Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
Launched by JAXA in September 2023, SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) aboard an H-IIA rocket from Tanegashima aims for precise moon landing within 100 meters, showcasing advanced technologies. Carrying Sony and Tomy’s mini robotic rovers for reconnaissance, the mission seeks to revitalize Japan’s space program after setbacks, including the H3 rocket failure. Objectives include observing deep space X-rays and identifying their wavelengths with unprecedented precision using state-of-the-art spectroscopy.

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Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL) unveils Havisure, India’s first indigenous Hepatitis-A vaccine, protecting against the contagious liver infection transmitted through contaminated food or water. The two-dose inactivated virus vaccine, developed over eight years, addresses pediatric, adolescent, and adult needs. Priced at Rs 2,150 per dose, Havisure is a vital step in achieving Atmanirbhar Bharat. Extensive clinical trials and regulatory approval were completed, showcasing IIL’s commitment to advancing healthcare. Havisure joins IIL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), vaccines lineup, following Mebella and TeddyVac.

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The Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Programme, a component of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, allocates Rs. 17,490 crore to boost domestic electrolyser manufacturing and green hydrogen production. Implemented by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), the program aims to make India a global Green Hydrogen hub. The broader mission, with an outlay of ₹19,744 crore, targets a Green Hydrogen production capacity of 5 MMT annually, reducing fossil fuel imports, attracting ₹8 lakh crore in investments, and creating over 6 lakh jobs by 2030.

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The first meeting of the Social Audit Advisory Body (SAAB) was held on January 18, 2024 at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The meeting was chaired by Saurabh Garg, the Secretary of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. A social audit is a formal evaluation of a company’s procedures and efforts related to corporate social responsibility and societal impact. It assesses how well a company is meeting its CSR objectives and provides an opportunity to identify areas for improvement.

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National Girl Child Day is celebrated in India on January 24th every year. The day was started in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the government of India. The day aims to raise awareness about the inequalities that girls face in Indian society. It also advocates for equal opportunities in education, healthcare, and nutrition. The day also commemorates the anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Scheme (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child). The scheme’s main goal is to prevent female foeticide and sex determination, ensure safety and save all female children, and to provide them with quality education.

Notes:
Indian marathon runner Man Singh secured a historic gold at the 2024 Asian Marathon Championships in Hong Kong, becoming the second Indian man to achieve this feat. Finishing with an impressive time of 2:14:19, Singh outpaced the runner-up by 65 seconds. The first Indian to claim this title was Gopi Thonakal in 2017. Singh’s triumph also marked an achievement below the Paris Olympics qualifying mark, showcasing his prowess on the international stage.

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Cameroon is set to pioneer the routine administration of the new malaria vaccine, Mosquirix (RTS,S/AS01), making it the first country to do so. In 2021, the World Health Organization licensed Mosquirix for children in sub-Saharan Africa with significant Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission. Africa, where 95% of global malaria deaths occur, will see over six million children vaccinated through 2025, thanks to GAVI’s efforts. GAVI, a global health partnership established in 2000, aims to provide equal vaccine access to children in the world’s poorest nations.

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Archaeologists found 11th and 16th-century stone inscriptions in Pazhnchervazhi village near Kangayam in Tamil Nadu, featuring ‘Grantham’ and Tamil scripts. Grantham, a historical script, once scribed Sanskrit across South East Asia and Tamil Nadu. Originally named for literary works in Sanskrit, it later influenced Malayalam and became Arya Ezhuthu. Grantha’s prevalence in South India highlights its historical significance in language evolution, particularly in the borrowing of words and grammar rules by Malayalam from Sanskrit.

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The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati hosted Phase 3 of the Yuva Sangam program. The program is an initiative under the Ministry of Education’s “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”. The Yuva Sangam program aims to strengthen connections between the country’s youth. During the program, youth are exposed to five areas: Paryatan (Tourism) Parampara (Traditions) Pragati (Development) Paraspar Sampark (People-to-people connect) & Prodyogik (Technology).

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The recent Supreme Court ruling clarified that prosecuting someone under Section 420 of the IPC for cheating requires examining if deceitful acts were coupled with inducement leading to property transfer. IPC 420 addresses cheating, inducing individuals to surrender property, alter valuable securities, or destroy signed/sealed items. This serious offence entails imprisonment up to seven years and fines. It is cognizable and non-bailable, emphasizing dishonest acts to gain advantages. The ruling sheds light on the crucial role of inducement in such cases.