Current Affairs Quiz — 18 February 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Which leader of Qatar paid a State Visit to India on 17-18 February 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani
The Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, paid his second State Visit to India on 17-18 February 2025.
During the Amir of Qatar's visit in February 2025, India-Qatar relations were elevated to which level?
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Correct answer: A — Strategic Partnership
The two sides signed the Agreement on the Establishment of Bilateral Strategic Partnership.
How much investment in India did Qatar commit to, according to the India-Qatar Joint Statement of 18 February 2025?
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Correct answer: B — USD 10 billion
The Qatar side announced a commitment to invest USD 10 billion in India in sectors such as infrastructure, technology, manufacturing and food security.
What bilateral trade target did India and Qatar set in February 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Double trade by 2030
Both sides set the target to double bilateral trade by 2030 and agreed to explore a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
Consider the following statements about the Amir of Qatar's visit to India in February 2025: 1. It was his second State Visit to India. 2. The Joint Working Group on Trade and Commerce was elevated to a Joint Commission headed by the Commerce Ministers. 3. India and Qatar signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement during the visit. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
It was the Amir's second State Visit, and the trade working group became a Joint Commission headed by the Commerce Ministers; on a CEPA, the sides only agreed to explore the possibility, so only the first two statements are correct.
The Inland Waterways Terminal at Jogighopa, dedicated to the nation on 18 February 2025, is in which state?
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Correct answer: B — Assam
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal dedicated the Inland Waterways Terminal at Jogighopa, Assam, to the nation.
The Jogighopa terminal is located 91 km from which town in Bhutan?
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Correct answer: C — Gelephu
The terminal is 91 km from Gelephu in Bhutan, 108 km from the Bangladesh border and 147 km from Guwahati.
How much cargo is the Jogighopa Inland Waterways Terminal expected to handle per year by 2027?
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Correct answer: A — 1.1 million tonnes
By 2027 the terminal is expected to handle 1.1 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
Which state's Legislative Assembly adopted the National e-Vidhan Application and became a Digital House on 18 February 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Uttarakhand
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Speaker Ritu Khanduri inaugurated NeVA in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly, making it a Digital House.
The National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) was rolled out to state legislatures on the lines of the e-Vidhan system of which state's Legislative Assembly?
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Correct answer: A — Himachal Pradesh
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs was made nodal ministry to roll out e-Vidhan, re-designated NeVA, in all states and UTs with legislatures on the lines of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
Where was the NAKSHA urban land survey pilot nationally launched on 18 February 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Raisen
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the NAKSHA pilot at Raisen, Madhya Pradesh.
Which organisation is the technical partner for aerial surveys and orthorectified imagery under the NAKSHA programme?
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Correct answer: A — Survey of India
The Survey of India is the technical partner, conducting aerial surveys and providing orthorectified imagery to states and UTs.
Consider the following statements about the NAKSHA pilot launched in February 2025: 1. Its end-to-end web-GIS platform is being developed by the Madhya Pradesh State Electronic Development Corporation. 2. Its cost of about ₹194 crore is fully funded by the Government of India. 3. It is being piloted only in urban local bodies of Madhya Pradesh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
MPSEDC is building the web-GIS platform and the roughly ₹194 crore pilot is fully centrally funded; the pilot covers 152 urban local bodies in 26 states and 3 UTs, not only Madhya Pradesh, so only the first two statements are correct.
According to the PLFS quarterly bulletin for October-December 2024, what was the urban unemployment rate for persons aged 15 and above (CWS)?
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Correct answer: C — 6.4%
The urban unemployment rate for persons aged 15 and above fell to 6.4% in October-December 2024 from 6.5% a year earlier.
What was the urban unemployment rate among women aged 15 and above in October-December 2024, as per the PLFS bulletin?
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Correct answer: B — 8.1%
The female urban unemployment rate fell from 8.6% in October-December 2023 to 8.1% in October-December 2024.
Near which creek did ASI's Underwater Archaeology Wing begin its initial investigations off Dwarka in February 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Gomati Creek
The team selected an area near the Gomati Creek for its initial underwater investigations off Dwarka.
Who led the ASI team that began underwater explorations off Dwarka in February 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Prof. Alok Tripathi
The five-member team was led by Prof. Alok Tripathi, Additional Director-General (Archaeology); H.K. Nayak and Dr. Aparajita Sharma were team members.
In which period had ASI's Underwater Archaeology Wing earlier carried out offshore and onshore excavations at Dwarka?
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Correct answer: A — 2005 to 2007
The wing carried out offshore and onshore excavations at Dwarka from 2005 to 2007, when sculptures and stone anchors were found.
Where was the second All-India State Water Ministers' Conference held in February 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Udaipur
The conference, organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, began in Udaipur, Rajasthan, on 18 February 2025.
'Water Vision @2047', on which the Udaipur conference built, was first formulated at the 2023 conference held in which city?
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Correct answer: C — Bhopal
Water Vision @2047 was first formulated at the 2023 Bhopal Conference and reviewed at the Secretaries' Conference in Mahabalipuram in 2024.
By when did Amit Shah ask the Jammu and Kashmir administration to ensure full implementation of the three new criminal laws, at the review on 18 February 2025?
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Correct answer: A — April 2025
Amit Shah asked the UT administration to ensure full implementation of the three new criminal laws in Jammu and Kashmir by April 2025.
With which Nepalese institution did CSIR sign an MoU on science and technology cooperation on 18 February 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Nepal Academy of Science and Technology
CSIR and the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) formalised the MoU at CSIR-NPL, New Delhi.
The Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM), launched by MeitY in February 2025, is part of which initiative?
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Correct answer: D — Gov.In: Harmonisation of Government of India's Digital Footprint
DBIM was launched under the 'Gov.In: Harmonisation of Government of India's Digital Footprint' initiative to give government websites a uniform identity.
How many murals feature in India's first Open-Air Art Wall Museum at Mausam Bhawan, opened to mark 150 years of IMD?
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Correct answer: D — 38
The Mausam Bhawan art showcase features 38 murals depicting India's meteorological history and the evolution of weather forecasting.
After reaching Port Stanley on 18 February 2025, INSV Tarini was to sail to which port before returning to India?
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Correct answer: B — Cape Town
Following its stop in Port Stanley, INSV Tarini was to sail to Cape Town before returning to India.