Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
Sukanta Majumdar, one of the recipients of the Sansad Ratna Awards, belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Sansad Ratna Awards are presented annually to recognize the top-performing parliamentarians based on their performance in the Lok Sabha. Along with Majumdar, other recipients of the award include Shrikant Eknath Shinde from Shiv Sena, Sudheer Gupta from BJP, Amol Ramsing Kolhe from NCP, and Kuldeep Rai Sharma from the Congress. This award is a significant honor in Indian politics, highlighting the contributions and performance of Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha.

Notes:
Sheikh Hasina, who recently secured a record fourth consecutive term as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, belongs to the Awami League. Under her leadership, the Awami League won 200 seats in the 300-seat parliament in the Bangladesh general elections. This significant victory not only solidified Sheikh Hasina’s position as the Prime Minister but also reaffirmed the Awami League’s strong presence and influence in Bangladeshi politics. The party’s success in these elections continues its long-standing dominance in the country’s political landscape.

Notes:
The annual Ice and Snow Festival, famous for its spectacular and large-scale ice sculptures, is hosted in the city of Harbin. Harbin is the capital city of China’s northernmost province, Heilongjiang, and is renowned for this festival which attracts a significant number of tourists each year. This festival features fairy-tale ice sculptures that are illuminated with colorful lights at night, creating a magical winter wonderland. The sculptures, some of which are several stories high, are made from ice harvested from the nearby frozen Songhua River. In addition to the sculptures, the festival includes various activities like ice slides for both children and adults. The event has gained considerable popularity, drawing thousands of visitors daily and contributing significantly to the local tourism economy, particularly after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.

Notes:
Shakti Pumps (India) Ltd has received a patent from the Patent Office of Government of India for its ‘Solar Flour Mill’ innovation. This is the ninth patent awarded to the company. The solar-powered flour mill tackles electricity shortages in rural areas and helps save costs. Chairman Dinesh Patidar stated that it offers a better solution than electricity-dependent mills.

Notes:
Scientists have recently made a discovery by uncovering the fossils of a newfound species of carnivorous worm in northern Greenland, aptly named Timorebestia koprii, or “terror beast.” This species is a pioneer among early carnivorous animals that colonized the water column during the early Cambrian period, which occurred approximately 541 million to 485.4 million years ago. The fossils of Timorebestia koprii were found in the Early Cambrian Sirius Passet fossil locality in North Greenland. These ancient creatures were giants of their time and occupied a significant position near the top of the food chain, comparable in importance to some of the top carnivores in modern oceans, such as sharks and seals during the Cambrian period.

Notes:
The warming oceans in Zanzibar have compelled women to shift from seaweed to climate-resilient sponge farming as a means of sustainable livelihood. Sponge farming, a relatively new business opportunity, stands out for its environmental friendliness. Sponges, living animals with intricate structures, serve as microscopic pumps that purify ocean water by removing impurities, including sewage. Unlike seaweed, sponges display remarkable resilience to climate change, require minimal maintenance, and command premium market prices. Their unique reproductive capabilities, as hermaphrodites, enable easy self-propagation, making commercial sponge farming feasible. Apart from their use in bathing and hygiene due to natural antibacterial properties, sponges contribute to combating climate change. Their skeletons break down into silicon particles, crucial for the growth of diatoms that absorb large amounts of CO2 in the ocean, thus playing a vital role in controlling the carbon cycle and reducing the greenhouse effect.

Notes:
India is set to chair UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee and host its 46th session in New Delhi from July 21 to 31, 2024, marking a historic milestone for our nation. Vishal V Sharma, India’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, announced this decision. This decision stems from a proposal by Indian authorities, made in consultation with the UNESCO Director-General. The World Heritage Committee, comprising representatives from 21 member states, gathers annually to recognize global cultural and natural heritage. Their work contributes to the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.

Notes:
The DPIIT, a part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, will host the Startup India Innovation Week 2024 from January 10th to 18th. This initiative aims to bring together stakeholders, including startups, entrepreneurs, and investors, to celebrate and boost the Indian Startup Ecosystem, culminating in National Startup Day on January 16th, 2024.

Notes:
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is set to inaugurate the Jagannath Puri heritage corridor, part of the Srimandir Parikrama Project, on January 17. The project focuses on improving amenities, security, and traffic flow around the iconic Jagannath Puri Temple. The temple, dedicated to Lord Jagannath, is a historic Hindu pilgrimage site in Odisha, known for its annual Ratha Yatra. The initiative aims to enhance conditions and infrastructure in the temple vicinity, contributing to the area’s cultural and religious significance.

Notes:
Indore has been acclaimed as the cleanest city in India for the seventh year in a row, a title it has proudly held for an impressive consecutive streak. This recognition comes as part of the results from the Swachh Survekshan 2023, unveiled by President Droupadi Murmu on January 11, 2024. Notably, this year, Surat also achieved the joint top rank, sharing the honor with Indore for the first time. Swachh Survekshan, the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey, has seen Indore consistently maintain its top position, reflecting the city’s persistent and effective efforts in urban cleanliness and sanitation.