Current Affairs Quiz — 13 February 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
How many sections did the Income-tax Bill, 2025 contain when it was introduced on 13 February 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 536
The Bill has 536 sections against 819 in the Income-tax Act, 1961, a reduction of 283 sections.
The Income-tax Bill, 2025 replaces the terms 'assessment year' and 'previous year' with:
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Correct answer: C — Tax year
The Bill replaces 'assessment year' and 'previous year' with the simpler 'tax year'.
Who was appointed chairperson of the Lok Sabha Select Committee set up to examine the Income-tax Bill, 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Baijayant Panda
The 31-member Select Committee, constituted on 14 February 2025, is chaired by BJP MP Baijayant Panda.
The Income-tax Bill, 2025 reduces the number of chapters from 47 in the 1961 Act to:
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Correct answer: D — 23
Chapters fall from 47 to 23, a reduction of 24, while tables rise from 18 to 57.
Consider the following statements about the Income-tax Bill, 2025 as introduced: 1. It made no changes to tax rates. 2. It was referred to a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament. 3. Over 20,000 online suggestions were received during the simplification exercise. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 3 only
The Bill kept tax rates unchanged, and 20,976 online suggestions were received. It was referred to a Select Committee of the Lok Sabha, not a Joint Committee, so the second statement is wrong.
Under 'Mission 500', announced by PM Modi and President Trump on 13 February 2025, India–US bilateral trade is to reach $500 billion by which year?
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Correct answer: A — 2030
The leaders set 'Mission 500', aiming to more than double total bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.
In the India–US 'TRUST' initiative launched on 13 February 2025, what does TRUST stand for?
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Correct answer: A — Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology
TRUST stands for 'Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology', covering defence, AI, semiconductors, quantum, biotechnology, energy and space.
The India–US Joint Statement of February 2025 said the first tranche of which agreement would be negotiated by fall 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Bilateral Trade Agreement
The leaders announced plans to negotiate the first tranche of a multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement by fall 2025; for defence, they only called for opening Reciprocal Defense Procurement talks.
Which new initiative did India and the US announce on 13 February 2025 to scale industry partnerships and production of autonomous systems in the Indo-Pacific?
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Correct answer: B — Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA)
The leaders announced the Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA), building on the US-India Roadmap for Defense Industrial Cooperation.
Consider the following statements about the India–US Joint Statement of February 2025: 1. It announced plans for procurement and co-production of Javelin missiles and Stryker vehicles in India. 2. It announced plans to sign a new ten-year Framework for the Major Defense Partnership in 2025. 3. It described 'Tiger Triumph' as a bilateral naval exercise first held in 2023. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
The statement announced Javelin and Stryker co-production plans and a new ten-year defence framework to be signed that year. Tiger Triumph is a tri-service exercise first held in 2019, so the third statement is wrong.
Under which Article of the Constitution was President's Rule imposed in Manipur on 13 February 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Article 356
President Droupadi Murmu issued the proclamation under Article 356, which deals with failure of constitutional machinery in a state.
On whose report did the President proclaim President's Rule in Manipur in February 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla
The proclamation followed a report from Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla; the notification itself was issued by the Home Ministry.
What happened to the Manipur Legislative Assembly when President's Rule was imposed on 13 February 2025?
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Correct answer: C — It was placed under suspended animation
The Assembly was placed under suspended animation, not dissolved, and its powers became exercisable by or under the authority of Parliament.
Consider the following statements about President's Rule in Manipur (February 2025): 1. It was imposed four days after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned. 2. Before it, the Governor declared the order summoning the Assembly on 10 February null and void. 3. Under the proclamation, the powers of the state legislature became exercisable by the Governor. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
President's Rule came four days after Biren Singh resigned, and the Governor had annulled the order summoning the Assembly on 10 February. The legislature's powers passed to Parliament, not the Governor, so the third statement is wrong.
Which state topped the ranking in the report 'Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States' released on 13 February 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Karnataka
Karnataka topped the devolution ranking, with Kerala second and Tamil Nadu third.
Which institution prepared the report 'Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States' released in February 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Indian Institute of Public Administration
The study and report were prepared by the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi, for the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
In the February 2025 Panchayat devolution ranking, Uttar Pradesh rose from 15th place to which position?
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Correct answer: B — 5th
Uttar Pradesh jumped ten places, from 15th in the previous index to 5th.
Who chaired the Joint Parliamentary Committee whose report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was tabled on 13 February 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Jagdambika Pal
BJP MP Jagdambika Pal chaired the committee and tabled the report in the Lok Sabha; Medha Vishram Kulkarni laid it in the Rajya Sabha.
How many members did the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 have?
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Correct answer: A — 31
The committee had 31 members, 21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.
How much in pending arrears for employees and pensioners did the Punjab Cabinet approve on 13 February 2025 (in crore rupees)?
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Correct answer: C — 14,000
The Cabinet approved release of ₹14,000 crore in arrears in stages, benefiting about three lakh employees and three lakh pensioners.
For how many new Lok Adalats did the Punjab Cabinet create posts on 13 February 2025?
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Correct answer: D — 22
The Cabinet created posts in the Punjab State Legal Services Authority for 22 new Lok Adalats.
Which of the following districts was NOT among those where the Punjab Cabinet approved special fast-track NRI courts in February 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Amritsar
The NRI courts were approved for Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Moga and Ludhiana; Amritsar was not on the list.
In which city was the 4th No Money for Terror (NMFT) Conference held on 13 February 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Munich
The 4th NMFT Conference was held in Munich, Germany; India, which hosted the 2022 edition in New Delhi, proposed a permanent NMFT Secretariat in India.
Which of the following was NOT depicted on the Maha Kumbh 2025 commemorative stamps released on 13 February 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Hanuman Mandir
The three stamps depict Maharshi Bharadwaj Ashram, the Snan (holy dip) and Akshayvat; a Hanuman temple was not among them.
The 4th India-EU Urban Forum, held on 13 February 2025, built on the Joint Declaration on Partnership for Smart and Sustainable Urbanization of which year?
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Correct answer: D — 2017
The forum built on the 2017 Joint Declaration on Partnership for Smart and Sustainable Urbanization.
Who is the Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly who, with CM Mohan Charan Majhi, unveiled its NeVA 'Digital House' on 13 February 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Surama Padhy
Speaker Surama Padhy and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi unveiled the Digital House of Odisha under NeVA.
Which public sector general insurer posted a profit in Q3 of 2024-25 after a gap of seven years, as stated by the Finance Ministry in February 2025?
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Correct answer: B — United India Insurance Company
United India Insurance posted a profit in Q3 of 2024-25 after seven years, while New India Assurance has been making profits regularly.