Daily Dose of Current Affairs Quiz 5th January

Government job aspirants must clear exams such as SSC, Banking, Railways, and various state-level tests, which serve as vital gateways to securing these positions. These exams test candidates on reasoning, numerical skills, general knowledge, and current affairs. Being well-informed about recent events is vital for building a solid foundation in the general awareness section, often a key factor in achieving success.

Q1. Which institution has partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to launch Project VISTAAR?

(a) Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

(b) Indian Institute of Technology Madras

(c) Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

(d) Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

Q2. The book ‘Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Through the Ages’ was published by which organization?

(a) Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR)

(b) Archaeological Survey of India

(c) Ministry of Home Affairs

(d) National Book Trust (NBT)

Q3. According to Assam’s Elephant Population Estimate 2024, what is the total estimated elephant population in the state?

(a) 5,719

(b) 5,828

(c) 5,900

(d) 5,750

Q4. Who has been appointed as the new Director-General (DG) of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)?

(a) D.C. Sharma

(b) Vikram Dev Dutt

(c) Faiz Ahmed Kidwai

(d) Arun Goel

Q5. Which Indian state has become the first to incorporate the Green GDP model into its economic framework?

(a) Kerala

(b) Madhya Pradesh

(c) Chhattisgarh

(d) Himachal Pradesh

Q6. To which base year will the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) be revised as per the government’s latest initiative?

(a) 2022-23

(b) 2021-22

(c) 2020-21

(d) 2023-24

Q7. Where was India’s first-ever glass bridge inaugurated?

(a) Jaipur

(b) Kanniyakumari

(c) Kochi

(d) Agra

Q8. Who was re-elected as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2025?

(a) Nancy Pelosi

(b) Kevin McCarthy

(c) Mike Johnson

(d) Chuck Schumer

Q9. What is the Rythu Bharosa scheme’s new financial assistance amount per acre for each crop season in Telangana?

(a) ₹5,000

(b) ₹7,500

(c) ₹10,000

(d) ₹12,000

Q10. What is the main objective of the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative launched on January 1, 2025?

(a) To provide free access to textbooks for students

(b) To offer access to international scholarly journals and articles

(c) To support online degree programs

(d) To fund academic research projects

S1. Ans. (b)

Sol. Project VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources) is a collaborative initiative between IIT Madras and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to digitalize India’s agricultural extension system.

Correct Answer: Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Key Points:

• IIT Madras and the Ministry of Agriculture launched Project VISTAAR to digitalize agricultural extension, integrating 12,000 agri-start-ups to provide farmers access to technology, advisory, and government schemes.
• Project Name: VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources)
• Objective: Modernizing agricultural extension through digitalization, offering tech-driven solutions to farmers.
• Key Collaboration: IIT Madras and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

S2. Ans. (d)

Sol. The book was published by the National Book Trust (NBT), documenting India’s geo-cultural unity from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

Correct Answer: National Book Trust (NBT)

Key Points:

• Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Through The Ages’ Book Launched by Amit Shah
• Event: Release of the book ‘Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Through the Ages: A Visual Narrative of Continuities and Linkages
• Released By: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah
• Publisher: National Book Trust
• Book Focus: Documents India’s geo-cultural unity, counters myths of disunity, and highlights Kashmir’s 8,000-year history

S3. Ans. (b)

Sol. The total estimated elephant population in Assam as per the 2024 survey is 5,828, showing an increase of 109 elephants from the 2017 count of 5,719.

Correct Answer: 5,828

Key Points:

• Assam’s Elephant Population Sees 7-Year Rise
• Total Elephant Population (2024): 5,828 (Increase of 109 since 2017)
• Estimation Period: February 20-27, 2024
• Survey Blocks: 1,536
• Elephant Reserves: 5 (Chirang-Ripu, Sonitpur, Dehing-Patkai, Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong, Dhansiri-Lungding)

S4. Ans. (c)

Sol. Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, a 1996-batch IAS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the new Director-General (DG) of DGCA.

