Daily Current Affairs Quiz: February 8, 2024

Notes:
Australian researchers recently developed a solution for a lupus defect. Lupus, an autoimmune disease, prompts the immune system to harm organs and tissues, causing inflammation in skin, joints, blood, and vital organs like kidneys and heart. Its origin is unknown, believed to result from a blend of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. Lupus predominantly affects women. Variants include Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Discoid lupus, Subacute cutaneous lupus, Drug-induced lupus, and rare Neonatal lupus linked to maternal antibodies in newborns.

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The Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant, an 800 MW unit in Yamunanagar, Haryana, is set to be completed in 57 months. A Rs 6900 crore tender was awarded to Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited by Chief Minister Manohar Lal in a High Power Workers Purchase Committee meeting. The plant’s ultra-supercritical unit will increase capacity by 8%, reducing coal consumption and electricity costs. Aligned with ‘Make in India,’ it employs indigenous technology, ensuring uninterrupted power supply and featuring advanced, smaller-sized components for faster, eco-friendly electricity generation.

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Fitch Ratings predicts India’s fiscal deficit will reach 5.4% in 2025-2026 (FY25-2026), which is higher than the government’s 5.1% target. Fitch’s prediction is due to more conservative revenue forecasts for FY25. Fitch also expects the central government’s fiscal deficit to be 5.4% in FY25, and the aggregate state deficit to remain around 2.8% of GDP. Fitch says that the slow pace of fiscal consolidation after the pandemic could leave India’s public finances exposed if there are major economic shocks.

Notes:
The Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary in Tripura recently welcomed new additions, including two Royal Bengal tigers, two leopards, four golden pigeons, a silver pigeon, two peafowls, and four hill mynas. Established in 1972, the sanctuary spans 18.5 sq. km, featuring sections for different animal types. It houses diverse flora with 456 plant species and various fauna, including primates, leopards, clouded leopards, and a revived crab-eating mongoose. The sanctuary also boasts a rich avian population with species like winged stork and White ibis.

Notes:
The Minister of State for Heavy Industries revealed SAMARTH Centres to Lok Sabha. SAMARTH, or Smart Advanced Manufacturing and Rapid Transformation Hub, operates under the “Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector” scheme. These centers aid MSMEs by organizing events on Industry 4.0, conducting training for awareness, offering consultancy in areas like IoT, software development, and data analytics, and providing incubation support to start-ups, contributing to workforce development and technological advancement.