every 12 years.

•        Kumbh Mela is a religious festival held every three years in four holy cities of India: Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik and Prayagraj. During this event, devotees take a dip in sacred rivers like the Ganges, Shipra, Godavari and the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj. People believe that this act cleanses sins and brings spiritual renewal.

2.      PRANAB MUKHERJEE MEMORIAL AT DELHI’S RAJGHAT COMPLEX –

•        The Central Government has decided to set up a memorial for former President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, part of the Rajghat precinct in Delhi. Mukherjee, who passed away on August 31, 2020, was a veteran Congress leader and the 13th President of India.

•        His daughter, Sharmistha Mukherjee, expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this unexpected gesture. The memorial will be a tribute to Mukherjee’s decades-long contribution to Indian politics.

3.      V. NARAYANAN TAKES OVER AS ISRO CHIEF AND SPACE SECRETARY –

•        Dr. V. Narayanan, a distinguished scientist with nearly four decades of experience in rocket and spacecraft propulsion, has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

•        He will succeed S. Somanath, effective from January 14, 2025, as per the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. Currently serving as the Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Dr. Narayanan brings a wealth of expertise in liquid and cryogenic propulsion systems.

•        His leadership has been instrumental in several landmark ISRO missions, including the development of the GSLV Mk III and Chandrayaan-3 propulsion systems.

4.      INDIA’S GDP GROWTH PROJECTED AT 6.4% FOR 2024-25 –

•        The National Statistical Office (NSO) has projected India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to grow by 6.4% in the financial year 2024-25, a deceleration from the 8.2% growth recorded in 2023-24.

•        Agriculture and Allied Sectors: Estimated to expand by 3.8% in 2024-25, a significant improvement from the 1.4% growth in 2023-24.

•        Construction: Projected to grow by 8.6%, indicating robust activity in infrastructure development.

•        Financial, Real Estate, and Professional Services: Expected to increase by 7.3%, reflecting sustained demand in these sectors.

•        Private Final Consumption Expenditure: Anticipated to rise by 7.3% during the fiscal year, up from 4% in the previous year, signaling stronger consumer spending.

•        Government Final Consumption Expenditure: Forecasted to grow at 4.1%, compared to 2.5% in the prior fiscal year, contributing to overall economic demand.

5.      2025 TIBET-NEPAL EARTHQUAKE –

•        The 2025 Tibet Earthquake, a catastrophic seismic event, occurred on January 5, 2025, shaking the Tibetan Plateau and its neighboring regions. The earthquake measured 7.1 on the Richter scale, as per the United States Geological Survey (USGS), while the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) recorded a magnitude of 6.8.

•        It caused widespread destruction, leaving thousands displaced and sparking international concern. As one of the most significant natural disasters in the region in recent years, it underscored the seismic vulnerability of the Tibetan Plateau, a geologically active area.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  Which city is the host of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention 2025 ?

          a) Chennai

          b) Bhopal

          c) Bhubaneswar

          d) Hyderabad

Q2.  Which institute has recently developed bacteria to combat soil pollution and boost agriculture ?

          a) IIT Kanpur

          b) IIT Madras

          c) IIT Bombay

          d) IIT Guwahati

Q3.  What is “INS Surat” that was recently seen in news ?

          a) Fleet tanker

          b) Kamorta-class corvettes

          c) Nuclear powered aircraft carrier

          d) Stealth Destroyer

Q4.  The construction of the Tsangpo Dam poses significant concerns for India due to its potential impact on water security, ecology, and regional stability.

          Reason: As the lower riparian state, India depends on the steady flow of water from the Tsangpo River for its agriculture, drinking water, and ecological balance.

          Choose the correct option:

          a) Both assertion and reason are correct, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

          b) Both assertion and reason are correct, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.

          c) The assertion is correct, but the reason is incorrect.

          d) The assertion is incorrect, but the reason is correct.

Explanation-

•        The assertion correctly highlights that the Tsangpo Dam raises major concerns for India, particularly in terms of water security, ecology, and stability.

•        The reason explains this well, as India, being the lower riparian state, relies heavily on the river’s water flow for its agricultural needs, daily consumption, and ecosystem health.

Q5.  Assertion (A): India has condemned Pakistan’s recent airstrikes on Afghanistan.

          Reason (R): Pakistan’s airstrikes were aimed to eliminate anti Pakistan insurgent groups operating from Afghan soil.

          Which of the following is the most appropriate explanation for the relationship between the Assertion and Reason ?

          a) Both Assertion and Reason are correct, and the Reason is the correct explanation for the Assertion.

          b) Both Assertion and Reason are correct, but the Reason does not explain the Assertion.

          c) The Assertion is correct, but the Reason is incorrect.

          d) The Assertion is incorrect, but the Reason is correct.

Explanation-

•        The Assertion is correct, as India did condemn the airstrikes on Afghanistan, particularly due to the civilian casualties caused.

•        The Reason is correct because Pakistan’s airstrikes were directed at insurgent groups like the TTP, which are considered a significant threat to Pakistan’s internal security.

Answer Key