Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
Despite the recent India-Nepal agreement, the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP) discussions remain deadlocked. Established through the Mahakali Treaty in 1996, the PMP is a cross-border hydropower initiative on the Mahakali River. With the goal of enhancing energy production and irrigation in both nations, it features a 315-meter dam (Sharda in India), aiming to generate 6,480 MW equally shared. Additionally, it targets irrigating 130,000 hectares in Nepal and 240,000 hectares in Indian Territory.

Notes:
Hungary’s parliament voted to ratify Sweden’s bid to join NATO, making Sweden the 32nd member of the alliance. Sweden applied to join NATO in 2022 after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. New members must be approved by all existing NATO members. Hungary was the last country to block Sweden’s membership, accusing Sweden of being hostile to it. The addition of the two Nordic countries will strengthen the alliance’s capabilities, strengthening its position in the high north and the Baltic Sea.

Notes:
The premature blooming of the Jacaranda tree in Mexico City raised concerns among residents and scientists. Also called Jacaranda acutifolia, it’s a deciduous tree from the Bignoniaceae family, native to Brazil and North West Argentina. Thriving in tropical climates, well-drained soil, and sunlight, these hardy trees are cultivated worldwide for their vibrant blue or violet flowers. In Brazil, the wood is used for guitars, and its bark and root offer medicinal benefits. Early blooming poses ecological concerns, affecting hummingbirds and bees.

Notes:
PM Modi dedicated the HURL Sindri Fertilizer Plant in Jharkhand on March 1, 2024, addressing India’s urea demand. The nation requires 360 lakh metric tons yearly, but in 2014, produced only 225 lakh metric tons. Thanks to government efforts, production increased to 310 lakh metric tons in the last decade. Modi revealed plans to revive more plants by 2025, ensuring affordable fertilizers for farmers and generating employment opportunities for local youth, including the Talcher Fertilizer Plant.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched India’s first indigenous hydrogen fuel cell ferry, built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, to operate in Varanasi. The hydrogen fuel cell system was developed by KPIT Technologies in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Labs. The initiative, named Harit Nauka (green boat), is led by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, aiming for a green transition in inland vessels. Guidelines unveiled in January 2024 mandate states to use green fuels for 50% of inland waterways passenger fleets by 2034 and 100% by 2045 to combat greenhouse gas emissions.

Notes:
The Ministry of Women and Child Development organized the Poshan Utsav to promote good nutrition behavior and address malnutrition in India. Union Minister Smt. Smriti Irani and Bill Gates graced the event, which saw the release of the ‘Poshan Utsav Book’ by the Deendayal Research Institute. This initiative aims to revive ancient nutrition traditions, encourage intergenerational learning, and appreciate India’s culinary heritage while combatting malnutrition. The event also marked the launch of the Cartoon Coalition.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana on February 29, 2024, with a total outlay of Rs 75,021 crore. The scheme aims to install rooftop solar panels in one crore households and provide free electricity of up to 300 units per month. The scheme also includes: A one-time budgetary support of Rs 150 crore for five years until 2027-28, a central financial assistance of 60% of the system cost for 2 kW systems and 40% of the additional system cost for systems between 2 to 3 kW capacity and a subsidy of Rs 30,000 to Rs 60,000 for an average monthly electricity consumption of 0-150 units, Rs 60,000 to Rs 78,000 for 150-300 units, and Rs 78,000 for more than 300 unit.

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:
Sub-inspector Suman Kumari is the first woman sniper in the Border Security Force (BSF). She recently completed an eight-week sniper course at the Central School of Weapons and Tactics (CSWT) in Indore and achieved “instructor grade”. Suman’s journey to becoming a sniper began when she was commanding a platoon in Punjab and saw the threat of cross-border sniper attacks. She volunteered for the sniper course, becoming the sole female among 56 male counterparts.

Notes:
Anthropic, the AI start-up, introduced its latest AI models, Claude 3, featuring three tiers – Haiku, Sonnet, and Opus. These Large Language Models (LLMs) excel in text, voice, and document processing, delivering contextually swift responses. Opus leads in power, Sonnet balances capability and cost, while Haiku ensures instant replies. Access varies: Sonnet powers Claude.ai for free, Opus requires Claude Pro subscription via Anthropic’s web chat. All models boast a 2,00,000-token window, promising enhanced performance and information input capacity.