Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi has been strategically appointed as the Indian Army’s new Vice Chief, succeeding Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar. Dwivedi, with a distinguished career, held key positions like Deputy Chief and Director General of Infantry. His operational expertise during the India-China standoff in the Northern Command makes him well-suited for the role. This move ensures a seamless succession plan, with Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar set to command the Northern Army in Udhampur.

Notes:
The Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary in Tripura recently welcomed new additions, including two Royal Bengal tigers, two leopards, four golden pigeons, a silver pigeon, two peafowls, and four hill mynas. Established in 1972, the sanctuary spans 18.5 sq. km, featuring sections for different animal types. It houses diverse flora with 456 plant species and various fauna, including primates, leopards, clouded leopards, and a revived crab-eating mongoose. The sanctuary also boasts a rich avian population with species like winged stork and White ibis.

Notes:
The Minister of State for Heavy Industries revealed SAMARTH Centres to Lok Sabha. SAMARTH, or Smart Advanced Manufacturing and Rapid Transformation Hub, operates under the “Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector” scheme. These centers aid MSMEs by organizing events on Industry 4.0, conducting training for awareness, offering consultancy in areas like IoT, software development, and data analytics, and providing incubation support to start-ups, contributing to workforce development and technological advancement.

Notes:
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to address the World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai on February 14, his second invitation since 2018. The annual event, held in Dubai since 2013, brings together global leaders to discuss pressing issues. Scheduled from February 12 to 14, the summit is a significant diplomatic platform, emphasizing the strengthening ties between India and the UAE, as evident from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s recent participation in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.

Notes:
Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launched the EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme in New Delhi. The program aims to support students who are academically gifted and meritorious but lack financial means to pursue education. The Ministry of Education, Government of India launched the Vidyanjali program in September 2021 to strengthen schools through community and private sector involvement. The program aims to increase the quality of education provided in government schools by taking help from private sector and community.

Notes:
Chile mourns the loss of former President Sebastian Pinera, who died at 74 in a helicopter crash on February 6th. A key figure in Chilean politics, Pinera served two terms from 2010 to 2014 and 2018 to 2022, playing a pivotal role in strengthening the nation’s democracy. As the first conservative leader after a military dictatorship, his leadership brought significant governance improvements, enhancing the quality of life for Chileans in various aspects.

Notes:
President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the 4-day ‘Vividhta ka Amrit Mahotsav’ cultural festival at Amrit Udyan, Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. Organized by the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, the event aims to showcase the rich diversity of North East India. With over 320 participants, it highlights traditional arts, crafts, and agricultural products, promoting cultural exchange and catalyzing progress in the region’s handicraft, handloom, and agriculture sectors.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet recently approved the ‘Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY),’ a sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. With a budget of Rs. 6,000 crore, the 4-year initiative aims to formalize the fisheries sector, providing institutional credit to fishers, aquaculture farmers, and vendors. Key benefits include a National Fisheries Digital Platform, support for micro-enterprises and cooperatives, job creation (particularly for women), and a shift from conventional subsidies to performance-based incentives.

Notes:
The Kalingarayan Anicut, a 13th-century barrage on the Bhavani River in Erode, Tamil Nadu, is among the world’s oldest water diversion projects. Acknowledged as a World Heritage Irrigation Structure in 2021 by ICID, it was commissioned by Kalingarayan, the ruler of Poondurai Nadu, a Kongu Nadu subdivision. In 1240, he joined Madurai Pandyas as a soldier, and in 1265, earned the title ‘Kalingarayan’ from Sadayavarman Sundara Pandyan, subsequently ruling Poondurai Nadu.

Notes:
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology is pioneering India’s Earth System Model, an open-source software merging atmosphere, ocean, land, ice, and biosphere interactions. It utilizes numerical weather prediction and data assimilation for precise climate change forecasts. Collaborating with the Centre for Climate Change Research, the project aims to enhance climate forecasts, support long-term studies, and predict impacts. Funded with ₹192.28 crores under the Monsoon Convection, Clouds and Climate Change scheme, the model is anticipated to conclude by 2025.