Daily Current Affairs Quiz: March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

World Theatre Day 2025 will be celebrated from March 27-30 in which city?

(A) Paris
(B) New York
(C) Rio de Janeiro
(D) Tokyo

Show Answer

Answer: c)

World Theatre Day 2025 will be celebrated from March 27-30 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The theme for 2025 is “Theatre and a Culture of Peace.”
It was established by the International Theatre Institute (ITI) in 1962.
The day honors the role of theatre in promoting cultural dialogue and fostering global harmony.

Which of the following statements about Anthurium flowers is correct?

(A) Anthurium is native to Europe and Asia.
(B) Mizoram exported its first consignment of Anthurium flowers to Singapore.
(C) Anthurium sap is safe and non-irritating to the skin.
(D) Anthurium is not grown in Mizoram.

Show Answer

Answer: b)

Current context: Mizoram exported its first consignment of Anthurium flowers to Singapore, boosting agro-based exports from the Northeast.

About Anthurium:

Native Range: America(Mexico to Argentina, including the Caribbean).
India Cultivation: Widely grown in Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Features:

Herbaceous plant, epiphytic or terrestrial, with spadix and colorful spathe (red, pink, orange).
Contains calcium oxalate crystals; sap is skin/eye irritant.

Economic & Cultural Significance:

Exports: Part of India’s floriculture exports worth USD 86.62 million (FY 2023-24).
Importing Countries: USA, Netherlands, UAE, UK, Canada.
Mizoram’s Anthurium Festival: Promotes tourism and local enterprise.
Livelihood Impact: Supports rural income, especially for women farmers in the Northeast.

Who is the chairperson of the National Task Force (NTF) formed to address student suicides?

(A) Justice D.Y. Chandrachud
(B) Justice S. Ravindra Bhat
(C) Justice N.V. Ramana
(D) Justice Indu Malhotra

Show Answer

Answer: B.

Current Context: The Supreme Court of India established a National Task Force (NTF) to address the rise in student suicides in higher educational institutions, following recent incidents at IIT Delhi.

Key Details:

Chairperson: Justice S. Ravindra Bhat (former SC judge).

Mandate:

Identify causes of student suicides.
Analyze mental health policies.
Recommend solutions for better safeguards.
Conduct surprise inspections in institutions.

Key Issues:

Over 13,000 student suicides in recent years, linked to academic pressure, harassment, and caste discrimination.
Focus on addressing caste-based discrimination and systemic challenges.

Legal and Institutional Reforms:

Police directed to register FIRs in suspected foul play.
Educational institutions urged to adopt empathetic approaches to reduce academic pressure.

Funding and Reporting:

Initial Funding: Rs 20 lakh by the Centre.
Timeline: Interim report in 4 months, final report in 8 months.

What is the main objective of the Baalpan ki Kavita initiative?

(A) To promote higher education in Indian languages
(B) To create a collection of nursery rhymes rooted in the Indian context for joyful learning
(C) To translate global nursery rhymes into Indian languages
(D) To focus on adult literacy programs in rural areas

Show Answer

Answer: B.

Current Context: The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes quality Early Childhood Education and the importance of multilingualism and mother tongue inclusion in primary education.

Baalpan ki Kavita Initiative:

Objective: Create a compendium of nursery rhymes/poems in Indian languages and English with content rooted in the Indian context for joyful learning at the Foundational stage.
Focus: Promote cultural relevance and joyful learning through regional and folklore-based rhymes.

Categories for Contribution:

Pre-primary (Ages 3–6).
Grade 1 (Ages 6–7).
Grade 2 (Ages 7–8).

Features:

Contributions include existing folklore poems or newly composed poems with cultural relevance.

Consider the following statements regarding Anti-Dumping Duty:
Statement 1: India imposed anti-dumping duties on five Chinese goods, including aluminium foil, to protect domestic industries.
Statement 2: Anti-dumping is a trade measure to counter imports priced below normal value that harm domestic industries.
Options:

(A) Both statements are correct.
(B) Both statements are incorrect.
(C) Only Statement 1 is correct.
(D) Only Statement 2 is correct.

Show Answer

Answer: a)

Current Context: India has imposed anti-dumping duties on five Chinese goods, including aluminium foil, to protect domestic industries from cheap imports.

Purpose: Protects domestic industries from unfairly cheap imports (dumping).

Framework:

Governed by WTO’s Anti-Dumping Agreement and Article 6 of GATT.
Recommended by Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR)under the Commerce Ministry.
Significance: Restores fair competition and ensures a level-playing field for domestic producers.

To which country has the first consignment of Dalle Chilly from Sikkim been exported?

(A) Fiji
(B) Solomon Islands
(C) Maldives
(D) Papua New Guinea

Show Answer

Answer: B.

Current context: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has exported the first consignment of Dalle Chilly from Sikkim to the Solomon Islands.

About Dalle Chilly:

Known for its pungency, bright red color, and high nutritional value.
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): 100,000 to 350,000.
Received Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2020.

Scoville Scale:

Measures spiciness based on capsaicin concentration.
Higher SHU = Greater spiciness.
Government Support: Promoted under the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCD-NER) scheme for organic farming in North East India.

Who are the hosts of Exercise AIKEYME?

(A) Indian Navy and South African Navy
(B) Indian Navy and Mauritius Coast Guard
(C) Indian Navy and Tanzania Peoples Defence Force
(D) Indian Navy and Seychelles Defence Force

Show Answer

Answer: C.

