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:
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 National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) and the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi (FITT-IITD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to help identify the best places in India to develop Greenfield industrial smart cities. The collaboration aims to contribute to India’s goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy. It emphasizes the role of technology, research, and collaboration in building a strong and lasting future.

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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:
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.

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India and South Africa opposed the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) agreement at the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization on February 28. The MC-13, held in Abu Dhabi from February 26 to 29, saw over 120 countries advocating for IFD to enhance the investment and business climate. India argued that IFD is a non-trade issue outside the multilateral trade body’s framework, while a China-led group sought to make the proposal binding through Annexure-4 of the WTO.

Notes:
NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) collaborates with Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MAHAGENCO) to establish Renewable Energy Parks in Maharashtra. This joint venture aligns with green energy initiatives and bolsters India’s energy transition goals, aiming to build gigawatt-scale renewable energy parks in the state, showcasing a commitment to sustainable development and clean energy sources.

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The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has partnered with ISRO for the Urban Frame Survey (UFS) using Bhuvan. UFS, managed by the Field Operations Division (FOD) of NSSO, utilizes compact units in urban areas with 120-150 households. Executed in five-year phases, it acts as a sampling frame for large-scale socio-economic surveys. The digital implementation of UFS occurred for the first time during Phase 2017-22, employing the Bhuvan platform for data collection.

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Uttar Pradesh has marked a milestone by issuing 5 crore Ayushman cards, making it the first state to do so under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. The state boasts 50,017,920 issued cards, benefiting 74,382,304 individuals across 3,716 hospitals. With 3,481,252 health claims filed, an impressive 92.48% were settled, reflecting the scheme’s success. Sangeeta Singh, CEO of the State Agency for Comprehensive Health, credits the achievement to continuous support from the National Health Authority and the dedication of various healthcare workers.

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.