Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
Tamil Nadu’s Republic Day Parade 2024 featured the Kudavolai System, an ancient electoral method dating back to the 10th century Chola era. Documented in Uthiramerur inscriptions, it was employed to elect village administration representatives. The system involved dividing villages into wards, with residents choosing their representatives through a unique process: contestants’ names on palm leaf tickets (volai) placed in a pot (kuda), and a boy selecting tickets to declare elected leaders. Tamil Nadu’s tableau showcasing this historical system earned the third-best award.

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Recently, Mesolithic rock paintings were unearthed at Sitamma Loddi, Gattusingaram, in Telangana’s Peddapalli district. Discovered on a hillock in a dense forest, the paintings adorned a 1,000-foot-long, 50-foot-high sandstone rock shelter. The Mesolithic, or Middle Stone Age, bridged the gap between the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods, spanning approximately 12,000-10,000 years ago. Notable for the transition from large chipped stone tools to microliths, small tools affixed to bone or wood handles for making implements like saws and sickles, it marked a pivotal era in human cultural development.

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New maps reveal a hidden hydrothermal system under Lake Rotorua, at a dormant volcano’s heart in New Zealand. Hydrothermal systems, common near convergent plate boundaries and mid-ocean ridges, need fluids, heat, and permeability. Seawater percolates through oceanic crust, heating to 350-400°C, producing chemically modified hydrothermal fluid. Ejected to the seafloor, it forms chimney-like deposits, supporting deep-sea chemosynthetic communities. This discovery highlights the dynamic geological processes beneath the lake, providing insights into hydrothermal systems’ intricate workings.

Notes:
The theme for the 2024 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is “Her Voice, Her Future”. The theme highlights the important role of community-led initiatives in achieving lasting change. The International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM is an annual awareness day sponsored by the United Nations that takes place on February 6 as part of the UN’s efforts to eradicate FGM. It was first introduced in 2003.

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Goa Medical College, Bambolim, announced free access to the Pertuzumab-Trastuzumab drug for breast cancer treatment, costing Rs 4.2 lakh. Goa is the first state in India to integrate this drug into its treatment protocol, offering it free of charge. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane stated the initiative aims to cure breast cancer at earlier stages, with around 12 patients benefiting annually. The state has also conducted non-invasive screenings for breast cancer, detecting 52 cases and setting a target for 1.5 lakh more screenings.

Notes:
Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko set the world record for the most time spent in space, breaking the record of fellow Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka. Kononenko is 59 years old and has spent more than 878 days and 12 hours in space. Padalka’s record was 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds, set during five space missions until 2017. Kononenko works out regularly to deal with the physical effects of weightlessness. He has said that he doesn’t feel deprived or isolated, but that he realizes how much life he missed out on when he returns to Earth.

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The Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET) is an autonomous scientific society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in India. It operates three R&D laboratories in Pune, Hyderabad, and Thrissur, focusing on critical electronic materials. C-MET, Hyderabad, is dedicated to developing advanced electronic and strategic materials. A major focus is environmentally friendly e-waste recycling technologies to address India’s 3.2 million tons of electronic waste, promoting resource efficiency. C-MET’s Centre of Excellence on E-waste Management, inaugurated under PPP, pioneers recycling technologies for various electronic components.

Notes:
Sunil Kumar won the 87 kg Greco-Roman title at the 2024 National Wrestling Championships, which took place in Jaipur, Rajasthan on February 4, 2024. Kumar, an Asian Games bronze medalist, beat Manoj Kumar 9-1 to win the title.

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The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) has unveiled ‘Jigarthanda,’ India’s first Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility. The 24-meter-long S2 facility, developed over three years, is located at IIT Kanpur’s Hypersonic Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory. Funded by ARDB, DST, and IIT Kanpur, it can simulate hypersonic conditions with flight speeds between 3-10 km/s. ‘Jigarthanda’ will play a crucial role in advancing aerospace technologies, supporting missions like Gaganyaan, Reusable Launch Vehicles, and hypersonic cruise missiles for ISRO and DRDO.

Notes:
The DIVYA Kala Mela, launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, kicked off at Agartala. Minister Ratanlal Nath and others inaugurated the event, promoting disabled artisans’ creations, spanning home décor, clothing, stationery, and eco-friendly products. The program empowers disabled entrepreneurs, aligning with its core mission of creativity and empowerment.