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:
Operation Black Gold is about the seizure of an alloy containing 16.67 kg of gold and 39.73 kg of silver in Delhi. The alloy was worth over Rs 10 crore and was seized by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at FPO Delhi. The Revenue Intelligence Directorate (DRI) acted on intelligence to seize seven shipments of “electrical current/potential meters”. The meters were declared as “current guior machines”. According to preliminary investigations, a systematic syndicate was involved in the gold smuggling. The gold was coated with silver to change its color from yellow to white. The white mixture was then used to make electric meter covers, which were then painted black to avoid suspicion.

Notes:
The Tamil Nadu government has designated 80,114.80 hectares of Bargur Hills in Erode district as the Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. This area connects the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve to the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Tiger Reserve and the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, forming a vital corridor for the tiger population. The region is rich in biodiversity, serving as a habitat for diverse flora and fauna. It is identified by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, part of the Nilgiris Elephant Reserve, and crucial for water sources and cultural significance to local communities.

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:
At the “Digital India FutureLABS Summit 2024,” three indigenous technologies – Thermal camera, CMOS camera, and Fleet Management System – developed by CDAC Thiruvananthapuram under the InTranSE Program of MeitY were transferred to 12 industries. The InTranSE initiative, led by the Ministry of Electronics & IT, collaborates with academic institutes and R&D centers to transform Intelligent Transportation Systems. The program aims to enhance traffic efficiency, optimize infrastructure usage, provide advance traffic information, reduce travel time, and improve the safety and comfort of commuters.

Notes:
At the “Digital India FutureLABS Summit 2024” at IIIT-Delhi, CDAC Thiruvananthapuram transferred three Indigenous Technologies—Thermal Camera, CMOS Camera, and Fleet Management System—to 12 industries under the InTranSE Program of MeitY. This aligns with the Innovation, Science, and Technology theme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vikshit Bharat @2047 initiative. The Thermal Camera, with AI-based analytics, is intended for applications in Smart cities, Industries, Defence, Health, and more, after successful field testing for Road traffic applications.

Notes:
REC Limited received the 2024 Best Green Bond-Corporate Award at The Asset Triple A Awards for Sustainable Finance. The award recognizes REC’s commitment to environmental and sustainable finance. REC Limited is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power and a leading NBFC. In April 2023, REC issued $750 million in Green Bonds, which is why they received the award.

Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh government is prioritizing electric vehicle (EV) use and manufacturing through the development of the ‘EV Upyog’ portal. The Uttar Pradesh Development Systems Corporation Limited (UPDESCO) is hiring a software development agency for one year to upgrade the portal, which will include features like cloud storage, database capabilities, and specialized software. The Ministry of Electronics and IT Empanelled Service Provider will oversee the cloud server integration, emphasizing cybersecurity, cost-effectiveness, scalability, integration, API convenience, and reliability.

Notes:
India sent 3.5 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Zambia, a Southern African country, to help with a cholera outbreak. The aid includes medicines, water purification supplies, and chlorine tablets. The emergency funding will also support humanitarian partners UNICEF and the WHO in their efforts to address health, water, hygiene, and sanitation needs.

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.