Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
Gujarat set a Guinness World Record on the first day of 2024 for the largest number of people, exceeding 50,000, performing Surya Namaskar simultaneously at 108 different venues. This feat was recognized as a significant cultural achievement and hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who emphasized the special significance of the number 108 in Indian culture. The event, which culminated in a state-wide competition, saw a major gathering at the iconic Modhera Sun Temple in Mehsana district, overseen by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

Notes:
India’s electoral bond scheme sees authorized SBI branches issue these interest-free bearer bonds to protect donor anonymity. As per provisions, only political parties securing over 1% votes can encash them. Recently, the Finance Ministry granted SBI permission for the 30th phase sale of electoral bonds from Jan 2-11, 2023 across 29 branches. But some criticize electoral bonds for non-transparency, alleging misuse.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The draft rules for the Press and Registration of Periodicals (PRP) Act state that periodicals with a daily average circulation of over 25,000 in the preceding two financial years can be subjected to a faceless desk audit to verify their circulation figures. This is part of the legislation aimed at simplifying and digitising the registration of newspapers and other periodicals, including provisions for physical verification of circulation figures and the establishment of an appellate board for registration issues.

Notes:
Nepal’s government imposed a ban on its citizens from traveling to Russia or Ukraine for employment due to concerns over their recruitment in the ongoing armed conflict. The Department of Employment in Nepal issued a notice following reports that Nepalese nationals were being recruited by the Russian Army to fight in the conflict, with some casualties and captures reported. There are also unconfirmed beliefs that some Nepalese citizens might be fighting as hired soldiers on the Ukrainian side. This decision by the Nepalese government highlights the serious implications of international conflicts on citizens and the measures taken to ensure their safety and well-being.

Notes:
The All India Conference of director generals and inspector generals of police in 2024 was held in Jaipur. This annual conference, a significant event in the Indian policing and internal security calendar, brought together top police officials from across the country. The conference focused on various critical issues such as artificial intelligence, cyber security, counter-terrorism, left-wing extremism, narcotics smuggling, and prison reforms. Hosting such a prominent event underscores Jaipur’s status as a key location for national-level conferences and discussions on important security and policing challenges in India.

Notes:
The primary goal of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission, which is scheduled to launch aboard India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), is to demonstrate precision formation flying between two satellites for solar observation. This innovative mission aims to create an artificial eclipse by precisely positioning the two small satellites, namely the Coronagraph spacecraft and the solar-disc-shaped Occulter spacecraft, approximately 150 meters apart. This configuration will allow the Occulter to cast its shadow onto the Coronagraph’s telescope, effectively blocking the Sun’s direct light and enabling the observation of the Sun’s faint corona in visible, ultraviolet, and polarised light for extended periods.

Notes:
Mario Zagallo, who recently passed away at the age of 92, was associated with the sport of football. He was a legendary figure in the world of football and made significant contributions to the sport, particularly in Brazil. Zagallo is renowned for his achievements both as a player and as a coach, notably being the first person to win the FIFA World Cup in both capacities. His role was instrumental in Brazil’s rise to prominence as a global football power, and his legacy in the sport is long-lasting and influential.

Notes:
The UAE has recently made a significant stride in space exploration by announcing its collaboration in developing a module for NASA’s Lunar Gateway Station. This joint effort includes participation from the USA, Japan, Canada, and the European Union, emphasizing the truly multinational nature of space exploration. The Lunar Gateway Station is a pivotal component of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to establish a long-term base on the Moon known as the Artemis base. Unlike its predecessor, the International Space Station (ISS), which orbits Earth in low Earth orbit (LEO), the Gateway will be the first space station to exist outside of LEO. This groundbreaking project involves key space agencies such as NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

Notes:
Assam government has launched ‘Baayu’, an app-based electric bike taxi service by the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC). It is India’s first decentralized, app-based 100% electric bike taxi service that was flagged off by Assam Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya in Guwahati.