Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
The four-day ‘Tawi Festival’ in Jammu and Kashmir, starting on March 1, 2024, highlights the region’s art, culture, and heritage. Emphasizing Jammu’s diverse art forms and cultural heritage, the festival features seminars, workshops, folk music, street theatre, classical and folk dance, and a Mela. It provides a platform for youth creativity and encourages discussions with experts. The event showcases entrepreneurship, innovation, local cuisines, and organic products from women’s NGO groups in the Himalayan region, culminating at the University of Jammu.

Notes:
King Charles III of the United Kingdom awarded Sunil Bharti Mittal, the founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, an honorary Knighthood. The honor is titled Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE), one of the highest honors given by the British Sovereign to civilians.

Notes:
150 railway stations and 6 metro stations have earned the coveted “Eat Right Station” certification, a part of the Eat Right India movement by FSSAI. Led by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the initiative mandates stringent food safety, hygiene, and nutrition standards for all vendors at certified stations.

Notes:
Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have identified a new species of head-shield sea slug, Melanochlamys Droupadi, along the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal. Measuring up to 7 mm, it’s a small invertebrate with a brownish-black body and a distinctive ruby red spot. Inhabiting wet sandy beaches, the hermaphroditic slug forms a protective mucus sheath, leaving a trail like a turtle as it moves beneath the sand. Sea slugs, mollusks found in various marine environments, include 18 known species globally.

Notes:
World Seagrass Day, observed annually on March 1, highlights the significance of seagrass in marine ecosystems. The 2024 theme is “Healthy Seagrass, Healthy Planet.” Seagrass, the sole flowering plant in marine environments, comprises over 60 species worldwide, acting as effective carbon sinks and supporting marine life with vital nutrients. Growing along coastlines globally, seagrass plays a crucial role in stabilizing water quality, making it a key component of a thriving marine ecosystem.

Notes:
March 1 marks Zero Discrimination Day, dedicated to advocating for every individual’s right to a life free from discrimination. Initiated by UNAIDS, this global observance raises awareness about discrimination’s harmful effects and promotes equality, compassion, and respect. First celebrated in 2014, its 2024 theme is “To protect everyone’s health, protect everyone’s rights”.

Notes:
Russia’s defense ministry confirmed a recent successful test of the RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic nuclear missile. Developed by Russia, the Yars is a thermonuclear armed ICBM with a reported range of 12,000 km and the capability to hit targets over 11,000 km away. It can carry multiple independently targetable warheads and is designed to deploy multiple re-entry vehicles (MIRVs) for independent targeting, enhancing its strategic capabilities.

Notes:
National Safety Day, observed annually on March 4 in India, marks the beginning of National Safety Week. Emphasizing safety and precautions in all sectors, the 2024 theme is “Safety for a Sustainable Future,” highlighting the vital connection between safety measures and sustainability. This day serves as a reminder of the critical importance of prioritizing safety, extending its focus beyond a single day to promote long-term safety practices.

Notes:
Italian archaeologists recently uncovered a 5,000-year-old cemetery from the Copper Age, shedding light on this transitional period between the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. The Copper Age, spanning 5,000 to 2,000 years ago, witnessed the emergence of metallurgy, particularly copper usage. Chalcolithic farmers engaged in agriculture, long-distance trade, and built distinctive polychrome painted pottery. The period marked the onset of societal complexities, with houses showcasing various architectural patterns. The discovery offers insights into early social structures and technological advancements before the advent of the Bronze Age.

Notes:
Cycas circinalis, locally known as Eenthu Pana, a palm like tree, faces imminent extinction in northern Kerala due to an unidentified, rapidly spreading plant disease. Belonging to the endangered cycad family, these ancient plants originated 300 million years ago. Growing up to 25 ft., Eenthu Pana thrives in hilly woodlands and holds cultural significance. Similar to the areca nut, it requires thorough drying before preparation, a challenge during the rainy season. Endemic to the Western Ghats, it serves as a nutraceutical plant for indigenous communities.