May 15, 2025

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: March 05, 2025

March 5, 2025
Which of the following compositions is attributed to Amir Khusrau?
  • (A) Bhaja Govindam
  • (B) Chhaap Tilak
  • (C) Hanuman Chalisa
  • (D) Gita Govinda
Show Answer

Answer: b

 

Consider the following statements regarding the 7th National Board for Wildlife Meeting held in March 2025:
1. The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister at Gir National Park, Gujarat.
2. The first-ever Riverine Dolphin Estimation recorded 6,327 dolphins across 12 states.
3. The National Referral Centre for Wildlife will be established in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
  • (A) 1 only
  • (B) 1 and 2 only
  • (C) 1 and 3 only
  • (D) 2 and 3 only
Show Answer

Answer: A

 

Which organization released the "Languages Matter – Global Guidance on Multilingual Education" report?
  • (A) World Bank
  • (B) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • (C) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
  • (D) World Health Organization (WHO)
Show Answer

Answer: c

 

Consider the following statements regarding Blue Ghost Mission 1:
1. It is the first private lunar landing.
2. It landed in Mare Crisium near Mons Latreille.
3 . It was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on January 15, 2025.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
  • (A) 1 and 2 only
  • (B) 2 and 3 only
  • (C) 1 and 3 only
  • (D) 1, 2, and 3
Show Answer

Answer: b

  • On March 2, 2025, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 successfully landed near Mons Latreille in Mare Crisium.
  • It is the second private lunar landing and the first to land upright, highlighting NASA’s growing collaboration with private companies.
  • Launch & Payload
  1. Launched on January 15, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
  2. The lander, roughly the size of a hippopotamus, carries ten scientific instruments, including a lunar soil analyzer and a radiation-tolerant computer.
  • Mission duration: one lunar day (14 Earth days).
  • Scientific Objectives
  1. Capture high-definition images of a total eclipse (March 14, 2025) and a lunar sunset (March 16, 2025).
  2. Study lunar dust behavior under solar radiation.
  • Upcoming Lunar Missions: Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 (March 6, 2025) will land Athena, carrying three rovers and a hopping drone for rugged terrain exploration.
  • Challenges of Lunar Landings
  1. No atmosphere means controlled thruster burns are required for descent.
  2. Success of Blue Ghost demonstrates feasibility for routine private lunar missions.

 

Consider the following statements regarding the implications of the proposed changes in the Income Tax Bill 2025 relating to GAAR:
1. It may lead to increased scrutiny of complex financial transactions by tax authorities.
2. It could potentially enhance the government's revenue collection through wider reassessment powers.
3. It might create uncertainty among taxpayers regarding the finality of their tax liabilities.
Which of the statements given above are most likely to be true?
  • (A) 1 and 2 only
  • (B) 2 and 3 only
  • (C) 1 and 3 only
  • (D) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Answer: d)

  • In a recent development, the Income Tax Bill 2025 proposes revisions to the General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR), allowing tax authorities to issue reassessment notices beyond the current time limitations.
  • General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR)
  • Objective: Prevent tax avoidance through impermissible arrangements.
  • Authority: Tax officials can reclassify transactions as Impermissible Avoidance Arrangements (IAAs), leading to re-computation of income and tax liabilities.
  • Oversight: GAAR can only be invoked with approval from a High Court-led Approving Panel.
  • Proposed Changes in Reassessment Notices
  • Current Rule: Reassessment notices allowed within 5 years and 3 months if under-reported income exceeds ₹50 lakh.
  • New Proposal: Allows reassessment beyond this time limit if IAAs affect multiple years.
  • Safeguards Against Misuse
  • GAAR Panel decisions will serve as valid indicators of escaped income.
  • No pre-hearing required before issuing reassessment notices, ensuring a faster process.
With reference to the Special Assistance Scheme, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. The scheme provides interest-free loans for 50 years to states.
2. A part of the fund allocation under the scheme is based on states' share of central taxes.
3. The scheme's funding is entirely unconditional and does not require states to meet any specific reform criteria.
Select the correct answer using the codes below:
  • (A) 1 and 2 only
  • (B) 2 and 3 only
  • (C) 1 and 3 only
  • (D) 1, 2, and 3
Show Answer

