Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
Gangasagar fair is celebrated every year on 14 or 15 January. This fair is held on the day of Makar Sankranti. In the year 2023, about 51 lakh devotees participated in this fair. This fair is held in South Pargana district of West Bengal. This fair is celebrated at Sagardweep, located some distance from the Bengal coast. Sagardweep is the place where the river Ganges meets the Bay of Bengal. In Gangasagar Mela, a dip is taken in the river on the banks of Ganga and then prayers are offered at the temple of Kapil Muni. Gangasagar Mela is the second largest Hindu fair after Kumbh Mela. By taking bath here one attains salvation and also gets the blessings of the ancestors.

Notes:
Cabo Verde, a group of islands off the west coast of Africa, has been certified as malaria-free by the World Health Organization. This volcanic archipelago, comprising ten islands and five islets, boasts a moderate climate and diverse terrain. The population, mainly of mixed European and African descent, speaks Portuguese and Cape Verdean Creole. Praia serves as the capital. The achievement of malaria-free status marks a significant milestone for the nation’s public health efforts.

Notes:
The Climate Conference 2024, themed “Decoding the Green Transition for India,” was recently held on January 12, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. The event highlighted the crucial role of the private sector, climate tech startups, and institutional investors in mobilizing financial resources and technical capabilities to support government initiatives. The conference, under the Green Climate Fund Readiness Programme with UNDP India as the Delivery Partner and Avaana Capital as the Knowledge Partner, featured esteemed dignitaries such as Ms. Leena Nandan, Mr. Amitabh Kant, Mr. K Rajaraman, Mr. Mike Hankey, and Mr. Nadir Godrej.

Notes:
The Prime Minister recently personally fed Punganur cows at his New Delhi residence. Punganur cows, native to Andhra Pradesh’s Punganur village, are one of the world’s smallest cattle breeds, standing 70-90 cm tall and weighing less than 200kg. Known for their resilience to drought, they adapt to low-quality feed and produce milk with 8% fat content, rich in nutrients. These eco-friendly cows play a significant role in cultural practices, as seen in Andhra Pradesh’s temples, including Tirupati Thirumala Temple.

Notes:
Kachchhi Kharek, the indigenous date variety of Kutch, secures Gujarat’s second Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Dating back 400-500 years in Kachchh, the palms likely originated from seeds tossed by settlers returning from Haj in the Middle East. Harvested at the khalal stage, Kutch dates, known for salinity tolerance, commence their season on June 15. Uniquely, Kutch is the sole global hub for economically cultivating, marketing, and consuming fresh dates, hosting over two million palms, contributing to 85% of India’s total date palm cultivation.

Notes:
The INS Cheetah, Guldar, and Kumbhir, Polnocny class Landing Ships, were decommissioned after 40 years at Port Blair. Built in Poland, they joined the Indian Navy in 1984-86 and played a vital role in amphibious operations, logging 17 lakh nautical miles and over 12,300 days at sea. They were crucial in maritime security missions, humanitarian assistance, and operations in Sri Lanka. Notably, they provided relief after the 1997 cyclone in Sri Lanka and the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Notes:
The Tibetan brown bear, a rare subspecies, was recently spotted in Sikkim, marking the first confirmed sighting in India. Scientifically known as Ursus arctos pruinosus, it historically thrived in the alpine eastern Tibetan plateau. With distinctive features like shaggy dark fur and a white collar, these solitary bears have acute senses and feed on marmots and alpine vegetation. Despite their rarity, their conservation status is currently listed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.

Notes:
REC Limited, a Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Power, achieved a milestone with its inaugural JPY 61.1 billion green bonds issuance. It marks REC’s eleventh entry into the international bond market and the first Yen Green Bonds issuance by an Indian PSU. The bonds, with maturities of 5, 5.25, and 10 years, were issued at yields of 1.76%, 1.79%, and 2.20%, respectively. This Euro-Yen issuance is the largest in South and Southeast Asia, making it India’s largest Yen-denominated issuance. The bonds received significant interest globally, with a high international allocation. They will be listed exclusively on India INX and NSE IFSC in GIFT City, Gujarat.

Notes:
Switzerland will host a global peace summit on Ukraine at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The summit will be a meeting of world leaders to discuss ending Russia’s invasion. Zelenskyy has said that it’s important to show that the world is against Russia’s aggression and for a fair peace. He also wants countries from the Global South to be present. The Swiss government has said that it’s working out further details.

Notes:
Chhattisgarh recently launched the Mahtari Vandana Yojana 2024, inspired by Madhya Pradesh’s successful ‘Aarthik Sarkari Ladli Bahna Yojana.’ The state initiative aims to provide monthly economic assistance of 1,000 rupees to women, fostering self-reliance and skill development. The scheme supports women in managing expenses, initiating small-scale enterprises, and improving their financial conditions. With direct transfers to beneficiaries’ bank accounts, Mahtari Vandana Yojana 2024 proves to be a significant state-level effort empowering women in Chhattisgarh.