Current Affairs Quiz — 20 January 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Who administered the presidential oath to Donald Trump on 20 January 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.
Congressional Record: Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. administered the presidential oath.
Consider the following statements about the US inauguration on 20 January 2025: 1. Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President. 2. The vice-presidential oath to JD Vance was administered by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. 3. The ceremony was held in the Great Rotunda. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 3 only
Congressional Record: Trump was sworn in as the 47th President in the Great Rotunda; Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, not the Chief Justice, administered Vance's oath.
Who administered the vice-presidential oath to JD Vance on 20 January 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh
Congressional Record: Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh administered the vice-presidential oath to James David Vance.
The KOICA-assisted project 'Strengthening Vocational Education and Training in Mechatronics in India', for which notes were exchanged on 20 January 2025, will be implemented by NCERT at which institute?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — RIE Bhopal
PIB 2095225: NCERT will implement the project at the Regional Institute of Education (RIE), Bhopal.
Consider the following statements about India–Korea development cooperation: 1. The NCERT mechatronics project is the first KOICA-assisted project in India. 2. Korea was designated India's ODA partner in October 2016. 3. India–Korea ties were upgraded to a Special Strategic Partnership in 2018. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB 2095225: it is the first KOICA-assisted project in India and Korea became an ODA partner in October 2016; the Special Strategic Partnership dates from 2015, not 2018.
Who signed the Exchange of Notes for the KOICA mechatronics project on behalf of the Government of India on 20 January 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Manisha Sinha
PIB 2095225: Manisha Sinha, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, signed for India.
Where was the National Tribal Health Conclave 2025 held on 20 January 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
PIB 2094806: the conclave was organised on 20 January 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The Bhagwan Birsa Munda Chair of Tribal Health and Haematology, highlighted at the National Tribal Health Conclave 2025, is established at which institution?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — AIIMS Delhi
PIB 2094806: the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Chair of Tribal Health and Haematology is established at AIIMS Delhi.
Consider the following statements about the National Tribal Health Conclave 2025: 1. It was organised under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan. 2. Letters of Intent were exchanged with AIIMS Delhi for adopting a tribal block in Jharkhand. 3. 15 Centres of Competence for sickle cell diagnosis have been sanctioned in 14 states. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1 and 3 only
PIB 2094806: the conclave was under DAJGUA and 15 CoCs are sanctioned in 14 states; the tribal block to be adopted with AIIMS Delhi is in Odisha, not Jharkhand.
How many companies were provisionally selected in the third round of the PLI Scheme for White Goods announced on 20 January 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 24
PIB 2094465: 24 beneficiaries (18 new + 6 existing) were selected, committing ₹3,516 crore.
The PLI Scheme for White Goods covers components of which two products?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Air conditioners and LED lights
PIB 2094465: the PLI Scheme for White Goods covers air conditioners and LED lights.
Consider the following statements about the PLI Scheme for White Goods: 1. It was approved by the Union Cabinet on 7 April 2021 with an outlay of ₹6,238 crore. 2. After the third round, 84 companies under the scheme are set to invest ₹10,478 crore. 3. The scheme runs from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
PIB 2094465: the Cabinet approved it on 7 April 2021 with ₹6,238 crore and 84 companies will invest ₹10,478 crore; the scheme period is FY 2021-22 to FY 2028-29.
Which digital platform for mineral resource management was launched at the 3rd National Mining Ministers' Conference in Konark on 20 January 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Mining Tenement System
PIB 2094586: G. Kishan Reddy and Mohan Charan Majhi launched the Mining Tenement System (MTS).
The fifth tranche of critical mineral block auctions, launched at Konark on 20 January 2025, offered how many blocks?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 15
PIB 2094586: the fifth tranche offers 15 blocks across eight states.
Consider the following statements made at the 3rd National Mining Ministers' Conference: 1. 75% of mining block auctions have been held in the last four years. 2. Odisha contributed ₹1.33 lakh crore in mineral revenue over the past decade. 3. The fifth tranche of critical mineral blocks covers 15 states. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
PIB 2094586: Mines Secretary V.L. Kantha Rao cited 75% auctions in four years and ₹1.33 lakh crore from Odisha; the fifth tranche has 15 blocks in eight states, not 15 states.
Which programme has been included for the first time under the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Aspirational Blocks Programme
PIB 2094589: for the first time, the Aspirational Blocks Programme has been included under the PM's Award Scheme.
How many awards are there under the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 16
PIB 2094589: the 2024 scheme recognises civil servants through 16 awards in three categories.
What prize money will each awardee of the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2024 receive?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — ₹20 lakh
PIB 2094589: the prize money for PM's Awards 2024 awardees will be ₹20 lakh each.
Under the e-Office guidelines issued in January 2025, which system are ministries to use for managing office memoranda, circulars and orders?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Knowledge Management System
PIB 2094588: ministries are to use the Knowledge Management System (KMS) for managing OMs, circulars and orders.
The Model Resilient Village whose foundation stone was laid on 20 January 2025 at Sil/Sunani is in which district of Himachal Pradesh?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Solan
PIB 2094608: Sil/Sunani is in Bawasni Gram Panchayat, Baddi, District Solan.
Which CSIR laboratory detailed the infrastructure design, such as shelters, roads and drinking water systems, for the Sil/Sunani Model Resilient Village?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — CSIR-CBRI
PIB 2094608: the Director of CSIR-CBRI detailed CSIR's technical contributions, including designing shelters, roads and drinking water systems.
Which CSIR institute organised the XXVII International Congress on Glass 2025 in Kolkata?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — CSIR-CGCRI
PIB 2094610: ICG 2025 was organised by CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI).
At which venue was the XXVII International Congress on Glass 2025 inaugurated on 20 January 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, Kolkata
PIB 2094610: Jitendra Singh inaugurated ICG 2025 at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, Kolkata.
As on 20 January 2025, which rabi crop group had a smaller sown area than in the same period a year earlier?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Oilseeds
PIB 2094564: oilseeds were at 97.62 lakh ha against 101.80 lakh ha; wheat, pulses and the total were higher.
What was the area sown under wheat as on 20 January 2025, according to the Agriculture Ministry?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 320 lakh ha
PIB 2094564: wheat covered 320 lakh ha against 315.63 lakh ha a year earlier.