Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
Radha Raturi, a senior IAS officer of the 1988 batch, has been appointed as the first woman chief secretary of Uttarakhand. She replaces Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and is the first woman to hold this top administrative post in the state. Raturi has an extensive administrative career, having served in undivided Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Initially aspiring to be a journalist, she eventually joined the IAS, succeeding in her third attempt at the UPSC exam.

Notes:
Astronaut Lora O’Hara on the International Space Station captured Alpenglow near the Hindu Kush. This natural phenomenon occurs during sunrise or sunset, casting rosy, reddish, or orange hues on mountain slopes. Alpenglow’s colors vary due to the sun’s angle and atmospheric conditions. Vibrancy depends on sun location, light angle, clouds, humidity, and particulates. The phenomenon rapid changes make it a captivating spectacle during the twilight hours.

Notes:
The mascot for the 2024 Khelo India Winter Games is the snow leopard, named “Sheen-e She” or “Shan” in the Ladakh region. The mascot was chosen to reflect the region’s biodiversity and tradition. The games will be held in Ladakh from February 2–6, and in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir from February 21–25. The mascot symbolizes the spirit of the games and highlights the need to conserve this endangered species.

Notes:
The 12th India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC) meeting was held in Muscat. The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Secretary General Dr. Mohammed Bin Naseer Bin Ali Al Zaabi. During the meeting, India and Oman signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in new areas of defense engagement, including the procurement of military equipment. The meeting also covered joint exercises, information sharing, oceanography, shipbuilding, and MRO.

Notes:
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revealed the swift implementation of the U-WIN platform in the Union interim Budget 2024-2025 to streamline immunization management nationwide. The U-WIN portal is integral to digitizing India’s Universal Immunization Programme, currently undergoing pilot testing in two districts of every state and union territory, marking a significant step toward enhancing healthcare accessibility and efficiency.

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:
The Kamakhya Divyalok Pariyojana, a Rs 498 crore project by the central government, aims to transform the Kamakhya Temple pilgrimage experience in Guwahati, Assam. Enhancements include infrastructure upgrades, improved connectivity, temple beautification, and facilities for devotees. The initiative is expected to boost tourism in the Northeast, drawing a large number of devotees to the revered Hindu shrine dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya. The temple, with Tantric significance, is atop Nilachal Hill and hosts the annual Ambubachi Mela.

Notes:
The 7th session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) took place in Kochi from January 29 to February 2, 2024. Established in 2013 under the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), India has consistently hosted the committee, with the Spices Board India serving as the organizing secretariat. In this session, quality standards for small cardamom, turmeric, juniper berry, allspice, and star anise were finalized. The Codex Alimentarius Commission, jointly established by FAO and WHO, is an international body with 189 member countries, meeting annually in Geneva and Rome.

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:
The Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary in Tripura recently welcomed new additions, including two Royal Bengal tigers, two leopards, four golden pigeons, a silver pigeon, two peafowls, and four hill mynas. Established in 1972, the sanctuary spans 18.5 sq. km, featuring sections for different animal types. It houses diverse flora with 456 plant species and various fauna, including primates, leopards, clouded leopards, and a revived crab-eating mongoose. The sanctuary also boasts a rich avian population with species like winged stork and White ibis.