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1. How many new wetlands of India got the status of global Ramsar site on 31 January 2025, taking the number to 89?
a. 6
b. 5
c. 4
d. 3
Answer: c. 4
– Four new wetlands in India were designated as Ramsar sites in January 2025.
– Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, shared this information on January 31.
– The number of existing wetlands has increased from 85 to 89.
– In the index, India’s sites have increased from 26 to 89 in the past 10 years, with 47 added in the last three years.
List of New Ramsar Sites:
1. Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu
2. Therthangal Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu
3. Khecheopalri Wetland – Sikkim
4. Udhwa Lake – Jharkhand
World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 2.
What is a Wetland?
– It is a type of moist land where water accumulates during the rainy season. Additionally, a large number of bird species are found in these areas.
– In recent years, several sites have been included in the Ramsar list, and UNESCO provides assistance for their conservation.
Why is it Called a Ramsar Site?
– Ramsar is a city in Iran.
– On February 2, 1971, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was signed by countries around the world in this city.
– Hence, it is called the Ramsar Agreement, and some also refer to it as the Wetland Convention.
– It came into effect in 1975.
– The formal name of this convention is “Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, Especially as Waterfowl Habitat.”
– It is an intergovernmental treaty that provides guidance on the conservation and proper use of wetlands.
India signed this treaty in 1982.
– In India, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has been designated as the nodal ministry for wetland conservation.
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2. Which of the following became the state with the highest number of Ramsar sites in India on 31 January 2025?
a. Uttar Pradesh
b. Madhya Pradesh
c. Maharashtra
d. Tamil Nadu
Answer: d. Tamil Nadu
– In January 2025, two bird sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu—Sakkarakottai and Therthangal—were designated as Ramsar sites.
– With this, Tamil Nadu now has the highest number of Ramsar sites, totaling 20.
– Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh has 10 Ramsar sites.
Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary
– This site is a wetland located across three villages in southern Tamil Nadu.
– It helps maintain water levels, prevent soil erosion, recharge groundwater, and manage water during floods or heavy rainfall.
– It is home to over 120 species of birds and was designated as a bird sanctuary in 2012.
Therthangal Bird Sanctuary
– This site is a marshy lake located in Therthangal village in southern Tamil Nadu, receiving water from two rivers during the monsoon season.
– So far, 96 bird species have been recorded here, including the endangered Egyptian vulture and the rare Indian spotted eagle.
– It was declared a bird sanctuary in 2010.
– Apart from birds, the site also hosts 133 species of plants, 57 species of butterflies, 11 species of reptiles, 7 mammal species, and 6 amphibian species.
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3. Which lake of Sikkim has been included in the global Ramsar site list?
a. Tsongmo Lake
b. Khecheopalri Lake
c. Kathok Lake
d. Gurudongmar Lake
Answer: b. Khecheopalri Lake
– Khecheopalri Lake is the first global Ramsar site in Sikkim.
– Union Minister Bhupender Yadav announced its inclusion on January 31, 2025.
Khecheopalri Wetland
– Khecheopalri Lake, originally named Kha-Chot-Palri, is a sacred lake located near Khecheopalri village in the West Sikkim district of the Indian state of Sikkim.
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4. Which lake of Jharkhand has been included in the global Ramsar site list?
a. Hazaribagh Lake
b. Khecheopalri Lake
c. Udhwa Lake
d. Dimna Lake
Answer: c. Udhwa Lake
– Udhwa Lake is the first global Ramsar site in Jharkhand.
– Union Minister Bhupender Yadav announced its inclusion on January 31, 2025.
Udhwa Lake
– Udhwa Lake is located in the Sahebganj district of Jharkhand.
– This lake is situated in a small village named Udhwa.
– Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary is part of the floodplains of the Ganges River.
– It is the only bird sanctuary in Jharkhand.