Correct Answer: Faiz Ahmed Kidwai

Key Points:

• Faiz Ahmed Kidwai Appointed as DGCA Director General
• Batch/Cadre: 1996-batch IAS, Madhya Pradesh cadre
• Previous Role: Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
• Predecessor: Vikram Dev Dutt (elevated to Secretary, Ministry of Coal)
• Interim Leadership: D.C. Sharma (Joint-DG)

S5. Ans. (c)

Sol. Chhattisgarh has become the first Indian state to adopt the Green GDP model, linking the ecological services of its forests to economic growth.

Correct Answer: Chhattisgarh

Key Points:

• Chhattisgarh integrates forest ecosystem services into Green GDP for the first time in India.
• Green GDP objective: Green GDP measures the economic value of environmental services (clean air, water conservation, biodiversity).
• Contribution of forests to GDP: Forest ecosystem services contribute ₹1,000 crore to the state’s GDP before valuation.
• Area covered by forests: Forests cover 44% of Chhattisgarh’s land area (59,820.78 square kilometers).

S6. Ans. (a)

Sol. The Government of India plans to revise the base year of the WPI to 2022-23, ensuring more accurate measurement of factory-gate inflation.

Correct Answer: 2022-23

Key Points:

• 18-member committee headed by Professor Ramesh Chand to revise WPI base year from 2011-12 to 2022-23.
• Objective: To enhance the accuracy of inflation measurement by considering structural economic changes over the past decade.
• Committee Composition: Chaired by Professor Ramesh Chand, member of NITI Aayog. Includes experts from various sectors like economics and finance.

S7. Ans. (b)

Sol. India’s first-ever glass bridge was inaugurated in Kanniyakumari, connecting two iconic landmarks, Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the Thiruvalluvar Statue.

Correct Answer: Kanniyakumari

Key Points:

• India Gets Its First Glass Bridge at Kanniyakumari
• Project Name: India’s First Glass Bridge
• Location: Kanniyakumari
• Connects: Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue
• Length: 77 meters
• Width: 10 meters

S8. Ans. (c)

Sol. Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, was re-elected as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Correct Answer: Mike Johnson

Key Points:

• Mike Johnson Re-Elected as US House Speaker
• Re-Election Outcome: Mike Johnson re-elected as Speaker of the House on first ballot.
• Support: Backed by President-elect Donald Trump; opposition from hard-right Republicans.

S9. Ans. (b)

Sol. The expanded Rythu Bharosa scheme will credit ₹7,500 per acre for each crop season to approximately 70 lakh farmers in Telangana.

Correct Answer: ₹7,500

Key Points:

• Telangana government expands the Rythu Bharosa scheme to provide ₹7,500 per acre for each crop season to 70 lakh farmers.
• Scheme Replace: Replaces the Rythu Bandhu scheme, which provided ₹5,000 per acre.
• Financial Assistance: ₹7,500 will be credited to farmers for each crop season, starting in January 2025.

S10. Ans. (b)

Sol. The ONOS initiative aims to provide comprehensive access to international scholarly journals and articles for students, faculty, researchers, and scientists in India’s government higher education institutions (HEIs) and central government R&D centres.

Correct Answer: To offer access to international scholarly journals and articles

Key Points:

• The One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme was launched on January 1, 2025, to provide access to international research journals for Indian students, faculty, and researchers.
• Funding Allocation: ₹6,000 crore allocated for the ONOS initiative for the years 2025, 2026, and 2027.
• Beneficiaries: 1.8 crore students, faculty, and researchers across 6,300 government-managed higher education institutions and central research institutions.
• Journals Access; Over 13,000 scholarly journals from 30 major international publishers across diverse disciplines.
• Access Mode: Managed by INFLIBNET, journals are accessible digitally through a centralized platform.