Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
The recently renamed Maa Manikeswari University is located in the state of Odisha, India. Formerly known as Kalahandi University, it was renamed after Maa Manikeswari, the presiding deity of Kalahandi district. The university has been functioning since September 1, 2020, and the name change was officially announced by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on November 1, during the foundation day of Kalahandi district. It was initially granted unitary university status in 2019 and now offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, serving the Kalahandi and Nuapada districts with over 50 affiliated colleges.

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Gujarat set a Guinness World Record on the first day of 2024 for the largest number of people, exceeding 50,000, performing Surya Namaskar simultaneously at 108 different venues. This feat was recognized as a significant cultural achievement and hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who emphasized the special significance of the number 108 in Indian culture. The event, which culminated in a state-wide competition, saw a major gathering at the iconic Modhera Sun Temple in Mehsana district, overseen by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

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The Supreme Court of India issued the SOP for summoning government officials after observing that the constant summoning of officials instead of relying on government lawyers runs contrary to the constitutional scheme. The SOP aims to outline guidelines and restrain the overuse of summons power by courts which often pressurizes the government. It states that officials cannot be summoned just because their stance differs from the court’s view. This move brings much-needed reforms to strengthen executive-judiciary coordination by avoiding unnecessary harassment of government officials.

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ArcelorMittal has partnered with IIT-Madras to construct Asia’s first testing facility for Hyperloop pods and systems which enable magnetic levitation of pods through vacuum tubes for high-speed transportation of goods and people.

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Rajesh Kumar, CEO of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), in a recent media interaction revealed statistics that over ₹10,300 crore were siphoned off from India by cybercriminals since April 2021. I4C is a body established under the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide a framework for law agencies to tackle cybercrime.

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The West Bengal government plans to develop a tea park spread over 10-12 acres along the banks of the Hooghly River near Kolkata. It aims to establish an export-oriented tea processing and packaging facility inspired by Dubai’s models that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee observed during her Middle East visit. The initiative seeks to boost Darjeeling tea exports by value-addition leveraging Kolkata port’s connectivity. The tea industry stakeholders have welcomed the proposal to enable large scale investment in upgrading technology for the terrace tea gardens.

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The government’s recent decision to issue 65 Quality Control Orders (QCOs), as announced by the Joint Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), is primarily aimed at containing the import of sub-standard goods into India. These QCOs cover over 500 products and are part of a broader strategy to ensure product safety for consumers and to boost domestic manufacturing. Under these orders, products must bear the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mark to be produced, sold, traded, imported, or stocked in India. This initiative aligns with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and serves to curb the influx of inferior quality imports, thereby protecting consumer interests and promoting fair trade practices. The stringent penalties for violations of these orders further underscore their importance in maintaining quality standards in the market.

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Punjab has become the first state in India to map all 784 accident black spots on the Mappls App, a navigation system developed by MapMyIndia. This initiative, announced by Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, is part of the preparations for the launch of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s ‘Sadak Suraksha Force’. The Mappls App provides real-time traffic updates and voice alerts in Punjabi about black and blind spots, aiming to enhance road safety by alerting motorists about potential hazards. This pioneering effort marks a significant step in using technology for improving road safety in the state.

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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed India’s man-portable air defense missile system, known as the Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS). This system is designed to neutralize low-altitude aerial threats at ranges up to 6 kilometers. The VSHORADS, which represents a significant advancement in India’s defense technology, is notable for its state-of-the-art uncooled imaging infrared seeker, making it technically superior to existing man-portable air defense systems in the Indian armed forces. The system is undergoing user trials and, upon successful completion, is expected to enter bulk production.

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The Indian economy is projected to grow at a rate of 6.2% in 2024, a slight decrease from the 6.3% estimate for 2023. This growth is supported by strong domestic demand and the robust performance of the manufacturing and services sectors. This positions India as the fastest-growing large economy in the world, as stated in the United Nations World Economic Situation And Prospects Report for 2024.