Current Affairs Quiz — 03 January 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
The draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 released on 3 January 2025 are meant to implement which law?
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Correct answer: D — Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023
PIB (MeitY): the draft rules facilitate implementation of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
What was the last date for submitting comments on the draft DPDP Rules, 2025?
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Correct answer: A — 18 February 2025
PIB (MeitY): feedback may be submitted via the MyGov portal and the last date is 18 February 2025.
Consider the following statements about the draft DPDP Rules, 2025: 1. They provide for the Data Protection Board to function as a digital office. 2. They were drafted in line with the SARAL framework. 3. Comments on them were invited only through written submissions to the Ministry of Law and Justice. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (MeitY): the rules cover the functioning of the Board as a digital office and follow the SARAL framework; comments are invited via the MyGov portal, so statement 3 is wrong.
Which pillar was newly introduced in the LEADS 2024 report released on 3 January 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Sustainable Logistics
PIB (Commerce): LEADS 2024 evaluates four pillars — Logistics Infrastructure, Logistics Services, Operating and Regulatory Environment, and the newly introduced Sustainable Logistics.
In LEADS 2024, which of the following was among the 'Achievers' of the North-Eastern group?
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Correct answer: B — Arunachal Pradesh
PIB (Commerce): North-Eastern Achievers — Assam and Arunachal Pradesh; Meghalaya and Tripura are Fast Movers; Manipur is an Aspirer.
Consider the following statements about the LEADS 2024 report: 1. It is the sixth edition of the report. 2. Kerala and West Bengal were placed among the 'Achievers' of the Coastal group. 3. Chandigarh and Delhi were the 'Achievers' among Union Territories. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 3 only
PIB (Commerce): the DPIIT Secretary called it the 6th edition; Kerala and West Bengal are Coastal 'Aspirers', so statement 2 is wrong; UT Achievers are Chandigarh and Delhi.
Who was the Maldives Foreign Minister who held talks with EAM S. Jaishankar in New Delhi on 3 January 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Abdulla Khaleel
MEA: Dr Abdulla Khaleel, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives, was on an official visit to India from 2–4 January 2025 and held talks with EAM on 3 January.
During the Maldives Foreign Minister's visit of 2–4 January 2025, India and Maldives signed an MoU on which subject?
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Correct answer: B — High Impact Community Development Projects Phase-III
MEA: both sides signed an MoU for implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects under Phase-III in Maldives, through grant assistance by the Government of India.
At how many locations was the NIELIT Deemed to be University inaugurated on 3 January 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 12
PIB (MeitY): NIELIT Deemed to be University was inaugurated at 12 locations including 5 locations in North-Eastern States.
With which company did NIELIT sign an MoU on semiconductor ATMP skilling on 3 January 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Tata Electronics Private Limited
PIB (MeitY): the MoU between NIELIT and Tata Electronics Private Limited aims to enhance the semiconductor skilling ecosystem, focusing on ATMP technologies.
Where will the new NIELIT campus focused on semiconductor and electronics manufacturing be developed, as announced on 3 January 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Jagiroad near Guwahati
PIB (MeitY): the Minister said the new NIELIT campus will be developed in Jagiroad near Guwahati, focusing on semiconductor and electronics manufacturing.
Which institute's Golden Jubilee celebrations did President Droupadi Murmu address in Bengaluru on 3 January 2025?
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Correct answer: C — NIMHANS
PIB (Health): the President addressed the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru.
According to the President at the NIMHANS Golden Jubilee, how many centres does the Tele-MANAS platform have across the country?
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Correct answer: D — 53
PIB (Health): the Tele-MANAS platform, with its 53 centres across the country, has served nearly 70 lakh people in their chosen languages during the last two years.
Consider the following statements about the events of 3 January 2025 in Karnataka: 1. A next-generation 3T MRI scanner was among the facilities inaugurated at NIMHANS. 2. The President inaugurated the KLE Cancer Hospital at Belagavi. 3. The Bellary model of community-based mental healthcare was pioneered by NIMHANS. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Health; President's Secretariat): new facilities included a next-generation 3T MRI scanner; the President inaugurated KLE Cancer Hospital at Belagavi the same day; the Bellary model was pioneered by NIMHANS.
