Daily Current Affairs Quiz: February 03, 2025

Answer: B

World Wetlands Day is observed every year on 2nd February to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands.

• This day marks the adoption of the Ramsar Conventionon 2nd February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.
• Theme for 2025: “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future”.
• India has 85 Ramsar sitesas of December 2024.
• Tamil Nadu has the most Ramsar sites (16), followed by Uttar Pradesh (10).
• First Ramsar sites in India: Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan).

Answer: A

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant inaugurated the 10th Sci-Fi Science Film Festival of India in Panaji on January 29, 2025.

• The festival is organized by Vidnyan Parishad Goawith support from the Goa Science Council and the Goa Science and Technology Department.
• This year’s theme, “Green Revolution,”honors  M.S. Swaminathan, the father of India’s Green Revolution, and emphasizes the path to a sustainable future.
• The four-day eventaims to foster curiosity, enthusiasm, and a scientific temperament among students and young minds.
• The festival was conceptualized by the late Manohar Bhai Parrikarand Jayantrao Sahasrabuddhe, reflecting their commitment to science and innovation.

Answer: A

The first Raisina Middle East Conference was held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on 28-29 January 2025.

• India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, was the chief guestat the conference.
• The event was co-hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and ORF Middle East, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE, and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
• The conference aimed to strengthen India-UAE relations, discuss regional and global geopolitical and geoeconomic issues, enhance trade, investment, and strategic partnerships, and promote regional integration with the global economy.
• Discussions focused on trade and connectivity, finance and investment, technology and innovation, geopolitics and security, energy, and green imperatives.

Answer: B

Indian Railways launched the ‘SwaRail’ SuperApp on January 31, 2025, for beta testing.

• The app aims to provide a one-stop solutionfor railway services, eliminating the need for multiple applications.
• The app offers ticket booking (reserved/unreserved), PNR inquiries, train schedules, platform and parcel bookings, and grievance redressal (Rail Madad).
• Single Sign-On featureallows users to access all services with one login.
• Secure authenticationthrough m-PIN and biometric login ensures user safety.
• The app is designed with a user-friendly interface for seamless navigation.
• Currently available to 1,000 users for testing, with feedback being used for improvements before a full rollout.

Answer: B

Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the book “Indian Renaissance: The Modi Decade” on January 30, 2025, at the NDMC Convention Center in New Delhi.

• The anthology, edited by  Aishwarya Pandit, is published by Westland Non-Fiction.
• It features contributions from 27 distinguished authors, exploring political, economic, social, and cultural transformationsin India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure from 2014 to 2024.

Answer: D

On January 29, 2025, a tragic stampede occurred at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, leading to at least 30 fatalities and over 60 injuries.

• The stampede was caused by overcrowdingas millions of devotees gathered for the ritual bath at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers.
• A three-member panelwas set up by the Uttar Pradesh government under Clause 3 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952 to investigate the incident.
• The commission members include Justice Harsh Kumar(retired High Court judge), K. Singh (retired IAS officer), and V.K. Gupta (former DGP).
• The Maha Kumbh Melais a major Hindu pilgrimage that occurs every 12 years at four locations: Allahabad (Prayagraj), Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik.
• The 2025 festival was a Maha (Great) Kumbh Mela, which occurs only every 144 years.

Answer: B

Guinea has successfully eliminated the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness, becoming the first country to do so.

• This milestone was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO)on January 29, 2025, ahead of Neglected Tropical Diseases Day observed on January 30.
• Sleeping sicknessis transmitted by the bite of the tsetse fly and has two stages:

• The hemolymphatic stage involves symptoms like fever, headaches, joint pain, and itching.
• The neurological stage leads to confusion, sleep disturbances, and other severe neurological symptoms

• Other countries, including Togo, Benin, Uganda, and Equatorial Guinea, have also made progress toward eliminating this disease.

Answer: C

India’s first paragliding school was inaugurated by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on January 25, 2025, at Bir-Billing, Himachal Pradesh.

• The facility was constructed by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Boardunder the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
• Built at a cost of ₹9 crore, the center was completed three years ago but faced delays due to the absence of paragliding regulations.
• The complex includes office rooms, lecture halls, conference rooms, dormitories, single-bed rooms, a dining hall, and a modern kitchen.
• The institute will be jointly managed by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC)and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali.
• The school aims to train over 100 youths annuallyin paragliding.