Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted Exercise Desert Knight with the French Air and Space Force (FASF) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force on January 23–24, 2024. The exercise took place over the Arabian Sea, with the IAF operating from its west coast bases and the UAE and France operating from Al Dhafra airbase. The exercise’s main focus was to improve synergy and interoperability between the three air forces. The IAF said that such exercises demonstrate the growing diplomatic and military interactions in the region, as well as the IAF’s capabilities.

Notes:
The Election Commission of India conducted a virtual training program on the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) for Andhra Pradesh officers. ESMS is a dedicated platform digitizing data for intercepted items during elections, including cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals, and more. Its features include automated report generation, dashboard analytics, and QR code-based receipts for legal cash transfers. The system ensures real-time information sharing among enforcement agencies, promoting seamless coordination and intelligence sharing for recorded movements and seizures.

Notes:
Punjab and West Bengal have challenged the central government’s decision to expand the Border Security Force’s (BSF) operational jurisdiction from 15 km to 50 km. They argue that this move violates federal principles and encroaches on state law and order powers. The BSF, established in 1965 after the India-Pakistan war, is a vital part of India’s security apparatus, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It has over 2 lakhs personnel and is primarily deployed along the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh, including the Indo-Pakistan International Border and Indo-Bangladesh International Border.

Notes:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan honored 100 school students as ‘Super-100’ winners of Veer Gatha 3.0 in New Delhi. The awards, part of the Republic Day celebrations, recognize students for their contributions in various categories. The Veer Gatha project aimed to instill awareness and appreciation for Armed Forces sacrifices, attracting a record-breaking participation of 1.36 crore students from over 2.42 lakh schools between July 13 and September 30 the previous year.

Notes:
Yemen’s Houthi rebels, officially known as Ansar Allah, are an armed religious and political movement. Zaydi Shiites, they constitute a significant minority in Sunni-majority Yemen, advocating regional autonomy since 2004. The Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014, extending control in 2016. Initially focused on tribal autonomy and anti-Western sentiment, they now aim for a greater role in Yemen’s government. Known for anti-American and anti-Semitic rhetoric, some leaders are designated as terrorists by the United States. Recent attacks on Red Sea vessels highlight their ongoing aggression.

Notes:
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), also known as the World Court, has decided not to dismiss the genocide case against Israel. Established in 1945 as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the ICJ operates from The Hague, Netherlands. Unlike other UN organs in New York, it holds public hearings. The ruling underscores the ICJ’s role in global justice and its commitment to addressing significant international disputes.

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Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann launched the ‘Road Safety Force’ in Jalandhar, making Punjab the first state to initiate a dedicated road safety and traffic management force. Concerned about the high fatality rate of 17-18 lives lost daily in road accidents, Mann deployed 144 hi-tech vehicles and 5000 personnel to streamline traffic and enhance road safety across the state. This marks a significant step in addressing the pressing issue of road accidents in Punjab.

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The Rüsoma Orange Festival is a two-day festival held in Rüsoma Village, Kohima, Nagaland. The festival’s goal is to encourage rural farmers to promote organic products and generate income. The festival also helps to strengthen the village’s economy.

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Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, and Assam’s Chief Minister, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, laid the foundation stone for the Central Research Institute of Yoga & Naturopathy and a 100-bed Yoga & Naturopathy hospital in Dibrugarh, Assam. With an investment of ₹100 crores, the 15-acre institution aims to synergize traditional Yoga and Naturopathy with modern technology, setting benchmarks in education, preventive healthcare, and research. The institute will focus on evidence-based research, international collaboration, and incubation for startups in the Yoga and wellness sector.

Notes:
The Goa-based CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) launched C-bot, an autonomous underwater vehicle for monitoring coral reefs. The vehicle is also known as the Coral Reef Monitoring and Surveillance Robot. C-bot is a robot with advanced features for increased surveillance over the coral reefs. It can travel to a depth of 200 meters underwater.