Daily Current Affairs
(06 – Feb – 25)
1. Santorini Islands –
• Santorini, a popular tourist destination in Greece’s volcanic island, has experienced frequent earthquakes.
• These tremors have been linked to tectonic plate movements from the African-Eurasian Plate interaction, rather than volcanic activity.
• Santorini: It lies in the southern Aegean Sea, 200 km southeast from the mainland. Its capital is Fira.
• It is a part of the southern Cyclades (group of around 2200 Greek islands in the southern Aegean Sea), with an area of approximately 73 km2 located on the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, a chain of islands formed by volcanic activity.
2. Jal Jeevan Mission Extended Till 2028 –
• Union Budget 2025-26 has extended the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) till 2028 with the aim of benefiting the remaining (20%) rural households.
• About: The JJM was launched in 2019 with the aim to provide drinking tap water supply to every rural household by 2024, targeting 55 liters per person per day.
• Progress: In 2019, only 3.23 crore (17%) of rural households had tap water connections.
• As of 2024, it covered 15 crore households (80% of rural India).
• Focus: The extension of the Mission will focus on improving the quality of infrastructure and ensuring the operation and maintenance of rural piped water supply systems, with a strong emphasis on public participation.
• Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs): New MoUs will be signed with states and union territories to ensure the sustainability and citizen-centric water service delivery.
3. Highlights of RBI Monetary Policy Committee 2025 –
• The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) held its 53rd meeting from February 5 to 7, 2025, under the chairmanship of Shri Sanjay Malhotra, the Governor of RBI.
• The meeting was attended by MPC members Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Shri Saugata Bhattacharya, Prof. Ram Singh, Dr. Rajiv Ranjan, and Shri M. Rajeshwar Rao.
• After evaluating the current macroeconomic conditions and future economic trends, the MPC unanimously decided to reduce the repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) and maintain a neutral monetary policy stance. This decision aligns with the RBI’s commitment to inflation control, economic growth, and financial stability.
4. Fort William Renamed as ‘Vijay Durg’ –
• In a significant step towards decolonization, the Indian Army has renamed Kolkata’s Fort William, the headquarters of its Eastern Command, as ‘Vijay Durg’.
• The decision, made in December 2024, reflects India’s commitment to honoring its indigenous military history over colonial relics. Inspired by the historic Vijaydurg Fort in Maharashtra, which served as a naval stronghold under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, this renaming aligns with the government’s broader push to erase colonial imprints from institutions and landmarks.
5. Southern Hemisphere’s Largest Hindu Temple Unveiled –
• On February 2, 2025, a grand inauguration ceremony was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the largest Hindu temple in the Southern Hemisphere.
• This temple is part of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Multi-Cultural Centre. The event was graced by South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile and spiritual leader Mahant Swami Maharaj.
• The temple is not only a place of worship but also a hub for cultural exchange, education, and social service.
MCQ Quiz
Q1. What is the aim of the ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’ announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 ?
a) To create new manuscripts for educational purposes
b) To survey, document, and conserve India’s manuscript heritage
c) To digitalize all ancient Indian texts
d) To print and distribute manuscripts for public use
Q2. What is the main goal of the National Geospatial Mission announced in Budget 2025-26 ?
a) To increase agricultural production
b) To modernise land records and enhance urban planning
c) To support rural development
d) To improve educational infrastructure
Q3. India’s Zepto has become the world’s second most downloaded mobile app in the foods and drinks category in 2024. Which app was the most downloaded mobile app in the foods and drinks category in 2024 ?
a) Swiggy
b) Zomato
c) Dunzo
d) McDonald’s
Q4. Consider the following statements hanks:
1. The Motion of Thanks is discussed only in the Lok Sabha.
2. It is at the discretion of the presiding officer to accept or reject a no-confidence motion.
3. It is necessary to put all motions to a vote in the House.
How many statements given above are correct ?
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
Statement 1: Incorrect. The ‘Motion of Thanks’ is discussed in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
Statement 2: Correct. A no-confidence motion needs to be supported by 50 members to be admitted. Even after following the rules, it is at the discretion of the presiding officer to accept or reject the motion.
Statement 3: Incorrect. all motions are not necessarily put to a vote of the House, whereas all resolutions are required to be voted upon.
Q5. In which countries is UPI fully functional?
a) UAE, Bhutan, and Singapore
b) Nepal, Mauritius, and France
c) Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bangladesh
d) USA, UK, and Australia
Explanation-
UPI is fully functional in UAE, Bhutan, and Singapore, with pilot tests completed in Nepal, Mauritius, France, and Sri Lanka, where commercial deployment is expected soon.