Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
The Haryana Assembly passed nine bills, including the Haryana Registration and Regulation of Travel Agents Bill, 2024, aimed at curbing illegal immigration and addressing the issue of unregistered travel agents exploiting youth. Home Minister Anil Vij highlighted the seriousness of the problem. Additionally, a bill to regulate private coaching institutions was passed to protect students’ and guardians’ interests. The bills were part of the concluding day of the week-long Budget session, with some introduced earlier.

Notes:
The Jal Shakti Ministry has partnered with 12 technical education institutions to collaborate on academic and research initiatives for basin management of six rivers: Narmada, Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, Cauvery, and Periyar, as part of the National River Conservation Plan. Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted successful efforts in cleaning the Ganga, earning UNESCO recognition for the Namami Gange Mission. Emphasizing river conservation as a mass movement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Arth Ganga principle links it to livelihood, urging increased inter-state cooperation.

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:
Dr. V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, launched National Birth Defect Awareness Month 2024, emphasizing the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana’s vital role in improving child health. The scheme covers half of India’s health and complements the existing Rashtriya Bal Swashtya Karyakram. The month-long campaign, themed “Breaking Barriers: inclusive support for children with birth defects,” aims to raise awareness about prevention, early identification, and timely management of birth defects.

Notes:
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated Project ODISERV in Sambalpur, Odisha, a joint initiative by NSDC and Bajaj Finserv to equip young graduates for the financial services sector. Launched at Gangadhar Meher University, the program targets first-generation college students, providing 100 hours of training through Bajaj Finserv’s CPBFI. Initially in 60 colleges across 11 cities in Odisha, the initiative plans to expand to 22 states, covering over 400 colleges, emphasizing skills development for employment opportunities.

Notes:
World Wildlife Day, observed on March 3, emphasizes the critical importance of safeguarding global biodiversity. The 2024 theme, “Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation,” highlights the role of technology in conservation efforts. Originating from Thailand’s proposal to the United Nations General Assembly in 2013, this annual event underscores the urgency to protect flora and fauna worldwide, bringing attention to innovative digital solutions for wildlife preservation.

Notes:
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched the Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme in New Delhi on March 04, 2024, allocating Rs 750 crore for 2023-24 to 2025-26. Operating under the iDEX framework, the scheme supports start-ups with grants up to Rs 25 crore for defence technology research. ADITI aims to develop 30 deep-tech critical technologies, fostering youth innovation and addressing Armed Forces’ needs, with 17 challenges in its inaugural edition.

Notes:
Nicaragua achieves a historic milestone by becoming the first Spanish-speaking nation to recognize the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) as the official book of standards for drugs manufactured and marketed in India. Published by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Rules 1945, IPC is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, dedicated to the timely publication of the IP.

Notes:
REC Limited, in collaboration with UNISED, is contributing Rs. 9.91 crores through REC Foundation to educate 75,500 children in Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh. As a Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Power, REC aims to empower students with modern educational tools. UNISED will implement solar-operated smart classes and joyful learning labs in government schools, fostering innovative learning. Additionally, REC Foundation recently allocated Rs. 15 crores to support the education of 12,500 children of ex-servicemen through the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund.

Notes:
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the Asian River Rafting Championship near Basantpur on Sutlej River near the Ridge Shimla. The event hosts 20 teams from nations including Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Iran, Iraq, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Indonesia. Emphasizing the government’s commitment to promoting adventure tourism, the Chief Minister highlighted a recent river rafting marathon in Nadaun, Hamirpur district, as part of this initiative.