Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
The West Bengal government has declared Rabindranath Tagore’s song “Banglar Mati Banglar Jal” as the State Song. The song has an approximate playing time of 1 minute and 59 seconds. The notification mandates that the State Song must be played with due respect at the beginning of all state government functions, and the National Anthem must be played at the conclusion of these functions.

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The Supreme Court of India has drawn up a nationwide Witness Protection Scheme to provide security to witnesses facing threats. This became necessary as witnesses often turn hostile during trials due to harassment or lack of protection. The scheme provides for threat assessment of witnesses and protective measures based on three categories of threat perception.

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Dharavi Redevelopment Project, spearheaded by the Adani Group, aims to transform Asia’s largest slum into a model of urban renewal, revitalizing its infrastructure and elevating the quality of life of its residents. The project, which involves global experts like architect Hafeez Contractor, design firm Sasaki, and consultancy firm Buro Happold, as well as experts from Singapore, is not just focused on physical redevelopment but also on nurturing the vibrant culture of Dharavi. The project’s goal is to create a sustainable, integrated live-work-play environment that respects and enhances the local community’s life, setting a global benchmark in equitable urban housing and redevelopment.

Notes:
Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus received the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize along with Grameen Bank he founded, for contributions to alleviating poverty through pioneering microfinance services. Providing small loans to entrepreneurs lacking access to traditional banking, his microcredit model aided millions. Recently, Yunus faced legal troubles in Bangladesh over alleged violations of labor laws by Grameen Telecom, critics calling it political retribution for his opposition to government policies earlier.

Notes:
Perihelion refers to the point in Earth’s elliptical orbit when it is closest to the Sun. In 2024, this event known as Perihelion Day will occur on January 3 when Earth comes within 91.4 million miles of the Sun. It occurs around two weeks after the December solstice each year. The opposite point when Earth is farthest from the Sun is called Aphelion which will occur on July 6, 2024.

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The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) along with National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) launched ‘SMART 2.0’ to promote clinical studies in priority areas of Ayurveda through mutual collaboration with Ayurveda institutions across India. The objective is to generate evidence on efficacy and safety of Ayurveda interventions using interdisciplinary research methods.

Notes:
Rajesh Kumar, CEO of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), in a recent media interaction revealed statistics that over ₹10,300 crore were siphoned off from India by cybercriminals since April 2021. I4C is a body established under the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide a framework for law agencies to tackle cybercrime.

Notes:
FMR refers to the Free Movement Regime operational on India’s border with Myanmar. It allows tribal communities living along both sides of the boundary to travel up to 16 km across the border without visas. However, amidst rising illegal immigration and security challenges tied to cross-border crime, India plans to discontinue the FMR scheme and mandate visas for Myanmarese nationals’ entry. Concerns around FMR facilitating entry of non-tribals abusing its lax regulations prompted this reassessment of the agreement after 75 years.

Notes:
The West Bengal government plans to develop a tea park spread over 10-12 acres along the banks of the Hooghly River near Kolkata. It aims to establish an export-oriented tea processing and packaging facility inspired by Dubai’s models that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee observed during her Middle East visit. The initiative seeks to boost Darjeeling tea exports by value-addition leveraging Kolkata port’s connectivity. The tea industry stakeholders have welcomed the proposal to enable large scale investment in upgrading technology for the terrace tea gardens.

Notes:
Zosurabalpin is a newly identified compound that falls under the category of antibiotics. This discovery is particularly significant in the field of medicine as it shows potential in tackling drug-resistant bacteria, specifically Acinetobacter baumannii. Zosurabalpin’s mode of action is distinct and previously unknown, marking it as an innovative development in antibiotic treatments. It works by inhibiting a key process in the bacteria, leading to its destruction. The effectiveness of zosurabalpin against resistant strains of bacteria, as demonstrated in laboratory tests and animal models, highlights its importance as a breakthrough in addressing the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance.