Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cautions against charging mobile phones in public ports due to the increasing threat of juice jacking. Juice jacking is a cyberattack where hackers inject malware into public USB charging stations, compromising electronic devices. Incidents often occur in public spaces like airports, hotels, and shopping centers. This form of attack can lead to device lockout and unauthorized access, enabling cybercriminals to steal personal data and passwords. Stay vigilant to protect your devices in public areas.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank recently revised Regulatory Sandbox (RS) guidelines, allowing live testing of products or services in a controlled regulatory space. Acting as a “safe space,” it offers flexibility for business testing, potentially influencing innovation-friendly regulations. RS aims to facilitate low-cost financial products, promoting dynamic, evidence-based regulatory environments that adapt to emerging technologies. Essentially, it’s a formal program for market players to test innovations within specific safeguards and oversight before broader launches.

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:
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:
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:
In Ecuador’s rainforest, researchers led by Dutch biologist Freek Vonk have identified a new anaconda species, Eunectes Akiyama, diverging from its closest relatives 10 million years ago. Named the “northern green anaconda,” these massive 20-foot-long specimens, weighing up to 200 kilograms (441 pounds), exhibit substantial genetic differences. The discovery sheds light on the region’s biodiversity and the evolutionary history of these impressive snakes in the Amazon ecosystem.

Notes:
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of MoPSW & AYUSH, virtually inaugurated the ‘Ocean Grace,’ a 60T bollard pull tug, and a Medical Mobile Unit (MMU). Developed by Cochin Shipyard Limited under MoPSW, Ocean Grace is India’s first ASTDS Tug. The MMU is part of the port’s corporate social responsibility. The event, attended virtually by dignitaries like Shri Shripad Naik and Shantanu Thakur, aligns with PM Modi’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.

Notes:
IIT Madras is hosting the All India Research Scholars’ Summit (AIRSS) 2024 from March 4th to 7th. Organized by the Research Affairs Council, the event brings together minds from diverse disciplines across India to showcase and explore the latest research advancements. With a focus on fostering collaboration between academia and industry, the summit aligns with Aatmanirbhar Bharat’s vision, promoting self-reliance through innovation.