Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

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:
The Healthy Indian Project (THIP) has joined the World Health Organization’s Vaccine Safety Net (VSN), reinforcing its commitment to delivering credible vaccine safety information in India. As part of the global network, THIP becomes a reliable source for verified vaccine safety details, contributing to the WHO’s initiative to provide accurate immunization information worldwide. VSN, established by the WHO in 1999, comprises diverse websites offering reliable vaccine safety information in various languages, with the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety ensuring swift responses to global concerns.

Notes:
Michelle O’Neill, a member of Sinn Féin, became the first Irish nationalist first minister of Northern Ireland. O’Neill’s appointment came after the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) agreed to a new deal with the British government on post-Brexit trade rules. The DUP’s Emma Little-Pengelly is the deputy first minister. Northern Ireland’s government is a result of the 1998 Good Friday peace accord, which equally shares power between the two main communities in the region. These communities are British unionists who want to remain in the U.K., and Irish nationalists who want to unite with Ireland.

Notes:
The 7th Indian Ocean Conference, hosted in Perth, Australia, is a key consultative forum for Indian Ocean Region nations. Organized by the Ministry of External Affairs and India Foundation, the theme is “Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean.” Notable attendees include India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong. Over 22 countries and 400 leaders will discuss regional cooperation for Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).

Notes:
The Ministry of Tourism has added Ajanta and Ellora caves in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to its Swadesh Darshan Scheme II. Located in Maharashtra, these UNESCO World Heritage sites boast 29 Ajanta and 34 Ellora caves, showcasing ancient rock-cut marvels from 2nd century BC to 11th century AD. Ajanta, predominantly Buddhist, served as a retreat, while Ellora displays a mix of Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist structures. The Kailash Temple in Ellora, a monolithic marvel, took 18 years to carve and is designated as a UNESCO site.

Notes:
Scientists at the University of California, Riverside, reveals a potent ally in pest control – a new nematode species, Steinernema adamsi. Belonging to the Steinernema family, known for insect parasite control without pesticides since the 1920s, this species is beneficial, infecting and killing harmful insects by releasing pathogenic bacteria. Harmless to humans, Steinernema adamsi offers sustainable agricultural solutions against crop pests.

Notes:
The President of India will inaugurate Aadi Mahotsav 2024, the annual National Tribal Festival at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi. Organized by TRIFED under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the event highlights India’s tribal heritage, showcasing talent, craftsmanship, and cultural diversity. With 300 stalls, the festival promotes tribal art, handicrafts, natural produce, and cuisine, fostering interaction and contributing to the empowerment of tribal communities.

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 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.

Notes:
Google, the tech giant, has partnered with the Government of Maharashtra, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. The collaboration spans sectors like agriculture, sustainability, healthcare, education, and startups. A cutting-edge AI Centre of Excellence will be established at IIIT Nagpur. Maharashtra aims for AI-driven economic development, focusing on healthcare and agriculture. The initiative includes training 500 government IT professionals in conversational AI skills and addressing healthcare and agricultural challenges with AI solutions.