Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
Emerge-2024 is India’s first beachside startup festival, taking place February 16–18, 2024 at Tannirbhavi Beach in Mangaluru. The festival is expected to feature more than 100 startups, 50 investors, and around 1,000 participants.

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The National Arogya Fair, supported by the Ministry of Ayush, takes place at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, from February 1 to February 4, 2024. Featuring India’s healing traditions, including Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy, the event aims to showcase and promote holistic well-being. It includes workshops, seminars, exhibitions, free health consultations, and cultural programs, fostering collaboration and awareness. The objective is to highlight the benefits of Ayush systems, encouraging holistic health practices and providing a platform for businesses in the field.

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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.

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The flightless Aldabra rail, scientifically known as Dryolimnas cuvieri aldabranus, was thought extinct 130,000 years ago but reappeared through iterative evolution. Residing on a coral atoll off Africa’s southeast coast, it resembles a chicken with a gray back, red head, and white throat. A subspecies of the white-throated rail, it’s the only flightless bird in the Indian Ocean. The Aldabra rail evolved twice, losing its ability to fly, a phenomenon explored in a 2019 Zoological Journal study on the atoll’s fossil record. Iterative evolution involves the repeated emergence of traits from the same ancestral lineage at different times.

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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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India has unveiled an interim budget of 14 billion for Jammu and Kashmir, marking a significant commitment to the region’s economic development. The proposed budget of Rs 1.18 lakh crore (14.16 billion) surpasses IMF’s financial aid to Pakistan by 4.72 times, emphasizing India’s dedication to the growth and stability of Jammu and Kashmir. This announcement coincided with Pakistan’s “Kashmir Solidarity Day,” showcasing India’s robust financial support for the region.

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Noida has been honored as a “water warrior” city by the Union water ministry for outstanding efforts in wastewater treatment and reuse. The city boasts eight sewage treatment plants (STPs) with a total capacity of 411 MLD (million litres daily), treating 260 MLD of sewage. Notably, 70-75 MLD is repurposed for irrigation, construction, firefighting, pond maintenance, and road sprinkling. Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat presented the awards in Delhi.

Notes:
The Maharashtra government is enhancing the well-being of senior citizens and bolstering cooperative societies with a comprehensive set of initiatives. Ranging from welfare programs to development projects, these efforts underscore the government’s dedication to citizen needs and statewide growth. The ‘Chief Minister Vayoshree Yojana’ introduces a crucial financial aid of INR 3,000 for over 15 lakh senior citizens above 65 facing physical or mental disabilities, demonstrating a commitment to supporting vulnerable members of society.

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Kyasanur Forest Disease, also known as Monkey Fever, poses a significant health threat in Karnataka, India. This year, 49 confirmed cases and two fatalities prompted the state’s health department to be on high alert. Originating in 1957 from the Kyasanur Forest, the disease is caused by the Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus (KFDV). Uttara Kannada district has seen the majority of cases, indicating a concentrated outbreak zone, leading to intensified efforts by health officials to control the spread.

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Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, kicked off the “Dhami against drugs campaign,”. Spanning February 5 to 10, the initiative signifies the state’s determination to combat drug abuse and establish a drug-free society by 2025. The launch featured the unveiling of campaign merchandise, reinforcing the government’s dedication. Chief Minister Dhami’s active involvement emphasizes the campaign’s importance in addressing this pressing social concern.