Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
Scientists at CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, have discovered that tetrahydrocannabidiol (THCBD), a phytocannabinoid derived from the cannabis plant, exhibits previously unrecognized antibiotic properties. Phytocannabinoids are plant-derived compounds found in cannabis. The researchers extracted cannabidiol, a cannabinoid, from cannabis and subjected it to a reaction with hydrogen using palladium as a catalyst. This process resulted in a mixture of molecules with identical compositions but distinct structures, one of which was THCBD. This finding highlights the potential of cannabis-derived compounds in novel antibiotic development.

Notes:
The Indian Air Force (IAF) recently located the wreckage of an An-32 aircraft missing for seven-and-a-half years. The AN-32, a Soviet-origin military transport aircraft, was designed by Ukraine’s Antonov Design Bureau for the IAF, purchased in 1984. With a fleet of around 100, its NATO reporting name is Cline. The versatile aircraft, operating in tropical and mountainous regions, weighs 16,800kg, has a max speed of 530km/h, and a range of 2,500km. It accommodates cargo, passengers, paratroopers, and medical missions, showing its adaptability and critical role in military and humanitarian operations.

Notes:
In 2023-24, India is set to become the world’s leading lentil (masoor) producer due to expanded cultivation. Primarily consumed as ‘Dal’ after skin removal, lentils are hardy, frost-tolerant, and thrive in cold climates. Optimal growth temperature is 18-30°C, and well-drained, neutral loam soils are ideal. Major lentil-growing Indian states include Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Despite ranking second globally in production, India traditionally imports from Canada, Australia, Russia, Singapore, and Turkey, but has diversified sources in recent years.

Notes:
In 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared January 16 as National Startup Day, marking a significant initiative to celebrate and boost the Indian startup ecosystem. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, along with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, designated January 10 to 16 as National Startup Week. On January 11, 2024, Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh launched the Startup India Innovation Week under the theme “Startups Unlocking Infinite Potential.” PM Modi commended the sector’s growth during the inaugural National Startup Day on January 15, 2022.

Notes:
Vice Admiral AN Pramod assumed charge as the Director General Naval Operations (DGNO) in the Indian Navy. Pramod previously served as the flag officer commanding (FOC) of the Indian Navy’s Maharashtra Naval Area. Pramod is a graduate of the 38th Integrated Cadet Course at the Naval Academy in Goa and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1990. Pramod succeeds Vice Admiral Atul Anand, who was appointed DGNO on April 1, 2023.

Notes:
The University of Oxford initiates the first-in-human clinical trial for the ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine against the lethal Nipah virus. The trial, led by the Oxford Vaccine Group and funded by CEPI, involves 51 participants aged 18-55. Nipah virus, fatal in 75% of cases, has caused outbreaks in South-East Asia, including a recent one in Kerala, India (September 2023). The virus, carried by fruit bats, may transmit through contact with infected animals or person-to-person contact.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first installment of the PM-JANMAN scheme, a part of the Pradhan Mantri-Janjatiya Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), dedicated to the welfare of poor tribals. Launched on November 15, 2023, with a budget of ₹24,000 crore, the scheme aims to benefit tribals, particularly those in particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVVTGs). In a video conference with 100,000 beneficiaries, Modi emphasized the government’s commitment to the welfare of the weakest sections, transferring funds directly to their bank accounts for the construction of permanent houses under the PM Awas Yojana-Gramin.

Notes:
According to the Global Firepower (GFP) 2024 annual report, India ranks fourth among the world’s most powerful militaries. The United States, Russia, and China rank first, second, and third, respectively. The GFP rankings consider various factors to provide a comprehensive perspective on global military strength. In 2024, the GFP review considered 145 world powers. According to the GFP, India has a Power Index (PwrIndx) score of 0.1023. A perfect PwrIndx score is 0.0000, but this is not realistically attainable. A smaller PwrIndx value indicates a more powerful conventional fighting capability.

Notes:
Recently, S Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), launched the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Intelligent Internet of Things (IIoT) Sensors and India’s first graphene center, the India Innovation Centre for Graphene (IICG). The centers are located at Makers Village in Kochi. The centers’ technical partners are Digital University Kerala (DUK) and the Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (CMET)-Thrissur. The centers’ goal is to create a comprehensive ecosystem that includes R&D, incubation, innovation, skilling, capacity building, and testing and certification.

Notes:
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Denmark recently launched “green rooms” in Ukraine. The “green rooms” are specially equipped spaces that facilitate interactions between police officers and child survivors and witnesses of crime. The goal is to build trust in law enforcement among children and youth.