Daily & Latest Current Affairs in 2025

Correct Answer :   4 Years

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* India’s Olympic medal-winning wrestler Bajrang Punia, who took part in protests against the country’s former wrestling body chief in 2023, has been banned for four (4) years for avoiding a doping test.

* Punia, 30, who won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, had been provisionally suspended for refusing to provide a urine sample to national anti-doping agency (NADA) officers in March.

* Punia contested the charges and the suspension was initially lifted, but he has since been handed a ban, according to a NADA statement on Tuesday.

* Punia has maintained his innocence, saying he did not refuse testing but was wary of what he said was an expired kit that officials brought to take his sample.

* Many of India’s top wrestlers led a noisy sit-in protest in New Delhi against the then-chief of the Wrestling Federation of India, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a politician from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party.

* The protesting wrestlers demanded Singh’s removal over allegations of groping female athletes and demanding sexual favours from them.

* The 66-year-old denied all charges and claimed he was the victim of a conspiracy to force him out of parliament.

* Punia alleged the testing ban was part of Singh’s revenge for his protests.

* Wrestling is hugely popular in rural northern India, and star athletes saw a wellspring of public support.

* Punia, along with fellow protest wrestler and Olympian Vinesh Phogat, have since joined the opposition Congress Party.

* The World Anti-Doping Agency says India recorded the world’s highest number of drug cheats in 2022 – the latest year for which figures are available.

* India was the only country to have more than 100 positive results, with countries that tested more athletes such as China, the United States and Russia producing fewer violations..


Source : Aljazeera

Correct Answer :   3 Years

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The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved One Nation One Subscription,  a new Central Sector Scheme for providing country-wide access to scholarly research articles and journal publication. The scheme will be administered through a simple, user friendly and fully digital process. This will be a “One Nation One Subscription” facility for the government higher education institutions and R&D laboratories of the central government.

A total of about Rs.6,000 crore has been allocated for One Nation One Subscription for  3 calendar years, 2025, 2026 and 2027 as a new Central Sector Scheme. One Nation One Subscription will build on and further enhance the scope and reach of the range of initiatives undertaken by the Government of Indiaover the past decade in the domains of education, for maximizing access to quality higher education for the youth of India. This will supplement the ANRF initiative to promote research and development and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout government universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.

The benefits of One Nation One Subscription scheme will be provided to all Higher Educational Institutions under the management of the Central or State Government and Research & Development Institutions of the Central Government, through a national subscription coordinated by a central agency, namely the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), an autonomous inter-university centre of the University Grants Commission (UGC). This list covers more than 6,300 institutions, translating into nearly 1.8 crore students, faculty and researchers, who will be able to potentially avail benefits of One Nation One Subscription.

This is in line with the goals of Viksitbharat@2047, National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). The initiative will expand access to scholarly journals to a vast diaspora of students, faculty, researchers and scientists of all disciplines, including those in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, thereby promoting core as well as interdisciplinary research in the country. The ANRF will periodically review the usage of One Nation One Subscription and publications of Indian authors of these institutions.

The Department of Higher Education will have a unified portal “One Nation One Subscription” through which the institutions will be able to access the journals. The ANRF will periodically review the usage of One Nation One Subscription and publications of Indian authors of these institutions. The DHE and other Ministries having HEIs and R&D Institutions under their management shall be proactively conducting Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns among students, faculty and researchers of these institutions about availability and method of access to One Nation One Subscription, resulting in improved usage of the facility across the country. The State Governments will also be requested to carry out campaigns at their level for maximizing usage of the unique facility by students, faculty and researchers of all government institutions..

Source : PM India

Correct Answer :   November 26

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Constitution Day, or Samvidhan Diwas, is celebrated annually in India on November 26, commemorating the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1949.

This day honours the values of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity, which are foundational to India's democracy.

In 2024, India marks the 75th Constitution Day, reflecting on its transformative journey as a republic.

Instituted formally in 2015 to coincide with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary, the day recognizes the efforts of the Constituent Assembly and reinforces citizens' commitment to upholding constitutional ideals.

