Daily Current Affairs Quiz: March 13, 2025

Answer: c)

• The Jadayaswamy Festival was recently celebrated in Tamil Nadu by the Badagas community of the Nilgiris.

About Jadayaswamy Festival

• Community Involved: Celebrated by the Badagas, an aboriginal tribal group in Tamil Nadu.
• Location: Observed in Jackanarai village near Kotagiri in the Nilgiris district.
• Significance: Dedicated to Jadayaswamy, a revered deity of the Badagas, symbolizing faith, devotion, and ancestral tradition.

Rituals and Traditions

• Procession & Offerings: Eight villages organize a grand procession to the Jadayaswamy temple.
• Firewalk Ritual: Devotees perform a firewalk as an act of devotion and endurance.
• Cultural Significance: The festival preserves Badaga heritage and strengthens community bonds.

About the Badagas

• Settlement Pattern: The Badagas live in villages called “Hattis”.
• Language: They speak Badugu, a distinct Dravidian language.
• Occupation: Primarily engaged in agriculture, cultivating crops like millets, potatoes, and tea.

Answer: D)

• Leaders of the Koch-Rajbongshi Sanmilita Joutha Mancha recently submitted a 15-point memorandum to BJP Assam president Dilip Saikia, highlighting their long-pending demands for recognition and welfare.
• Origin & Identity: An ancient tribe from the Koch Kingdom, also known as Rajbanshi/Rajvanshi, meaning “royal community.”
• Geographical Presence: Found in Lower Nepal, Northern Bengal, North Bihar, Northern Bangladesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Bhutan—historically part of the Kamata Kingdom.
• Caste Classification: Classified as OBC in Assam, SC in Bengal, and ST in Meghalaya.
• Language: Rajbongshi/Rajbanshi language is spoken by 1 crore people (2001 Census) and has a complete grammar.
• Religion: Predominantly Hindu, with some followers of Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism.
• Livelihood: Mainly agriculture and farming, with a strong connection to nature and animist

Answer: B)

• Russian troops have initiated a large-scale military operation to reclaim significant areas of the western Kursk region from Ukrainian forces. The offensive marks an escalation in the conflict, with intense clashes reported in the region.
• Location: Administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, about 450 km south of Moscow, on the upper Seym River.
• Geography: Part of the Black Earth region, known for highly fertile soil.

History:

• First mentioned in 1032, one of Russia’s oldest cities.
• Destroyed by Tatars in 1240, rebuilt in 1586 as a military outpost.
• World War II & Battle of Kursk: Site of the largest tank battle (July–August 1943), leading to German defeat.

Answer: B)

The Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project (PSHP) in Karnataka, aimed at generating 2,000 MW and supplying drinking water to Bengaluru, faces strong opposition from environmentalists due to its impact on the Western Ghats ecosystem.

About the Project:

• Location: The project is proposed on the Sharavathi River in Shivamogga district,
• Reservoirs: It will utilize the existing Talakalale and Gerusoppa reservoirs for pumped storage operations.

Key Facts:

• Project Details: Involves upper and lower reservoirs, five tunnels, and eight pumping stations, modeled after Telangana’s Kaleshwaram project.
• Environmental Concerns: Threatens 360 acres of forest land in a wildlife sanctuary, home to endangered species like the Lion-tailed Macaque and Great Indian Hornbill. Violations of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, are alleged.
• Technical Issues: The project consumes more power than it generates (12,000 MWH vs. 14,833 MWH), raising doubts about its economic viability.
• Legal and Political Disputes: The Karnataka High Court has issued a stay order over allegations of corruption in the bidding process, favoring Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited (MEIL).

Answer: B)

The United States has withdrawn from the Loss and Damage Fund, meant to aid developing nations facing climate change impacts. The move has drawn criticism, particularly from the African Group of Negotiators, citing US historical responsibility.

About the Loss and Damage Fund

• Established during COP27 (2022) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
• The Loss and Damage Fund provides financial aid to vulnerable nations affected by climate change.
• It addresses economic and non-economic losses, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and biodiversity loss.
• The fund supports the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming and enhancing climate adaptation efforts in developing countries.

US Contributions & Impact:

• The US contributed $17.5 million to the fund, part of a $750 million global pledge.
• The withdrawal raises concerns about financial support for small island states and developing countries most affected by climate change

Answer: B

On International Women’s Day 2025, the newly elected BJP government in Delhi introduced the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, offering ₹2,500 per month to financially disadvantaged women.

