Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
The Chief Minister of Assam has announced a mission to reclaim chars, riverine islands in the Brahmaputra, to preserve ecological integrity. Chars face constant migration, with erosion upstream and deposition downstream during floods, impacting their geometry. Char areas encounter challenges like poor communication, mobility, and infrastructure, hindering development. Issues include isolation, flood threats, and difficulties implementing schemes for roads, irrigation, power, and education in these unique, flood-prone regions.

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.

Notes:
The ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee met in New Delhi from February 16-19, 2024, marking its 3rd meeting since the agreement’s signing in 2009. Initiated in September 2022 for a comprehensive review, eight sub-committees were established to enhance the agreement’s trade facilitation and mutual benefits. The recent meeting assessed negotiation progress, identified focus areas for further deliberations, and updated the work program, directing sub-committees for continued negotiations.

Notes:
Himachal Pradesh’s 2024-25 annual budget prioritizes environmental concerns, unveiling the Mukhya Mantri Harit Vikas Chhattravriti Yojana for postgraduate researchers. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, in the February 17 presentation, emphasized climate change threats and outlined action plans at district and Panchayat levels. The state aims to collaborate with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change and the German development agency GIZ to address climate change’s impact on agriculture and horticulture, conducting a need assessment study for effective mitigation.

Notes:
The Odisha government has launched the ‘Odisha Inclusive Urban Sanitation Policy 2024′ to enhance sanitation services, emphasizing a circular economy, community partnership, and disaster resilience. Issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department, it aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6.2, reflecting the state’s commitment to improving citizens’ access to sanitation infrastructure. The policy is part of Odisha’s broader Swachh Odisha, Sustha Odisha movement, focusing on urban sanitation initiatives to enhance infrastructure and service delivery.

Notes:
Kathmandu recently hosted the multinational military exercise ‘Shanti Prayas IV,’ becoming a hub for global peacekeeping efforts. The event involved army representatives from 19 nations engaged in UN Peacekeeping missions, emphasizing collaborative dedication to global peace and security. Co-hosted by the Nepali Army and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the exercise highlighted the robust military cooperation between Nepal and the United States.

Notes:
The Arunachal Pradesh government has partnered with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to create its inaugural Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF). Home to three tiger reserves – Namdapha, Kamlang, and Pakke – the state lacked a dedicated protection force. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlines the deployment of a specialized force comprising 336 personnel to enhance tiger conservation efforts in these reserves, addressing the previous gap in protection measures.

Notes:
Skyroot Aerospace, an Indian aerospace manufacturer, introduces the Kalpana Fellowship, India’s inaugural program empowering women in space tech. Named after astronaut Kalpana Chawla, the initiative targets final-year students and recent graduates in relevant engineering disciplines, marking a significant step in promoting gender diversity in the space industry.

Notes:
Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and ex-Lok Sabha Speaker, Manohar Joshi, passed away on February 23, 2024, at 86. He succumbed to a cardiac arrest at a Mumbai hospital at 3 am. Joshi, the first Shiv Sena leader to be Maharashtra’s Chief Minister (1995-1999), also served as Lok Sabha Speaker from 2002 to 2004. His last rites will be held at Dadar cremation ground.

Notes:
The Madhya Pradesh government plans to launch a 130-kilometer cruise service on the Narmada River, connecting the ‘Statue of Oneness’ in Omkareshwar to Gujarat’s ‘Statue of Unity.’ Talks with the Gujarat government are underway, and the cruise, expected to commence next year, aims to promote rural tourism. Travelers will explore attractions like Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Mandu, and Sardar Sarovar Dam, with a road transfer from the Statue of Oneness to Kukshi in Dhar enhancing the overall experience.