Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

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:
The Subika painting style, intricately linked to Meitei cultural history, faces near extinction due to neglect. Its survival depends on six manuscripts—Subika, Subika Achouba, Subika Laishaba, Subika Choudit, Subika Cheithil, and Thengrakhel Subika. Subika Laishaba is a vital continuation of Meitei tradition through visual images. Despite Manipur’s historical significance, Subika paintings, estimated to date back to the 18th or 19th century, highlight a decline in visual arts, emphasizing the need for preservation efforts.

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:
World Cancer Day, observed on February 4th, highlights the global challenge of cancer, affecting millions with its diverse forms. The 2024 theme, “Close the Care Gap: Everyone Deserves Access To Cancer Care,” underscores the disparities in care, emphasizing accountability with the sub-theme “Together, we challenge those in power.” This annual event advocates for advancements in research, prevention, and patient care to address the formidable health challenges posed by cancer worldwide.

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:
A potent atmospheric river storm approached at Southern California, posing a severe threat of life-threatening floods and landslides. Atmospheric rivers, responsible for 90% of moisture movement from tropics to poles, act as Earth’s largest freshwater transport. Formed by aligned weather patterns, they include well-known ones like the Pineapple Express. The impending storm highlights the risks posed by these intense moisture channels.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
At the “Digital India FutureLABS Summit 2024” at IIIT-Delhi, CDAC Thiruvananthapuram transferred three Indigenous Technologies—Thermal Camera, CMOS Camera, and Fleet Management System—to 12 industries under the InTranSE Program of MeitY. This aligns with the Innovation, Science, and Technology theme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vikshit Bharat @2047 initiative. The Thermal Camera, with AI-based analytics, is intended for applications in Smart cities, Industries, Defence, Health, and more, after successful field testing for Road traffic applications.

Notes:
REC Limited received the 2024 Best Green Bond-Corporate Award at The Asset Triple A Awards for Sustainable Finance. The award recognizes REC’s commitment to environmental and sustainable finance. REC Limited is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power and a leading NBFC. In April 2023, REC issued $750 million in Green Bonds, which is why they received the award.

Notes:
Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated the 1st BIMSTEC Aquatics Championships 2024 in New Delhi, marking the first-time hosting of the event. He emphasized the collaboration of seven BIMSTEC countries, transforming the Bay of Bengal into a hub for progress and development. The four-day competition features swimming, water polo, and diving events for Under-20 athletes, with 39 medals and nine trophies at stake.