Which aircraft carrier led the French Carrier Strike Group that visited India from 3 to 9 January 2025?
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Correct answer: B — FNS Charles de Gaulle
PIB (Defence): the group was led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle; FS Forbin was one of the ships that visited Kochi.
At which two Indian ports did the French Carrier Strike Group make port calls during its January 2025 visit?
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Correct answer: C — Goa and Kochi
PIB (Defence): the visit from 03–09 Jan 25 included port calls in Goa and Kochi.
With which Indian Navy formation did the French Carrier Strike Group hold a PASSEX in January 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Western Fleet
PIB (Defence): in Goa, the group is hosting engagements including a PASSEX at sea with the Indian Navy's Western Fleet.
The Centralized Pension Payments System (CPPS), fully rolled out by EPFO, operates under which scheme?
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Correct answer: A — Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995
PIB (Labour): EPFO completed the full-scale rollout of CPPS under the Employees' Pension Scheme 1995 in December 2024.
In which regional offices was the first pilot of EPFO's CPPS conducted in October 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Karnal, Jammu and Srinagar
PIB (Labour): the first pilot was completed in October 2024 in Karnal, Jammu and Srinagar Regional Offices, disbursing about ₹11 crore to more than 49,000 pensioners.
Consider the following statements about EPFO's CPPS: 1. About ₹1,570 crore of pension for December 2024 was paid through it to more than 68 lakh pensioners. 2. It covers all 122 pension-disbursing Regional Offices of EPFO. 3. Under it, a pensioner can draw pension from any bank and any branch. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Labour): all three are stated — about ₹1,570 crore to more than 68 lakh pensioners of all 122 pension-disbursing ROs, and pension from any bank, any branch, anywhere.
In which State was India's first trial blast for the Dozer Push Mining Method conducted by CSIR-CIMFR?
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Correct answer: D — Chhattisgarh
PIB (S&T): the trial was conducted at the PEKB coal mine in the Udaipur block of Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh.
By how much is the Dozer Push Mining Method estimated to reduce operating costs compared with conventional methods, according to CSIR-CIMFR?
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Correct answer: A — 7–10%
PIB (S&T): the method is highly cost-effective, with an estimated 7–10% reduction in operational costs compared to conventional methods.
Consider the following statements about the Dozer Push Mining trial reported on 3 January 2025: 1. The holes for the trial were drilled using an automated, man-less drill machine. 2. CSIR-CIMFR, which developed the method, is headquartered in Nagpur. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 only
PIB (S&T): the trial involved drilling 108 holes using an automated (man-less) drill machine; CSIR-CIMFR is Dhanbad-based, so statement 2 is wrong.
What is 'Baanknet', revamped and launched on 3 January 2025?
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Correct answer: B — An e-auction portal for properties of public sector banks
PIB (Finance): DFS Secretary launched the revamped e-auction portal 'Baanknet', which consolidates e-auction properties of all PSBs.
Who launched the revamped Baanknet portal on 3 January 2025?
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Correct answer: C — M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services
PIB (Finance): Shri M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, launched the revamped portal in New Delhi.
According to the Ministry of Finance, roughly how many properties had already been migrated to the revamped Baanknet portal at launch?
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Correct answer: D — Over 1,22,500
PIB (Finance): over 1,22,500 properties have already been migrated to the new portal for auction.
Which of the following was one of the three new trains flagged off from Guwahati on 3 January 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Guwahati–North Lakhimpur Jan Shatabdi Express
PIB (Railways): the new trains include 12047/12048 Guwahati–North Lakhimpur–Guwahati Bi-weekly Jan Shatabdi Express.
The road over bridge dedicated on 3 January 2025 at Tetelia station yard in Assam was built at what cost?
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Correct answer: D — ₹72 crore
PIB (Railways): the ROB (No. 59A) was constructed by Northeast Frontier Railway at a total cost of ₹72 crore, replacing level crossing gate no. ST-22.