Daily Current Affairs Quiz: 27th February 2025

Answer: [c] Harvard University

Explanation:

• Harvard University retained the No.1 spot for the 14th consecutive year in the THE World University Reputation Rankings 2025. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ranked 2nd, and Stanford University dropped to 4th place from 3rd in 2023.
• IIT Bombay, which was previously ranked 151-175 in 2023, dropped out of the rankings in 2025. Other Indian institutions, including IISc Bengaluru, IIT Delhi, and IIT Madras, also declined in rankings, moving to the 201-300 band. Shiksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA), Bhubaneswar made its first appearance in the 201-300 category.

About THE World Reputation Rankings 2025

• These rankings reflect the global academic reputation shift, with US universities continuing to dominate, while Indian institutions see a decline in their international standing.
• Released by Times Higher Education (THE).
• Ranks 300 universities from 38 countries.
• Evaluation based on 6 key indicators, including: Research & Teaching vote count (global perception of quality), Research & Teaching comparisons (institutional comparisons) and Diversity of research & teaching voters (geographical recognition).

Answer: [c] Pakistan

Explanation:

50th ODI Century Record: Kohli surpassed Tendulkar’s 49 ODI centuries by scoring his 50th ODI ton in the World Cup semi-final.

Virat Kohli became the fastest batter to reach 14,000 ODI runs during India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. He also scored his 51st ODI century in the match, helping India defeat Pakistan by six wickets.

Kohli reached 14,000 ODI runs in just 287 innings, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 350 innings. The only other player to achieve this feat is Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, who took 378 innings.

Answer: [b] To promote indigenous space technology development and commercialization

Explanation:

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has launched the ₹500 crore Technology Adoption Fund (TAF) to support early-stage space technology startups and MSMEs in India. Key Features of TAF:

1. Financial Support: Startups & MSMEs: Eligible for up to 60% of project costs (max ₹25 crore per project). Larger Industries: Eligible for up to 40% financial support.
2. Objective: Encourages domestic R&D and strengthens India’s position in the global space technology sector. Assists startups in converting innovations into commercially viable products.
3. Complementary Initiatives: Aligns with Ministry of Defence’s iDEX programme and the ₹1,000 crore venture capital (VC) fund for deep-tech and space-tech startups.
4. Implementation Timeline: The fund will start reviewing applications from March 2025. Focus on satellite technology, propulsion systems, and ground station infrastructure.

About IN-SPACe

Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) is an autonomous agency under the Department of Space (DoS). Facilitates and regulates private sector participation in India’s space industry.

Answer: [c] Kerala

Explanation:

Kerala has launched ‘Nayanamritham 2.0’, a government-led AI-powered eye screening program, in collaboration with Remidio, a leader in AI-driven ophthalmic screening solutions. This initiative integrates artificial intelligence (AI) into Kerala’s public health system, making it the first government-backed AI-assisted eye screening program globally.

Key Features of Nayanamritham 2.0:

Expansion from Nayanamritham 1.0: Originally focused only on Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), now expanded to Glaucoma and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
AI-Powered Diagnosis:

• Uses Remidio’s AI-enabled fundus cameras for quick detection.
• AI classifies cases as referable or non-referable, ensuring faster diagnosis and referrals.
• Wider Reach: Screening now extends to Community Health Centers, Taluk Hospitals, and District Hospitals, making eye care more accessible.
• Enhancing Healthcare Efficiency: AI assists rather than replaces healthcare professionals. Optometrists handle routine cases, allowing ophthalmologists to focus on advanced cases.

Answer: [c] Puducherry

Explanation:

Vishvaa Rajakumar, a 20-year-old student from Manakula Vinayagar Institute of Technology, Puducherry, has won the Memory League World Championship 2025. His extraordinary memory skills helped him set a new benchmark by memorizing 80 random numbers in just 13.50 seconds and recalling 30 images in 8.40 seconds, making him the world champion in fast-paced memory competitions.

