Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
The recently renamed Maa Manikeswari University is located in the state of Odisha, India. Formerly known as Kalahandi University, it was renamed after Maa Manikeswari, the presiding deity of Kalahandi district. The university has been functioning since September 1, 2020, and the name change was officially announced by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on November 1, during the foundation day of Kalahandi district. It was initially granted unitary university status in 2019 and now offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, serving the Kalahandi and Nuapada districts with over 50 affiliated colleges.

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China’s President Xi Jinping, in a New Year speech, declared that China’s “reunification” with Taiwan is inevitable. Beijing asserts that Taiwan is its “sacred territory.” While Xi did not mention military threats in his speech, China has not ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. Xi emphasized the importance of reunification and called for a common sense of purpose among “compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.” This underscores China’s territorial claim over Taiwan.

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Ved Prakash Nanda, who received the Padma Bhushan award on 20 March 2018 in the field of literature and education, passed away on January 1, 2024. He was an esteemed professor of International Law at the University of Denver, Colorado, indicating that his primary academic expertise was in International Law. His significant contributions in this field were further recognized through the establishment of the Ved Nanda Center for International and Comparative Law at the University of Denver, emphasizing his profound influence and specialization in International Law.

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Jakson Green, engaged in renewable energy solutions, recently signed an MoU with the government of Rajasthan to set up a green hydrogen & green ammonia project. This assumes significance as India targets becoming a global hub for green hydrogen production and export by 2030. Jakson Green is exploring sites in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu too for potential scale up. Its partnership with Rajasthan advances national decarbonization goals.

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NATO announced signing of a $5.5 billion contract by member countries in Europe to purchase up to 1,000 Patriot air defense missiles to bolster security in view of the threat from Russia. The deal comes as Moscow has unleashed barrages of missile and drone strikes against Ukraine. Patriot systems supplied by nations like the US and Germany have been used by Kyiv to shoot down Russia’s attacks in the 11-month war.

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NewSpace India Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO, plans to launch communications satellite GSAT-20 in Q2 of 2024 on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. It is a demand-driven high throughput satellite ordered by NSIL to meet India’s growing broadband needs.

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The Hattee community, which has been at the center of recent legal discussions regarding its inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list, is primarily found in Himachal Pradesh. This issue gained prominence following the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s decision to stay the inclusion of the Hattee community in the state’s ST list. The High Court intervened after the state government issued directions for this inclusion, which was contested by other communities through legal petitions. The Hattees are specifically from the Trans-Giri Area of Sirmour district in Himachal Pradesh, and their potential inclusion in the ST list has been a subject of debate and legal scrutiny.

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The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the “PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)” scheme of the Ministry of Earth Sciences for implementation during the period from 2021-26. The overall cost of this comprehensive scheme is Rs. 4,797 crore. PRITHVI encompasses five ongoing sub-schemes and aims to augment and sustain long-term observations of the Earth’s vital signs, develop modeling systems for weather, ocean, and climate hazards, and explore and harness oceanic resources sustainably. It also seeks to translate knowledge from Earth system science into services for societal, environmental, and economic benefits. The scheme represents a significant investment in understanding and addressing various aspects of Earth System Sciences, leveraging the expertise of various institutes under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

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Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested a new kind of battery cell with an energy density of 190 Wh/kg. This Silicon High energy Li-ion cell, featuring a Si-Graphite composite as anode material, offers a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to conventional Li-ion cells, which typically have an energy density of 157 Wh/kg. The new cell design not only improves the energy density but also utilizes cost-effective hardware and a crimped sealing-based design, significantly reducing the hardware and fabrication costs. This innovation is poised to be used in upcoming operational missions, offering potential weight savings of 35-40% in battery mass. The successful flight demonstration of these cells on the POEM-3 platform of PSLV-C58 marks a significant advancement in space battery technology, showcasing ISRO’s continuous efforts in developing more efficient and cost-effective solutions for space missions.

Notes:
Senthil Pandian C, an IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre from the 2002 batch, has been appointed as India’s ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva. His appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on January 5, 2024, and is set for a tenure of three years from the date of assumption of charge. This appointment follows the end of Brajendra Navnit’s tenure as India’s ambassador to the WTO. Senthil Pandian’s new role comes at a crucial time when the world is grappling with challenges like inflation, high interest rates, and geopolitical tensions. His experience and expertise will be pivotal in representing and advocating India’s interests in the global trade arena, especially at the upcoming WTO ministerial conference and in ongoing negotiations on various trade-related issues.