Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
The National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA) in Jaipur, India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Thailand in February 2024. The MoU is for academic collaboration in Ayurveda and Thai traditional medicine. The NIA also has collaborations with other universities, institutes, and organizations in countries like Malaysia and Korea.

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:
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:
Brian Mulroney, the ex-Canadian Prime Minister, passed away at 84. He led the Progressive Conservatives to a historic 1984 win, defeating Pierre Trudeau. Mulroney’s nine-year term saw impactful policies, notably the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement negotiation, shaping his transformative legacy.

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:
Ghana’s parliament has endorsed the contentious Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, awaiting presidential approval. The legislation seeks to preserve traditional family values, criminalizing LGBTQ identification with potential three-year prison sentences. Advocates or supporters of LGBTQ activities may face up to five years in prison. Ghana currently prohibits gay acts, punishable by a maximum three-year jail term. The bill reflects a tightening stance on LGBTQ rights, sparking both domestic and international debates.

Notes:
The leopard population in Amrabad Tiger Reserve, Telangana, has significantly increased, as per the recent ‘Status of Leopards in India’ report. Spanning 2611.4 sq km, it is one of India’s largest tiger reserves and the second-largest in core area. Originally part of Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Amrabad Tiger Reserve emerged post-state bifurcation. Situated in Nagarkurnool and Nalgonda districts, it encompasses Nallamala Forest and vital water sources like Srishailam Dam and Nagarjunsagar Dam, fed by Krishna River.

Notes:
The UN Secretary-General emphasizes the urgent need for increased funding to support Small Island Developing States (SIDS) facing climate change. Comprising 39 States and 18 Associate Members, SIDS, located in the Caribbean, Pacific, and AIS regions, exhibit unique vulnerabilities. Recognized as a special case in 1992, they suffer from low economic diversification, dependence on tourism, and high debt stress. The UN has established action programs like the Barbados Programme of Action and SAMOA Pathway to address SIDS’ challenges.

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:
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.