Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
India’s “Vyommitra,” a female robot astronaut, will precede the Gaganyaan mission, marking India’s inaugural human space flight. Set for a third-quarter launch in 2024, Vyommitra simulates human functions in space, monitoring parameters, issuing alerts, and executing life support operations. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh revealed these details, emphasizing Vyommitra’s capabilities. Gaganyaan, scheduled for 2025, aims to launch Indian astronauts into orbit, demonstrating human space capabilities. The successful TV D1 test in October 2023 validated crucial systems for Gaganyaan, assuring readiness for the manned mission.

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.

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The Union Agriculture Minister revealed in Rajya Sabha that Thrips Parvispinus, an invasive pest, may have displaced native chilli thrips in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. This polyphagous pest affects various crops, including drumstick, pigeon pea, and mango. Originally reported in India in 2015, Thrips Parvispinus has spread globally, causing economic losses and viral infections. The pest’s infestation, exacerbated by heavy rainfall, leads to flower drop, reducing fruit production, posing a threat to horticultural crops amid changing agricultural practices and climate conditions.

Notes:
This Moment by the Indian jazz band Shakti won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album. The album was released in 2024, and features eight songs by John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, V. Selvaganesh, and Ganesh Rajagopalan. The Grammy Awards, or Grammys, are a series of awards that recognize outstanding achievements in the music industry.

Notes:
IIT Madras and Munitions India Limited are partnering to create India’s first domestically designed 155 Smart Ammunition. The two-year initiative, under the Ministry of Defence, aims to achieve a Circular Error Probable of 10 meters, significantly improving precision in defense operations. The project focuses on enhancing accuracy and lethality using guidance systems and advanced technologies. The 155mm Indian Smart Ammunition is compatible with existing artillery guns, featuring fin stabilization, canard control, and a 3-mode fuse operation for various tactical requirements, marking a crucial stride towards self-reliance in defense production.

Notes:
India’s logistics performance has shown significant improvement, ranking 38th out of 139 countries in the World Bank’s 2023 Logistics Performance Index, a climb of six places since 2018 and sixteen places since 2014. This data, shared by Union Minister Shri Som Parkash, highlights advancements in Customs, Infrastructure, Logistics Services, Shipment Arrangement, Tracking, and Timeliness. Initiatives like the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and the National Logistics Policy, along with digital reforms like the Unified Logistics Interface Platform, contribute to this positive trend.

Notes:
Protests have erupted over a proposal by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to construct a six-lane elevated highway through Bengaluru’s Bannerghatta National Park (BNP). The project, part of the satellite township ring road, aims to ease traffic but has sparked concerns among environmentalists for its potential impact on the ecologically sensitive park, home to endangered species. The plan includes cutting 1,288 trees within the park. Conservationists advocate for alternative routes, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to infrastructure development and environmental conservation.

Notes:
NASA and SpaceX rescheduled the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission launch due to weather delays. The mission, exploring ocean-atmosphere connections amid climate change, aims to understand the impact of microscopic life in water and air. PACE will monitor carbon dioxide exchange, atmospheric variables, and ocean health through phytoplankton study. The mission’s aerosol products will aid health advisories for phenomena like wildfires and monitor harmful algae blooms. Scientists express excitement for groundbreaking insights, emphasizing PACE’s significance in advancing Earth system understanding.

Notes:
Six forest authorities were suspended for negligence in curbing teak smuggling in Kawal Tiger Reserve, located in the north-eastern part of Telangana. Declared a Tiger Reserve in 2012, it lies at the southern tip of the Central Indian Tiger Landscape, with diverse habitats, including dense forests and water bodies. The reserve, a catchment for Godavari and Kadam rivers, is vital for its rich flora, including extensive teak and bamboo, hosting 673 plant species.

Notes:
The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) and the Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar (IIT Bhubaneswar) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU is intended to support joint research efforts, technology transfer, and the start-up ecosystem in renewable energy. The collaboration was initiated at the 100 Cube Start-up Conclave held at IIT Bhubaneswar in the presence of Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Director of IITB Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar.