Current Affairs Quiz — 29 January 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Which launch vehicle carried out ISRO's 100th launch from Sriharikota on 29 January 2025?
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Correct answer: D — GSLV-F15
ISRO: GSLV-F15 lifted off from the Second Launch Pad on 29 January 2025, the 100th launch from Sriharikota.
The NVS-02 satellite launched on 29 January 2025 belongs to which Indian system?
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Correct answer: A — NavIC
ISRO: NVS-02 is a navigation satellite of the NavIC series, India's independent regional navigation satellite system.
Consider the following statements about the GSLV-F15/NVS-02 mission: 1. It lifted off from the Second Launch Pad at Sriharikota. 2. It was the 17th launch of GSLV. 3. NVS-02 was raised to its designated orbital slot within a week of launch. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
ISRO: GSLV-F15 lifted off from the Second Launch Pad and was the 17th GSLV launch; orbit raising could not be carried out because the oxidiser valves did not open.
What is the total outlay of the National Critical Mineral Mission approved by the Union Cabinet on 29 January 2025?
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Correct answer: D — ₹34,300 crore
PIB 2097308: ₹16,300 crore government expenditure plus ₹18,000 crore expected investment by PSUs etc. makes ₹34,300 crore over seven years.
Over what period will the National Critical Mineral Mission's ₹34,300 crore outlay be spread?
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Correct answer: C — Seven years
PIB 2097308: the outlay of ₹34,300 crore is over seven years.
Consider the following statements about the National Critical Mineral Mission: 1. It was announced in the Union Budget 2024-25. 2. It proposes a national stockpile of critical minerals. 3. It excludes offshore exploration of critical minerals. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB 2097308: the mission was announced in the Budget on 23 July 2024 and proposes a stockpile; it will intensify exploration within the country and in its offshore areas.
On which occasion did the stampede in the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj occur on 29 January 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Mauni Amavasya
NDTV and Indian Express: the pre-dawn stampede occurred as pilgrims gathered for the holy dip on Mauni Amavasya, 29 January 2025.
Who heads the judicial commission set up by the Uttar Pradesh government to probe the Maha Kumbh stampede of 29 January 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Justice Harsh Kumar
NDTV and Indian Express: the three-member commission is headed by retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice Harsh Kumar.
What guarantee coverage does the Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs, approved in January 2025, provide to lenders?
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Correct answer: B — 60%
PIB 2097455: NCGTC provides 60% guarantee coverage to member lending institutions for credit up to ₹100 crore.
Consider the following statements about MCGS-MSME: 1. Loans up to ₹100 crore are eligible for guarantee cover. 2. Equipment or machinery must be at least 75% of the project cost. 3. The guarantee is provided by SIDBI. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB 2097455: loans up to ₹100 crore are covered and equipment must be at least 75% of project cost; the guarantee is given by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC), not SIDBI.
According to ASUSE 2023-24, which state had the highest number of unincorporated sector establishments?
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Correct answer: C — Uttar Pradesh
PIB 2097316: Uttar Pradesh had the highest number of establishments, followed by West Bengal and Maharashtra.
By how much did the number of establishments in the unincorporated sector grow in ASUSE 2023-24 over 2022-23?
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Correct answer: B — 12.84%
PIB 2097316: establishments grew 12.84% (6.50 crore to 7.34 crore); workers grew 10.01% and GVA 16.52%.
Which state topped Gross Value Added in the unincorporated sector as per ASUSE 2023-24?
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Correct answer: C — Maharashtra
PIB 2097316: the top three states in GVA were Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.
How much did the High-Level Committee chaired by the Union Home Minister approve for disaster mitigation on 29 January 2025?
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Correct answer: D — ₹3,027.86 crore
PIB 2097448: the HLC approved ₹3,027.86 crore in total for drought, lightning and forest fire mitigation projects.
The forest fire risk management scheme approved on 29 January 2025 covers how many high-priority districts?
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Correct answer: C — 144
PIB 2097448: the forest fire scheme covers 144 high-priority districts in 19 states at ₹818.92 crore.
From which fund are the drought and lightning mitigation projects approved by the High-Level Committee in January 2025 to be financed?
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Correct answer: A — National Disaster Mitigation Fund
PIB 2097448: the HLC considered the lightning and drought proposals for funding from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF).
What administered ex-mill price was fixed on 29 January 2025 for ethanol from C-heavy molasses for ESY 2024-25?
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Correct answer: A — ₹57.97 per litre
PIB 2097305: the price was fixed at ₹57.97 per litre, up from ₹56.58 per litre.
The Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) used under the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme runs from:
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Correct answer: B — 1 November to 31 October
PIB 2097305: ESY is defined as the period from 1 November of a year to 31 October of the following year.
Consider the following statements about ethanol blending in India: 1. Average blending by public sector OMCs reached 14.60% in ESY 2023-24. 2. The 20% blending target has been advanced to ESY 2025-26. 3. OMCs plan to achieve 20% blending in ESY 2024-25. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB 2097305: blending averaged 14.60% in ESY 2023-24 and the 20% target was advanced to ESY 2025-26; OMCs plan 18%, not 20%, in ESY 2024-25.
The Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft being built at Cochin Shipyard, including Machilipatnam, are known as which class?
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Correct answer: A — Mahe class
PIB 2097441: the eight ASW SWC ships built by CSL are known as the 'Mahe' class.
How many Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft did the Ministry of Defence contract Cochin Shipyard to build in April 2019?
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Correct answer: C — Eight
PIB 2097441: the contract for building eight ASW SWC ships was awarded to CSL on 30 April 2019.
Which body invokes stages of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the National Capital Region?
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Correct answer: D — Commission for Air Quality Management
PIB 2097469: the Sub-Committee on GRAP of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas invoked Stage III on 29 January 2025.
Delhi's average AQI on 29 January 2025, which led to GRAP Stage III being invoked, was:
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Correct answer: C — 365
PIB 2097469: Delhi's AQI rose from 276 on 28 January to 365 on 29 January 2025.
According to a study by the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism reported in January 2025, the north magnetic pole has been drifting from:
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Correct answer: A — Canada towards Siberia
PIB 2097391: the north magnetic pole, which was in Canada till 1990, has drifted towards Siberia, moving at about 50 km per year by 2020.
The Occupational Shortage Index launched by the Labour Ministry on 29 January 2025 is based on which data source?
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Correct answer: D — Quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey data
PIB 2097431: the OSI is based on ILO methodology and quarterly PLFS data.
Where was the International Saraswati Mahotsav 2025 inaugurated on 29 January 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Adi Badri, Yamunanagar
AIR and Times of India: Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini inaugurated the Mahotsav at Adi Badri in Yamunanagar district, the origin place of the Saraswati river.
How many projects did the Haryana CM inaugurate and lay foundation stones for at the International Saraswati Mahotsav 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 29
AIR and Times of India: 29 projects worth ₹54.71 crore were inaugurated or had foundation stones laid.