Daily Current Affairs Quiz: January 13, 2025

Answer: c

Celebrated on 14^th January.

• Pongal is a harvest festival and a dish of boiled rice in milk that is celebrated in South India and Sri Lanka.
• A four-day celebration that marks the beginning of the harvest season, the Tamil month of Thai, and the end of winter. It’s a time to give thanks to nature, the sun, and farm animals for a bountiful harvest.
• The word “pongal” comes from the Tamil word pongu, which means “to boil over”.

Answer: d

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, has announced significant initiatives to enhance the capacity of Kandla Port (Deendayal Port) in Gujarat, India, with a total investment exceeding ₹57,000 crores.

• Kandla Port (Deendayal Port) was established in the 1930s with an RCC jetty by Maharao Khengarji.
• Renamed Deendayal Port in 2017 under the Indian Ports Act, 1908.
• Located in the Gulf of Kutch, Kutch District, Gujarat.
• Constructed in the 1950s as a replacement for Karachi Port after partition.
• One of India’s 12 major ports, operational since 1950.
• Serves as a gateway for states like Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
• Ranked India’s No. 1 port in 2007-08 and retained this rank for 14 years.

Answer: b

John Dramani Mahama was sworn in as Ghana’s president for a third term.

• Ghana is situated in West Africa, bordered by Côte d’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south.
• Capital:
• Ghana is one of the world’s largest producers of gold and cocoa.
• Climate:The country experiences a tropical climate with two main seasons: wet and dry.
• Geographical Features:The highest peak is Mount Afadja, part of the Akwapim-Togo Ranges. Major rivers include the Volta River, Black Volta, White Volta, Pra, and Tano.
• Historical Fact:Formerly known as the Gold Coast, Ghana was the first black African country south of the Sahara to achieve independence from colonial rule in 1957.

Answer: c

India’s first Green Hydrogen Hub was launched in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, with an investment of ₹1.85 lakh crore by NTPC Green Energy Limited.

• The hub spans over 1,200 acres and aims to produce 1,500 tonnes of green hydrogen daily and 7,500 tonnes of derivatives like green methanol and sustainable aviation fuel.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) was announced in January 2023 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• Objective: Make India a global hub for the production, usage, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives.
• Target: Achieve a production capacity of 5 MMT (million metric tonnes) per annum of green hydrogen by 2030.

Answer: a

The Uttarakhand High Court has criticized authorities for failing to regulate soapstone mining in Bageshwar, highlighting environmental and safety concerns.

• Soapstone, also known as steatite, is a metamorphic rock primarily composed of the mineral talc, making it relatively soft and heat-resistant.
• It is soft, dense, and highly heat-resistant, making it suitable for various uses.
• Appearance includes shades of gray, bluish, green, or brown.
• Common applications are in countertops, sinks, hearths, sculptures, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
• Major reserves in India are in Rajasthan (57%) and Uttarakhand (25%).

Answer: b

India and U.S. will coproduce interoperable sonobuoys for the Indian Navy Initiative is aligned with the objective of the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET).

• Sonobuoysare air-launched, expendable electro-mechanical acoustic sensors used primarily in anti-submarine warfare and underwater acoustic research.
• They detect, classify, and track submarines by emitting sound waves and analyzing the echoes (active sonar) or by listening for sounds produced by submarines (passive sonar).
• Sonobuoys are typically around 13 cm (5 inches) in diameter and 91 cm (3 feet) long, designed to be deployed from aircraft or ships.

Answer: d

Future of Jobs Report 2025 has been released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

• The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 anticipates a net increase of 78 million jobs by 2030, with 170 million new jobs created and 92 million displaced.
• Technology-related roles, such as Big Data Specialists and Fintech Engineers, are projected to experience the fastest growth.
• Clerical and secretarial positions are expected to see the largest decline in absolute numbers.
• Workers may find that 40% of their current skill sets will become outdated or need transformation between 2025 and 2030.
• The report emphasizes the importance of reskilling and upskilling to adapt to changing job market demands.

Answer: b

Lahaul-Spiti residents celebrate Halda festival for luck, abundant harvest.

• Halda Festival is celebrated in January in the Lahaul-Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh.
• It is dedicated to Shiskar Apa, the Goddess of Wealth, for blessings of prosperity and a good harvest.
• Celebrations are prominent in the Pattan, Gahar, and Chandra valleys.
• Villagers craft torches called Halda from pencil cedar branches, symbolizing male family members.
• Torches are lit and gathered at a central place as part of the rituals.
• The Asur Dance is performed on the last day in Khangsar village, Chandra valley.
• The festival ends with rituals at the temple of Deity Nag Raj.