Current Affairs Quiz — 18 January 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
How many property cards did PM Narendra Modi distribute under the SVAMITVA scheme on 18 January 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Over 65 lakh
PIB (Ministry of Panchayati Raj): over 65 lakh property cards were distributed on 18 January 2025, taking the total to 2.25 crore.
The SVAMITVA scheme is implemented by which Union Ministry?
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Correct answer: C — Ministry of Panchayati Raj
PIB: SVAMITVA is a scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, whose Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh attended the 18 January 2025 ceremony.
With the 18 January 2025 distribution, the total number of property cards issued under SVAMITVA reached:
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Correct answer: B — 2.25 crore
PIB: the distribution took the total number of property cards under SVAMITVA to 2.25 crore.
Consider the following statements about the SVAMITVA property card distribution on 18 January 2025: 1. It covered more than 50,000 villages across 237 districts. 2. The Union Territories covered were Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. 3. Tamil Nadu and Kerala were among the 10 states covered. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
PIB: the ceremony covered 50,000+ villages in 237 districts, in 10 states and the UTs of J&K and Ladakh. The 10 states were Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, not Tamil Nadu or Kerala.
In January 2025, the Union Home Minister ordered an Inter-Ministerial Team to ascertain the causes of deaths in which district of Jammu and Kashmir?
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Correct answer: D — Rajouri
PIB (MHA): the team was to visit the affected village in Jammu's Rajouri district to ascertain the causes of deaths in 3 incidents.
Experts from which of the following Ministries were NOT listed as part of the Inter-Ministerial Team on the Rajouri deaths?
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Correct answer: D — Ministry of Earth Sciences
PIB (MHA): the team comprised experts from the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Agriculture, Chemicals and Fertilizers, and Water Resources. Earth Sciences was not listed.
What monthly stipend does NIXI's Internet Governance Internship (launched January 2025) offer interns?
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Correct answer: A — ₹20,000
PIB (MeitY): a fixed stipend of ₹20,000 per month is provided to interns.
Consider the following statements about NIXI's Internet Governance Internship and Capacity Building Scheme: 1. It has two parallel tracks of six months and three months. 2. It was launched by MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan, who is also NIXI's Chairman. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB: the bi-annual internship has six-month and three-month tracks, and it was launched by S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, and Chairman, NIXI.
Who was named vice-captain of India's squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, announced on 18 January 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Shubman Gill
Sportstar and ET: Rohit Sharma will captain the side, with Shubman Gill as vice-captain.
Under the hybrid model for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India's matches are to be played in which city?
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Correct answer: C — Dubai
Sportstar: under the hybrid model agreed by the ICC, India's matches take place in Dubai; ET adds that India meet Pakistan on 23 February in Dubai.
Consider the following statements about the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as reported at India's squad announcement: 1. The tournament is hosted by Pakistan and the UAE from 19 February to 9 March 2025. 2. India is in Group A with Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh. 3. Mohammed Siraj was named in India's 15-member squad. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
ET: the tournament runs 19 February–9 March in Pakistan and the UAE, and India is in Group A with Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh. Sportstar: Mohammed Siraj missed out on selection.
How many Master Trainers were trained in Phase-1 of the Rashtriya Karmayogi Large-Scale Jan Seva Programme, concluded on 18 January 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 219
PIB (DoPT): 219 Master Trainers from 80 Ministries and Departments participated in eight batches.
Who is the Chairman of the Capacity Building Commission, as mentioned in the January 2025 release on the Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Programme?
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Correct answer: D — Adil Zainulbhai
PIB: Adil Zainulbhai, Chairman of the CBC, and R. Balasubramaniam, Member (HR), shared their vision for the programme.
Where was the National Red Run 2.0 for HIV awareness held on 18 January 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Miramar, Panaji
PIB (MoHFW): the National Red Run 2.0 was held at Miramar, Panaji, on Saturday, 18 January 2025.
The National Red Run 2.0 (January 2025) was organised by NACO in collaboration with which body?
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Correct answer: A — Goa State AIDS Control Society
PIB: NACO organised the run in collaboration with the Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS).
Consider the following statements about the National Red Run 2.0 held in January 2025: 1. The main run was over a distance of 10 km. 2. Participants competed in male, female and transgender categories. 3. The male category was won by a runner from Meghalaya. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
PIB: the 10-km run had male, female and transgender categories. The male category was won by Nabeel Sahi of Kerala; runners from Meghalaya came second and third.
On which FM frequency can Akashvani's Kumbhvani news bulletins be heard in Prayagraj during Mahakumbh 2025?
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Correct answer: D — 103.5 MHz
PIB (MIB): devotees can tune in to Kumbhvani news bulletins on 103.5 MHz in Prayagraj.
How often are the Kumbhvani news bulletins broadcast on the public address system in Mahakumbh Nagar?
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Correct answer: B — Three times a day, 10 minutes each
PIB: the 10-minute bulletins are broadcast three times a day, at 8:30 am, 2:30 pm and 8:30 pm.
The NCGG programme for senior civil servants of Kenya, concluded on 18 January 2025, was sponsored under which initiative?
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Correct answer: A — ITEC of the Ministry of External Affairs
PIB (DoPT): the programme was sponsored under the ITEC initiative of the Ministry of External Affairs.
Who led the Kenyan delegation at the NCGG Special Capacity Building Programme in New Delhi (13–18 January 2025)?
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Correct answer: B — Kenya's Attorney General Dorcas Agik Abuya Oduor
PIB: the delegation was led by Dorcas Agik Abuya Oduor, Attorney General of Kenya, along with 28 other senior officials.
Where did the Ministry of Mines open the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Exhibition on 18 January 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Sun Temple, Konark
PIB (Ministry of Mines): the DMF Exhibition was set up at the Sun Temple, Konark, with the Government of Odisha.
What was the theme of the DMF Exhibition held at Konark from 18 to 21 January 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Empowering Communities by Sustainable Development
PIB: the exhibition's theme was "Empowering Communities by Sustainable Development".
How many stalls did the DMF Exhibition at Konark (January 2025) feature?
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Correct answer: D — 18
PIB: the exhibition featured 18 stalls showcasing DMF-supported SHGs, GSI, HCL, NALCO, HZL/Vedanta and the Odisha Government.
On which occasion did the Eastern Naval Command hold its maiden Veterans' Day Parade on 18 January 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 9th Armed Forces Veterans Day
PIB (MoD): the parade was organised on the occasion of the 9th Armed Forces Veterans Day.
Who flagged off the Eastern Naval Command's maiden Veterans' Day Parade at RK Beach, Visakhapatnam, in January 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar
PIB: the parade was flagged off by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, as Chief Guest, joined by Vice Admiral VK Namballa (Retd) of the Navy Foundation.