Current Affairs Quiz — 25 March 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Which components of the Gold Monetisation Scheme were discontinued with effect from 26 March 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Medium Term and Long Term Government Deposits
The Medium Term and Long Term Government Deposit (MLTGD) components were discontinued; the Short Term Bank Deposit may continue at banks' discretion.
After the March 2025 changes to the Gold Monetisation Scheme, what happens to the Short Term Bank Deposit (1–3 years)?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — It continues at the discretion of individual banks based on commercial viability
The Short Term Bank Deposit may continue at the discretion of individual banks, based on their assessment of commercial viability.
What happens to gold already deposited under the Medium and Long Term Government Deposit components of the GMS, after they were discontinued in March 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — It continues until redemption as per existing guidelines
Existing deposits under MLTGD continue until redemption as per the extant GMS guidelines.
Consider the following statements about the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS): 1. The GMS was announced on 15 September 2015 to reduce India's reliance on gold imports in the long run. 2. Under the GMS, the Long Term Government Deposit had a tenure of 12–15 years. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
The GMS was announced on 15 September 2015 to reduce reliance on gold imports and mobilise household and institutional gold. Its components were the Short Term Bank Deposit (1–3 years), Medium Term Government Deposit (5–7 years) and Long Term Government Deposit (12–15 years).
Which House passed the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 on 25 March 2025, completing its passage through Parliament?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on 25 March 2025 after Home Minister Amit Shah's reply, completing its passage through Parliament.
The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, passed by Parliament in March 2025, enables state governments to set up which new body?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Urban Disaster Management Authority
The Bill enables Urban Disaster Management Authorities, fully under state governments, for state capitals and cities with municipal corporations.
According to Amit Shah's reply in the Rajya Sabha on 25 March 2025, at which levels will the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill create disaster databases?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — National and state levels
Amit Shah said the Bill would create disaster databases at the national and state levels.
Consider the following statements about the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, passed by Parliament on 25 March 2025: 1. It gives statutory status to the National Crisis Management Committee, which is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. 2. It gives statutory status to the High Level Committee, which is chaired by the Prime Minister. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Per PRS, the NCMC is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. The HLC, which approves financial assistance to states, is chaired by the minister in charge of the ministry with administrative control over disaster management, not the Prime Minister.
How many government amendments were included in the Finance Bill, 2025 when the Lok Sabha passed it on 25 March 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 35
The Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill, 2025 with 35 government amendments.
One of the amendments to the Finance Bill, 2025, passed by the Lok Sabha on 25 March 2025, abolished which levy?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 6% equalisation levy on online advertisements
An amendment abolished the 6% equalisation levy on online advertisements, popularly called the 'Google tax'.
What total expenditure does the Union Budget 2025-26 envisage, as reported when the Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill on 25 March 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — ₹50.65 lakh crore
The Union Budget 2025-26 envisages total expenditure of ₹50.65 lakh crore, an increase of 7.4% over the current fiscal.
Under which ICMR initiative was the drone transport of corneas, announced on 25 March 2025, carried out?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — i-DRONE
The cornea transport study is part of ICMR's i-DRONE initiative, first conceived during COVID-19 to deliver vaccines to remote areas.
In ICMR's drone pilot announced on 25 March 2025, corneal tissue was flown from which town to AIIMS Jhajjar and then AIIMS New Delhi?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Sonipat
The drone carried corneal tissue from Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital in Sonipat, covering the distance in about 40 minutes against 2–2.5 hours by road.
Who is the chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement (JKPM), which announced on 25 March 2025 that it had severed ties with separatism?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Shahid Saleem
JKPM chairman Shahid Saleem declared that he and his organisation had no link with APHC(G) or APHC(A).
Which two Hurriyat constituents announced on 25 March 2025 that they had severed ties with separatism?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — J&K People's Movement and J&K Democratic Political Movement
The JKPM and the JKDPM announced their break on 25 March 2025. The J&K Tahreeqi Isteqlal and J&K Tahreek-I-Istiqamat followed on 27 March.
Which country did India beat in the men's regu final of the Sepak Takraw World Cup 2025 on 25 March 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Japan
India beat Japan 2-1 (11-15, 15-11, 17-14) in the final.
In which city was the ISTAF Sepak Takraw World Cup 2025, where India won its first gold, held?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Patna
The World Cup was held at the Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna, Bihar, from 20 to 25 March 2025; it was Bihar's first time as host.
How many medals did India win at the Sepak Takraw World Cup 2025 in Patna?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Seven
India won seven medals, up from five at the previous World Cup, including the men's regu gold.
India and Singapore signed a Letter of Intent on 25 March 2025 to work towards which corridor?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Green and Digital Shipping Corridor
The LOI on maritime digitalisation and decarbonisation is a step towards an MoU on a Singapore-India Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC).
Which Singapore body's chief executive signed the India–Singapore Letter of Intent on green and digital shipping on 25 March 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
The LOI was signed by R Lakshmanan, Joint Secretary, MoPSW, and Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.
The Boilers Bill, 2024, introduced in the Lok Sabha on 25 March 2025, repeals a law from which year?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1923
The Boilers Bill, 2024 repeals the Boilers Act, 1923.
Under the Boilers Bill, 2024, introduced in the Lok Sabha in March 2025, how many of the seven offences in the law retain criminal penalties?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Four
Criminal penalties are retained for four major offences that may cause loss of life and property; the other three are decriminalised.
Consider the following statements about the Boilers Bill, 2024, introduced in the Lok Sabha on 25 March 2025: 1. The Bill had already been passed by the Rajya Sabha on 4 December 2024. 2. Its decriminalisation provisions are in line with the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on 4 December 2024. The review incorporated decriminalised provisions in consonance with the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023.
How many more districts of Uttar Pradesh did ESIC notify under the ESI Scheme, as announced on 25 March 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 15
ESIC notified 15 more districts of Uttar Pradesh, adding 53,987 insured persons.
After ESIC's notification of 15 more districts in March 2025, how many of Uttar Pradesh's 75 districts are fully covered under the ESI Scheme?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 74
74 of Uttar Pradesh's 75 districts are now fully covered, benefiting 30.08 lakh insured persons and 1.16 crore beneficiaries.
The AIIMS New Delhi–SAMEER MoU signed on 25 March 2025 includes clinical validation of an indigenous MRI system of what field strength?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1.5 Tesla
The MoU covers clinical validation of the indigenous 1.5 Tesla MRI system developed by SAMEER Mumbai under the IMRI mission.
Where did the Department of Posts release a commemorative postage stamp on Mata Karma on 25 March 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Raipur
The stamp was released at an event in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, attended by CM Vishnu Deo Sai, on her 1009th birth anniversary.
What is the aim of the 'Baalpan ki Kavita' initiative launched by the Ministry of Education on 25 March 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Building a compendium of nursery rhymes and poems in Indian languages and English for young children
The initiative will prepare a compendium of nursery rhymes and poems in all Indian languages and English, relevant to the Indian context, for young children.
At what altitude did the National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa hold a yoga session in Leh on 25 March 2025 for the IDY 2025 countdown?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 11,562 feet
The session was held on the NISR campus in Leh at 11,562 feet (3,524 metres).
From 1 April 2025, how often must traders, retailers and processors declare their wheat stocks on the government portal, as directed on 25 March 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Every Friday
Entities must declare wheat stocks on the portal from 1 April 2025 and then every Friday until further orders.