Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
A male tiger from the Kanha Tiger Reserve has been relocated to Mukundpur Safari in Satna. Kanha Tiger Reserve, the largest in Madhya Pradesh, spans 940 sq km across Mandla and Balaghat districts. Established on June 1, 1955, and declared a tiger reserve in 1973, it features forested undulations, hills, plateaus, and valleys. The reserve, believed to have inspired Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, is home to India’s first tiger reserve mascot, “Bhoorsingh the Barasingha.”

Notes:
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched the ‘Van Mitra’ scheme, focusing on community-driven afforestation in non-forest areas. The initiative aims to involve local communities in expanding the state’s green cover, increasing survival rates of newly planted trees, and promoting tree planting beyond conventional forest zones. The scheme emphasizes environmental conservation and underscores the importance of community engagement in fostering sustainable afforestation efforts across Haryana.

Notes:
Sikkim’s Chief Minister, Prem Singh Tamang, introduced Sikkim INSPIRES, a groundbreaking collaboration between the state government and the World Bank. With a $100 million allocation, the program spans five years, engaging nine government departments to foster economic growth and inclusion. The initiative prioritizes collaboration and capacity-building across sectors, aiming to strengthen the state system for inclusive growth, employment for women and youth, and enhanced delivery of enabling services. The launch event featured a slogan competition winner announcement and the unveiling of a mental health awareness mobile app.

Notes:
Scientists recently uncovered a Stone Age wall beneath the Baltic Sea in Germany, considered Europe’s oldest human-made megastructure. The 971-meter wide, less than 1 mtr tall wall, believed to be over 10,000 years old, was likely built by hunter-gatherers and may have served as a reindeer hunting lane. The Baltic Sea is a semi-enclosed sea in Northern Europe, a branch of the North Atlantic Ocean, dividing the Scandinavian Peninsula from mainland Europe, with 8,000 kilometers of coastline shared by multiple countries.

Notes:
Chinese citizens are occupying Xiaokang border defense villages along India’s northeastern border. China has built 628 well-off villages along India’s borders with Tibet over five years, covering Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. In response, India launched the Vibrant Villages Programme in 2022, aiming to develop 663 border villages into modern tourist attractions. Zemithang, Taksing, and Chayang Tajo are located in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The villages are part of the Vibrant Village Programme, a pilot initiative by the government to develop remote and border villages.

Notes:
Renowned Urdu poet Gulzar and Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya have been announced as the recipients of the 58th Jnanpith Award by the Jnanpith selection committee. This prestigious award is recognition of their significant contributions to literature. In 2022, the award was conferred upon Goan writer Damodar Mauzo, adding to the distinguished list of laureates. The Jnanpith Award, established in 1961, is one of the highest literary honors in India, celebrating outstanding writers in various Indian languages.

Notes:
A child-friendly police station has been inaugurated in Maharashtra’s Dhule district at Azadnagar Police Station. Conceived by District Collector Abhinav Goyal and Women and Child Development Officer Rajendra Birari, the initiative aims to create a safe and enjoyable space for children. A room on the ground floor is adorned with child-friendly pictures. District SP Shrikant Dhiware praised the effort, stressing the collective responsibility of the juvenile justice system to ensure children’s safety and well-being. He urged incorporating child-friendly practices for a fear-free environment.

Notes:
Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched the AIIMS-SBI Smart payment card at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. The card aims to facilitate hassle-free payments for patients, eliminating the need for carrying cash. Provided free of cost with no service charges, the card is linked to the patient’s Unique Hospital Identification number and Ayushman Bharat Health Account ID. Termed ‘One AIIMS, One Card,’ the initiative plans to extend these services to all AIIMS institutions nationwide.

Notes:
The Neem Summit & Global Neem Trade Fair, hosted in New Delhi on 19-20 February 2024, is a collaborative initiative led by ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi. With diverse stakeholders, the event highlights neem’s versatile applications in agriculture, healthcare, and environmental sustainability. Embracing the theme “Neem for Sustainable Agriculture, Health, and Environment,” the summit aims to spotlight neem’s multifaceted benefits and promote its role in fostering sustainability across various sectors.

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.