Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

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:
NITI Aayog and the Netherlands Embassy released the report ‘LNG as a transportation fuel in medium and heavy commercial vehicles’ during India Energy Week 2024 in Goa. The collaboration, initiated in 2020, focuses on energy transition. The report addresses LNG utilization in Indian commercial vehicles, examining coordination challenges and drawing insights from global practices. The Netherlands, a leader in green hydrogen, plans to aid India in achieving climate targets. The report outlines strategies for a 15% gas share in primary energy by 2070.

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 ‘Save Wetlands Campaign (SWC),’ initiated by MoEF&CC on World Wetlands Day 2023, concluded successfully on WWD 2024. Following a “whole of society” approach, the campaign aimed at wetlands conservation, emphasizing awareness, expanding Wetland Mitra coverage, and fostering citizen partnerships. Aligned with Mission LiFE and Mission Sahbhagita philosophy, it operated nationwide, leveraging Ramsar Sites as model anchors. Participants included State Wetland Authorities, District Administrations, Municipal Corporations, Gram Panchayats, Educational Institutes, and Knowledge Partners, yielding positive outcomes.

Notes:
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang of Sikkim has declared the reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for state government employees hired after April 1, 2006. According to the Sikkim Services Pension Rules, 1990, employees appointed before March 31, 1990, will benefit from this revival. This move is a significant measure towards securing the financial well-being of state government employees, especially with the imminent state assembly elections.

Notes:
Saturn’s moon Mimas, discovered in 1789 by William Herschel, may conceal a vast ocean beneath its surface. As the smallest and innermost of Saturn’s major moons, Mimas is also known as Saturn I. A recent analysis suggests a relatively “young” ocean formed on Mimas approximately 5 to 15 million years ago, adding intrigue to the moon’s geological history.

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The estimated demand for hydrogen in Uttar Pradesh is 900,000 tonnes per year. This demand is primarily in the fertilizer and refinery sectors. The government of Uttar Pradesh has announced plans to establish two centers of excellence for green hydrogen research. The policy also focuses on increasing hydrogen blending in consumption areas to promote its widespread adoption. Uttar Pradesh aims to construct one million tonne per annum (mtpa) green hydrogen production capacity, generating an estimated 120,000 jobs.

Notes:
India has inaugurated its first-ever Center for Excellence in Nutritional Supplements Testing for Sportspersons (CoE-NSTS) at the National Forensic Science University, Gandhinagar. Unveiled by Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, the lab is dedicated to screening supplements for banned substances, ensuring the well-being of athletes and upholding sports integrity. Minister Thakur emphasized fair play, clean competition, and the importance of safe supplements for athletes preparing for major events like the Paris 2024 games. The initiative aims to provide Indian athletes with dope-free nutritional supplements.

Notes:
Kerala is set to introduce India’s inaugural genomics-based infectious diseases test, ‘infexnTM.’ Developed by HaystackAnalytics and NIMS Medicity, the test utilizes targeted next-generation sequencing, capable of identifying bacterial and/or fungal infections, along with relevant antimicrobial resistance genes within 24 hours. The kit-cum-software solution can be executed within a hospital, marking a significant advancement in infectious disease diagnostics.