Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

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 Delhi government has launched the Delhi Solar Policy 2024 to boost solar power adoption. Residents can install rooftop solar panels, leading to zero electricity bills and potential income from excess power sales to the grid. The policy targets 4500 MW of solar power by 2027, up from the previous goal of 1500 MW. Stemming from the 2016 policy, which yielded 1500 MW capacity, the new policy aims to curb air pollution, cut electricity costs, and promote sustainable energy in Delhi.

Notes:
Neuralink is the first company to implant a computer chip in a human brain. Neuralink is a neurotechnology company founded in 2016 by Musk and seven other scientists and engineers. The company’s implant, known as the “Link,” is a small device that’s surgically placed inside the human brain. Neuralink says its device can interpret neural activity so a person can operate a computer or smartphone by simply thinking. The company ultimately hopes to use the brain-machine interface to restore sensory and motor functions in people with disabilities, treat neurological conditions like dementia and depression, and even enable telepathic communication.

Notes:
A ringed juvenile black-crowned night heron, found dead at a local pond in Imphal, was banded in China’s Beijing. The black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax, is a medium-sized heron with a stocky build, weighing 727-1014 grams and measuring 58-66 cm in length. Recognizable by its black crown, gray body, and red eyes, it’s a migratory species inhabiting wetlands. Opportunistic feeders, they mainly consume fish. The species is classified as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.

Notes:
The GHAR (Go Home and Re-Unite) Portal, developed by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), facilitates the digital monitoring and repatriation of children under the Juvenile Justice Act. It expedites repatriation by tracking cases, transferring them to relevant authorities, and facilitating communication with State Governments for translators or experts. Child Welfare Committees use the portal’s checklist to identify children in need, linking them to government schemes for family strengthening during restoration.

Notes:
Telangana police conducted Operation Smile-X, rescuing 3,479 child labourers state-wide. Cyberabad police alone saved 718 children, reuniting 526 with parents. 329 were from the state, 389 from other states. Of the rescued, 640 were from child labour, and one was a reported missing child. Throughout the operation, 2,947 children were reunited with parents, involving 676 police personnel working in teams coordinated with various departments and NGOs. The operation resulted in 254 registered cases in the Cyberabad Commissionerate.

Notes:
Astro Sat, India’s inaugural multi-wavelength astronomy mission, successfully measured the X-ray polarization of the Cygnus X-1 black hole system. Discovered four decades ago, Cygnus X-1 is among the first confirmed black hole systems in our galaxy. The black hole is 20 times the Sun’s mass, with a companion supergiant star (40 times more massive) in a binary system. Located 400 times farther than Earth-Sun distance, the gravitational pull forms an accretion disk, generating soft X-rays.

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:
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:
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.