Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
Indian Bank, based in Chennai, has partnered with Tata Power Solar Systems to offer loans under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. This initiative, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 13, 2024, aims to provide free electricity to one crore households in India through rooftop solar systems. Eligible households, meeting specific criteria, can receive up to 300 units of free electricity monthly. The government has allocated Rs 75,021 crore for this scheme.

Notes:
Experts fear that Kitum, the world’s deadliest cave in Mount Elgon National Park, Kenya, could harbor the next pandemic, Marburg virus, flagged as “epidemic-prone” by World Health Organization. Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is a severe hemorrhagic fever affecting humans and primates, caused by a unique zoonotic RNA virus related to Ebola. Transmitted through bat-inhabited caves, it spreads via direct contact with infected bodily fluids, raising concerns about potential outbreaks and the need for heightened vigilance.

Notes:
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) received the Outstanding Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) of the Year award at the All India Management Association (AIMA) Managing India Awards. Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar presented the award in Delhi on April 23. HAL achieved record revenue of over ₹29,810 crore in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, marking an impressive 11% growth. AIMA, established in 1957, promotes management excellence across India, collaborating with various sectors to advance the profession.

Notes:
According to a Food and Agriculture Organisation report from 2023, rice paddies contribute 8% of all human-made methane in the atmosphere. In response, Vietnamese farmers are adopting the alternate wetting and drying technique to mitigate methane emissions while growing rice. This water-saving method involves flooding fields intermittently, reducing water usage in irrigated fields. Additionally, they utilize large drones to efficiently spray organic fertilizer onto knee-high rice seedlings, enhancing agricultural sustainability.

Notes:
The conclusion of the Chithirai festival was signified by the return procession of Lord Kallazhagar from the Vaigai river. Alagar Temple, situated at the foothills of Alagar hills in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, is one of Lord Vishnu’s 108 abodes, revered as Kallazhagar. It boasts six corridors within fort walls and is referenced in Tamil epic Silappadikaram and Alvars’ hymns. The temple’s mandapam pillars showcase Nayaka art style.

Notes:
Palaeontologists from Argentina discovered Chakisaurus nekul, a medium-sized herbivorous dinosaur, in Patagonia’s Pueblo Blanco Natural Reserve. It was named after indigenous languages, “Chaki” means “old guanaco,” and “Nekul” means “fast” or “agile.” Lived approximately 90 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous period, it was a fast runner with a uniquely downward-curving tail. The discovery sheds light on the region’s diverse prehistoric fauna and challenges previous assumptions about dinosaur anatomy.

Notes:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issues draft notification defining the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) for Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan. The ESZ aims to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and conserve wildlife. The sanctuary, established in 1983, houses endangered species like leopard, Indian wolf, and vulture. The draft proposes an ESZ of 348.60 sq km around the sanctuary’s core area. Public feedback is sought within 60 days. A Supreme Court directive mandates ESZs for all protected forests, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries.

Notes:
China has launched the first of eight Hangor-class submarines for Pakistan under a defense agreement. Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group will construct four, while Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works will build the rest with technology transfer. The submarines boast advanced stealth, equipped with top-tier weapons and sensors to engage threats at stand-off ranges. Pakistan Navy recently inducted two Chinese Type 054 A/P frigates.

Notes:
Iraq’s parliament recently passed a law criminalizing same-sex relationships, imposing up to 15 years in prison for such acts. Promoting homosexuality or prostitution can lead to a minimum of seven years behind bars. Additionally, changing one’s biological gender or dressing in an effeminate manner can result in one to three years of imprisonment. The legislation was supported by conservative Shi’ite Muslim parties, aiming to uphold religious values and protect Iraqi society from moral decay.

Notes:
In 2024, the Bru community, indigenous to Northeast India, voted for the first time in Tripura’s Lok Sabha elections. Predominantly residing in Tripura, Mizoram, and Assam, they hold Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group status. Ethnically Indo-Mongoloid, they belong to the Austro-Asiatic linguistic groups. This historic development marks a milestone in their socio-political engagement, emphasizing the significance of their inclusion and representation in democratic processes.