Daily Current Affairs Quiz: January 16, 2025

Answer: C

Benjamin Franklin Day is observed annually on January 17 to honor Benjamin Franklin, one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States.

• Born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, Franklin was a polymath excelling as an inventor, author, printer, politician, diplomat, musician, and postmaster.
• He invented the lightning rod, bifocal glasses, and the Franklin stove.
• Authored “Poor Richard’s Almanack,” an annual publication from 1732 to 1758.
• Founded the first subscription library in America in 1731 and contributed to establishing the University of Pennsylvania.

Answer: D

India is set to host the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments of Commonwealth Countries (CSPOC) from January 3 to 6, 2026, in New Delhi.

• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced this during the CSPOC Standing Committee Meeting in Guernsey. 
• The conference will focus on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and social media in parliamentary processes, aiming to enhance the effectiveness, inclusivity, and transparency of parliamentary institutions.
• CSPOC, established in 1969 by then Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, Lucien Lamoureux, serves as a platform for Speakers and Presiding Officers from Commonwealth parliaments to exchange best practices and strengthen parliamentary cooperation.
• The conference is held biennially, with Canada providing a secretariat to facilitate its activities.
• CSPOC operates independently without formal ties to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association or the Commonwealth Secretariat.
• India has previously hosted CSPOC conferences in 1970-71, 1986, and 2010, reflecting its longstanding tradition of engaging in inter-parliamentary dialogues.

Answer: A

Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform was launched by Union Minister Piyush Goyal at the Bharat Climate Forum 2025.

• It aims to enhance cleantech value chains in solar, wind, hydrogen, and battery storage sectors.
• The platform facilitates collaboration, co-innovation, and resource sharing among Indian firms.
• It provides a platform for financing cleantech initiatives, supporting investment in the sector.
• Emphasis is placed on achieving self-sustaining growth without reliance on government subsidies.
• Supports India’s target of achieving 500 GW of clean energy by 2030.

Answer: B

Madhya Pradesh has launched the PARTH Yojana (Police Army Recruitment Training & Hunar) to prepare youth for careers in the Indian Army, police, and paramilitary forces.

• The PARTH Yojana aims to instill patriotism, enhance employability, and reduce unemployment among the youth of Madhya Pradesh by preparing them for competitive examinations in defense and law enforcement sectors.
• The scheme focuses on enhancing both physical and mental preparedness of candidates.
• Training components include physical fitness preparation, written examination coaching (covering general knowledge, mathematics, and English), and personality development guidance.
• Training centers will be established at divisional levels across the state, managed by district sports and youth welfare officers.
• The scheme is self-financed, with trainees paying a fixed monthly fee determined by the Sports Trainer Welfare Committee.
• The MPYP (Madhya Pradesh Youth Portal) has been launched to connect youth with skill development programs, career guidance, and employment opportunities.

Answer: C

The Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal-Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (PKC-ERCP) is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing water availability in 23 districts of Rajasthan.

• It will provide water for irrigation, drinking, and industrial use, benefiting 3.45 crore people.
• The Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal-Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (PKC-ERCP) is a river-linking initiative designed to divert surplus water from the Parbati, Newaj, and Kalisindh rivers to the Chambal River.
• The project aims to provide water for domestic use, optimize water resources within the Chambal basin, and benefit regions in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
• The Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP), proposed in 2019, facilitates intra-basin water transfer within the Chambal basin by utilizing surplus monsoon water from the Kalisindh, Parvati, Mej, and Chakan sub-basins.
• The project will submerge 408.86 sq km of land, including 37 sq km of the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, home to 57 tigers.
• A 39-meter-high, 1.6 km long dam will be built across the Banas River near Doongri, 30 km from Sawai Madhopur.
• Construction may disrupt the north-south animal dispersal route within the reserve.

Answer: B

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recently celebrated its 150th foundation day. During the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the ‘Vision-2047’ document, outlining ambitious goals for weather forecasting and disaster management.

• IMD was established on January 15, 1875, as the national meteorological service of India, responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and seismology.
• IMD’s Vision-2047 aims for 100% accuracy in three-day weather forecasts and 90% accuracy in five-day forecasts.
• It focuses on enhancing severe weather detection at the village level and aims for zero fatalities from such events by 2047.
• IMD is headquartered in New Delhi with regional offices in Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Nagpur, Guwahati, and New Delhi.
• It is operated under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

Answer: B

Himachal Pradesh has been recognized as the ‘Best Performer’ in the States’ Startup Ranking 2022 among states with populations less than 1 crore.

• The state has 144 DPIIT-certified startups in sectors like agritech, tourism, and IT.
• Startups are driving job creation, innovation, and economic transformation.
• The state offers seed funding up to ₹25 lakh, subsidized incubation spaces, and R&D grants.
• Under PM Micro Food Processing Scheme, ₹56 crore was provided to 972 cases.
• ₹31 crore was allocated to 13,427 women self-help groups as seed capital.