About the Memory League World Championship:

• Players had to memorize and recall 80 numbers in a short span and win five rounds to secure victory.
• A high-intensity, online memory competition where competitors must recall random numbers and images at incredible speed.
• 16 top-ranked competitors participated in a double-elimination format.

Answer: [b] European Space Agency (ESA)

Explanation:

John McFall, a former Paralympian from Great Britain, has become the first astronaut with a disability to receive medical clearance for long-duration space missions. He is currently undergoing ESA Astronaut Reserve training at the European Astronaut Centre in Germany and is now eligible for a flight to the International Space Station (ISS). ESA’s “Fly!” Feasibility Study: Aimed to explore the possibility of sending astronauts with disabilities to space. John McFall was the first person selected for this program.

About the International Space Station (ISS):

• Scheduled for decommissioning around 2030.
• Multinational space station built by NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada).
• Conducts scientific research in microgravity.
• Orbits Earth at 400 km altitude, completing 15.5 orbits per day.

Answer: [c] Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (Darjeeling Zoo), West Bengal

Explanation:

India’s first wildlife biobank, also known as a “frozen zoo,” is now fully operational at the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (Darjeeling Zoo) in West Bengal. Established in July 2023 (and now fully operational), the facility preserves genetic material from endangered species by storing DNA, cellular, and tissue samples at minus 196°C in liquid nitrogen.

Key Facts:

• Collected samples from 60 animals across 23 species.
• Part of a national programme with plans to expand to other major zoos, such as the National Zoo in Delhi and Nandankanan Zoo in Odisha.
• Operates in collaboration with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Purpose:

Ensures the long-term conservation of genetic diversity, supports future research, and may aid in the potential revival of species on the brink of extinction.

Answer: [b] Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

Explanation:

The International Conference on Carbon Markets – Prakriti 2025 was organized in New Delhi by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power. The event aimed to promote resilience, awareness, knowledge, and resources for integrating transformational climate initiatives. The event served as a high-level platform for knowledge exchange and discussions on decarbonization strategies, emission trading, and sustainable energy transitions.

Key Objectives:

• Facilitated dialogue among policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers on carbon market mechanisms.
• Advanced India’s commitment to climate action, carbon neutrality, and sustainable development goals (SDGs).
• Explored emerging trends and challenges in Indian Carbon Market (ICM) and its integration with global carbon trading mechanisms.

Answer: [a] Wokha, Nagaland

Explanation:

In October 2024, the first Adolescent Girls’ Club under Mission Shakti was launched at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Wokha, Nagaland. This initiative, targeting girls aged 10 to 19 years, aims to empower adolescent girls through education, health awareness, and leadership development under the motto “Live the Promise.”
Key objectives include:

• Empowerment: Equipping girls with skills and confidence.
• Education & Life Skills: Enhancing academic and practical knowledge.
• Health Awareness: Promoting reproductive and mental well-being, nutrition, and prevention of substance abuse.
• Leadership Development: Building leadership through workshops and mentorship.
• Social Well-being: Fostering community participation and responsibility.

This club is part of Mission Shakti—a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) focused on the safety, security, and empowerment of women through various sub-schemes such as Sambal and Samarthya.

Answer: [b] NIFT and HPMC

Explanation:

The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd (TRIFED), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has signed MoUs with the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and the Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation Ltd (HPMC).

MoU with NIFT:

• Aims to curate and develop tribal handloom and handicraft products.
• Enhances the aesthetic and market value of tribal goods for better competitiveness in domestic and global markets.

MoU with HPMC:

• Focuses on technology enhancement and processing of horticulture and minor forest products.
• Strengthens the supply chain for perishable tribal products, improving market accessibility.

Objective of the Collaboration:

• Expanding the tribal product market.
• Transitioning from a B2C (Business-to-Consumer) model to a B2B (Business-to-Business) approach to boost tribal entrepreneurship.