Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
Kerala teenager has carved a name for herself in the Guinness Book of World Records by singing in a whopping 140 languages. Footage of 18-year-old Suchetha Satish singing at an event has surfaced online. The event took place on November 24, 2023, in Dubai, where Suchetha wowed judges with her singing skills. Suchetha sang in 140 languages to raise awareness for climate change at the Indian Consulate Auditorium in Dubai. The number 140 represented the same number of countries that attended the summit.

Notes:
Siamang gibbons (Symphalangus syndactylus), native to the rainforests of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, are primarily known for their unique and powerful singing voices. These vocalizations, a distinctive feature of the species, serve essential purposes such as communication and territory marking. The Siamang’s large throat sacs amplify their calls, making them the loudest of all gibbons. Unfortunately, this remarkable singing ability, coupled with their beauty, has made Siamangs a prime target in the illegal wildlife trade, particularly for use as exotic pets. The rescue and subsequent release of these gibbons back into the wild, as undertaken by the Aspinall Foundation in South Sumatra, is not only a conservation success story but also a poignant reminder of the threats faced by these endangered primates. This effort highlights the importance of preserving natural habitats and wildlife, as well as the ongoing challenges in combating illegal wildlife trade.

Notes:
France’s President Emmanuel Macron made a significant move by appointing Gabriel Attal, 34, as the country’s new Prime Minister, making him the youngest person ever to hold this position. Attal’s appointment follows the resignation of Elisabeth Borne, the former Prime Minister, and a day earlier after a tumultuous term. Gabriel Attal previously held the education portfolio in Borne’s government and has been recognized as the most popular minister in the outgoing administration.

Notes:
Scientists have discovered a natural remedy to combat the eucalyptus snout beetle, a pest that inflicts severe damage on eucalyptus forest plantations. Also known as the eucalyptus weevil, this leaf-feeding beetle is a significant defoliator of eucalypts, causing stunted growth and substantial losses. Indigenous to Australia, it has spread to various countries worldwide where eucalypts are cultivated, often hitching rides on the transport of forest products due to its impressive flight capability.

Notes:
Wings India 2024, India’s largest civil aviation event, will take place at Hyderabad’s Begumpet Airport from January 18–21, 2024. The biennial event is organized by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Indian Industry (FICCI).  The event will feature new-generation aircraft displays, allied aviation services, auxiliary unit industries, and tourism sector advancements. It will also focus on innovation, partnerships, and the future of flying.

Notes:
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj won the first prize in the Innovation Sandbox presentation for “Digital Transformation Initiatives in Land Governance through SVAMITVA Scheme”. The award was given at the Bharti Institute of Public Policy’s (BIPP) second annual three-day “Public Policy Dialogues” Conclave. Scheme is a reformative step towards establishment of clear ownership of property in rural inhabited (“Abadi”) areas, by mapping of land parcels using drone technology and providing ‘Record of Rights’ to village household owners with issuance of legal ownership cards (Property cards/Title deeds) to the property owners.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the ‘Swachh Mandir’ (Clean Temple) campaign ahead of the Ram temple consecration in Ayodhya on January 22. He called for a nationwide initiative to make Ayodhya the cleanest city in India. The campaign encourages citizens to clean pilgrimage sites from January 14 to 22, emphasizing the inclusive nature of the initiative. All elected representatives, including MPs, MLAs, and panchayat representatives, are involved in ensuring the success of this cleanliness drive.

Notes:
Aruna Nayar, an Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) Officer of the 1987 Batch, has assumed the role of Railway Board Secretary. With an extensive background, including serving as Additional Member, Staff, and Principal Executive Director/Staff at the Railway Board, she officially took charge on January 6. Notably, the Appointments Committee of Cabinet appointed her as Secretary in IRMS Level-16, making her the first IRPS officer to be empanelled in IRMS at this level.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), officially named Atal Setu Nhava Sheva Sea Link, which is the country’s longest bridge over the sea. The 22-km-long twin-carriageway six-lane bridge spans the Thane Creek in the Arabian Sea, connecting Sewri in Mumbai to Chirle in Raigad district. The project, conceptualized six decades ago, aims to reduce travel time between Sewri and Chirle to under 20 minutes. The MTHL is part of an effort to improve connectivity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, encompassing Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad districts, with the goal of fostering economic development. The new bridge will significantly enhance connectivity between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, alleviate congestion on the existing Vashi bridge route, and play a pivotal role in the region’s overall transportation infrastructure.

Notes:
Recently, the State Bank of India (SBI) launched the SBI Green Rupee Term Deposit (SGRTD). The SGRTD is a deposit scheme that aims to raise funds for environmentally-friendly initiatives and projects. The scheme is open to NRIs, non-individuals, and resident individuals. The SGRTD has tenors of 1,111 days, 1,777 days, and 2,222 days. The SGRTD offers flexible tenors.