Daily Current Affairs Quiz: March 17, 2025

Answer: b)

• Observed annually on March 16 to emphasize the significance of immunization, marking the first oral polio vaccine administration in India in 1995.
• India continues its efforts to eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases through initiatives like Mission Indradhanush, which aims to achieve full immunization coverage for all children and pregnant women.

Answer: a

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Mauritius (March 11-12, 2025) as the chief guest for its National Day, reaffirming India’s support for Mauritius’ claim over the Chagos Archipelago in line with its decolonization policy.

About Chagos Archipelago

• A group of seven atolls with over 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, located 500 km south of the Maldives.
• Historically part of France’s Indian Ocean territories (1715-1810), ceded to Britain under the Treaty of Paris (1814).
• Mauritius gained independence in 1968, but in 1965, Britain separated Chagos Archipelago to create the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).
• Diego Garcia, the largest island, has housed a joint UK-US military base since the 1970s.
• The UK has agreed to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius while maintaining the base.

Answer: b)

UN Secretary-General António Guterres introduced the UN80 Initiative to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness within the United Nations amid ongoing financial and operational challenges.

A reform strategy launched on the 80th anniversary of the United Nations

Objectives:

• Financial Sustainability – Address shrinking global contributions.
• Structural Reforms – Improve implementation of UN mandates.
• Strategic Planning – Optimize resources and enhance cost-effectiveness.

Key Targets:

• Operational Efficiencies – Streamline UN activities to reduce redundancy.
• Mandate Review – Align UN programs with global priorities.
• Program Restructuring – Optimize financial and human resources.
• Collaboration – Strengthen coordination between different UN bodies.
• Transparency – Improve budget allocation and expenditure oversight.

Answer: a

• The Oilfield (Regulatory and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024 was passed by Lok Sabha after Rajya Sabha’s approval on December 3, 2024.
• Objective: Aims to reform the legal framework, enhance investor confidence, boost oil and gas exploration, and support India’s energy security.
• Key Reforms:

1. Shift from multiple licenses to a single petroleum lease permit.
2. Supports Ease of Doing Business and resource-sharing for small operators.
3. Strengthens dispute resolution and stabilizes investor operations.
4. Enables adoption of new technologies like Carbon Capture, Green Hydrogen.

• Enforcement & Penalties:
• Increased penalties: ₹25 lakh + ₹10 lakh per day for continued violations.
• Establishes an adjudication and appellate authority for penalty enforcement.
• Federalism & Future Impact: The Bill retains State rights, ensures regulatory efficiency, and strengthens India’s energy sector, contributing to Viksit Bharat 2047.

Answer: d

• The Ministry of Cooperation launched White Revolution 2.0 on September 19, 2024, to enhance milk production, processing, and dairy infrastructure in India.
• Key Implementing Agency: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) is driving this initiative through Rashtriya Gokul Mission for indigenous breed development and multiple dairy development schemes, including:

1. National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD)
2. Supporting Dairy Cooperatives & Farmer Producer Organisations (SDCFPO)
3. Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF)

• Dairy Sector Growth: India’s milk production in 2023-24 reached 30 million metric tonnes, marking a 63.56% increase over the last decade. The goal is to increase cooperative sector milk procurement to 1,007 lakh kg/day by 2028-29.
• State-wise Production: Among major dairy states, Uttar Pradesh leads with 38.78 million tonnes of milk production, followed by Rajasthan (34.73 million tonnes) and Gujarat (18.31 million tonnes). Karnataka recorded 13.46 million tonnes and ranks among the top contributors.
• Karnataka’s Dairy Growth: The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has expanded its cooperative network to 15,888 dairy societies across 24,000 villages.
• Milk procurement rose from 51.61 lakh kg/day (2013-14) to 98 lakh kg/day (2023-24), boosting farmer income and dairy sustainability.

