Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
The Indian Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) ICGS Varaha made a port call at Maputo Port, Mozambique. The visit is part of a strategic overseas deployment to East Africa and is a milestone in diplomatic maritime engagements. The visit lasts three days and includes professional interactions in the fields of: Marine Pollution Response (MPR) Maritime Law Enforcement Maritime Search and Rescue (M-SAR). The visit also includes engagements with the Mozambican Navy, outreach events, yoga, and coastal cleanup as part of Puneet Sagar Abhiyaan.

Notes:
Japan recently hosted a conference to discuss reconstruction of Ukraine. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida committed to long-term engagement in Ukraine’s reconstruction, framing it as a future investment. In a conference co-organized with Ukraine, Kishida emphasized Japan’s commitment to inclusive, humanitarian, and technologically-driven cooperation. Over 50 deals were signed between Japanese and Ukrainian entities, highlighting their collaborative efforts in supporting the war-torn nation two years after Russia’s invasion.

Notes:
Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh, known as the banana city, is hosting its annual Banana Festival in collaboration with the district administration. The two-day event, under the One-District One-Product programme, highlights Burhanpur’s agricultural strength with 23,650 hectares of banana cultivation involving 18,325 farmers. The region yields an impressive 16 lakh metric tonnes of bananas, contributing to a significant sales turnover of 1,700 crore rupees. The festival aims to attract investment by showcasing Burhanpur’s agricultural prowess to companies, experts, and scientists nationwide.

Notes:
Arunachal Pradesh has achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first state in North-East India and the 10th in the country to attain 100% saturation of Har Ghar Jal under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Chief Minister Pema Khandu credited Team Arunachal’s dedication, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for guidance and support. The mission, launched on August 15, 2019, aims to provide assured tap water supply to every rural household in India by 2024, promoting an improved quality of life.

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:
Madhya Pradesh government unveils an innovative ‘bag-less school’ policy, challenging educational norms. Starting 2024-25, this initiative mandates a bag-free day each week. The state government issues weight limits for school bags, ranging from 1.6 to 2.2 kg for classes 1 and 2, to 2.5 to 4.5 kg for classes 9 and 10. This move aims to alleviate the physical burden on students, fostering a more comfortable and holistic learning environment.

Notes:
India has won three gold medals and one silver medal at the 2024 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Tehran, Iran. On the opening day of the championships, the following athletes won gold medals: Tajinderpal Singh Toor: Ace shot putter Jyothi Yarraji: 100m hurdler Harmilan Bains: 1500m

Notes:
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has signed an MoU with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to enhance the Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’. The collaboration aims to integrate future weapons and sensors, crucial for modernizing in the current war scenario. The technology transfer for weapons and sensors integration has begun, enhancing Tejas’ operational capabilities, including independent sensor functionality, seamless weapons integration, and access to flight tests. ADA’s successful development of Tejas, with 10,000+ sortie credits, has led to the formation of two Air Force squadrons, with two-seater aircraft being inducted.

Notes:
Union Finance Minister chaired the 28th meeting of Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) in New Delhi. FSDC, established in 2010, is a non-statutory apex body under the Ministry of Finance. Proposed by the Raghuram Rajan Committee in 2008, it includes key financial institutions like RBI, IRDA, SEBI, and PFRDA, with members including the Finance Secretary, Chief Economic Advisor, and Secretary of the Department of Financial Services.

Notes:
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting recently launched four portals, including NaViGate Bharat, a bilingual platform by the New Media Wing. NaViGate Bharat serves as a unified gateway hosting government-related videos, simplifying access to developmental measures and citizen welfare initiatives. The platform empowers users with an interactive interface for searching, streaming, sharing, and downloading content, streamlining information retrieval from various sources into a single, reliable platform for both media and the public.