CURRENT AFFAIRS
21 January, 2025
1. INDIA WINS INAUGURAL KHO KHO WORLD CUP 2025 –
• India emerged as the champions of the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025, clinching both the men’s and women’s Kho Kho World champions titles by defeating Nepal in the finals.
• Kho Kho World Cup 2025: The tournament was backed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), it included group stages and knockouts for both divisions (men’s and women’s).
• Kho Kho’s Historical Significance: It is one of India’s oldest traditional tag games, believed to have evolved from the Chakravyuha, a war formation in the Mahabharata, resembling a defensive tactic similar to Kho Kho’s ring play.
• Experts believe that Kho Kho originated in Maharashtra, and was initially played on chariots. The modern foot version emerged in 1914 during World War I, with Pune’s Deccan Gymkhana Club formalizing its rules and structure.
• A Kho Kho team consists of 9 active players, with 3 substitutes available. Players alternate between chasing, defending, and tagging opponents.
2. ISRO’S THIRD LAUNCH PAD –
• The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Third Launch Pad (TLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), India’s 1st launchport (2nd launchport – Kulasekarapattinam), in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
• The third launch pad will have the capacity to handle spacecraft weighing up to 30,000 tonnes in low Earth orbit.
• Designed to support NGLV, LVM3 vehicles with semi cryogenic stages, and scaled-up NGLV configurations.
• Currently, ISRO uses two launch pads i.e., the First Launch Pad (FLP) and the Second Launch Pad (SLP).
• FLP was implemented for the PSLV and continues to support launches for both PSLV and SSLV.
• SLP was primarily set up for GSLV and LVM3, while also serving as a backup for PSLV.
• It successfully launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission and is preparing for the upcoming Gaganyaan missions.
3. INDIA TESTS ‘BHARGAVASTRA’ MICRO-MISSILE FOR COUNTERING DRONE SWARMS –
• India has successfully tested its first indigenous micro-missile system, ‘Bhargavastra,’ designed to counter swarm drone threats. This development marks a significant milestone in enhancing the nation’s defense capabilities against emerging aerial threats.
Key Features of the Bhargavastra Micro-Missile System
• Detection and Neutralization: Capable of detecting small aerial vehicles at distances exceeding 6 km and neutralizing them using guided micro munitions.
• Simultaneous Launch Capability: Designed to launch over 64 micro missiles simultaneously, enabling effective countermeasures against swarm formations.
• Mobile Platform: Mounted on a mobile platform for rapid deployment across diverse terrains, including high-altitude regions.
• Versatile Design: Engineered to operate across varied terrains, meeting specific requirements of the Indian military.
4. CHINA UNVEILS WORLD’S LONGEST TUNNEL, ENHANCES BRI CONNECTIVITY –
• China has completed the construction of the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, the world’s longest expressway tunnel, marking a significant advancement in infrastructure development and enhancing connectivity within the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
• Tunnel Specifications: The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel spans 22.13 kilometers and is a pivotal component of the Urumqi-Yuli Expressway, which connects Urumqi in northern Xinjiang to Yuli County in the south. Once operational, it will reduce travel time through the Tianshan Mountains from approximately three hours to about 20 minutes.
5. FLAMINGO FESTIVAL 2025 CONCLUDES IN ANDHRA PRADESH –
• The three-day Flamingo Festival 2025 in Andhra Pradesh concluded on January 20, 2025, with calls to protect the rich biodiversity of the region, specifically in Pulicat Lake and Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary.
• The event, which attracted numerous visitors, particularly bird watchers and photographers, was hailed as a major success.
• The closing ceremony saw the participation of Ministers Anam Ramanarayana Reddy and Anagani Satya Prasad, who expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for the revival of the festival, which had been dormant for some time.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Which cricket team has won the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy ?
a) Karnataka
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Himachal Pradesh
d) Rajasthan
Q2. Palamu Tiger Reserve is located in which state ?
a) Maharashtra
b) Karnataka
c) Bihar
d) Jharkhand
Q3. Kalaripayattu is the traditional martial art of which state ?
a) Tamil Nadu
b) Kerala
c) Karnataka
d) Maharashtra
Q4. Assertion: India is projected to maintain a growth rate of 6.7% in FY26 and FY27, making it the fastest-growing major economy globally.
Reasoning: This growth rate is significantly higher than the global average of 2.7%.
Which of the options is correct ?
a) Both the assertion and the reasoning are correct, and the reasoning correctly explains the assertion.
b) Both the assertion and the reasoning are correct, but the reasoning does not explain the assertion.
c) The assertion is correct, but the reasoning is incorrect.
d) The assertion is incorrect, but the reasoning is correct.
Explanation-
The assertion is correct as India is projected to continue growing at a rate of 6.7% in the upcoming fiscal years. The reasoning is also accurate, explaining that India’s growth rate significantly outpaces the global average of 2.7%, which demonstrates India’s strong and resilient economic performance. Both the assertion and the reasoning are correct, and the reasoning correctly explains the assertion.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the European Union (EU):
1. The European Union (EU) has 27 member states.
2. The Euro is the official currency of all EU member states.
3. The EU was established by the Treaty of Maastricht in 1993.
How many of the above statements are correct ?
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
Statement 1 is correct: The European Union (EU) consists of 27 member states.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Euro is the official currency of 19 EU member states, not all of them.
Statement 3 is correct: The EU was established by the Maastricht Treaty, which came into effect in 1993.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
A | D | B | A | B |