Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
The Prime Minister inaugurated the Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport in Tamil Nadu, the second spaceport after Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The facility will specialize in launching Small Satellite Launch Vehicles commercially. Spanning 2,350 acres, it features 35 facilities, including launch pads and rocket integration areas. The spaceport’s unique advantage is launching directly south over the Indian Ocean, saving fuel for small rocket launches compared to the existing site. The project is estimated to cost Rs. 986 crore, boosting India’s space capabilities.

Notes:
150 railway stations and 6 metro stations have earned the coveted “Eat Right Station” certification, a part of the Eat Right India movement by FSSAI. Led by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the initiative mandates stringent food safety, hygiene, and nutrition standards for all vendors at certified stations.

Notes:
Daljit Singh Chaudhary, a 1990 batch IPS officer, has been appointed as the Director General of the National Security Guard (NSG), a crucial role in India’s security. Currently the DG of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), he takes on the added responsibility of leading the NSG, known as the “black cats.” This move signifies a significant development in India’s security apparatus, enhancing Chaudhary’s role in shaping and overseeing critical aspects of national defense.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has officially launched the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) with a one-time budgetary allocation of Rs 150 crore from the Indian government until 2028. Initiated by the Prime Minister in April 2023 to commemorate Project Tiger’s 50th anniversary, IBCA aims to foster cooperation among 97 ‘range’ countries for the conservation of seven big cat species. Its multifaceted approach includes governance structures like a General Assembly, a Council, and a Secretariat, along with financial support from the Indian government.

Notes:
The ‘Status of Leopards in India, 2022’ report reveals a leopard population increase to 13,874 from 12,852 in 2018. Indian leopards, found in various forested regions spanning India, Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of Pakistan, are most abundant in Central India and Eastern Ghats (8,820), followed by the Western Ghats (3,596) and the Shivalik Hills/Gangetic Plains (1,109). Statewise, Madhya Pradesh leads with 3,907 leopards, followed by Maharashtra (1,985), Karnataka (1,879), and Tamil Nadu (1,070).

Notes:
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched the Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme in New Delhi on March 04, 2024, allocating Rs 750 crore for 2023-24 to 2025-26. Operating under the iDEX framework, the scheme supports start-ups with grants up to Rs 25 crore for defence technology research. ADITI aims to develop 30 deep-tech critical technologies, fostering youth innovation and addressing Armed Forces’ needs, with 17 challenges in its inaugural edition.

Notes:
Nicaragua achieves a historic milestone by becoming the first Spanish-speaking nation to recognize the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) as the official book of standards for drugs manufactured and marketed in India. Published by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Rules 1945, IPC is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, dedicated to the timely publication of the IP.

Notes:
REC Limited, in collaboration with UNISED, is contributing Rs. 9.91 crores through REC Foundation to educate 75,500 children in Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh. As a Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Power, REC aims to empower students with modern educational tools. UNISED will implement solar-operated smart classes and joyful learning labs in government schools, fostering innovative learning. Additionally, REC Foundation recently allocated Rs. 15 crores to support the education of 12,500 children of ex-servicemen through the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund.

Notes:
Article 371A of the Indian Constitution is a major obstacle to regulating coal mining in Nagaland. This provision protects Naga tribes’ customs, traditions, and religious practices from external interference. It also allows the continuation of indigenous legal systems and traditional methods of justice. Article 371A has made it difficult for the government to oversee small-scale mining, especially after recent fatalities in a rat-hole mine explosion. Rat-hole mining is a hazardous way of extracting coal by creating small tunnels just large enough for a person to crawl through.

Notes:
Minister Smriti Zubin Irani has launched the Haj Suvidha App, aiming to enhance the pilgrimage experience by offering crucial information and services. Developed under her guidance by BISAG-N, the user-friendly app streamlines travel logistics, providing access to training modules, flight details, accommodation, emergency helpline, and health services. The Minister also introduced the Haj Guide-2024 in 10 languages, underscoring the app’s importance for all pilgrims, promoting a seamless and informed journey, particularly beneficial for first-time Haj performers.