Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
The BCCI will honor former Indian all-rounder and coach Ravi Shastri with a Lifetime Achievement Award, and cricketer Shubman Gill will receive the Cricketer of the Year award for his outstanding performance, including being the fastest to reach 2000 runs in ODIs and scoring five hundreds in the past year.

Notes:
The Agulhas long-billed lark, a small passerine bird endemic to South Africa, faces challenges as farming encroaches on its nesting grounds in Renosterveld fynbos. Preferring Renosterveld, it has adapted to modified habitats like farmlands, but its patchy distribution remains unclear. The species, known for its inconspicuous appearance, is confined to the Agulhas plains. Despite being near-threatened, the lark displays resilience, surviving in the Agulhas arable farmlands from the Hottentots-Holland mountain range to Mossel Bay.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Indian table tennis player Sreeja Akula secured her first international title at the WTT Feeder Corpus Christi 2024 in Texas, USA. In a dominant performance, the 25-year-old defeated world No. 46 Lily Zhang in the women’s singles final with a convincing 3-0 victory (11-6, 18-16, 11-5). The match, lasting just over 30 minutes, highlighted Sreeja’s exceptional skill and determination, marking a significant milestone in her career.

Notes:
The zombie virus is related to global warming and the thawing of Arctic permafrost. The rising temperatures caused by global warming have led to the thawing of previously frozen ice, which could unleash “zombie viruses”. The zombie virus is an amoeba virus that scientists have revived from the melted ice. The new strain has one of 13 viral genomes, with Pandoravirus yedoma, 48,500 years old, being the longest frozen virus to become infectious. Scientists are developing an Arctic surveillance system to detect and contain outbreaks.

Notes:
Union Culture and Tourism Minister, G. Kishan Reddy, unveiled five new galleries at Hyderabad’s Salar Jung Museum. Reddy praised the museum’s efforts to modernize, reorganizing old galleries and introducing new collections. The Indian Sculpture Gallery boasts 40 sculptures dating back to the 2nd century B.C., including an ‘Anantsayana Vishnu.’ The Bidriware Gallery features 300 unique objects like ‘Huqqa’ bases, while The Lamp and Chandelier Gallery displays 180 antique items. The European Bronze Gallery exhibits over 100 bronze statues, and The European Marble Gallery showcases 50 marble sculptures.

Notes:
In the year 2024, the President approved the conferment of 132 Padma awards on the eve of Republic Day. This prestigious list includes five Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan, and 110 Padma Shri awards, recognizing exceptional contributions across various fields. Additionally, the list comprises individuals from diverse backgrounds, as it features nine awardees from the category of “Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI.”

Notes:
World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day is observed annually on January 30. Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of 20 conditions prevalent in tropical areas, affecting impoverished communities. Caused by various pathogens, NTDs like Guinea worm, Chikungunya, Dengue, and Elephantiasis pose severe health, social, and economic consequences. India hosts around 12 NTDs. WHO estimates over 1 billion people are affected, with 1.6 billion needing interventions.

Notes:
Jammu’s Dogri folk dancer Romalo Ram was recently honored with the Padma Shri award by the Indian government. Romalo specializes in the traditional Duggar region dance known as Dogri folk dance. Typically performed in groups, the leader sings and dances while others provide beats on Drums and Chimta in a sitting position. Dogra folk-dances, including varieties with men and women, play a significant role in worship, ceremonies, and as a celebratory pastime in Jammu. Other notable dances in the region include Dheku, Phummani, Jagarana, Ckauki, Chhajja, Kuddha, Hirana, Bhagtan, Raas, and Chandrauli.

Notes:
Kenya has confirmed the discovery of its first coltan deposits, a valuable mineral crucial for electronic devices. Coltan, short for columbite-tantalite, is utilized in diverse industries. Tantalum, a derivative of coltan, is vital for capacitors in smartphones, tablets, computers, and electric car batteries. Minister Salim Mvurya declared Kenya’s official possession of coltan reserves, marking a significant development in the country’s mineral resources.