Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav released India’s first-ever Snow Leopard Population Assessment report. The four-year-long scientific exercise, coordinated by the Wildlife Institute of India, estimates approximately 718 snow leopards in the wild. Ladakh leads with 477, followed by Uttarakhand (124), Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36), Sikkim (21), and Jammu and Kashmir (nine). India holds 10-15% of the global snow leopard population.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated NTPC Ltd’s Darlipali thermal power plant (1,600 MW), Rourkela PP-II expansion project (250 MW), and laid the foundation stone for Talcher 2×660 MW in Odisha, with a total investment of Rs 28,978 crore. Darlipali, a pit-head station, has supply agreements with multiple states. The Rourkela project supports the steel plant, while Talcher’s 660 MW will cater 50% to Odisha and the rest to Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Assam. The government encourages coal-based capacity additions due to rising energy demand.

Notes:
The 2024-25 government budget is projected at Rs 47, 65,768 crore (47.66 lakh crore), indicating a 6% rise from the revised 2023-24 estimate. Anticipated growth includes a 3.2% increase in revenue expenditure and a significant 16.9% surge in capital expenditure, reflecting fiscal priorities and economic strategies for the upcoming year.

Notes:
PM Modi inaugurated the 2024 Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) – Commonwealth Attorneys and Solicitors General Conference (CASGC) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event brought together legal representatives from Commonwealth nations across Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Caribbean. With the theme “Cross-Border Challenges in Justice Delivery,” the conference addressed crucial topics such as judicial transition, ethical aspects of legal practice, executive accountability, and the reformulation of contemporary legal education. Stakeholders engaged in meaningful discussions on these issues, fostering collaboration in the Commonwealth legal fraternity.

Notes:
Sculptures made from the invasive lantana camara plant recently gained attention at a Bengaluru exhibition. Native to the American tropics, it was introduced to India during the colonial period. Despite its adaptability to climate changes, lantana camara is among the world’s top ten invasive species, causing significant concern in India. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats is heavily impacted by its invasion, making it one of the largest affected areas.

Notes:
Candida auris, a deadly multidrug-resistant fungus, poses a global health threat by causing invasive infections, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems. Discovered in Japan in 2009, it has rapidly spread worldwide. Primarily contracted in healthcare settings, it can colonize the skin without symptoms or cause severe infections by entering the bloodstream. The fungus spreads through contact with contaminated surfaces or infected individuals, emphasizing its potential for rapid transmission in hospitals and nursing homes.

Notes:
Nikhil Mukund Wagh, a public relations officer at Goa Shipyard Limited, was awarded the 2024 Maha Gaurav Award in February 2024. The award was presented by Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on behalf of the Digital Media Editor Journalist Association Maharashtra.

Notes:
Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi has been strategically appointed as the Indian Army’s new Vice Chief, succeeding Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar. Dwivedi, with a distinguished career, held key positions like Deputy Chief and Director General of Infantry. His operational expertise during the India-China standoff in the Northern Command makes him well-suited for the role. This move ensures a seamless succession plan, with Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar set to command the Northern Army in Udhampur.

Notes:
Recent aircraft-collected samples of natural gas flares in the USA reveal significant variations in nitrogen oxides emissions. Gas flaring, burning associated with oil extraction, persists due to safety, but is wasteful and polluting. Lack of infrastructure or financial incentives leads firms to flare when unable to bring associated gas to market. Most flared gas is similar to natural gas, requiring processing to remove contaminants. Associated gas can be used on-site or converted using gas-to-liquid technologies for various applications.

Notes:
World Pulses Day, observed on February 10 annually, promotes awareness about the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses in sustainable food production. The United Nations assigns a theme each year; the 2024 theme is “Pulses: Nourishing Soils and People,” aiming to integrate pulses into diets and agricultural practices. The day originated in 2019, emphasizing pulses’ role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.