Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
The Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, unveiled the “Bharat 5G Portal” during ‘Bharat Telecom 2024.’ This integrated platform focuses on quantum, 6G, IPR, and 5G domains, catering to startups, industry, and academia. In collaboration with PANIIT USA, it introduces the Future Tech-Experts registration portal to support India’s Telecom ecosystem. The portal serves as a centralized hub for quantum, IPR, PoCs/Pilot, 5G, and 6G, promoting innovation, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing in the telecom sector for Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Notes:
The theme of the 20th National Good Governance Webinar Series for 2023-2024 was “Promoting Excellence in Sports and Wellness through Khelo India Scheme”. The webinar included presentations on initiatives taken by the districts of Churu, Rajasthan and Bishnupur, Manipur, which were awarded the PM’s Award for 2021.

Notes:
China has imposed a ban on the import of ruminants and related products from Iraq due to a bluetongue disease outbreak. Bluetongue is a non-contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild ruminants, transmitted by insects’ particularly biting species of Culicoides midges. The virus belongs to the Reoviridae family with 24 identified serotypes. Symptoms vary, but sheep are most severely affected. The disease is globally distributed in regions where the insect vector thrives, posing a threat to various species with transmission facilitated by the infected vector.

Notes:
A recent discussion between the United States and China have focused on joint efforts to combat the influx of fentanyl into the U.S. Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid (a type of drug), has wreaked havoc in America and is linked to ingredients produced in China. The drug, 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, is FDA (Food and Drug Administration) -approved for severe pain but is also illegally manufactured and sold recreationally, often mixed with other drugs, posing a high risk of addiction and fatality in large doses or when combined.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated NTPC Ltd’s Darlipali thermal power plant (1,600 MW), Rourkela PP-II expansion project (250 MW), and laid the foundation stone for Talcher 2×660 MW in Odisha, with a total investment of Rs 28,978 crore. Darlipali, a pit-head station, has supply agreements with multiple states. The Rourkela project supports the steel plant, while Talcher’s 660 MW will cater 50% to Odisha and the rest to Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Assam. The government encourages coal-based capacity additions due to rising energy demand.

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:
A record number of manatees recently gathered at a Florida state park. Manatees, often called “sea cows,” are large aquatic mammals belonging to the Sirenia group, which also includes dugongs. While they share similarities in appearance and behavior, the key difference lies in their tails – manatees have paddle-shaped tails, while dugongs have fluked tails, resembling whales. Manatees inhabit shallow coastal areas and rivers, with three species identified: Amazonian, African, and Caribbean manatees. They are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species

Notes:
Researchers recently uncovered a new genus and five novel millipede species in African jungles. Millipedes, not insects but arthropods related to lobsters, crayfish, and shrimp, boast approximately 12,000 global species. These cylindrical or slightly flattened invertebrates, often black or brown, inhabit moist areas with decaying vegetation. Ranging from 2 to 280 mm, they possess multiple segments, each housing two pairs of legs and internal organs. Although not poisonous, some species produce irritating fluids. Nocturnal scavengers, millipedes primarily feed on decaying plants and occasional dead insects.

Notes:
The Karnataka Government recently suspended five officers for negligence in implementing the Inclusive Education for Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS) scheme. Launched in 2009-10, IEDSS replaces the Integrated Education for Disabled Children (IEDC). The scheme aims to provide inclusive and enabling secondary education for students with disabilities after eight years of elementary schooling. It covers various disabilities and prioritizes girls, emphasizing the establishment of Model Inclusive Schools in each state under the scheme.

Notes:
Exercise Vayu Shakti-24 will be held on February 17, 2024 at the Pokhran Air to Ground Range, near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The exercise will demonstrate the Indian Air Force’s offensive and defensive capabilities. The exercise will involve over 100 aircraft, including fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters, mid-air refuellers, airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft, and unmanned systems. The fighter planes will target and destroy simulated enemy sites with missiles, precision-guided munitions, bombs, and rockets.