Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
IIT Madras hosts the 6th Shaastra Rapid FIDE Rated Chess Tournament from March 30 to 31, 2024, in Chennai. It’s the sole IIT in India to conduct an annual Open Rapid Rating Tournament. Over 35 players from IIT Madras join, alongside international players from countries like Australia, England, America, and Singapore. Notable participants include six grandmasters, sixteen International Masters, three female grandmasters, and a Woman International Master.

Notes:
The Indian Navy rescued the Iranian fishing vessel Al Kambar and its 23 Pakistani crew members from armed pirates in the Indian Ocean under Operation Sankalp. INS Sumedha and INS Trishul conducted the operation, lasting over 12 hours, about 90 nautical miles southwest of Socotra. The vessel is undergoing checks for seaworthiness. The Socotra Archipelago, near the Gulf of Aden, is under Yemen’s jurisdiction.

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The International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring in the Arctic (INTERACT) is a EU-funded project granting researchers access to Arctic research stations across Europe, Russia, and North America. It facilitates work in remote areas, fostering cross-fertilization and enabling comparative measurements. Researchers contribute to new research directions while accessing otherwise inaccessible regions.

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Paradip Port Authority in Odisha surpassed Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla as India’s top cargo-handling major port in 2023-24. Handling 145.38 MMT of cargo, it registered a 7.4% growth from the previous year. It’s capable of handling 289 MMT. Notably, it excels in coastal shipping, handling 59.19 MMT of coastal traffic and achieving highest productivity among major ports. Established in 1962, it became India’s 8th major port in 1966, now under the Ministry of Ports.

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The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) launched the ‘One Vehicle One FASTag’ initiative to boost the adoption of FASTags for toll collection on national highways. It aims to link each vehicle with a single FASTag, curbing misuse of multiple tags per vehicle. This move enhances toll collection efficiency and streamlines the process, contributing to smoother traffic flow.

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Sanjay Nayar, former chairman of Sorin Investment Fund, assumes presidency at ASSOCHAM for 2024-25, succeeding Ajay Singh of SpiceJet. Nayar, with extensive global financial experience, notably at Citigroup and KKR, retired in 2023. He played pivotal roles in establishing KKR India operations and serves on Nykaa’s board. Active in various industry bodies, Nayar aims to bolster sustainability initiatives during his tenure, aligning with India’s developmental objectives.

Notes:
The Bhojshala complex, located in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh, is a historically contested site between Hindus and Muslims. Protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, it holds significance as a temple for Hindus and a mosque for Muslims. An arrangement by ASI allows Hindus to conduct pujas on Tuesdays and Muslims to offer namaz on Fridays. Recently, the Supreme Court rejected a stay on ongoing scientific surveys, emphasizing no physical alterations to the structure

Notes:
The World Bank’s ‘South Asia Regional Update: Jobs for Resilience report’ highlights that the region, including India, isn’t leveraging its demographic dividend due to insufficient job creation. While projecting a robust 6.0-6.1% growth for 2024-25, South Asia’s output surpasses other emerging markets, largely driven by India. However, private investment remains weak, posing downside risks to growth. The report emphasizes the need for addressing underlying vulnerabilities to sustain growth in the region.

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The World Health Organization has introduced S.A.R.A.H, a digital health promoter prototype powered by generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). S.A.R.A.H, or Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health, utilizes advanced language models and technology to offer information on various health topics like healthy habits and mental health. Its goal is to empower individuals with additional tools to understand their health rights, including insights on leading causes of death such as cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes.

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The Odisha government initiated the Rice Fallow Management Project, pioneering sustainable crop practices nationally. Targeting eight crops, including green gram and mustard, it promotes regenerative agriculture through eco-friendly inputs like bio-fertilizers and integrated pest management. Utilizing residual soil moisture post-rice harvest, it cultivates short-duration crops, enhancing land productivity and addressing the challenge of uncropped land in eastern India. This initiative signifies a crucial step towards sustainable crop intensification and ecosystem health.