CURRENT AFFAIRS
24 February, 2025
1. BHARAT TEX 2025 –
• The Prime Minister addressed the Bharat Tex 2025 event, which is a global platform for engagement, collaboration, and policy discussions in the textile sector in which over 120 countries participated.
India’s Textile Sector-
• India’s textile industry contributes 2.3% to GDP, 12% to exports, 13% to industrial production and employs 45 million, second only to agriculture.
• India is the 6th largest textile exporter globally (after China, EU, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Turkey) and world’s 2nd largest producer of textiles and garments.
• India’s textile exports increased 7% from 2023 to 2024, reaching Rs 3 lakh crore, with a target of Rs 9 lakh crore by 2030.
2. RUSHIKULYA MASS NESTING SITE IN ODISHA –
• Wildlife enthusiasts are thrilled as a record 6.5 lakh endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles have arrived at the Rushikulya beach in Odisha’s Ganjam district for mass nesting after a gap of two years.
Olive Ridley Turtles
• The Olive Ridley turtle is the smallest and most abundant sea turtle species in the world.
• Named after the olive-green color of its carapace (shell).
• Known for their unique mass nesting behavior called Arribada, where thousands of females gather on the same beach to lay eggs.
Distribution
• Found in the warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.
• Odisha’s Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is the world’s largest rookery (breeding colony) of Olive Ridley turtles.
• Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I (highest protection).
• CITES: Appendix I (prohibits international trade).
3. RBI TO INJECT $10 BILLION THROUGH FOREX SWAP TO EASE LIQUIDITY CRUNCH –
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a $10 billion foreign exchange (forex) swap to inject liquidity into the banking system and address the prevailing cash crunch.
• The three-year swap auction is scheduled for February 28, 2025. This move follows a previous $5 billion forex swap last month, highlighting the central bank’s commitment to stabilizing liquidity.
• The banking sector has been facing one of the worst liquidity shortfalls in over a decade, partly due to RBI’s aggressive dollar sales to shield the rupee from volatility.
4. PM KISAN 19TH INSTALLMENT 2025 –
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) in 2019, a crucial financial assistance scheme for India’s farmers. Under the PM Kisan Yojana, small and marginal farmers receive direct income support of Rs 6,000 annually in three installments of Rs 2,000 each.
• The PM Kisan 19th installment date 2025 has been confirmed as February 24, 2025, marking another milestone in the government’s commitment to farmer welfare.
5. INDIAN COAST GUARD HOLDS ‘SAGAR KAVACH’ DRILL FOR COASTAL SECURITY –
• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully conducted the ‘Sagar Kavach’ security exercise along the 158 km West Bengal coastline on February 21-22, 2025.
• This two-day operation aimed to test and enhance the coastal security mechanism by involving multiple agencies in tackling simulated threats. The exercise focused on refining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and strengthening inter-agency coordination to counter potential threats along India’s eastern maritime border.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Which state has recorded the highest number of bird species during the Great Backyard Bird Count?
a) Gujarat
b) Assam
c) West Bengal
d) Madhya Pradesh
Q2. Which country has become the second in world after China to launch an Electronic Personnel License (EPL) for pilots ?
a) France
b) Russia
c) India
d) Australia
Q3. Manikaran pilgrimage site, which was seen in news, lies in which state ?
a) Punjab
b) Uttarakhand
c) Haryana
d) Himachal Pradesh
Q4. Consider the following statements:
1. The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) will be held in India in 2025.
2. India has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
3. The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.
How many statements are correct ?
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
• Statement 1: Incorrect. COP30 will be held in 2025, but it will be in the Brazil, not India.
• Statement 2: Correct. India has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
• Statement 3: Correct. The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to below 2°C and preferably to 1.5°C.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the protection status of elephants in India:
1. Elephants are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
2. Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, elephants are listed in Schedule I, granting them the highest level of protection.
3. Elephants are included in Appendix II of CITES, allowing limited international trade with proper permits.
How many of the above statements is/are incorrect ?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
• The first and second statements are correct. Elephants are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, they are listed in Schedule I, providing them the highest level of protection.
• The third statement is incorrect because elephants are included in Appendix I of CITES, not Appendix II, which prohibits international trade except in rare circumstances.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
C | C | D | B | A |