Correct Answer :   India

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* India signed the Final Act of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty, demonstrating its commitment to promoting intellectual property protection and supporting inclusive growth.

* The treaty aims to harmonize industrial design protection frameworks, simplify registration processes and provide significant benefits to SMEs, startups, and independent designers.

* This move aligns with India's impressive 120% increase in design registration filings over the past two years.

Correct Answer :   ICAI

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The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has partnered with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance commerce-based skill courses, specifically targeting the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector.

This collaboration aims to equip students with industry-relevant skills, improving their employability in the accountancy and finance sectors.

ICAI will contribute to the development of course content, syllabus, and career guidance, while also supporting teacher training and awareness programs.

Correct Answer :   New Delhi

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Ahead of the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Monday (25th Nov 2024) announced the Delhi government’s decision to old-age pension to an additional 80,000 people, along with launching a specialised portal to enhance the application process for the same.

Already, over 10,000 applications have been submitted, with an additional 80,000 individuals now qualifying, as stated by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.

This initiative is intended to offer financial assistance to senior citizens who require support.

The pension amounts under the scheme are as follows:

* $2,000 per month for individuals aged 60 to 69.
* ?2,500 per month for those aged 70 and above.
* SC/ST/Minority beneficiaries in the 60-69 age bracket will also receive ?2,500 per month.

Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj announced plans to extend pensions to differently-abled individuals, aiming for a monthly benefit of ?5,000.

Know the eligibility criteria : The scheme targets senior citizens with limited financial resources or inadequate family support. To be eligible, applicants must:

* Be at least 60 years old.
* Have lived in Delhi for a minimum of five years.
* Have a family income below ?1,00,000 annually from all sources.
* Maintain a singly operated, Aadhaar-linked bank account in Delhi.
* Not receive similar financial support from other government programs.


Know the documents required and the application process :

Qualified individuals can apply online via the e-District portal at http://www.edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in or visit their local District Social Welfare Office for assistance.

* Proof of Age: Acceptable documents include Aadhaar, voter ID, birth certificate, or school leaving certificate.
* Proof of Residence: Documents such as a ration card, utility bill, or bank passbook indicating five years of residence in Delhi.
* Bank Details: Information regarding an Aadhaar-linked, singly operated bank account.
* SC/ST Caste certificate.
* Self-declaration verified by a recognised religious organisation.
* Income Declaration

Applications are usually processed within a 45-day timeframe, with pension payments commencing from the month following approval..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   G. Balasubramanian

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* G. Balasubramanian, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer from the 1998 batch, has been appointed as the High Commissioner of India to the Maldives.

* His extensive diplomatic experience in global postings, including Moscow, Washington DC, and Dushanbe, highlights his readiness for this important role.

* His appointment signifies India's strategic focus on strengthening ties with the Maldives, a key partner in the Indian Ocean Region.

* Balasubramanian previously served as High Commissioner to Nigeria before this new appointment.

Correct Answer :   Operation Tamarisk

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Operation Tamarisk was a clandestine operation where agents from the U.S., U.K., and France rummaged through Soviet waste to uncover valuable secrets.

The operation involved sifting through discarded materials, including food scraps, letters, and even used toilet paper, which was sometimes used by Soviet troops as a substitute for official documents.

Correct Answer :   Dinesh Bhatia

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Shri Dinesh Bhatia, a 1992-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Brazil in November 2024.

With a distinguished career, Bhatia has served in various significant roles, including as India's Ambassador to Argentina and Consul General in Toronto.

His experience spans several countries and key diplomatic assignments, and his educational background includes training at prestigious institutes like the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) and the Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi.

Correct Answer :   Bharti Airtel

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* The TeacherApp, launched by Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, was developed by Bharti Airtel Foundation to empower teachers with skills for 21st-century classrooms.

* Offering over 260 hours of digital content, including courses, videos, and live sessions, the app aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 to enhance teaching practices.

* This initiative underscores Bharti Airtel Foundation's commitment to transforming education and fostering innovation among educators, impacting millions of lives across India.