Daily Current Affairs Quiz: January 08, 2025

Answer: d

Observed annually on January 8.

• It commemorates French physicist Léon Foucault’s 1851 experiment demonstrating Earth’s rotation on its axis.
• Foucault used a pendulum, later named the “Foucault Pendulum,” to visually prove this phenomenon.

Answer: b

Recently, a faunal survey was conducted in the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, focussed on birds, butterflies, odonates (dragonflies and damselflies),and other wildlife.

• Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Kollam district of Kerala, part of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats.
• Named after the endemic tree species Gluta travancorica (Chenkurunji).
• Major rivers include Shendurney, Kazhuthuruthy, and Kulathupuzha, forming the Kallada River.
• Fauna includes elephants, gaur, sambar deer, Malabar giant squirrel, Nilgiri langur, and lion-tailed macaque.
• Thenmala, India’s first planned eco-tourism destination, is located in the sanctuary.

Answer: a

IIT Madras has partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on Project VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources)

• Project VISTAAR is a collaboration between IIT Madras and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• It is an AI-augmented “Network of Networks” enabling states to create their own Agri-Advisory networks.
• Integrates over 12,000 agri-focused start-ups to provide farmers access to innovative solutions.
• Connects decentralized databases for better decision-making and resource utilization.

Answer: d

The Government of India has established an 18-member committee, chaired by NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand, to revise the base year of the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) from 2011-12 to 2022-23.

• The update aims to reflect structural economic changes and improve inflation measurement at the producer level.
• The committee will revise the commodity basket, enhance the price collection system, and plan the transition from WPI to a Producer Price Index (PPI).
• WPI currently measures inflation for goods only, excluding services, which form over 50% of India’s GDP.
• The report is expected within 18 months and will guide the DPIIT’s Office of the Economic Adviser.

Answer: c

Prativa Satpathy, a renowned Odia poet, received the Gangadhar National Award for Poetry 2023 on January 5, 2025, during Sambalpur University’s 58th foundation day.

• The award, established in 1989 and named after poet Gangadhar Meher, includes a citation, shawl, and ₹1,00,000 cash prize.
• Previous recipients include Gulzar, Kedar Nath Singh, and Ayyapa Panikar.
• Prativa Satpathy is known for her work ‘Sesha Janha’ and has received the Sahitya Akademi Award.

Answer: c

SBI launched two deposit schemes: ‘Har Ghar Lakhpati’ and ‘SBI Patrons,’ aimed at enhancing financial inclusion.

• ‘Har Ghar Lakhpati’ is a pre-calculated recurring deposit to help customers accumulate ₹1 lakh or multiples, available to minors.
• ‘SBI Patrons’ is a fixed deposit scheme for senior citizens aged 80 and above, offering enhanced interest rates.
• Both schemes cater to diverse customer needs, with ‘Har Ghar Lakhpati’ focusing on savings and ‘SBI Patrons’ rewarding long-term relationships with senior customers.

Answer: b

Farmers in Telangana will receive ₹12,000 per acre annually under the Rythu Bharosa scheme.

• The scheme is set to launch on January 26, 2025, coinciding with Republic Day celebrations.
• This initiative replaces the previous Rythu Bandhu scheme, which provided ₹5,000 per acre, effectively increasing the support by ₹7,000 per acre.
• Approximately 70 lakh farmers in Telangana are expected to benefit from this scheme.
• To finance the scheme, the Telangana government plans to raise ₹30,000 crore through market borrowings in the last quarter of the financial year 2024-25.

Answer: a

The Haryana Steelers secured their first Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) title, with a 32-23 victory over the Patna Pirates at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune.

Key Highlights of The Game

• Final Score: Haryana Steelers 32-23 Patna Pirates
• Venue: Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune