Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
Despite the recent India-Nepal agreement, the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP) discussions remain deadlocked. Established through the Mahakali Treaty in 1996, the PMP is a cross-border hydropower initiative on the Mahakali River. With the goal of enhancing energy production and irrigation in both nations, it features a 315-meter dam (Sharda in India), aiming to generate 6,480 MW equally shared. Additionally, it targets irrigating 130,000 hectares in Nepal and 240,000 hectares in Indian Territory.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank recently revised Regulatory Sandbox (RS) guidelines, allowing live testing of products or services in a controlled regulatory space. Acting as a “safe space,” it offers flexibility for business testing, potentially influencing innovation-friendly regulations. RS aims to facilitate low-cost financial products, promoting dynamic, evidence-based regulatory environments that adapt to emerging technologies. Essentially, it’s a formal program for market players to test innovations within specific safeguards and oversight before broader launches.

Notes:
The Jal Shakti Ministry has partnered with 12 technical education institutions to collaborate on academic and research initiatives for basin management of six rivers: Narmada, Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, Cauvery, and Periyar, as part of the National River Conservation Plan. Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted successful efforts in cleaning the Ganga, earning UNESCO recognition for the Namami Gange Mission. Emphasizing river conservation as a mass movement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Arth Ganga principle links it to livelihood, urging increased inter-state cooperation.

Notes:
King Charles III of the United Kingdom awarded Sunil Bharti Mittal, the founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, an honorary Knighthood. The honor is titled Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE), one of the highest honors given by the British Sovereign to civilians.

Notes:
PM Modi dedicated the HURL Sindri Fertilizer Plant in Jharkhand on March 1, 2024, addressing India’s urea demand. The nation requires 360 lakh metric tons yearly, but in 2014, produced only 225 lakh metric tons. Thanks to government efforts, production increased to 310 lakh metric tons in the last decade. Modi revealed plans to revive more plants by 2025, ensuring affordable fertilizers for farmers and generating employment opportunities for local youth, including the Talcher Fertilizer Plant.

Notes:
Dr. V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, launched National Birth Defect Awareness Month 2024, emphasizing the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana’s vital role in improving child health. The scheme covers half of India’s health and complements the existing Rashtriya Bal Swashtya Karyakram. The month-long campaign, themed “Breaking Barriers: inclusive support for children with birth defects,” aims to raise awareness about prevention, early identification, and timely management of birth defects.

Notes:
The Nagaland government introduced a fully-funded universal life insurance scheme, aiming to alleviate financial hardships resulting from untimely deaths. This initiative guarantees financial security by offering coverage for both breadwinners and their family members. The scheme works in conjunction with the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme, providing comprehensive protection and support.

Notes:
The Indian Navy will commission Naval Detachment Minicoy as INS Jatayu on March 6, 2024, marking the second naval base in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak. This enhances the Navy’s presence in the strategically vital Lakshadweep Islands, extending operational reach and surveillance. The southernmost Lakshadweep island, Minicoy, holds strategic importance for Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs). INS Jatayu will significantly boost the Indian Navy’s operational capabilities in the region, aiding Anti-Piracy and Anti-Narcotics Operations in the Western Arabian Sea and strengthening connectivity with the mainland.

Notes:
World Wildlife Day, observed on March 3, emphasizes the critical importance of safeguarding global biodiversity. The 2024 theme, “Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation,” highlights the role of technology in conservation efforts. Originating from Thailand’s proposal to the United Nations General Assembly in 2013, this annual event underscores the urgency to protect flora and fauna worldwide, bringing attention to innovative digital solutions for wildlife preservation.

Notes:
The Indian Navy will commission the MH 60R Seahawk, a maritime variant of the Blackhawk helicopter, on March 6, 2024, at INS Garuda, Kochi. The deal with the US government was signed in February 2020. The Seahawk will enhance the Navy’s maritime power with roles like anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and vertical replenishment. It underwent rigorous testing in Indian conditions and boasts advanced weapons and avionics, catering to conventional and asymmetric threats.