Current Affairs January-IV 2025

Explanation: Siachen Glacier now has 4G and 5G services provided by an Indian telecom firm. It is a piedmont glacier in the Karakoram Range, part of the “Third Pole,” containing vast freshwater reserves. It is the world’s second-longest nonpolar glacier after Fedchenko Glacier in Tajikistan. Known as the highest battleground, India gained control in 1984 under Operation Meghdoot.

Explanation: The Indian Armed Forces conducted Exercise Devil Strike from January 16 to 19. It involved elite airborne soldiers from the Army and Air Force. The exercise was held in training areas and firing ranges. The focus was on refining logistics and sustaining troops in tough conditions. Advanced technologies ensured precise delivery of forces to remote locations. The exercise aimed to enhance operational readiness and adaptability. It emphasized the commitment to maintaining military excellence and preparing for future challenges.

Explanation: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommended capping Internet tariffs for Wi-Fi service providers under the Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme at twice the rate of retail broadband. The PM-WANI scheme was launched in December 2020 by the Department of Telecommunication. The scheme aims to expand public Wi-Fi hotspots, especially in rural areas. It seeks to enhance digital infrastructure, increase employment for small entrepreneurs, and provide low-cost internet to underserved urban and rural households. The scheme encourages local shops to offer Wi-Fi for last-mile delivery without requiring a license or registration fee.

Explanation: The Twipra Student Federation (TSF) protested in Agartala, demanding the Roman script for the Kokborok language. Kokborok is the language of the Borok people, officially recognized in Tripura on January 19, 1979. It is a Sino-Tibetan language with roots traced back to the 1st century AD. Historical records of Tripuri kings in Raj Ratnakar were written in Kokborok. The term “Kokborok” combines Kok (verbal) and Borok (people). As of the 2011 Census, 8,80,537 people in Tripura speak Kokborok, comprising 23.97% of the state’s population.

Explanation: A United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) study revealed that the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions caused the largest human-induced methane release ever recorded. Nord Stream is a key natural gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, connecting Vyborg, Russia, to Lubmin near Greifswald, Germany. It is a twin pipeline system designed to ensure energy security for Europe, especially Germany. The pipeline provides a direct and reliable gas supply from Russia, bypassing transit countries.

Explanation: The Musi River Historic Buildings in Hyderabad and Bhuj Historic Water Systems in Gujarat are listed in the 2025 World Monuments Watch by the New York-based World Monuments Fund (WMF). These sites face risks from climate change and water crises, highlighting the need for advocacy and preservation. WMF emphasizes heritage as a pathway for rejuvenation, sustainability, and resilience amid Hyderabad’s environmental challenges and rapid change.

Explanation: Tungabhadra River water turned green near villages in Mundargi taluk, Gadag district, Karnataka, causing panic. It is a major tributary of the Krishna River, sacred to Hindus, and mentioned as “Pampa” in the Ramayana. The river originates from the Tunga (147 km) and Bhadra (178 km) streams in the Western Ghats and runs 531 km to meet the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh. It passes through Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and forms an interstate boundary.

Explanation: The World Economic Forum released the Global Risk Report, first published in 2006, categorizing extreme weather as an “environmental risk.” The 2024-2025 report is based on the Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS) and assesses risks over short-term (1-2 years) and long-term (10 years) periods. Short-term risks include misinformation, extreme weather events, and state-based armed conflict. Long-term risks include extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and critical earth system changes. Four key spheres shaping global risks are technological, geostrategic, climatic, and demographic, expected to intensify. The report highlights addressing short-lived climate pollutants like black carbon, methane, and hydrofluorocarbons.

Explanation: Australian scientists discovered a larger, more venomous Sydney funnel-web spider species, named Atrax christenseni. The new species, called “Big Boy,” is 9 cm (3.54 inches) long and was first found in the early 2000s near Newcastle. It is dark brown to black with finger-like spinnerets at the abdomen’s end. Its venom glands are bigger, and its fangs are longer. Only male funnel-web spiders cause human deaths due to their stronger venom. Found in bushy suburban areas, forests, and shady gullies. Funnel-web spiders are among the most dangerous, with venom containing 40 toxic proteins.

Explanation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 2nd Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 on 17 January 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The first expo was held in February 2024 in New Delhi. The event unites the entire mobility sector, including automobiles, transportation infrastructure, electric vehicles, and digital technologies. It highlights India’s role as a global mobility hub, showcasing cutting-edge innovations. The expo is hosted at Bharat Mandapam, Yashoboomi in Delhi, and Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, from 17-22 January 2025.