89 Ramsar sites in India (by 31 January 2025)
1. Asthmudi Wetland, Kerala
2. Beas Conservation Reserve, Punjab
3. Bhitarkanika Mangroves, Orissa
4. Bhoj Wetlands, MP
5. Chandertal Wetland, Himachal Pradesh
6. Chilka Lake, Orissa
7. Deepor Beel, Assam
8. East Kolkata Wetlands, West Bengal
9. Harike Lake, Punjab
10. Hokera Wetland, Jammu and Kashmir
11. Kanjli Lake, Punjab
12. Keoladeo Ghana NP, Rajasthan
13. Keshopur-Mian Community Reserve, Punjab
14. Kolleru Lake, Andhra Pradesh
15. Loktak Lake, Manipur
16. Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, Gujarat
17. Nandur Madmaheshwar, Maharashtra
18. Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary, Punjab
19. Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
20. Parvati Agra Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
21. Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
22. Pong Dam Lake, Himachal Pradesh
23. Renuka Wetland, Himachal Pradesh
24. Ropar Lake, Punjab
25. Rudrasagar Lake, Tripura
26. Saman Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
27. Samaspur Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
28. Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan
29. Sandi Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
30. Sarsai Nawar, Uttar Pradesh
31. Sasthamkotta Lake, Kerala
32. Sundarban Wetland, West Bengal
33. Surinsar-Mansar Lakes, Jammu and Kashmir
34. Tsomoriri Lake, Jammu and Kashmir
35. Upper Ganga River, UP
36. Vembanad Coal Wetland, Kerala
37. Wular Lake, Jammu and Kashmir
38. Asan Conservation Reserve, Uttarakhand
39. Kabartal (Kanwar Lake), Bihar
40. Keetham Lake (Surasarovar), UP
41. Lonar Lake, Maharashtra
42. ‘Startasapuk Tso’ and ‘Tso Kar’ Lake, Ladakh
43. Sultanpur National Park, Haryana
44. Bhidawas Wildlife Sanctuary, Haryana
45. Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat
46. Wadhwana Wetland Area, Gujarat
47. Haiderpur Wetland, Uttar Pradesh
48. Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, Gujarat
49. Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
50. Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
51. Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest, Tamil Nadu
52. Pichavaram Mangroves, Tamil Nadu
53. Pala Wetland, Mizoram
54. Sakhya Sagar Wetland, Madhya Pradesh
55. Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
56. Satkosia Gorge, Odisha
57. Nanda Lake, Goa
58. ‘Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve’, Tamil Nadu
59. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Karnataka
60. Vembannur Wetland Complex, Tamil Nadu
61. Velode Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
62. Sirpur Wetland, Madhya Pradesh
63. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
64. Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
65.Tampara Lake, Odisha
66. Hirakud Reservoir, Odisha
67. Anshupa Lake, Odisha
68. Yashwant Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
69. Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
70. Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex, Tamil Nadu
71. Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
72. Kanjirkulam Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
73. Thane Creek, Maharashtra
74. Haigam Wetland Conservation Reserve, Jammu and Kashmir
75. Shalbug Wetland Conservation Reserve, Jammu and Kashmir
76. Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, Karnataka
77. Aghanashini Sanctuary, Karnataka
78. Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve, Karnataka
79. Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
80. Longwood Shola Reserve Forest, Tamil Nadu
81. Nagi Bird Sanctuary, Bihar
82. Nakti Bird Sanctuary, Bihar
83. Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
84. Kazuveli Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
85. Tawa Reservoir, Madhya Pradesh
86. Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
87. Therthangal Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
88. Khecheopalri Wetland, Sikkim
89. Udhwa Lake, Jharkhand
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5. What did the US order its users to rename ‘Gulf of Mexico’ on Google Maps?
a. Gulf of California
b. Gulf of Cajones
c. Gulf of America
d. Gulf of Alaska
Answer: c. Gulf of America
– According to The Hindu newspaper, the Trump administration’s Department of the Interior stated on January 24, 2025, that it has officially proposed renaming the ‘Gulf of Mexico’ to the ‘Gulf of America.’
– Additionally, Alaska’s Denali peak will be renamed Mount McKinley.
– On January 27, Google announced that, following an official update in the U.S. geographical naming system, it would rename the ‘Gulf of Mexico’ to the ‘Gulf of America’ for users in the United States.
– This change will only be visible to users residing in the U.S., while in Mexico, it will still be referred to as the “Gulf of Mexico.” Users of Google Maps in countries other than the U.S. and Mexico will see both names.
What did the President of Mexico say?
– The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, wrote a letter to Google, stating that the U.S. cannot unilaterally change the name of a water body.
– She mentioned that Google’s renaming of the ‘Gulf of Mexico’ on Google Maps was incorrect.
– She further emphasized that Mexico’s maritime boundary extends fully sovereign up to 12 nautical miles from its coast.
– This rule applies not only to Mexico but to all countries worldwide.
– If any country wants to rename a location in the sea, it can do so only within the 12-nautical-mile limit.
– Beyond 12 nautical miles, such as in the rest of the Gulf of Mexico, this rule does not apply.
What did Google say?
