Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

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:
Recently, three items of Arunachal Pradesh have received the prestigious Geographical Indication tag. These are adi kekir (ginger), handmade carpets by Tibetan settlers and wooden items made by Wancho community. Wancho wooden craft items are unique as they feature human heads- tobacco pipes with head-shaped bowls and drinking mugs with carrying heads.

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:
Peregrine Mission – 1 marks a significant milestone in lunar exploration as it is the first US spacecraft to land on the moon’s surface since the historic Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Recently Peregrine Mission – 1 was launched by the American company Astrobotic aboard the Vulcan Centaur rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida. The spacecraft carries a unique payload, including the DNA of well-known former US Presidents such as John F. Kennedy and iconic figures from Star Trek. The mission’s scientific objectives include studying the moon’s thin atmosphere and water molecule movements. The scheduled landing date for Peregrine Mission – 1 is February 23.

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:
The hog deer, previously not recorded in the Rajaji Tiger Reserve, has recently been discovered there, marking a significant finding. Known for its solitary nature, it occasionally feeds in small groups when food is abundant in open fields. Generally sedentary and non-migratory, male hog deer are territorial and use glandular secretions to mark their territory. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females being slightly smaller and lacking antlers. Native to India, including the Himalayan foothill zone and Southeast Asia, hog deer have also been introduced to Sri Lanka, Australia, and the United States. The preferred habitat includes dense forests, though they are often observed in clearings, grasslands, and occasionally wet grasslands, with variations associated with seasonal changes and food distribution. In terms of conservation, the hog deer is categorized as endangered by the IUCN, and it is listed under Scheduled I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The newfound presence in the Rajaji Tiger Reserve highlights the importance of continued monitoring and conservation efforts for this species.

Notes:
The Inland Waterways Authority of India, operating under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), made history by organizing the inaugural meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) in Kolkata. Led by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, the event convened representatives from waterway states, central government officials, and experts on the MV Ganga Queen. The gathering discussed crucial initiatives, including the “Harit Nauka – Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels” and the “River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047,” with a focus on advancing the development of inland waterways in India.

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:
Paleontologists in Argentina have recently uncovered fossil fragments of a new sauropod dinosaur species named Sidersaura marae. This dinosaur lived during the Cenomanian age of the Late Cretaceous epoch, approximately 96 to 93 million years ago, in the Patagonian region. Belonging to the Rebbachisauridae family, which is widespread across South America, Africa, North America, Europe, and Asia, Sidersaura marae is characterized by distinct teeth, some of which formed tooth batteries reminiscent of hadrosaurs and ceratopsian dinosaurs.

Notes:
The century-old Yakshagana mela in Dakshina Kannada, known as Kateel Sri Durgaparameshwari Yakshagaana Dashavatara Mandali or Kateel Mela, is set to resume its all-night performances following approval from the Karnataka High Court. This renowned Yakshagana troupe, founded in the mid-19th century, plays a significant role in ‘Harake Seva’—fulfilling devotees’ wishes by hosting Yakshagana shows. Yakshagana is a traditional folk dance form in Coastal Karnataka, incorporating dance, music, song, scholarly dialogues, and vibrant costumes. Originally performed solely by men, including female roles, the art form now includes women in troupes. A typical Yakshagana troupe comprises 15 to 20 actors and a Bhagawatha, the master of ceremonies and main storyteller.