Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

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:
Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C has named Indian cricketer Shubman Gill as the state icon for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Gill will participate in various election campaigns to raise voter awareness and increase turnout in the state. Punjabi singer Tarsem Jassar has also been selected as a “state icon” and will conduct similar campaigns.

Notes:
The High Commission of India in Bangladesh hosted a Seminar on Indian Defence Equipment – SIDE 2024 in Dhaka, featuring High Commissioner Pranay Verma and Lt. Gen. M.R. Shameem. Verma highlighted Indian defense industry advancements under Prime Minister Modi’s “Make in India” initiative, resulting in increased investments and exports. SIDE 2024 signifies India’s interest in advancing defense cooperation with Bangladesh, utilizing the US$500 million Defence Line of Credit extended by the Indian government.

Notes:
Malta has joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA), becoming its 119th member. Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary of Malta’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed the ISA Framework Agreement in New Delhi. Established in 2015 with headquarters in Gurugram, India, ISA aims to promote solar energy globally. India warmly welcomed Malta’s participation in this alliance, strengthening international cooperation for sustainable solar development.

Notes:
Babar Azam, former Pakistan captain, set a historic record as the fastest batter to score 10,000 runs in T20 cricket during a Karachi Kings vs. Peshawar Zalmi match in PSL 2024. This remarkable feat makes him the 13th player to achieve this milestone, adding another accolade to his illustrious career.

Notes:
Reliance Industries, in collaboration with top Indian engineering schools, is launching BharatGPT, a ChatGPT-style AI model named Hanooman. Backed by Reliance Jio, Hanooman aims to advance India’s AI in healthcare, governance, finance, and education, operating in 11 local languages with speech-to-text capabilities. Reliance Jio is concurrently developing Jio Brain for its 450 million subscribers. Other startups like Sarvam and Krutrim, supported by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Vinod Khosla’s fund, are also contributing open-sourced AI models for India’s growth.

Notes:
NASA’s recent images reveal Badwater Basin, North America’s driest spot, transformed into a lake for 6 months. Situated 282 feet below sea level in Death Valley National Park, Death Valley, it’s known for extreme aridity. Manly Lake, formed after Hurricane Hilary in August 2023, defied expectations by persisting through fall and winter. Its revival in February 2024, fueled by an atmospheric river, expanded it to 11 km length, 6.5 km width, and 60 cm depth, filling the expansive salt flat.

Notes:
Indian and Sri Lankan coast guard ships recently joined the Maldives for Exercise Dosti 16, a trilateral coast guard exercise held every two years since 1991. Sri Lanka joined in 2012, and the 16th edition involves the Coast Guards of India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, with observers from Bangladesh. The exercise focuses on mutual operational capability, interoperability, and cooperation in scenarios like sea accidents and pollution. India’s participation includes ICGS Samarth, ICGS Abhinav, and ICG Dornier.

Notes:
The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) has launched India’s largest drone pilot training facility. This program is aligned with PM’s Namo Drone Didi initiative. The program is also tailored for a variety of defense personnel. This initiative supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to position India as a prominent drone hub by 2030.

Notes:
The International Gita Mahotsav (IGM), rooted in India’s spiritual and cultural heritage, expands to Sri Lanka for its fifth edition from March 1 to 3. With past editions in Mauritius, London, Canada, and Australia, the Mahotsav’s global appeal is evident. The event aims to unite devotees worldwide, showcasing the universal significance of the Bhagavad Gita.