Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

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:
A team led by Lalit Sahu, an Assistant Professor at NIT Raipur, has developed a ‘Fault Tolerant Inverter’ to address electricity supply faults. This innovation enables uninterrupted use of solar-generated electricity for residential and industrial purposes, compensating for the frequent faults in power conversion devices. The inverter, refined through two patents, enhances power supply stability by regulating solar panel variations. It marks a significant advancement, considering the typical 15-20 years lifespan of solar panels and 10-12 years for power conversion objects.

Notes:
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched the EcoMark green accreditation framework for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland on January 17, 2024. The EcoMark certification is based on ISO standards and is digitally enabled. The Ecomark scheme provides accreditation and labeling for household and consumer products that meet specific environmental criteria while maintaining quality standards as per Indian norms. The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change of the Government of India introduced the Eco mark Certification Rules, 2023 to promote sustainability and environment friendly consumption patterns.

Notes:
Asia’s largest civil aviation event, Wings India 2024, is being held at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad, India from January 18–21, 2024. The event includes exhibitions, static displays, demonstration flights, media conferences, and business meetings. The event’s theme is “Connecting India with the World in Amritkal”. It will feature aircraft of various sizes, and is expected to attract around 1500 delegates from over 100 countries, 5,000 business representatives, and more than 100,000 visitors.

Notes:
The Odisha government, having successfully relocated deer from Cuttack, plans to introduce Sambar and Gaur (bison) in the Chandaka-Dampara wildlife sanctuary. Located in the Khurda district, it marks the northeastern boundary of the Eastern Ghats. Designated as a sanctuary in 1982, the area hosts various endangered wildlife and birds. With a tropical climate, the sanctuary experiences distinct seasons—summer, rainy, and winter. The diverse flora includes Dhaman, Bankapasia, Jamu, Gandhana, Kansa, Kusum, Marua, Sidha, Karanja, and Thorny bamboo. Fauna in the sanctuary comprises elephants, Chital, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Rhesus Monkey, Pangolin, Sloth Bear, Indian Wolf, Hyena, and other mammals.

Notes:
Representatives from Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra will receive the traditional ceremonial bow, ‘Onavillu,’ from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The Padmanabhaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, holds significance in epics and puranas. Balarama is mentioned to have visited, bathed in Padmatheertham, and made offerings. Onavillu, a bow-shaped instrument with puranic inscriptions, is crafted in Karamana, Thiruvanthapuram, and Kerala.

Notes:
Interest in indigenous cattle breeds, such as the Pulikulam, is experiencing a resurgence, particularly due to the breed’s association with the popular local game called Jalikattu in Tamil Nadu, India. The Pulikulam is renowned as a versatile draught and game breed native to Tamil Nadu, specifically originating from Pulikulam village in the Sivaganga district. Also known by various names like Palingu maadu, Mani maadu, Jallikattu maadu, Mattu maadu, and Kilakattu maadu, these cattle are kept as migratory herds.

Notes:
On January 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Boeing’s global engineering and technology center near Bengaluru, a Rs 1,600 crore investment making it Boeing’s largest facility outside the U.S. The Boeing India Engineering and Technology Centre (BIETC) at Hightech Defence and Aerospace Park includes the launch of the Boeing Sukanya Programme, fostering the entry of girls into the aviation sector. This initiative supports and empowers girls and women in STEM fields and aviation careers.

Notes:
India launched the “Global Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality” during the 54th annual World Economic Forum in Davos. This initiative aims to advance women’s empowerment and gender equality globally. Focused on education, health, and enterprise, the alliance facilitates knowledge sharing, investment opportunities, and best practices to address Sustainable Development Goals, such as Good Health, Quality Education, Gender Equality, and Global Partnership for Development.

Notes:
A recent study in California has identified two potential new lamprey fish species, adding to the group of boneless, jawless creatures that have existed for over 350 million years. Lampreys, part of the primitive Agnathans, inhabit coastal and freshwater areas worldwide, excluding Africa. Ranging from 15 to 100 centimeters, these eel-like fish lack scales, fins, and gill covers, breathing through distinctive gill openings. Their migratory nature involves transitioning between freshwater and saltwater for different lifecycle stages.