CURRENT AFFAIRS
13 February, 2025
1. FORT WILLIAMS RENAMED AS VIJAY DURG –
• Fort William, the Indian Army’s Eastern Command HQ in Kolkata, has been renamed Vijay Durg to remove colonial imprints. It is named after Maharashtra’s oldest Sindhudurg fort, a former Maratha naval base under Chhatrapati Shivaji.
• Other changes include renaming Kitchener House, inside the fort to Manekshaw House and St. George’s Gate to Shivaji Gate.
• The fort is located in Kolkata on the eastern banks of the Hooghly River and was originally named after King William III of England.
• The original fort was built by the British in 1696 under Sir John Goldsborough and completed in 1706.
• It was damaged during the Siege of Calcutta (1756) when Siraj-ud-Daulah defeated the British.
• After the Battle of Plassey (1757), Robert Clive rebuilt it at a new location between 1758 and 1781.
2. A WOMAN WITH THE RARE ‘BOMBAY’ (HH) BLOOD GROUP UNDERWENT A SUCCESSFUL KIDNEY TRANSPLANT IN INDIA –
• It was identified in Mumbai in 1952, and also called the hh blood group due to the absence of the H antigen.
• Antigens are proteins or carbohydrates on blood cells (RBCs, WBCs and platelets) that determine blood type. E.g., AB blood group has both A and B antigens, A has A antigens, B has B antigens, and O has none.
• In the Bombay blood group, a mutated or absent H antigen gene prevents A, B, or O antigen formation.
• Rarity: It is exceptionally rare and found in approximately 1 in 10,000 Indians and 1 in a million people globally.
• Problems in Blood Transfusion: Individuals with hh blood groups can’t receive any A, B, AB or O blood, including O-negative, as they contain the H antigen.
• The recipient’s immune system recognizes donor antigens as foreign (antibodies), and triggers a severe immune reaction.
• About Blood Group: Under the ABO blood group system, blood groups are classified into four common blood groups i.e. A, B, AB and O.
• It was first identified by Austrian immunologist Karl Landsteiner in 1901.
3. RBI TO ISSUE ₹50 BANKNOTES WITH GOVERNOR SANJAY MALHOTRA’S SIGNATURE –
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the issuance of new ₹50 denomination banknotes featuring the signature of its newly appointed Governor, Sanjay Malhotra.
• Malhotra took charge as the 26th RBI Governor in December 2024, succeeding Shaktikanta Das.
• These new banknotes will maintain the existing design under the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series, ensuring continuity in India’s currency framework. Importantly, all previously issued ₹50 notes will remain valid and continue to be legal tender, as confirmed by the RBI.
4. INDIA’S RETAIL INFLATION DROPS TO 4.31% IN JANUARY 2025 –
• India’s retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), eased to 4.31% in January 2025, marking its lowest level in five months. This is a decline from 5.22% in December 2024, bringing some relief to consumers and policymakers.
• The fall in inflation is mainly attributed to a slowdown in food prices, particularly vegetables, as fresh winter supplies entered the market.
• The primary reason behind the easing inflation is the sharp decline in food price inflation, which fell to 6.02% in January from 8.39% in December. Within food inflation, vegetable prices saw a significant drop, rising by only 11.35% year-on-year compared to the 26.6% surge recorded in December.
• This decline has been driven by the availability of fresh seasonal produce, helping to stabilize food costs.
5. INDIA TO HOST NEXT GLOBAL AI SUMMIT: PM MODI –
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will host the next Global AI Summit, following discussions at the AI Action Summit in Paris. The summit, co-chaired by PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, focused on fostering global cooperation in AI development.
• India’s leadership in AI, its commitment to inclusivity, and the establishment of key AI initiatives were highlighted during the event.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. What is the India’s rank in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2024 ?
a) 76
b) 93
c) 96
d) 121
Q2. What was the retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in January 2025 ?
a) 3.8%
b) 4.0%
c) 4.3%
d) 4.7%
Q3. Which state will host the 39th edition of the National Games in 2027 ?
a) Uttarakhand
b) Assam
c) Meghalaya
d) Manipur
Q4. What is the main reason behind Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania’s decision to disconnect from the Russian power grid ?
a) To reduce electricity costs
b) To improve energy security and reduce dependence on Russia
c) To increase their reliance on renewable energy sources
d) To join the European Union’s electricity network immediately Answer
Explanation-
• The decision by Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to disconnect from the Russian power grid is a strategic move to reduce their dependence on Russia and improve their energy security.
• This move is also seen as a step towards strengthening their ties with Europe and fully joining the European Union’s electricity network.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding India’s solar power capacity:
1. India’s installed solar power capacity surpassed 100 GW by January 31, 2025, marking a significant milestone in its renewable energy journey.
2. Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh are leading states contributing to India’s overall solar power capacity.
3. The rooftop solar sector installed 10 GW of new capacity in 2024, reflecting a 53% increase from 2023.
4. India’s solar module manufacturing capacity increased from 2 GW in 2014 to 60 GW in 2024, with plans to reach 100 GW by 2030.
How many of the above statements is/are correct ?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) Only three
d) All four
Explanation-
Statement 1 is correct: India’s solar power capacity surpassed 100 GW by January 31, 2025.
Statement 2 is correct: States like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh are leading contributors to India’s solar power capacity.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The rooftop solar sector installed 4.59 GW of new capacity in 2024, not 10 GW.
Statement 4 is correct: India’s solar module manufacturing capacity grew from 2 GW in 2014 to 60 GW in 2024, and it aims to reach 100 GW by 2030.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
C | C | C | B | C |