Current Affairs Quiz — 30 January 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
What was the average monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) in rural India in 2023-24, as per HCES 2023-24 (without imputation)?
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Correct answer: D — ₹4,122
PIB 2097601: average MPCE in 2023-24 was ₹4,122 (rural) and ₹6,996 (urban) without imputed values; with imputation ₹4,247 and ₹7,078.
Among major states, which state had the lowest urban–rural gap in average MPCE in 2023-24 according to HCES 2023-24?
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Correct answer: A — Kerala
PIB 2097601: the lowest urban–rural gap in 2023-24 was in Kerala (about 18%) and the highest in Jharkhand (around 83%).
Consider the following statements about HCES 2023-24: 1. The urban–rural gap in MPCE declined to 70% in 2023-24. 2. The Gini coefficient of consumption in rural areas declined to 0.237. 3. The Gini coefficient in urban areas rose compared to 2022-23. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB 2097601: the urban–rural gap fell to 70% and rural Gini fell to 0.237; urban Gini also fell, from 0.314 to 0.284, so statement 3 is wrong.
Which Indian Navy sailboat crossed Point Nemo on 30 January 2025 during Navika Sagar Parikrama II?
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Correct answer: D — INSV Tarini
PIB 2098252: INSV Tarini, sailed by Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A, crossed Point Nemo at 0030 hrs IST on 30 January 2025.
Point Nemo, crossed by INSV Tarini in January 2025, is known as:
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Correct answer: A — The Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility
PIB 2098252: Point Nemo is the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility, about 2,688 km from the nearest landmass.
Consider the following statements about Navika Sagar Parikrama II: 1. INSV Tarini was flagged off from Goa on 2 October 2024. 2. Point Nemo was crossed during the leg from Lyttelton to Port Stanley. 3. Water samples from Point Nemo are to be analysed by ISRO. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB 2098252: the crew were flagged off from Goa on 2 October 2024 and crossed Point Nemo on the Lyttelton–Port Stanley leg; the samples will be analysed by the National Institute of Oceanography, not ISRO.
In how many Indian languages does the Sahitya Akademi give its main annual award, for which books were invited directly for the first time in 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 24
PIB 2097806: books in 24 Indian languages recognised by the Akademi were invited directly for the main award for 2025.
Books published in which period were eligible for the Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 under the new submission system?
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Correct answer: B — 2019 to 2023
PIB 2097806: books published between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2023 could be sent by 28 February 2025.
The Pla Tangka Cooperative Society, approved by a state cabinet on 30 January 2025, is for women SHGs of which state?
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Correct answer: D — Meghalaya
The Hindu and The Shillong Times: the Meghalaya Cabinet approved the Pla Tangka Cooperative Society on 30 January 2025.
Meghalaya's Pla Tangka Cooperative Society model is inspired by which state's scheme?
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Correct answer: B — Stree Nidhi of Telangana
The Shillong Times and The Hindu: Meghalaya is the fourth state after Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana; the model is inspired by Telangana's Stree Nidhi.
Which State/UT's tableau was judged the best at the Republic Day Parade 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Uttar Pradesh
PIB 2097650: Uttar Pradesh's 'Mahakumbh 2025 – Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas' was first, Tripura second and Andhra Pradesh third; Gujarat topped the popular-choice poll.
Which contingent was judged the best marching contingent among the Services at Republic Day Parade 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Jammu & Kashmir Rifles Contingent
PIB 2097650: the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles contingent was judged best among Services; the Signals contingent won the popular-choice poll.
Tripura's tableau, placed second at Republic Day Parade 2025, was based on which festival?
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Correct answer: A — Kharchi Puja
PIB 2097650: Tripura's tableau was 'Eternal Reverence: The worship of 14 Deities in Tripura – Kharchi Puja'.
About how many GPUs did the IndiaAI Mission's common computing facility have, as announced on 30 January 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 18,693
PIB 2097709: the IndiaAI Mission created a common computing facility of about 18,693 GPUs; computation begins with roughly 10,000 and the remaining 8,693 will be added.
After the government subsidy, what was the stated cost of AI compute per hour under the IndiaAI Mission?
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Correct answer: A — Less than ₹100 per hour
PIB 2097709: compute will cost less than ₹100 per hour after a 40% government subsidy, against 2.5–3 dollars per hour for global models.
'Mana Mitra', launched on 30 January 2025, is a WhatsApp-based governance initiative of which state?
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Correct answer: B — Andhra Pradesh
The Hindu and NDTV: the Andhra Pradesh government launched 'Mana Mitra' WhatsApp Governance, a first in the country.
How many civic services were made available in the first phase of Andhra Pradesh's 'Mana Mitra' WhatsApp Governance?
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Correct answer: B — 161
The Hindu and NDTV: 161 services are available in the first phase.
With which company did the Goa government lay the foundation for Centres of Excellence at government ITIs on 30 January 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Tata Technologies
The Goan and Live News Goa: CM Pramod Sawant laid the foundation stone for the Centre of Excellence project under Tata Technologies at ITI Altinho, with Tata Technologies contributing ₹165 crore.
Where was Odisha's first Automated Testing Station for vehicle fitness inaugurated in January 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Cuttack RTO
New Indian Express and OdishaTV: Odisha's first ATS was inaugurated at the Cuttack RTO on Thursday, 30 January 2025.
At how many more RTOs did Odisha plan to set up Automated Testing Stations after the first one at Cuttack?
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Correct answer: C — 21
New Indian Express and OdishaTV: the State plans ATS at 21 more RTOs, plus an additional centre in Cuttack.
Who assumed charge as the Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition of the Indian Navy on 30 January 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan
PIB 2097791: Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan assumed charge on 30 January 2025 from Vice Admiral B Sivakumar.
Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, who became Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition in January 2025, served for more than nine years on which aircraft carrier?
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Correct answer: A — INS Viraat
PIB 2097791: he worked onboard INS Viraat for more than nine years; he was also involved in acquiring Vikramaditya as Warship Production Superintendent in Russia.
PM-JANMAN, under which 27 roads were sanctioned for Maharashtra in January 2025, is aimed at which group?
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Correct answer: C — Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups
PIB 2097617: the roads give all-weather connectivity to 27 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) habitations under PM-JANMAN.
What was the total length of the 27 PM-JANMAN roads sanctioned for Maharashtra in January 2025?
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Correct answer: B — 50.13 km
PIB 2097617: 27 roads measuring 50.13 km with an estimated investment of ₹50.35 crore were sanctioned.
Astronomers of which institute devised a method, reported in January 2025, to estimate the radial size of coronal mass ejections from single-point measurements?
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Correct answer: A — Indian Institute of Astrophysics
PIB 2097599: astronomers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, an autonomous institute of DST, devised the method.
How many people in India are threatened by Lymphatic Filariasis, as stated on World NTD Day 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 404 million
PIB 2097724: LF threatens 404 million people in India.
Which neglected tropical disease did the Health Ministry describe as 'at the cusp of elimination' in India on World NTD Day 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Visceral Leishmaniasis (Kala-azar)
PIB 2097724: VL or Kala-azar is at the cusp of elimination in India.