CURRENT AFFAIRS
04 March, 2025
1. ADITYA-L1 MISSION CAPTURES SOLAR FLARE –
• The Aditya-L1 mission has captured the first-ever image of a solar flare ‘kernel’ in the lower solar atmosphere using the Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) payload.
• Solar Observation: SUIT detected an X6.3-class solar flare, one of the most intense solar eruptions, in the Near Ultraviolet (NUV) wavelength (200-400 nm).
• Solar Flares: Solar flares are massive explosions on the Sun’s atmosphere that release energy, light, and high-speed particles into space, often linked to coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
• Solar flares are classified into A, B, C, M, and X categories, with each class increasing 10-fold in energy. X-class flares are the most powerful.
• Aditya-L1: It is India’s first space-based solar observatory, designed to study the Sun from the Lagrange Point 1 (L1) in a halo orbit. This is ISRO’s second astronomy observatory-class mission after AstroSat (2015).
2. UTTARAKHAND AVALANCHE –
• Recently, an avalanche hit a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) project site near Mana — India’s “first” village — in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, trapping several workers and prompting a rescue operation that involved multiple agencies.
• Avalanche is a rapid descent of snow, ice, and debris down a mountain slope. It is triggered by natural or human-induced factors. It can cause widespread destruction, burying people, structures, and transport routes.
Avalanches Prone Areas in India
• The Himalayas are well known for the occurrence of snow avalanches particularly Western Himalayas I.e. the snowy regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Western Uttar Pradesh.
• Jammu and Kashmir – Higher reaches of Kashmir and Gurez valleys, Kargil and Ladakh and some of the major roads
• Himachal Pradesh – Chamba, Kullu- Spiti and Kinnaur vulnerable areas
• Uttarakhand – Parts of Tehri Garhwal and Chamoli districts are vulnerable areas.
3. AJAY SETH TAKES ADDITIONAL CHARGE AS REVENUE SECRETARY –
• In a significant administrative development, Ajay Seth, the Economic Affairs Secretary, has been assigned the additional charge of Secretary, Department of Revenue.
• This decision was announced by the Personnel Ministry on March 1, 2025. The appointment was necessitated following the transition of Tuhin Kanta Pandey, the former Revenue Secretary, to his new role as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
4. GULMARG GEARS UP FOR KHELO INDIA WINTER GAMES 2025 AFTER HEAVY SNOWFALL –
• The famous ski resort of Gulmarg, located in Jammu and Kashmir, is all set to host the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2025 from March 9 to 12.
• The much-awaited event was earlier scheduled from February 22 to 25, but due to a lack of snow, it had to be postponed.
• With fresh moderate to heavy snowfall in the region, the sports council has confirmed that Gulmarg is now ready to host the competition.
5. GST COLLECTIONS SURGE BY 9.1% TO REACH ₹1.84 LAKH CRORE IN FEBRUARY 2025 –
• The Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections in February 2025 saw a significant 9.1% year-on-year growth, reaching approximately ₹1.84 lakh crore, as per official data released.
• This increase highlights the robustness of domestic economic activity and improved compliance measures.
Breakdown of Gross GST Revenue
• The total gross GST revenue collected in February 2025 comprises multiple components, each contributing to the overall surge:
• Central GST (CGST): ₹35,204 crore
• State GST (SGST): ₹43,704 crore
• Integrated GST (IGST): ₹90,870 crore (which includes ₹41,702 crore collected on imports)
• Compensation Cess: ₹13,868 crore
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) functions under which ministry ?
a) Ministry of Home Affairs
b) Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
c) Ministry of Defence
d) Ministry of Tourism
Q2. Who has been appointed as the chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in February 2025 ?
a) Tuhin Kanta Pandey
b) Mani Shankar
c) Jitendra Kumar
d) Balbeer Singh
Q3. What is the name of India’s first indigenously developed air-launched anti-ship missile system recently tested by DRDO ?
a) BrahMos-NG
b) Naval Anti-Ship Missile (NASM-SR)
c) Nirbhay
d) Varunastra
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding India’s Aditya-L1 mission:
1. Aditya-L1 is India’s first solar mission, launched by ISRO on September 2, 2023.
2. Recently, The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) on Aditya-L1 captured the solar flare, known as a ‘kernel’, in the photosphere and chromosphere of the Sun.
3. Aditya-L1 is positioned at Lagrange Point 2 (L2), which offers a stable position for uninterrupted solar observation.
How many statements are correct ?
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
• Statement 1 is correct: Aditya-L1 is India’s first solar mission, launched by ISRO on September 2, 2023.
• Statement 2 is correct: The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) on Aditya-L1 successfully captured the core of a solar flare, or ‘kernel’, in the photosphere and chromosphere of the Sun.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Aditya-L1 is positioned at Lagrange Point 1 (L1), not Lagrange Point 2 (L2). This location provides an uninterrupted view of the Sun for continuous observation.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the National Education Policy 2020:
1. NEP 2020 retains the three-language formula, with greater flexibility.
2. The policy mandates that the three languages must include English, Hindi, and the local regional language.
Which of the above statements are correct ?
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Both
d) None
Explanation-
• Statement 1 is correct: NEP 2020 retains the three-language formula from the 1968 NEP but allows states more flexibility in choosing their languages, addressing concerns from non-Hindi-speaking states.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The policy does not mandate that Hindi, English, and the local regional language must be chosen. States are allowed to select their languages, with at least two being native to India, which could include regional languages but not necessarily Hindi.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
C | A | B | B | A |