Current context: The Indian Navy is set to conduct AIKEYME off Tanzania’s coast, showcasing India’s commitment to strengthening maritime ties and security cooperation with African nations.

Exercise AIKEYME:

Full Form: Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement.
Aim: Strengthen defence cooperation, maritime security, and interoperability with 10 African nations.
Venue: Off the coast of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
Hosts: Indian Navy and Tanzania Peoples Defence Force.
Participating Nations: Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa.

Objectives:

Counter piracy and illegal fishing.
Promote information sharing and surveillance.
Build capacity of African navies.
IOS Sagar Initiative: Deployment of INS Sunayna with a combined crew from India and nine African nations to boost operational capabilities.
Training: Two-week capacity-building program for African personnel in Kochi.

Strategic Importance:

Part of PM Modi’s MAHASAGAR vision.
Counters China’s influence and addresses regional threats like piracy and Houthi rebels.

Which of the following correctly describes the alignment of the Dare2eraD TB Programme with national and international goals?
1. The programme supports India’s mission to eradicate TB by 2025, which is five years ahead of WHO’s target.
2. It focuses exclusively on mapping the genetic diversity of MTB strains in India.
3. It aligns with public health strategies to improve TB treatment outcomes and management.
Select the correct option:

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 1 and 3 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) All of the above

Show Answer

Answer: B.

Current context: The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has sequenced 10,000 Mycobacterium tuberculosis samples under the Dare2eraD TB Programme as of March 2025.

This milestone is part of India’s efforts to combat drug-resistant TB and eradicate tuberculosis by 2025, ahead of the WHO’s 2030 target.

Dare2eraD TB Programme:

Launched on World TB Day, March 2022.
Collaborative effort by the Ministry of Science & Technology and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Programme Objectives:

Sequence 32,200 MTB strains and create a centralised clinical MTB strain biorepository.
Map genetic diversity, associate mutations with drug resistance, and study transmission dynamics.
Alignment with National Goals: Supports India’s mission to eradicate TB by 2025, ahead of WHO’s 2030 goal.

Current TB Statistics:

India accounts for 28% of global TB cases; incidence declined to 1,990 cases per million in 2022.
7% of sequenced samples show single-drug resistance; TB mainly affects individuals aged 18–45.
Future Goals: Complete sequencing by October 2025 to enhance TB management, public health strategies, and treatment outcomes.

Who has been awarded the Sangita Kalanidhi award for 2025?

(A) D K Jayaraman
(B) R K Shriramkumar
(C) Thanjavur R Govindarajan
(D) Shyamala Venkateswaran

Show Answer

Answer: b)

Current Context: Violinist R K Shriramkumar awarded the Sangita Kalanidhi by the Music Academy for 2025.

Sangita Kala Acharya awards conferred to Carnatic singer Shyamala Venkateswaran and Tavil artist Thanjavur R Govindarajan.

Key Facts about R K Shriramkumar:

Renowned Carnatic violinist from the Rudrapatnam lineage.
Trained under R K Venkatarama Sastry and D K Jayaraman.
Known for expertise in Subbarama Dikshitar’s Sangita Sampradaya Pradarsini.

Which book commemorates the Golden Jubilee of India’s 1975 Hockey World Cup victory?

(A) March of Glory
(B) Stumped
(C) Field of Dreams
(D) Triumph in Kuala Lumpur

Show Answer

Answer: a)

Current context: Launch of the book March of Glory commemorating the Golden Jubilee of India’s 1975 Hockey World Cup victory.

Date and Venue: March 18, 2025, at Shivaji Stadium, New Delhi.
Authors: Hockey historian K. Arumugam and journalist Errol D’Cruz.
Content: Chronicles India’s dramatic journey to World Cup glory in Kuala Lumpur on March 15, 1975.

Who won the women’s and men’s singles titles at the SRFI Indian Tour PSA Challenger event in Chennai?

(A) Joshna Chinappa and Saurav Ghosal
(B) Anahat Singh and Veer Chotani
(C) Dipika Pallikal and Harinder Pal Sandhu
(D) Sunayna Kuruvilla and Ramit Tandon

Show Answer

Answer: b)

Current Context: Anahat Singh and Veer Chotani won the women’s and men’s singles titles at the SRFI Indian Tour PSA Challenger in Chennai.

Key Facts

Prize Money: $15,000 each for men’s and women’s categories.

About PSA Challenger:

Organized by the Professional Squash Association (PSA).
A second-tier event for upcoming squash players to earn points for the premier PSA Squash Tour.
The PSA Squash Tour is the top-level tournament featuring the world’s best squash players.

Which of the following is true about the supercritical thermal power unit project at Ukai plant?

(A) It is a 500 MW project.
(B) The project was awarded to Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL).
(C) It is located in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
(D) Commercial operations will begin within 36 months.

Show Answer

Answer: B.

Current Context: Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has secured a ₹7,500 crore order to set up an 800 MW supercritical thermal power unit at Ukai plant, Gujarat.

Project Details:

Awarding Authority: Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Ltd (GSECL).
Location: Ukai Plant, Tapi District, Gujarat.
Capacity: 800 MW

Execution:

EPC Basis (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction).
Includes design, supply, and commissioning of boilers, turbines, and generators.
Timeline: Commercial operations to begin within 54 months from March 21, 2025.

Significance:

Energy Sector Contribution:
Highlights BHEL’s role in India’s energy sector with 1,70,000 MW installed capacity nationwide.
Reinforces BHEL’s partnership with GSECL since the first Ukai unit in 1976.