Answer: a

  • Recently, the Government of India has disbursed funds to states under the Special Assistance Scheme.
  • About: The scheme provides states with 50-year interest-free loans to boost capital investment and support reforms. Launched in FY 2021, it aims to strengthen state-led development.
  • Objective: Provides 50-year interest-free loans to states for capital investment and reforms.
  • Funding Growth:
  1. Initial Allocation (2021) – ₹12,000 crore
  2. FY24 Allocation – ₹1.3 trillion (₹30,000 crore linked to outcomes)
  3. FY25 Allocation – ₹1.25 trillion (97% approved for distribution)
  • Fund Distribution:
  1. ₹55,000 crore based on states’ share of central taxes
  2. ₹95,000 crore tied to specific reform criteria
  • Key Reform Areas:
  1. Tourism development, vehicle scrappage incentives, industrial growth
  2. Compliance with Centrally Sponsored Schemes and fund transparency
  • Top Beneficiary States (FY25):
  1. Uttar Pradesh – ₹13,042 crore
  2. Bihar – ₹12,907 crore
  3. Madhya Pradesh – ₹10,635 crore
  4. West Bengal – Among leading recipients
Consider the following statements about selenium:
Statement 1: Selenium is an essential mineral that exists in its pure elemental form in nature.
Statement 2: Selenium is a component of selenoproteins, which play a role in thyroid function and DNA synthesis.
Which of the following is correct?
  • (A) Both statements are correct.
  • (B) Statement 1 is correct, but Statement 2 is incorrect.
  • (C) Statement 1 is incorrect, but Statement 2 is correct.
  • (D) Both statements are incorrect.  
Show Answer

Answer: c

Recently, an investigation by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) detected elevated selenium levels in the blood and hair of affected individuals, in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district.The source was traced to wheat from Public Distribution System (PDS) outlets.

  • About Selenium
  1. Essential mineral found in food and supplements.
  2. Exists as a byproduct of metal sulfide ore refining, not in pure elemental form.
  3. Present in soil & groundwater in inorganic forms, converted by plants into organic compounds like selenocysteine & selenomethionine.
  4. Component of 25 selenoproteins, aiding in thyroid function, DNA synthesis, reproduction, & oxidative stress protection.
  • Applications
  1. Glassmaking: Decolorizes glass, creates red-colored glass/enamels.
  2. Electronics: Used in photocells, solar cells, light meters (now replaced by silicon).
  3. Pigments: Adds red color to ceramics, paints, plastics.
  4. Rubber Industry: Strengthens rubber via vulcanization.
  • Selenium Toxicity (Selenosis)
  1. Causes: Overconsumption via diet, supplements, or environmental exposure.
  2. Symptoms: Hair loss, nausea, fatigue, brittle nails, and neurological issues.
What is the significance of the discovery of Cobitis beijingensis?
  • (A) It is the first freshwater fish discovered in Antarctica.
  • (B) It marks the first spined loach species discovery in Beijing in over 40 years.
  • (C) It is the first fish species identified using AI technology.
  • (D) It is the largest species of loach ever discovered.
Show Answer

Answer: b

  • Recently, researchers from the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered a new species of spined loach, Cobitis beijingensis, in Beijing. This is the first newly identified spined loach species in Beijing in over 40 years and reflects ongoing efforts to restore urban aquatic ecosystems.
  • Species Identification and Characteristics
  1. Cobitis beijingensis is a small freshwater fish, approximately 5 cm in length.
  2. It has distinct yellow and black patterned markings on its body.
  3. Identified through morphological and molecular analysis, confirming its uniqueness among regional loach species.
  4. Prefers calm, clear waters with muddy or sandy bottoms, abundant in aquatic plants.
  • Significance
  1. Highlights Beijing’s biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration efforts.
  2. Emphasizes the importance of urban freshwater habitat protection.

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