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1. In which Union Territory did Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurate the Z-Morh Tunnel Project in January 2025?
a. Delhi
b. Jammu and Kashmir
c. Puducherry
d. Lakshadweep
Answer: b. Jammu and Kashmir
– On January 13, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 6.5-kilometer-long Z-Mor Tunnel in Sonmarg, Jammu and Kashmir.
– This project was developed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
– The tunnel connects Sonmarg to the town of Kangan in the central Kashmir district of Ganderbal.
What is the Z-Mor Tunnel?
– The Z-Mor Tunnel is constructed beyond Sonmarg, near the village of Gagangir.
– This tunnel will ensure all-weather connectivity to the famous tourist destination of Sonmarg, located on the Srinagar-Leh highway.
– The tunnel is named the Z-Mor Tunnel because of the Z-shaped road near it.
– The location of the tunnel is at an altitude of over 8,500 feet, where there is a risk of avalanches during winter.
– The road to Sonmarg is closed for most of the winter.
When did the tunnel work begin?
– The tunnel project was planned by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) in 2012.
– Later, NHIDCL took over the project.
– The project was expected to be completed by August 2023, but it was delayed.
– The soft opening of the tunnel took place in February 2024.
– The official inauguration was held on January 13, 2025.
What is the importance of the tunnel?
– The Z-Mor Tunnel is part of the Zojila Tunnel project.
– Its goal is to provide year-round connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh.
– The tunnel will ensure all-weather connectivity to Sonmarg.
– It will facilitate quick access for military personnel to Ladakh.
– The Zojila Tunnel is being constructed at an altitude of 12,000 feet.
– The construction of the tunnel is expected to be completed by December 2026.
– The Z-Mor Tunnel is essential for year-round connectivity.
Jammu and Kashmir:
– Chief Minister: Omar Abdullah
– Lieutenant Governor: Manoj Sinha
– Capital: Srinagar in summer and Jammu in winter.
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2. According to the European climate agency Copernicus, which year was the hottest ever?
a. 2020
b. 2022
c. 2023
d. 2024
Answer: d. 2024
– While we are currently shivering from the cold, can you believe that 2024 has been recorded as the hottest year in history?
– Efforts have been made to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C (compared to pre-industrial levels), but the initial analysis of the 2024 temperatures shows that the Earth’s temperature rise in 2024 was 1.55°C higher than before.
– The European Climate Agency, Copernicus, has provided this information. This indicates that the Paris Agreement, which aimed to limit global temperature rise, seems to be failing.
– 2024 has surpassed 2023 to become the hottest year on record. The year 2023 was recorded as 1.45°C warmer than the pre-industrial period.
What was the average global temperature in 2024?
– Scientists from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) stated that global temperature measurements began in 1850.
– 2024 is the hottest year on record since then.
– The average global temperature in 2024 was 15.1°C.
– This is 0.72°C higher than the average from 1991-2020.
– The temperature in 2024 was 0.12°C higher than in 2023.
Hottest in 125,000 years
– Samantha Burgess, Strategic Climate Lead at Copernicus, mentioned that the primary reason for these record temperatures is the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from burning coal, oil, and gas. The past decade has likely been the warmest in the last 125,000 years.
Why is the claim being made that it’s the highest in 125,000 years?
– Temperature records began 175 years ago (in 1850). For periods before that, a different method was used to gather temperature data.
– Scientists have millennia of climate data obtained from tree rings, ice cores, and coral samples.
– This data serves as the foundation for scientists’ understanding of the climate system.
– After the Industrial Revolution, human activities rapidly contributed to global warming.
Why is the heat increasing?
– The continuous rise in global average temperatures is due to pollution.
– Pollution prevents much of the sun’s heat from escaping, trapping it in the Earth’s atmosphere.
– This pollution works like a greenhouse around the Earth, drastically affecting the weather.
– In the coming years, there is a risk that the entire Arctic Ocean’s ice will melt. Many coastal cities could be submerged.
– The rise in temperatures will have severe impacts on the Indian subcontinent, and India could face extreme consequences. In 2015, a heatwave caused 2,500 deaths in India.
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3. Army Commander Joseph Aoun was elected President of which country?
a. Lebanon
b. Syria
c. Israel
d. Iraq
Answer: a. Lebanon
– On January 9, 2025, after two rounds of voting in the Lebanese Parliament, Army Commander Joseph Aoun was elected as the new president.
