Current Affairs Quiz — 28 February 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Who led the EU College of Commissioners on its visit to India on 27-28 February 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Ursula von der Leyen
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen led the College of Commissioners to India and issued a Leaders' Statement with PM Modi on 28 February 2025.
According to the India–EU Leaders' Statement of 28 February 2025, India welcomed the EU joining which initiative?
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Correct answer: A — Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)
India welcomed the EU joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), and both sides agreed to explore trilateral cooperation in Africa and the Indo-Pacific.
Which defence cooperation framework of the EU did the EU welcome India's interest in joining projects under, as per the Leaders' Statement of 28 February 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO)
The EU welcomed India's interest in joining projects under the EU's Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and in negotiating a Security of Information Agreement.
Consider the following statements about the visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India (27-28 February 2025): 1. It was the College's first visit outside the European continent since the start of its new mandate. 2. The leaders noted that the India–EU Strategic Partnership has completed 20 years. 3. The leaders agreed to conclude the India–EU FTA by 2027. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct: the visit was the College's first outside Europe in its new mandate, and the leaders built on 20 years of the Strategic Partnership. Statement 3 is wrong: they aimed to conclude the FTA within 2025.
What real GDP growth rate for the October–December 2024 quarter (Q3 of 2024-25) did MoSPI estimate on 28 February 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 6.2%
Real GDP grew 6.2% in Q3 of 2024-25; 6.5% is the full-year estimate and 5.6% the revised Q2 growth.
What real GDP growth for 2024-25 was estimated in the Second Advance Estimates released on 28 February 2025?
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Correct answer: B — 6.5%
The Second Advance Estimates put real GDP growth for 2024-25 at 6.5%, revised up from the First Advance Estimates.
As per the First Revised Estimates released on 28 February 2025, India's real GDP growth in 2023-24 was:
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Correct answer: C — 9.2%
Real GDP grew 9.2% in 2023-24, the highest in the previous 12 years except 2021-22; 8.6% was real GVA growth that year and 7.6% the final 2022-23 growth.
According to MoSPI's estimates of 28 February 2025, Private Final Consumption Expenditure is expected to grow by how much in 2024-25?
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Correct answer: C — 7.6%
PFCE is expected to grow 7.6% in 2024-25, compared with 5.6% in 2023-24.
Consider the following statements about the national accounts estimates released by the NSO on 28 February 2025: 1. Real GDP growth of 9.2% in 2023-24 is the highest in the previous 12 years except for 2021-22. 2. The growth rate of real GDP for Q2 of 2024-25 was revised upward to 5.6%. 3. Construction is expected to be the fastest-growing sector in 2024-25 at 10.4%. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: construction is estimated to grow 8.6% in 2024-25; 10.4% was its growth in 2023-24.
The 10,000th Farmer Producer Organisation under the central scheme, launched by PM Modi at Bhagalpur, is registered in which district?
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Correct answer: C — Khagaria
The 10,000th FPO is registered in Khagaria district, Bihar, and focuses on maize, banana and paddy.
What is the budget outlay of the Central Sector Scheme for Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs, launched on 29 February 2020?
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Correct answer: D — ₹6,865 crore
The scheme was launched with an outlay of ₹6,865 crore till 2027-28.
Consider the following statements about the scheme for Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs: 1. FPOs under it can be registered under Part IXA of the Companies Act or under a state's Co-operative Societies Act. 2. It provides a matching equity grant of up to ₹2,000 per farmer member, with a limit of ₹15 lakh per FPO. 3. It provides credit guarantee cover for project loans of up to ₹10 crore per FPO. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: the credit guarantee facility covers project loans of up to ₹2 crore per FPO.
What rate of interest on EPF accumulations for 2024-25 did EPFO's Central Board of Trustees recommend on 28 February 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 8.25%
The CBT recommended 8.25% for 2024-25; it is credited after the Government notifies the rate.
Who chairs the Central Board of Trustees of EPF, as at its 237th meeting on 28 February 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Union Minister for Labour and Employment
The CBT is chaired by the Union Labour and Employment Minister (Dr Mansukh Mandaviya); the Central PF Commissioner is Member Secretary.
During his visit to DRDO's missile complex in Hyderabad on 28 February 2025, Rajnath Singh felicitated the team of which missile project?
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Correct answer: D — Long-Range Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile
He felicitated the Long-Range Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile team, whose flight trials succeeded in November 2024.
Which DRDO laboratory at the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex briefed Rajnath Singh on missile programmes on 28 February 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Research Centre Imarat (RCI)
Rajnath Singh was briefed on missile technologies and programmes being carried out by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI).
