Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with FIFA, is enhancing football accessibility in schools. They are distributing 11 lakh footballs nationwide, benefiting over 1.5 lakh schools. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the initiative, providing 6,848 footballs to 1,260 schools in Odisha. This marks a crucial step towards integrating football activities into the education system, promoting sports engagement among students on a large scale.

Notes:
The 13th of February is National Women’s Day, an annual celebration in India. 13th February marks the 145th birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, the “Nightingale of India.” A key figure in India’s independence struggle and a celebrated poet, she is honored on National Women’s Day for her advocacy of women’s rights. Naidu’s literary legacy includes the iconic 1912 poem “In the Bazaars of Hyderabad,” known for its vivid imagery.

Notes:
Cuscuta dodder, an invasive weed native to North America, is threatening Chengalpet forests and Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu, endangering local ecology and migratory bird habitats. This parasitic vine lacks roots, infesting acres of trees in reserve forests and penetrating India’s oldest bird sanctuary. Found on Barringtonia trees crucial for bird nesting, it forms dense canopies before strangling and killing hosts. In India, it poses a significant problem in oilseeds, pulses, and fodder crops. Globally, it’s listed as a ‘declared noxious weed’ in 25 countries. Cuscuta seeds, with a hard coat, can survive up to 50 years in dry storage and 10 years in the field.

Notes:
Dubai has made history by unveiling plans for the world’s first air taxi service at the World Government Summit 2024. The city will pioneer a city-wide electric aerial taxi service using Joby Aviation S4, accommodating four passengers and a pilot. With a 161 km range and 321 km/h top speed, the innovative aircraft offers efficient vertical take-off and landing, reducing space requirements and noise pollution. Set to launch in 2026, this initiative represents Dubai’s commitment to sustainable and accessible urban transportation.

Notes:
Researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia discovered a new millipede genus and five species in Tanzania’s Udzungwa Mountains. According to the USC, Attemsostreptus leptoptilos is one of five new species of millipedes with 200 legs that were discovered in Tanzanian jungles in February 2024. The other four species are Attemsostreptus cataractae, Attemsostreptus julostriatus, Lophostreptus magombera, and Udzungwastreptus marianae.

Notes:
India is set to introduce its inaugural Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) in Uttarakhand, as announced by Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. The HEMS, based at AIIMS in Rishikesh, aims to swiftly airlift accident victims within a 150 km radius for timely critical care. This initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to extend medical outreach and trauma care services, prioritizing timely transportation for patients in hilly terrains to access vital care at AIIMS within the crucial ‘golden hour’ post-accident.

Notes:
In the Western Ghats of India, scientists discovered a Bonnet mushroom growing on the Golden-backed Frog, endemic to Karnataka and Kerala. This thumb-sized frog thrives near water bodies in evergreen forests and faces threats like habitat loss, water pollution, and non-native species introduction. The surprising mushroom-frog interaction adds a unique aspect to understanding their ecology and highlights the challenges these frogs encounter in their natural habitat.

Notes:
ISRO is organizing the ‘Young Scientist Programme’ (YUVIKA) for school children, aimed at imparting basic knowledge on Space Technology and Science. Intended to create awareness and inspire STEM interest, the two-week residential program offers talks, lab visits, and discussions with experts. Eligible students, finishing class 8 and currently in class 9, can apply, with special consideration for rural students. Three participants from each state/UT are selected based on academic performance and extracurricular activities, emphasizing a younger age in case of ties.

Notes:
Scientists recently uncovered a Stone Age wall beneath the Baltic Sea in Germany, considered Europe’s oldest human-made megastructure. The 971-meter wide, less than 1 mtr tall wall, believed to be over 10,000 years old, was likely built by hunter-gatherers and may have served as a reindeer hunting lane. The Baltic Sea is a semi-enclosed sea in Northern Europe, a branch of the North Atlantic Ocean, dividing the Scandinavian Peninsula from mainland Europe, with 8,000 kilometers of coastline shared by multiple countries.

Notes:
Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launched ‘Sagar Aankalan’ guidelines to improve Indian ports’ performance, focusing on mapping, benchmarking, and aligning standards globally. Stemming from the success of GMIS 2023, a major maritime summit, the initiative aims to boost the maritime sector, evidenced by a ₹10 lakh crore investment commitment. The move underscores the government’s dedication to modernize and optimize India’s maritime infrastructure for economic growth and global competitiveness.