– The presidential position in Lebanon had been vacant since October 2022.
– Normally, army commanders or public servants in Lebanon cannot become president within two years of resigning from their posts.
– However, this did not apply in Joseph Aoun’s case, as he remained the army chief until his election as president.
– The presidential vote in Lebanon took place at a time when a deal had recently been made to end the 14-month-long conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Joseph Aoun:
– He was appointed as Lebanon’s fifth army commander in March 2017.
– He was scheduled to retire in January 2024, but the ongoing Hezbollah-Israel conflict led to his term being extended twice.
Lebanon:
– Prime Minister: Najib Mikati
– Neighboring Countries: Syria and Israel
– Language: Arabic
– Population: 5,828,263
– Currency: Lebanese Pound
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4. What is the position of India in the Henley Passport Index 2025 (released in January)?
a. 80th
b. 85th
c. 83rd
d. 84th
Answer: b. 85th
– This data was released by the citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners on January 8, 2025.
– The ranking of the index is based on how many countries a passport allows for visa-free travel.
– The ranking includes 199 different passports and 227 travel destinations.
– In the world’s most powerful passport ranking, India has slipped five positions from 2024 and now stands at 85th place.
– In 2024, India was ranked 80th.
– Indian passport holders can travel visa-free to 57 countries.
– According to the data, India’s lowest rank was 90th in 2021, while its best rank was in 2006, when the country was 71st.
– Over the past decade, only 22 passports out of the 199 listed have dropped in the Henley Passport Index ranking.
Neighboring Countries’ Rankings:
– According to the 2025 index, China’s ranking is 60th, up from 62nd in 2024.
– Chinese passport holders can travel visa-free to 85 destinations.
– Pakistan’s ranking is 103rd, down from 101st in 2024.
– Pakistani passport holders can travel visa-free to only 33 countries.
– Bangladesh’s ranking is 100th, which was 97th in 2024.
– Nepal is ranked 101st, Bhutan is 90th, and Sri Lanka is ranked 96th.
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5. According to the Henley Passport Index 2025 (released in January), which country got the first place in the list of the world’s most powerful passports?
a. America
b. Japan
c. Singapore
d. Austria
Answer: c. Singapore
– Singapore ranks first, with visa-free access to 195 countries.
– Japan is in second place, with visa-free access to 193 destinations.
– South Korea, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Finland share third place, as their passports allow visa-free entry to 192 countries.
– Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands are in fourth place, with visa-free access to 191 countries.
– Belgium, Portugal, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the UK are ranked fifth, while Australia and Greece hold the sixth spot.
– Canada, Malta, and Poland are in seventh place.
– The United States ranks ninth.
The second-largest country with a decline in ranking – the United States:
– Between 2015 and 2025, the United States has seen a significant drop in ranking, making it the second-largest country to experience such a fall after Venezuela.
– The US has dropped from second to ninth place, falling seven spots.
– Vanuatu is the third-largest country with a decline, dropping six places from 48th to 54th.
– The British passport, which was at the top of the index in 2015, now ranks fifth.
– The list of top five countries with a decline in ranking also includes Canada, which has fallen from fourth to seventh.
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6. Martin Guptill retired from international cricket on 8 January 2025, he is a player of which country?
a. England
b. Ireland
c. New Zealand
d. South Africa
Answer: c. New Zealand
– New Zealand’s opening batsman Martin Guptill holds the record for the highest individual score in a World Cup.
– The 38-year-old Guptill made his international debut in 2009 against the West Indies.
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7. In which state’s sanctuary was the Banded Royal Butterfly (Rachna jalindra indra) seen?
a. Kerala
b. Odisha
c. Tripura
d. Assam
Answer: c. Tripura
– According to Times of India news, wildlife officials reported on January 3, 2025, that the rare species, the Banded Royal Butterfly, was spotted in the state of Tripura.
– This discovery was made in the Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary in Sepahijala district, which is located in Tripura.
– The butterfly was first observed in the sanctuary during an opportunistic survey on May 5, 2021.
– This species is listed under Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and is considered protected.
Characteristics of the Butterfly:
– The male’s upper side is deep purple or blue, while the female has a brown body with white spots.
– The underside is light brown with white stripes, which is why it is called “banded.”
– The butterfly prefers dense, plant-rich areas and is often seen resting on leaves.
– There are three subspecies of this butterfly in India.
