Daily Current Affairs Quiz: February 14, 2025

Answer: C

World Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day is observed every year on February 14.

• A congenital heart defect is a heart condition present at birth, caused by abnormal development of the heart or nearby blood vessels. The exact causes remain unclear, and these defects are considered anomalies rather than diseases.
• The theme for CHD Awareness in 2025 is “Remember Our Hearts.” This day provides a platform to inform people about the prevalence, symptoms, and treatment options for CHDs.

Answer: C

Israeli forces began withdrawing from a key Gaza corridor on Sunday, February 9, 2025, as part of Israel’s commitments under a fragile ceasefire deal with Hamas, according to Israeli officials.

• The withdrawal focused on the Netzarim Corridor, a strategically important military zone that separated northern and southern Gaza.
• This 6-kilometer stretch of land was established during the Gaza conflict, which began in 2023 and continues.
• Named after a former Israeli settlement, the corridor served as a key operational area for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and played a role in securing aid routes across the region.
• The withdrawal marks a significant development in the conflict, potentially indicating a shift in military strategy or priorities.
• The decision may also have broader implications for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, given the corridor’s previous role in controlling both military operations and aid distribution.

Answer: B

The Indian Army and Indian Air Force jointly conducted a comprehensive training exercise, Ex Winged Raider, in the Eastern Theater.

• The exercise emphasized the critical role of airborne forces in modern military strategy, enabling swift action across diverse environments.
• It focused on special airborne operations, enhancing rapid deployment using both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, including the Chinook helicopter for the first time in the region.
• Ex Winged Raider aligns with India’s broader goal of enhancing inter-service coordination, supporting the move towards integrated theater commands for more efficient military operations.

Answer: B

Recently the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has issued a warning that the Morand-Ganjal Irrigation Project in Madhya Pradesh will lead to the submergence of crucial tiger habitats in the Satpura Wildlife Sanctuary and Melghat Tiger Reserves.

• The project is a dam-based irrigation initiativeaimed at enhancing agricultural productivity in Madhya Pradesh.
• It involves the Morand and Ganjal Rivers.While the Morand River is a tributary of the Ganjal River, the Ganjal is itself a left-bank tributary of the Narmada River.
• Satpura Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 2000, is located south of the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh’s Satpura ranges.
• It is home to Bengal tigers, leopards, and diverse flora, and connects with Pench National Park.
• Melghat Tiger Reserve, established in 1967 and declared a tiger reserve in 1974, lies in Maharashtra’s Gavilgarh Hill.
• Known for its tropical dry forests and home to the critically endangered forest owlet, it was the first tiger reserve in Maharashtra under Project Tiger.

Answer: C

In a recent development, the Atal Bhujal Yojana, which aims to improve groundwater levels, has been expanded to address water scarcity in regions with declining water resources.

• Originally targeting seven water-stressed states, the scheme is now set to include twelve states, with new additions.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana is a central sector scheme, which aims to improve groundwater levels.
• Launched in 2019, the scheme, which was originally set to run from 2020 to 2025, has now been extended until 2027.
• Funded jointly by the Government of India and the World Bank with a total cost of Rs. 6,000 crore, the scheme focuses on strengthening institutional frameworks for sustainable groundwater management and incentivizing states to adopt better water practices.
• Managed by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the initiative also emphasizes enhanced data monitoring and effective groundwater interventions.

Answer: C

India is participating in the 40-day expedition in association with the National Institute of Water and  Atmospheric Research (NIWA), New Zealand, as a permanent member of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources to assess the diversity and distribution of the living resources in the Ross Sea area

• The Ross Sea is located in the Southern Ocean, near the South Pole.
• It covers approximately 1.55 million square kilometers.
• It is the largest polar marine ecosystem in the world.
• The sea is home to many penguins, whales, and other marine species.
• The Ross Sea is relatively shallow and is mostly covered by the Ross Ice Shelf.
• The Ross Sea is the first protected area in Antarctica, helping to preserve its unique ecosystem.

Answer: B

India has recently finalised an agreement with Russia to acquire anti-ship cruise missiles.

• Developed by the Russian defense company NPO Novator, the Klub, also known as Kalibr, is a cruise missile that was inducted into Moscow’s defense forces in 1994.
• The Klub-S missiles carry a warhead payload of 400 kilograms and are capable of targeting surface ships, submarines, and ground targets at distances of up to 300 kilometers.
• The system includes a fire control system, a vertical launcher unit (VLU), and ammunition.
• The missile can accelerate to supersonic speeds during the terminal phase, making it challenging for enemy defenses to intercept.
• It cruises at an altitude of 10-15 meters, reducing the reaction time for enemy defenses.
• Featuring a modular design, the Klub-S shares common parts with other variants in the Kalibr family, ensuring compatibility and ease of maintenance.

Answer: B

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched India’s first indigenous Automated Bio Medical Waste Treatment Plant named “Srjanam,” at AIIMS New Delhi.

• This innovative, environmentally friendly technology, developed by CSIR-NIIST (National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology) Thiruvananthapuram, offers a significant advancement in the sustainable management of biomedical waste.
• The “Sṛjanam” rig can disinfect pathogenic biomedical waste such as blood, urine, sputum, and laboratory disposables, without the use of costly and energy-intensive incinerators, which are traditionally used for this purpose
• Notably, the rig also neutralizes foul odors, imparting a pleasant fragrance to otherwise toxic waste. With a daily capacity of 400 kg, the equipment can handle 10 kg of degradable medical waste per day in its initial phase, gradually scaling up.”