Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote collaborative biomedical research. The goal of the MoU is to improve the combat medical support and patient care for serving personnel. The Director General (Org & Pers) Lt Gen SK Singh and the Director IIT Roorkee Prof Kamal Kishore Pant signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations.

Notes:
India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that they would link their instant payment platforms, UPI (India) and AANI (UAE). The agreement will allow for seamless cross-border transactions between the two countries.  AANI is an instant payment platform that allows users to transfer and settle funds in less than 10 seconds. It initially supports transactions of up to $13,600.  The agreement is part of a number of pacts signed between the two countries in February 2024, including BIT and IGA on IMEC.

Notes:
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for reaching 500 Test wickets, making him the second Indian bowler to achieve this after Anil Kumble. Ashwin joins an exclusive group of off-spinners with only Muttiah Muralidaran and Nathan Lyon surpassing 500 wickets. Notably, Ashwin is the third off-spinner in history to achieve this milestone. Despite this feat, he trails Kumble’s total wickets, who retired with 619 scalps. The historic moment occurred on the second day of the ongoing Test against England, dismissing Zak Crawley.

Notes:
Researchers have uncovered a unique electric polarization mechanism in the mineral MnBi2S4, aka graţianite, a ternary manganese chalcogenide. It exhibits distinctive magnetic structures, such as spin density wave, cycloidal, and helical spin structures. Notably, the latter two induce ferroelectricity. MnBi2S4 is centrosymmetric and undergoes magnetic ordering at low temperatures (27, 23, and 21.5 Kelvins). This discovery could contribute to energy-efficient data storage.

Notes:
External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar is attending the 60th Munich Security Conference in Germany, engaging in discussions with global leaders to address bilateral cooperation and global concerns. The three-day conference serves as a platform for high-level debates on pressing security challenges, fostering international dialogue and cooperation.

Notes:
Annually on February 20th, the World Day of Social Justice unites the global community to address worldwide inequality and injustice. Emphasizing decent work and fair globalization, the 2024 theme, “Bridging Gaps, Building Alliances,” underscores the significance of collaboration in confronting global challenges. This day serves as a crucial reminder to combat social exclusion and advocate for a more just and equitable world.

Notes:
The CBI conducted raids related to alleged corruption in awarding a contract for the Kiru Hydel Project in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, focusing on the former Governor. The Kiru Hydel Power Project is a run-of-the-river scheme over the Chenab River, developed by Chenab Valley Power Projects (CVPP), a joint venture between NHPC, JKSPDC, and PTC. The project aims to benefit several states and union territories in Northern India, with a 49%, 49%, and 2% shareholding, respectively.

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:
A team of conservationists led by the University of Portsmouth discovered the nesting site of the Cantor’s giant softshell turtle on the banks of the Chandragiri River in Kerala, India. The discovery is the first-ever nesting evidence and discovery of a breeding population of this critically endangered species. The Cantor’s giant softshell turtle (Pelochelys cantorii) is a native to the rivers of south and Southeast Asia. It is known for its rarity and secretive nature.

Notes:
The world is on the verge of eradicating Guinea worm disease, a neglected tropical disease caused by the Dracunculus medinensis parasite. According to the World Health Organization, cases dropped to 14 in 2021, 13 in 2022, and just 6 in 2023. The disease is contracted by consuming water contaminated with Guinea worm larvae, leading to painful blisters. Currently, there is no drug treatment or vaccine for Guinea worm disease.