Under the National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025, an entity wishing to develop a terminal on a national waterway must obtain a No Objection Certificate from which body?
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Correct answer: A — Inland Waterways Authority of India
The regulations, framed by IWAI, require any entity developing or operating an inland waterway terminal on a national waterway to obtain an NoC from IWAI.
Under the National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025, what initial term is given to temporary terminals?
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Correct answer: B — Five years
Temporary terminals get an initial five-year term, while permanent terminals can be maintained for their lifetime.
Exercise Desert Hunt 2025, a tri-service special forces exercise held from 24 to 28 February 2025, was conducted at which Air Force Station?
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Correct answer: B — Jodhpur
The IAF conducted Exercise Desert Hunt 2025 at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Consider the following statements about Exercise Desert Hunt 2025: 1. It was an integrated tri-service special forces exercise conducted by the Indian Air Force. 2. The Garuds, the IAF's special forces that took part, were formed in 2003. 3. The Marine Commandos (MARCOS) who took part belong to the Indian Army. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct: the IAF conducted the tri-service exercise, and the Garuds were formed in 2003. Statement 3 is wrong: MARCOS are the Indian Navy's Marine Commandos; the Army was represented by Para (Special Forces).
What was the theme of National Science Day 2025, observed on 28 February 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in Science & Innovation for Viksit Bharat
The 2025 theme was 'Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in Science & Innovation for Viksit Bharat'; the other options are themes of earlier years.
At the National Science Day 2025 event, Dr Jitendra Singh said DST's budget allocation rose from ₹2,777 crore in 2013-14 to how much in 2024-25?
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Correct answer: D — ₹28,509 crore
DST's allocation rose to ₹28,509 crore in 2024-25, a 926% increase; ₹6,658 crore was DSIR's and ₹13,416 crore the Department of Space's 2024-25 figure.
According to the government's National Science Day 2025 backgrounder, the INSPIRE-MANAK scheme will be extended from 2025 to which students?
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Correct answer: A — Classes 11 and 12
From 2025, INSPIRE-MANAK will expand its reach to Class 11 and 12 students.
Where was the first ministerial meeting of the India–EU Trade and Technology Council held, before the second meeting in New Delhi on 28 February 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Brussels
The first India–EU TTC meeting was held in Brussels on 16 May 2023; the second was in New Delhi on 28 February 2025.
Which of the following Union Ministers was NOT an Indian co-chair of the second India–EU TTC meeting on 28 February 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Nirmala Sitharaman
The Indian co-chairs were S. Jaishankar, Piyush Goyal and Ashwini Vaishnaw; the Finance Minister was not a co-chair.
India's first offshore mineral block, a construction sand block for which a Letter of Intent was handed over on 28 February 2025, was allotted to which entity?
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Correct answer: C — Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority
The LoI for the offshore construction sand block was handed to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA).
The sand from the offshore block allotted on 28 February 2025 will be used for reclamation at which greenfield port?
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Correct answer: D — Vadhavan, Palghar
About 200 million cubic metres of sand from the block off the Daman coast will be used to reclaim land for the greenfield Vadhavan Port in Palghar, Maharashtra.
Which organisation developed the low-cost 5G lab inaugurated by Jyotiraditya Scindia at Gauhati University on 28 February 2025?
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Correct answer: C — C-DOT
The 5G test lab was developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT).
The HIMASHIELD 2024 Grand Challenge of C-DAC, which concluded on 28 February 2025, sought solutions for mitigating which hazard?
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Correct answer: D — Glacial Lake Outburst Floods
HIMASHIELD 2024 sought indigenous solutions for Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) mitigation.
At the 9th National Summit on Good & Replicable Practices in Puri (28 February 2025), Odisha's CM highlighted the merger of which state scheme with AB-PMJAY?
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Correct answer: B — Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana
Mohan Charan Majhi said merging Odisha's Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana with AB-PMJAY gives over 4.5 crore people access to more than 29,000 private hospitals.
PM Modi attended the Sufi music festival Jahan-e-Khusro 2025, which completed 25 years, at which venue on 28 February 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Sunder Nursery
The PM took part in Jahan-e-Khusro 2025 at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi; the festival is organised by the Rumi Foundation.
By how much did the combined Index of Eight Core Industries grow (provisional) in January 2025 over January 2024?
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Correct answer: D — 4.6%
The index rose 4.6% in January 2025; 4.4% was cumulative growth for April–January 2024-25.