Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

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:
Members of a Hindutva group recently breached the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected Martand Sun Temple, a historic Hindu temple near Anantnag in the Kashmir Valley. Built in the 8th century by King Lalitaditya Muktapida, it blends Kashmiri, Gupta, Chinese, Gandhara, Roman, and Greek architectural styles. Spanning 32,000 sq. ft., the stone temple features an 86-column courtyard, a 60-ft vimana with intricate carvings, and 84 smaller shrines. Sultan Sikandar Shah Miri is believed to have demolished it in the 14th century.

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:
Operation Black Gold is about the seizure of an alloy containing 16.67 kg of gold and 39.73 kg of silver in Delhi. The alloy was worth over Rs 10 crore and was seized by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at FPO Delhi. The Revenue Intelligence Directorate (DRI) acted on intelligence to seize seven shipments of “electrical current/potential meters”. The meters were declared as “current guior machines”. According to preliminary investigations, a systematic syndicate was involved in the gold smuggling. The gold was coated with silver to change its color from yellow to white. The white mixture was then used to make electric meter covers, which were then painted black to avoid suspicion.

Notes:
Surat Airport in Gujarat has achieved ‘International Airport’ status, per the Indian government’s recent announcement. The move, aimed at facilitating global travel and boosting import-export activities for the diamond and textile industries, is set to unlock economic potential. The elevation to international status is anticipated to drive economic growth, attract foreign investment, and bolster diplomatic ties. Surat’s enhanced role in passenger and cargo operations is seen as a key driver for regional development and prosperity.

Notes:
Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, highlighted farmer’s welfare and rural demand in the interim budget 2024-25. The budget emphasizes achieving ‘atmanirbharta’ in oil seeds, outlining strategies like research for high-yielding varieties, modern farming techniques adoption, market linkages, procurement, value addition, and crop insurance for mustard, groundnut, sesame, soybean, and sunflower.

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:
The endangered Forest Owlet, Athene blewitti, was recently sighted three times in the Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra. Initially described in 1873, it was considered extinct after 1884 but rediscovered in 1997. Endemic to central India, it’s observed in various states. Inhabiting diverse ecosystems, it’s small, stocky, with distinctive features. Diurnal and hunting during the day, it preys on rodents, reptiles, and insects. With an IUCN Red List status of Endangered and CITES Appendix I, conservation efforts are crucial.

Notes:
France became the first country in the European Union (EU) to issue digital Schengen visas. The visas are for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics, and will be integrated into accreditation cards for approximately 70,000 international visitors. The country plans to fully digitize its Schengen visa application process by 2026.

Notes:
The formal launch of India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) occurred during Republic Day celebrations in Paris, with French President Emmanuel Macron present. The Indian Embassy introduced UPI at the Eiffel Tower, marking its global expansion. Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India in 2016, UPI consolidates multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application, offering a convenient system for managing diverse accounts on one platform.