Current Affairs Quiz — 31 January 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Under which Article of the Constitution did the President address both Houses assembled together on 31 January 2025, the first session of the year?
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Correct answer: D — Article 87(1)
PIB 2118954: this being the first session of the year, the President addressed both Houses assembled together in terms of Article 87(1) on 31 January 2025.
How many property cards had been issued under the SVAMITVA scheme, according to the President's address of 31 January 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 2.25 crore
PIB 2097836: under SVAMITVA, 2.25 crore property cards had been issued, about 70 lakh of them in the last six months.
What real GDP growth range did the Economic Survey 2024-25 project for FY26?
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Correct answer: B — 6.3–6.8%
PIB 2097919: the real GDP is projected to grow between 6.3 and 6.8 per cent in FY26; FY25 growth was estimated at 6.4%.
According to the Economic Survey 2024-25, the gross NPA ratio of scheduled commercial banks fell to a 12-year low of:
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Correct answer: A — 2.6%
PIB 2097919: GNPA of scheduled commercial banks declined to a 12-year low of 2.6 per cent.
The Economic Survey 2024-25 used the German term 'Mittelstand' to refer to which sector it wants to build up in India?
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Correct answer: A — Small and medium enterprises
PIB 2097919: the focus of reforms and Ease of Doing Business 2.0 is to create India's Mittelstand, i.e. India's SME sector.
Consider the following statements about the Economic Survey 2024-25: 1. It estimated FY25 real GDP growth at 6.4%. 2. It said forex reserves of USD 640.3 billion could cover 10.9 months of imports. 3. It reported retail inflation rising from 4.9% in FY24 to 5.4% in April–December 2024. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB 2097919: FY25 growth was 6.4% and forex of USD 640.3 billion covered 10.9 months of imports; retail inflation softened from 5.4% in FY24 to 4.9% in April–December 2024, so statement 3 reverses the figures.
Under the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance Amendment Rules, 2025, which body grants final approval to an entity seeking to use Aadhaar authentication?
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Correct answer: D — Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
PIB 2098223: applications are examined by UIDAI and MeitY issues the approval based on UIDAI's recommendation.
Consider the following statements about the Aadhaar authentication amendment rules notified on 31 January 2025: 1. They were notified under the Aadhaar Act, 2016. 2. They allow non-government entities to use Aadhaar authentication for public-interest services. 3. Entities apply directly to the Reserve Bank of India for approval. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB 2098223: the rules are under the Aadhaar Act, 2016 and open authentication to non-government entities; applications go to the concerned ministry or department, are examined by UIDAI and approved by MeitY, not the RBI.
The Large Area Additive Manufacturing (LAAM) System demonstrated in January 2025 was developed at the DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence in which institute?
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Correct answer: C — IIT Hyderabad
PIB 2098098: the breakthrough was achieved at the DIA-CoE at IIT Hyderabad with DRDO's DRDL, Hyderabad.
Which technology is the DRDO–IIT Hyderabad LAAM System based on?
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Correct answer: D — Laser and blown-powder Directed Energy Deposition
PIB 2098098: the process is based on laser and blown-powder based Direct Energy Deposition technology with dual heads.
What is the name of the Indian Railways SuperApp introduced for beta testing on 31 January 2025?
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Correct answer: D — SwaRail
PIB 2098305: the Ministry of Railways introduced the SuperApp 'SwaRail' for beta testing.
Which organisation developed the SwaRail SuperApp of Indian Railways?
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Correct answer: C — Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS)
PIB 2098305: the SuperApp was developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS).
Which new administrative department did the Assam Cabinet approve on 31 January 2025 to support startups?
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Correct answer: A — Department of Innovation, Incubation and Startup
Economic Times and Assam Tribune: the Cabinet approved creation of a new administrative department, the 'Department of Innovation, Incubation and Startup'.
Consider the following policies approved by the Assam Cabinet on 31 January 2025: 1. Assam Startup and Innovation Policy 2025 2. Assam Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Policy 2025 3. Assam Action Plan on BioE3 Policy Which of the above were approved?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
Economic Times and Assam Tribune: the Cabinet approved all three, the Startup and Innovation Policy 2025, the Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Policy 2025 and the BioE3 Action Plan.
Where were the 9th Asian Winter Games held in February 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Harbin, China
PIB 2097997: the 9th Asian Winter Games were scheduled from 7 to 14 February 2025 in Harbin, China.
Under which scheme did the Government extend full financial support, for the first time, to Indian athletes at the 2025 Asian Winter Games?
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Correct answer: C — Assistance to National Sports Federations Scheme
PIB 2097997: full financial support is being extended for the first time under the Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) Scheme.
On which festival day was the third Amrit Snan of Maha Kumbh 2025 scheduled (3 February 2025)?
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Correct answer: C — Basant Panchami
PIB 2098281: medical facilities were strengthened for the third Amrit Snan on Basant Panchami (3 February 2025), with 23 hospitals and 360 beds.
On which platform did the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation launch a new version of the SBM Academy in January 2025?
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Correct answer: B — WhatsApp
PIB 2097805: DDWS launched the WhatsApp version of the SBM Academy at its meeting with 22 States and UTs.
What is the combined weight of the eight core industries in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP)?
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Correct answer: B — 40.27%
PIB 2098037: the eight core industries comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the IIP.
Which of the eight core industries recorded a decline in December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — Natural gas
PIB 2098037: all core sectors except natural gas, which declined 1.8%, recorded positive growth in December 2024.
What was the Ground Level Agriculture Credit target set for FY 2024-25?
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Correct answer: C — ₹27.5 lakh crore
PIB 2098065: the GLC target for FY 2024-25 is ₹27.5 lakh crore; ₹19.28 lakh crore was disbursed by 31.12.2024 and ₹25.48 lakh crore was the FY24 disbursement.
What sub-target for allied activities was included in the FY 2024-25 Ground Level Agriculture Credit target?
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Correct answer: B — ₹4.20 lakh crore
PIB 2098065: a dedicated sub-target of ₹4.20 lakh crore was set for allied activities such as dairy, poultry and fisheries.
On which virtual digital asset service provider did FIU-IND impose a ₹9.27 crore penalty in January 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Bybit Fintech Limited
PIB 2098153: FIU-IND imposed a penalty of ₹9,27,00,000 on Bybit Fintech Limited, a VDA service provider.
Under which law did FIU-IND impose the January 2025 penalty on Bybit?
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Correct answer: C — Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002
PIB 2098153: the penalty was imposed under Section 13 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 for violating Section 12(1) and the PML Rules.
What is the theme of the BRICS Youth Council Entrepreneurship Working Group Meeting hosted by India in March 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Youth Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Growth
PIB 2097834: the theme of the meeting (3–7 March 2025) is 'Youth Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Growth'.