Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
The government appointed prominent motivational speaker and CSR icon Amitabh Shah, founder of NGO Yuva Unstoppable, as a brand ambassador for its Viksit Bharat Abhiyan program. The initiative, spearheaded by PM Modi, aims to tap India’s demographic dividend to drive national development. Shah’s youth-focused philanthropy aligns with the mission’s emphasis on upskilling youth and imbibing values for nation-building. His NGO has skilled over 6 million young beneficiaries so far. The appointment signals the administration’s strategy to involve civil society in achieving its vision for an empowered and future-ready India.

Notes:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) of India has submitted nominations for Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) under the Ramsar Convention for three cities: Indore and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, and Udaipur in Rajasthan. These nominations, the first of their kind for Indian cities, aim to recognize the efforts made by these cities in conserving and protecting their urban and peri-urban wetlands. The wetlands in and around these cities, including Sirpur Lake in Indore, Bhoj Wetland in Bhopal, and several lakes around Udaipur, play crucial roles in providing various ecological and socio-economic benefits.

Notes:
The Indian economy is projected to grow at a rate of 6.2% in 2024, a slight decrease from the 6.3% estimate for 2023. This growth is supported by strong domestic demand and the robust performance of the manufacturing and services sectors. This positions India as the fastest-growing large economy in the world, as stated in the United Nations World Economic Situation And Prospects Report for 2024.

Notes:
The Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX-DIO) is gearing up to participate in the tenth edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2024. Launched in 2018, iDEX-DIO is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. Its primary objective is to foster an innovation ecosystem in the Defence and Aerospace sector by collaborating with startups, innovators, MSMEs, incubators, and academia. The scheme provides grants and support for research and development with the potential for future adoption in the Indian defence and aerospace industry. Currently engaged with over 400 startups and MSMEs, iDEX has received recognition as a game-changer in the defence ecosystem, earning the PM Award for Innovation in the defence sector. The initiative is funded and managed by the Defence Innovation Organization (DIO), a ‘not for profit’ company formed under the Companies Act 2013, with Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) HAL & BEL as the founder members. iDEX serves as the executive arm, executing necessary activities, while DIO provides high-level policy guidance.

Notes:
Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the ISRO and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) for the development of a Joint Small Satellite. MoU will help to establish a framework for cooperation between ISRO and MRIC on the development of a joint satellite as well as for cooperation on the use of the MRIC’s Ground Station.  Some of the subsystems for the joint satellite will be taken up through the participation of Indian industries and would benefit the industry.

Notes:
The XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) satellite mission, a collaborative effort led by Japan’s JAXA, along with NASA and ESA, primarily aims to observe and study the X-ray cosmos. Launched on September 6, 2023, XRISM’s mission is to scrutinize the universe’s hottest regions, largest structures, and objects with the strongest gravity. This is achieved through advanced technology capable of detecting X-rays with energies up to 12,000 electron volts. The mission is equipped with two significant instruments, Resolve and Xtend, each contributing uniquely to the exploration of the cosmos. Resolve analyzes the chemical compositions, temperatures, densities, and motion directions of celestial objects, as demonstrated by its detailed examination of N132D, a supernova remnant in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Xtend complements this by capturing wide-field X-ray images, like its observation of Abell 2319, a galaxy cluster undergoing a merger. XRISM’s mission signifies a major advancement in our understanding of the universe beyond the capacities of visible light, providing more detailed chemical maps and insights into the dynamic processes governing the cosmos.

Notes:
Assam government has launched an ambitious scheme with the primary goal of developing around 40 lakh women Self-Help Group (SHG) members into Rural Micro Entrepreneurs, also referred to as ‘Lakhpati Baideos’ (sisters). This initiative aims to ensure an annual income of ₹1 lakh for each member. The scheme is a comprehensive approach to promote entrepreneurship among rural women, backed by a substantial budget of around ₹4,000 Crore. It includes a set of eligibility criteria related to family planning and the education of girl children among the beneficiaries. Additionally, the scheme involves the submission of a business plan by the members, with government support in its formulation. Financial aid, part grant and part loan, is provided over a three-year period to assist these women in establishing and growing their businesses.

Notes:
The 9th Asian Winter Games, scheduled for 2025, unveiled its core symbols in Heilongjiang, China. The official slogan, “Dream of Winter, Love among Asia,” reflects unity and sportsmanship, embodying the passion for winter sports across Asian countries. Mascots “Binbin” and “Nini,” Siberian tiger cubs, symbolize the Games’ vitality. The emblem, named “Breakthrough,” creatively merges Chinese culture and Olympic symbols, featuring a speed skater, lilac flower, and dancing ribbons. This fusion represents speed, beauty, and cultural significance, embodying the dynamic spirit of the Asian Winter Games.

Notes:
Japanese scientists have identified a high-energy cosmic-ray event called ‘Amaterasu,’ marking the second-highest-energy cosmic ray ever recorded. Amaterasu’s energy level surpasses that of the Large Hadron Collider by approximately 40 million times. The detection of such ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) holds significance for advancing our understanding of cosmic phenomena and subatomic particles, potentially challenging current theories in high-energy particle physics. Notably, Amaterasu’s distinctive feature is its apparent origin from an empty region of the universe, opening up possibilities for uncovering unknown astronomical phenomena. Studying these cosmic rays offers insights into the sources of cosmic rays and contributes to an enhanced understanding of high-energy physics beyond the Standard Model.

 

 

 

Notes:
A groundbreaking discovery in astronomy reveals HD 63433d, an Earth-like exoplanet orbiting the young sun-like star HD 63433, just 73 light years away in Ursa Major. At 400 million years old, it’s one-tenth the age of Earth, making it the youngest confirmed exoplanet. Being the closest Earth-sized planet found, HD 63433d is tidally locked, exposing its dayside to intense stellar radiation, reaching temperatures of 2,300°F. With a mere 4.2-day orbit, this planet challenges our understanding of celestial bodies, offering a unique glimpse into the diversity of planetary systems beyond our solar system.