Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is urging the Romanian government to designate Mahmudia wetland as a ‘national interest ecological restoration area’ for conservation. Mahmudia, located in the Danube Delta, is crucial for its unique ecosystems, acting as a natural buffer zone with extensive marshes and filtering pollutants from the Danube River. The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, hosting over 5,500 flora and fauna species, is the third most biodiverse area globally and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, earning it the title ‘the pearl of Romanian tourism.’

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The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced the appointment of Ajay Kumar Choudhary as the non-executive chairman of its board and independent director. He is a central banker with a career at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) spanning over three decades. NPCI is an organization that was founded in 2008 to oversee and operate India’s retail payments and settlement systems. These systems include platforms like IMPS, UPI, and RuPay cards.

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India’s Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has received a commemorative plaque at Switzerland’s famous Ice Palace at Jungfraujoch, the ‘Top of Europe.’ Acknowledging his remarkable achievements, the sports icon unveiled the plaque and donated one of his javelins to the tourist attraction. Chopra joins other sports stars like Roger Federer and Rory McIlroy on the Wall of Fame at Jungfraujoch, celebrating their spirit of accomplishment and dedication, according to Switzerland Tourism.

Notes:
The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) faces local extinction in Andhra Pradesh’s Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary due to no sightings for years. Established in 1988, it’s the state’s sole GIB Sanctuary, aiming to protect the endangered bird. Situated amid Nallamalai and Yerramalai hill ranges, the sanctuary harbors diverse flora, including 32 grass species and prominent trees like Cassia fistula and Butea monosperma. The absence of GIB sightings underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts in the region.

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:
The Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj inaugurated the ‘Smart Gram Panchayat’ pilot project in Paprour, Begusarai, Bihar, aiming to extend PM-WANI services to Gram Panchayats in Begusarai and Rohtas for the Financial Year 2023–24. Funded under RGSA, the initiative, led by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Bihar’s Government in collaboration with BSNL, focuses on utilizing digital technologies to improve access to online services in health, education, and skilling for beneficiaries like students, farmers, artisans, and Women SHGs, fostering rural-urban connectivity and local self-governance efficiency.

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The Consumer Affairs Secretary advocates the infusion of artificial intelligence into the ‘e-Jagriti’ portal to expedite consumer court case resolutions. The portal, under the Department of Consumer Affairs, streamlines consumer dispute redressal through features like online case filing, fee payment, and AI-driven smart search for archived complaints. It integrates various grievance platforms, utilizing AI and ML technologies for voice-to-text conversions, metadata creation, and a virtual court facility, aiming to enhance efficiency and accessibility in consumer complaint resolution.

Notes:
Havildar Varinder Singh, a member of the Sikh Regiment in the Indian Army, received the Vishisht Seva Medal from President Droupadi Murmu for his exceptional contributions to military technology. Singh’s innovative creation, the Multipurpose Octocopter, showcases groundbreaking advancements in drone technology, offering unparalleled versatility beyond conventional surveillance. This accolade recognizes his outstanding efforts in developing a versatile piece of equipment that goes beyond being a mere reconnaissance tool.

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The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) and National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) have issued substantial suspensions to two athletes. Rachna Kumari, a hammer thrower, received a 12-year suspension for her second anti-doping violation, underscoring the gravity of doping offenses. Quarter-miler Nirmala Sheoran, with a history of violations, faces an eight-year suspension from NADA for her second offense, emphasizing the strict consequences for those breaching anti-doping rules in athletics.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the 300 MW Barsingsar Solar Power Plant in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district, advancing India’s renewable energy goals. NLC India Limited, a Navratna CPSE, is implementing the project under the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy’s CPSE Scheme. The initiative, aligned with the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative, uses cutting-edge technology, aims to produce 750 million units of green power annually, and marks NLCIL as the first CPSE to achieve a 1 GW Solar capacity milestone in India.