Note:
– Rachna Jalindra, Banded Royal, is a lichenid or blue butterfly found in the Indomalayan region (one of the eight biogeographical regions of the Earth).
– This species was first described by Thomas Horsfield in 1829.
Tripura:
– Capital: Agartala
– Chief Minister: Manik Saha
– Governor: Indrasen Reddy
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8. The Himachal government has renamed the Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration in honor of which former Prime Minister?
a. Atal Bihari Vajpayee
b. Dr. Manmohan Singh
c. Chandrashekhar
d. Indira Gandhi
Answer: b. Dr. Manmohan Singh
– The Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) will now be named after the country’s former Prime Minister, the late Dr. Manmohan Singh.
– Chief Minister Sukvinder Singh Sukhu made this announcement on January 1, 2025, during the 51st Foundation Day of HIPA.
– He stated that due to Dr. Manmohan Singh’s visionary policies, the people of the country stand with self-respect.
– He also mentioned that Dr. Singh’s efforts led to the establishment of many major institutions in Himachal Pradesh, which continue to benefit the people of the state today.
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9. Where was the Developed India Young Leaders Dialogue 2025 program organized, in which PM Narendra Modi participated?
a. Red Fort
b. Bharat Mandapam
c. Rohini Maidan
d. Pragati Maidan
Answer: b. Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
– The Department of Youth Affairs organized the “Developed India Youth Leader Dialogue – National Youth Festival 2025” from January 10-12, 2025.
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the event on January 12, 2025.
– The Prime Minister interacted with 3,000 youth leaders from across India.
– The Prime Minister also released a compilation of the best essays written by participants on ten different topics.
– According to PIB, the Developed India Youth Leader Dialogue serves as an inspiring platform that unites the energy and innovative spirit of our youth to shape a developed India.
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10. When is National Youth Day celebrated?
a. 9 January
b. 10 January
c. 11 January
d. 12 January
Answer: d. 12 January
– This day is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
– He was born on January 12, 1863.
– The Government of India declared National Youth Day in 1984.
– It was first celebrated in 1985.
– The aim of this day is to inspire youth through the ideals and thoughts of Swami Vivekananda.
– Every year, National Youth Week is observed from January 12 to 16.
International Youth Day: August 12.
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11. When is Death anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri observed?
a. 9 January
b. 10 January
c. 11 January
d. 12 January
Answer: c. 11 January
– India’s former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri passed away on January 11, 1966.
– At that time, he was in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in connection with an agreement with Pakistan.
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12. When is Indian Army Day celebrated?
a. 14 January
b. 15 January
c. 16 January
d. 17 January
Answer: b. 15 January
– Army Day is celebrated in honor of the Indian Army.
– In 1949, Lieutenant General K. M. Cariappa was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.
– Army Day is celebrated on January 15 in memory of this historic event.
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13. Name the torch of the 38th National Games held in Uttarakhand?
a. Bhageshwari
b. Ojaswini
c. Tejaswini
d. Veerangani
Answer: c. Tejaswini
– The torch for the 38th National Games has been named ‘Tejaswini.’
– This name symbolizes brilliance, strength, and the vibrant spirit of sports.
– The torch passed through 99 locations across 13 districts.
– National Games Dates: From January 28 to February 14, 2025.
– Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Dehradun.
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14. Name the mascot of Kho-Kho World Cup 2025?
a. Tejas and Tara
b. Aabha and Ghazal
c. Radha and Sita
d. Tara and Radha
Answer: a. Tejas and Tara
– The Kho-Kho Federation of India (KKFI) has unveiled the mascot for the 2025 World Cup.
– Tejas and Tara: A pair of gazelles representing the values of the tournament.
– Tejas: A symbol of energy and brilliance, in blue.
– Tara: A symbol of guidance and aspiration, in orange.
– Both mascots reflect a blend of traditional Indian design and modern style.
– World Cup Dates: January 13 to 19, 2025
– Venue: Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi.
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15. West Bengal won the Santosh Trophy football competition (2024) for which time?
a. 5th time
b. 20th time
c. 33rd time
d. 50th time
Answer: c. 33rd time
– In the 2024 edition, West Bengal won their 33rd title by defeating Kerala 1-0.
– The Santosh Trophy is India’s premier football competition.
– Match Venue: Gachibowli Stadium, Hyderabad.
Santosh Trophy:
– Established: 1941.
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