Key Aspects of the Scheme

• Open to women aged 21 to 60 with an annual income of ₹3 lakh or less.
• The Delhi government has earmarked ₹5,100 crore for the scheme’s rollout.
• Designed to support women from economically weaker backgrounds.

Application & Execution

• A dedicated online portal will soon be launched for applications.
• A monitoring committee, headed by CM Rekha Gupta, along with ministers Kapil Mishra, Ashish Sood, and Pravesh Verma, will oversee its implementation.
• Impact & Importance:The initiative seeks to promote gender equality and financial empowerment, ensuring a better quality of life for women from underprivileged sections of society.

Answer: B)

• Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal inaugurated GRIDCON 2025 on March 9, 2025, in New Delhi.
• Organiser:Organized by POWERGRID under the Ministry of Power.
• Theme: “Innovations in Grid Resilience”, focusing on renewable energy integration, grid stability, smart asset management, and digital transformation.
• Key Discussions: AI-driven grid solutions, energy storage, automation, and cybersecurity to enhance power infrastructure.
• Exhibition: Showcasing next-gen power technologies, smart metering, and green hydrogen solutions.
• Significance: Aims to drive grid modernization, policy formulation, and India’s transition to a low-carbon economy

Answer: A

On March 8, The Economist released its Glass-Ceiling Index, ranking 29 countries that are part of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD),on women’s workplace conditions, while the day is also globally observed as International Women’s Day, highlighting women’s achievements and the ongoing fight for gender equality.

Glass-Ceiling Index: Basis of Ranking

• Evaluates factors such as education, workforce participation, pay gap, women in leadership (management, boards, government), childcare costs, and parental leave policies.

Key Insights from the 2024 Ranking

1. Sweden replaced Iceland as 1, excelling in gender equality at work.
2. Iceland dropped to 2nd place due to a decline in women in management roles (from 39.6% to 36.8%).
3. Women’s workforce participation rose to 66.6% (up from 65.8%), though still lower than men’s 81%.
4. Women on corporate boards increased to 33%, signaling progress in leadership.
5. Women’s representation in parliaments averaged 34%, with:
6. Britain at 41% (notable increase).
7. Japan at 16% (slight improvement).
8. USA at 7% (decline).
9. South Korea improved to 28th place, its first rise in 11 years.
10. Turkey ranked lowest, struggling with deep-rooted societal norms restricting women’s career growth.

Answer: A

A recent IQAir report ranks India among the most polluted countries, with 13 of the top 20 polluted cities globally. Byrnihat, on the border of Assam and Meghalaya is identified as the most polluted city.

Key Findings:

1. India’s Global Rank: 5th most polluted country (improved from 3rd in 2023).
2. 5 Levels: National average 50.6 µg/m³ (7% decrease), but Delhi remains highly polluted at 91.6 µg/m³.
3. Most Polluted Cities: Byrnihat, Delhi, Mullanpur, Faridabad, Loni, Gurugram, Noida, and others, exceeding WHO PM2.5 limits by over 10 times.

Health Impact:

5. Life expectancy reduced by 2 years due to air pollution.
6. 5 million deaths annually (2009–2019) linked to PM2.5 exposure (Lancet Planetary Health study).
7. Severe health risks: Respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and cancer due to fine particulate matter penetrating the lungs and bloodstream.

Answer: B)

Airtel and SpaceX’s Starlink have announced a strategic partnership to provide satellite-based internet services in India, particularly in remote and underserved areas. However, the agreement is subject to SpaceX receiving regulatory approvals to operate in India.

Key Takeaways:

• India’s Stance on Starlink: While India has not yet approved Starlink due to security, privacy, and pricing concerns, the partnership with Airtel could facilitate its entry.
• Expansion of Satellite Internet: The collaboration aims to enhance Airtel’s telecom network and expand connectivity to rural communities, businesses, and public institutions like schools and health centers.
• Regulatory Considerations: India’s Telecommunications Act, 2023, allows for administrative spectrum allocation for satellite services, making partnerships like this crucial for nationwide broadband expansion.
• Strategic Importance: The move aligns with India’s digital inclusion goals, ensuring affordable and high-speed connectivity, while also strengthening Airtel’s satellite offerings, including its existing partnership with Eutelsat OneWeb.