– According to CNN, Google stated that its decision aligns with its practice of implementing name changes when official government sources update them.
Why might the name ‘Gulf of Mexico’ be changed?
– After the 2016 election, Trump had multiple confrontations with Mexico over issues such as border security and tariffs on imported goods.
– Trump had pledged to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and have Mexico pay for it.
– The Gulf of Mexico is referred to as America’s “third coast.”
– There is a major water source between the U.S. and Mexico, a river that flows between Texas and the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas.
– Americans call this river the ‘Rio Grande,’ while Mexicans refer to it as ‘Río Bravo.’
Where is the Gulf of Mexico located?
– The Gulf of Mexico is an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly surrounded by the North American continent.
– It is bordered to the northeast, north, and northwest by the U.S. Gulf Coast.
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6. India will host the BRICS Youth Council Entrepreneurship Working Group meeting in March 2025, what is its theme?
a. Youth Entrepreneurship of the country
b. One India for Sustainable Development
c. Youth Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development
d. The country’s working group is one
Answer: c. Youth Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development
– The Department of Youth Affairs, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, will host the BRICS Youth Council Entrepreneurship Working Group meeting in New Delhi from March 3 to March 7, 2025.
– The meeting will be attended by approximately 45 young representatives from BRICS countries.
– To prepare young participants for the BRICS Youth Council Entrepreneurship Working Group meeting, eight run-up events are being held across India.
What will happen at the meeting?
– India will provide a platform for BRICS Youth Council representatives to share their views on policies, programs, and mutual cooperation related to entrepreneurship.
– During this meeting, representatives will share their experiences and discuss ways to develop and enhance cooperation in entrepreneurship among BRICS countries.
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7. Which country separated itself from the World Health Organization (WHO)?
a. America
b. Canada
c. India
d. Russia
Answer: a. America
– After becoming the President of the United States, Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the WHO.
– He also instructed the recall of U.S. personnel from the organization.
– Donald Trump accused the WHO of not handling the COVID-19 situation properly.
– He stated that the organization receives a significant amount of money from the U.S., which contributes the highest donations compared to any other country.
– The United States joined the WHO in 1948 after a joint resolution passed in both houses of the U.S. Congress.
WHO
– Headquarters: Geneva (Switzerland)
– Director-General: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
– Member Countries: 194
United States
– Capital: Washington D.C.
– Currency: Dollar
– Neighboring Countries: Canada, Mexico (land borders), Russia (maritime border)
– Language: English
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8. When is Indian Coast Guard Day celebrated?
a. 1 February
b. 2 February
c. 3 February
d. 4 February
Answer: a. 1 February
– On this day, the Indian Coast Guard was established in 1977 by the Indian Parliament through the Coast Guard Act.
– This year, the 49th Indian Coast Guard Establishment Day was celebrated.
– The Indian Coast Guard protects India’s maritime boundaries, covering approximately 7,500 kilometers of coastline.
– It also assists in relief and rescue operations.
Indian Coast Guard
– Establishment: February 1, 1977
– Headquarters: New Delhi
– Director-General: Paramesh Shivamani
– Motto: “Vayam Rakshamah” (We Protect)
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9. When is World Wetlands Day celebrated?
a. 1 February
b. 2 February
c. 3 February
d. 4 February
Answer: b. 2 February
– The World Wetlands Day 2025 celebration was held at the Parvati Arga Ramsar Site in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh.
2025 Theme
“Protection of Wetlands for Our Shared Future”
– On this day, in 1971, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was adopted in the city of Ramsar, Iran.
– Its aim is to raise awareness among people about the importance of wetlands.
– The celebration started in 1997.
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10. Which cricketer was given the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award by BCCI?
a. Sourav Ganguly
b. Sachin Tendulkar
c. Ravi Shastri
d. Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Answer: b. Sachin Tendulkar
– The BCCI awarded Sachin Tendulkar this honor on February 1, 2025, during the annual ceremony.
– He is the 31st cricketer to receive this award.
– Prior to this, in 2023, the former head coach of the Indian team, Ravi Shastri, was awarded this honor.
Sachin Tendulkar
– The 51-year-old Sachin Tendulkar has played 664 international matches for India.
– He holds the record for the most centuries and runs in both Test and ODI formats.
– Sachin made his Test debut against Pakistan in 1989 at the age of 16 and scored runs against bowlers from around the world.
– He was a key member of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team.
– This was his sixth and final World Cup.
– He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2014, making him the only cricketer to receive this honor.
