Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
Sri Lanka’s parliament passed a controversial bill to regulate online content. The Online Safety Bill aims to address cybercrimes like child abuse, data theft, and online fraud. However, opposition politicians and human rights groups have condemned the bill for restricting free speech. The bill passed with 108-62 votes. Some say the bill is an attempt to dismantle the few remaining safeguards for freedom of expression in the country. Others say the bill was not drafted with the intention of harassing media or political opponents.

Notes:
The Indian Navy launched LSAM 19, the fifth barge in the 11 x ACTCM Barge Project. Manufactured by MSME Shipyard, Suryadipta Projects Private Limited, Thane, the versatile barge enhances Navy capabilities with ammunition, torpedoes, and missiles. These barges, built under a March 2021 agreement between the Ministry of Defence and Suryadipta Projects, adhere to Naval Rules and Regulations, contributing to India’s Make in India initiative. The LSAM 19 supports efficient transportation and deployment of articles and ammunition for Navy ships.

Notes:
The Central government has approved a new leprosy treatment regimen, targeting transmission halt at the sub-national level by 2027. The WHO recommended the three-drug regimen (dapsone, rifampicin, clofazimine) in 2015, known as multi-drug therapy (MDT). Termed ‘Uniform MDT,’ a single three-pack kit is administered to all leprosy patients for convenience. Treatment lasts six months for PB and 12 months for MB cases. Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, affects skin and nerves, spreading through close contact, leading to potential disabilities if untreated.

Notes:
The RBI’s “Finances of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)” report analyzes data from 2.58 lakh Panchayats for 2020-21 to 2022-23, highlighting key findings. Panchayats heavily rely on grants (95%) due to limited own revenue sources like property taxes. Inter-state variations in devolution impact socio-economic outcomes. Inconsistent data poses challenges in assessing fiscal health. PRIs struggle with local tax revenue generation due to a limited tax base, administrative issues, and unclear guidelines. Revenue sources include Central and State government grants, and PRIs have the authority to impose taxes and fees.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated development projects worth over Rs 19,100 crore in Bulandshahr, UP. The projects include a 173-km double-line electrified section on the dedicated freight corridor (DFC) between New Khurja and New Rewari. Goods trains were flagged off through a video conference. Additionally, Modi inaugurated a rail line connecting Mathura-Palwal and Chipiyana Buzurg-Dadri sections, enhancing rail connectivity between the national capital and southern-western and eastern India.

Notes:
The new Mahindra Armado, India’s first Armoured Light Specialist Vehicle (ALSV), debuted at the Republic Day Parade. Designed and built by Mahindra Defence Systems, it’s intended for the Indian armed forces in counter-terrorism, Special Forces, reconnaissance, and border patrolling. With a seating capacity of six (expandable to eight), it boasts a 1,000 kg load capacity, B7-level ballistic protection, and a 3.2-liter diesel engine generating 216 hp. Armado accelerates from 0 to 60 kmph in 12 seconds, reaching speeds exceeding 120 kmph, equipped with self-cleaning exhaust and air filtration for extreme climates.

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.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The laughing gull, a North American migratory bird, was spotted for the first time in Kerala’s Kasaragod district at the Chittari estuary. Known as Leucophaeus atricilla, it is recognized by its laughter-like call. Typically found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, as well as in the Caribbean and parts of Central America, this sighting expands its known habitat. The Chittari estuary, located in Kasaragod, is a coastal area where a river meets the sea, creating a brackish water environment.

Notes:
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.