Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma launched CM-Elevate, a state-funded entrepreneurship program, aiming to support over 20,000 entrepreneurs in various businesses over the next 3-4 years. The government has allocated Rs. 300 crore for the scheme, offering up to 75 percent subsidy and comprehensive support for proposal implementation. Sangma emphasized promoting entrepreneurship to reduce dependency on government jobs and encourage private sector job creation. The first batch of beneficiaries received financial assistance for diverse projects, marking the beginning of a three-year journey to foster entrepreneurship in the state.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled a life-size statue of late General Bipin Rawat, the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), at TonsBridge School, Dehradun. In the presence of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, Defence Minister praised General Rawat’s courage and humanity, terming him an enduring inspiration. Singh recalled an incident where Rawat, wounded at a remote border post, strengthened India’s defense strategies. Rawat epitomized the nation’s military dedication, transcending birthplace for the country’s security.

Notes:
World Radio Day is celebrated on February 13th, and 2024 will be the 11th edition of the event. The theme for World Radio Day 2024 is “Radio: A century informing, entertaining and educating”. This theme is meant to highlight the history of radio and its influence on many areas, including news, music, sports, and drama. The theme also emphasizes radio’s ongoing evolution in a digital age.

Notes:
The Odisha government announces the Nua-O scholarship, providing annual financial aid to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Male students receive Rs 9,000, while females get Rs 10,000. SC/ST and Nirman Shramik male students receive Rs 10,000, and females get Rs 11,000. The initiative, part of the Nutana Unnata Abhilasha (NUA) Odisha scheme, focuses on skilling youth, allocating a budget of Rs 385 crore for 2023-24 to 2025-26. The scholarship targets students in state universities and aided colleges, excluding Income Tax payers and government employees’ children. Around 4.5 lakh undergraduates and 32,000 postgraduates are expected to benefit.

Notes:
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.

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.

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Sanjay Kumar Jain is the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). Jain is an IRTS Officer from the 1990 batch and a qualified chartered accountant (CA). His career includes leadership roles in policy making, commercial ventures, and developmental ventures of the Government of India and PSUs.  The Government of India’s Ministry of Railways has approved Jain’s appointment until his superannuation on December 31, 2026, or until further orders.

Notes:
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the launch of Mission Basundhara 4.0, focusing on surveying land within riverine areas. The government aims to settle land in mission mode, terming it as Basundhara. Basundhara 3.0 will commence after Lok Sabha elections, focusing on comprehensive land management and reserving revenue villages with 100% ST and SC communities. Mission Basundhara 2.0, launched in November 2022, addressed indigenous peoples land rights, settling over 3 lakh bigha in Brahmaputra Valley and 1 thousand bigha in Barak Valley. Mission Basundhara 3.0 will bring reforms, waiving the ‘three-generation’ requirement for tea, Adivasi, Gorkha, ST, and SC communities. Sunsali and Tea Garden Grant areas residents get a one-time opportunity under Mission Basundhara 3.0 for land patta applications.

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In February 2024, Greece became the first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex marriage under civil law. The Athens parliament passed the bill with a vote of 176-76, and the bill also allows same-sex couples to legally adopt children.

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The Chairman of Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti recently advocated for promoting Indian languages in education, announcing that textbooks will soon be available in Indian languages on digital platforms. Established by the Ministry of Education in 2021, the committee’s mandate, under the National Education Policy 2020, involves recommending pathways for holistic growth of Indian languages, advising the Ministry on language revitalization, and organizing events to emphasize language promotion. The High-Powered Committee may appoint sub-committees and collaborate with government institutions for language teaching and research.