Award Started in 1994
– The BCCI introduced this award in 1994 in honor of India’s first captain, Colonel CK Nayudu.
– Nayudu had a 47-year-long first-class career from 1916 to 1963, which is a world record.
– He also served the game as an administrator.
– BCCI Chairman: Roger Binny
– Headquarters: Mumbai
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11. Who was awarded the ‘Polly Umrigar Award’ for the Best Men’s International Cricketer of 2023-24 by BCCI?
a. Mohammed Shami
b. Jaspreet Bumrah
c. Arshdeep Singh
d. Hardik Pandya
Answer: b. Jaspreet Bumrah
– The BCCI awarded him this honor on February 1, 2025, for his outstanding performance.
Jasprit Bumrah Record
– 205 wickets in 45 Tests.
– 149 wickets in 89 ODIs.
– 89 wickets in 70 T20Is.
Polly Umrigar Award
– The ‘Polly Umrigar Award’ is one of the BCCI awards for the Best International Cricketer of the Year.
– It is given to Indian cricketers for exceptional performance in international cricket.
– This award was established in 2007, with Sachin Tendulkar being the first recipient (for 2006-07).
– The award includes a trophy, a certificate of appreciation, and a cash prize of ₹15 lakh.
Important Awards
– Best Cricketer (Male): Jasprit Bumrah
– Best Cricketer (Female): Smriti Mandhana
– Best International Debut (Male): Sarfaraz Khan
– Best International Debut (Female): Asha Sobhna
– CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award: Sachin Tendulkar
– BCCI Special Award: Ravichandran Ashwin
– Best Performance in Domestic Tournaments: Tanush Kotian
– Umpire of the Year: Akshay Totre
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12. Who has been named as ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2024 and Test Team of the Year?
a. Mohammed Shami
b. Hardik Pandya
c. Jaspreet Bumrah
d. Arshdeep Singh
Answer: c. Jaspreet Bumrah
– The 31-year-old was named the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year on January 27, 2025, and was also nominated to the Test Team of the Year.
– Bumrah is the first Indian bowler to receive this honor.
– He surpassed Travis Head (Australia), Joe Root (England), and Harry Brook (England) in the award race.
– Jasprit Bumrah has been awarded the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year at the ICC Awards.
– The Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy is a cricket trophy awarded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) annually to the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year.
– Virat Kohli last won it in 2018.
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13. Hisashi Takeuchi was re-appointed as the CEO and MD of which company?
a. Hero Company
b. Tata Consultancy
c. Sony Group
d. Maruti Suzuki
Answer: d. Maruti Suzuki
– The Board of Directors of Maruti Suzuki India Limited has approved the proposal to reappoint Hisashi Takeuchi as MD and CEO for an additional three-year term, effective from April 1, 2025.
– Hisashi Takeuchi was first appointed to these positions on April 1, 2022.
– He replaced Kenichi Ayukawa, who retired on March 31, 2022.
– Takeuchi has been a part of the Maruti Suzuki Board of Directors since July 2019 and was Joint Managing Director (Commercial) until his promotion in April 2021.
– He joined Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) in 1986.
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14. Former Chief Election Commissioner Naveen Chawla passed away on 1 February 2025, which Election Commissioner was he?
a. 13th
b. 14th
c. 15th
d. 16th
Answer: d. 16th
– 79-year-old Naveen Chawla was the 16th Chief Election Commissioner of India.
– He was an IAS officer from the 1969 batch of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre.
– He served as Election Commissioner from May 16, 2005, to April 20, 2009.
– He then continued as Chief Election Commissioner until July 29, 2010.
– One of his reforms as Chief Election Commissioner was introducing the option of ‘Other’ for transgender voters in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
– Prior to this, transgender voters had no separate category and were forced to choose either the male or female option to cast their vote.
– Naveen Chawla was also deeply inspired by Mother Teresa. He wrote an official biography on her life and works.
– His career was also marred by controversies. In 2009, he faced allegations of bias, which led the then Chief Election Commissioner, N. Gopalaswami, to recommend his removal.
– In 2006, NDA leaders petitioned the President demanding his removal.
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15. When is World Cancer Day observed?
a. 4 February
b. 5 February
c. 3 February
d. 2 February
Answer: a. 4 February
– Theme for 2025-2027: ‘United by Unique’
– The purpose of celebrating this day is to raise awareness about cancer prevention, detection and treatment.
– This day is led by UICC (Union for International Cancer Control).
– It was founded in the year 2000.
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