Answer: c

• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a ₹2,906 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad for procuring Low-Level Transportable Radar (LLTR) “Ashwini” on March 12, 2025 in New Delhi.
• Indigenous Development: LLTR (Ashwini) is designed and developed by DRDO’s Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), promoting self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
• Key Features: This Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar is based on solid-state technology, capable of tracking high-speed fighter jets, UAVs, and helicopters, enhancing Indian Air Force (IAF) operational capabilities.
• Strategic Importance: The procurement reduces dependency on foreign equipment, strengthens India’s indigenous defence ecosystem, and supports Make in India in the defence sector.

Answer: b

• China has recently installed a Large Phased Array Radar (LPAR) in Yunnan Province, boosting its surveillance over India and the Indian Ocean.
• Key Features of LPAR
• Advanced Surveillance: Uses electronically controlled antennas for rapid scanning and multi-target tracking.
• Extended Range: Over 5,000 km, capable of monitoring India’s missile tests in real time.
• Early Warning System: Detects and tracks ballistic missile launches, providing critical trajectory data.
• Strategic Location & Intelligence Capabilities
• Positioned in Yunnan Province, allowing surveillance over the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, and Indian missile test sites.
• Enables real-time tracking of Indian missile tests, including those from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island.
• Enhances China’s intelligence gathering and countermeasure development against India’s missile advancements.
• Implications for India
• Raises national security concerns as China gains critical data on India’s missile programmes.
• Challenges India’s strategic deterrence and defence planning.
• India is considering counter-surveillance measures to protect its missile testing and military operations.

Answer: a

• The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, organized a workshop on the Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector (PRIP) Scheme to advance research and development in pharmaceuticals and medical technology.
• Key Participants: Secretaries from five key ministries including Pharmaceuticals, Science & Technology, Electronics & IT, Scientific & Industrial Research, and Health Research, along with over 100 experts from premier research institutions and industry stakeholders.
• Focus Areas: Discussions covered emerging trends, industry-academia collaboration, funding mechanisms, and digital health innovations such as AI, precision medicine, and clinical research advancements.
• Government Support: PRIP aims to catalyze innovation, strengthen industry-academia linkages, and position India as a global leader in pharma and MedTech research, leveraging initiatives like CSIR’s INTENT, ICMR’s MedTech Mitra, and MeitY’s digital health programs.
• Future Steps: Participants were invited to submit suggestions via the Expression of Interest (EoI) form, open until April 7, 2025, to refine and enhance the PRIP scheme

Answer: c)

• QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 was recently released by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in March 2025, ranking universities globally across various subjects.
• India’s Performance

1. Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad secured 1st place in India and 20th globally in Engineering – Mineral and Mining.
2. IIT Delhi ranked highest in Engineering & Technology, while Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences secured 26th in Dentistry.
3. IIM Ahmedabad ranked 27th in Business & Management Studies.
4. IIT Bombay excelled with 12 subjects improving in rankings.
5. India has 79 universities in the rankings, contributing 533 entries, with 156 improving and 122 new entries.

• Global Highlights
• Harvard University led in 15 subjects, followed by MIT in 11 subjects.
• UK universities topped in 18 subjects, with University of Cambridge excelling in four.

Answer: d

• The National Housing Bank (NHB) recently released the Report on Trends and Progress of Housing in India 2024, analyzing the housing market, loan trends, price indices, and government initiatives impacting housing finance.
• Key Highlights:
• Housing Loan Growth: As of September 30, 2024, individual housing loans outstanding reached ₹53 lakh crore, marking a 14% growth year-on-year(YoY)
• Loan Distribution:

1. Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) & Low-Income Group (LIG): 39%
2. Middle-Income Group (MIG): 44%
3. High-Income Group (HIG): 17%

• Disbursements: ₹10 lakh crore (H1 2024) and ₹9.07 lakh crore (FY 2023-24).
• Housing Price Index (NHB-RESIDEX): 6.8% YoY increase (Q3 2024) vs. 4.9% last year, indicating rising property values.
• Government Schemes: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) , Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) and Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF)driving housing accessibility.
• Challenges: Regional disparities in housing credit; Eastern & Northeastern states lag behind.
• Role of Housing Finance Companies (HFCs): Critical for housing finance but limited outreach in underserved areas.
• Future Outlook: PMAY 2.0, urbanisation, digitisation, and tech-driven housing solutions to boost growth.