Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
The Ministry of Education conducted the “Mera Pehla Vote Desh Ke Liye” from Feb 28 to Mar 6, 2024, aiming to engage and encourage youth in the electoral process. UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar issued a call to inspire and mobilize first-time voters, urging all to support the campaign. The nationwide initiative, in collaboration with the Election Commission of India, seeks to raise electoral awareness among the youth, fostering universal enlightened participation in elections.

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 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:
Daljit Singh Chaudhary, a 1990 batch IPS officer, has been appointed as the Director General of the National Security Guard (NSG), a crucial role in India’s security. Currently the DG of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), he takes on the added responsibility of leading the NSG, known as the “black cats.” This move signifies a significant development in India’s security apparatus, enhancing Chaudhary’s role in shaping and overseeing critical aspects of national defense.

Notes:
India’s GDP growth rate for the October to December 2023 Q3 is estimated at ₹43.72 lakh crore, against ₹40.35 lakh crore in Q3 of 2022-23, showing a growth rate of 8.4 percent. India’s GDP growth rate for the October to December 2023 Q3 is estimated at ₹43.72 lakh crore, against ₹40.35 lakh crore in Q3 of 2022-23, showing a growth rate of 8.4 percent.

Notes:
The Indian government has implemented supportive measures for Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. FCV tobacco, cured through a heat-exposure process, is favored for its mild, sweet flavor and high sugar content, commonly used in cigarette blends. Predominantly produced in India’s Mysore and Hassan districts (over 95%), it’s a vital crop in the global market. The Government’s initiatives aim to bolster the livelihoods of FCV tobacco farmers in these regions.

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:
Russia’s defense ministry confirmed a recent successful test of the RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic nuclear missile. Developed by Russia, the Yars is a thermonuclear armed ICBM with a reported range of 12,000 km and the capability to hit targets over 11,000 km away. It can carry multiple independently targetable warheads and is designed to deploy multiple re-entry vehicles (MIRVs) for independent targeting, enhancing its strategic capabilities.

Notes:
The Indian Navy will commission the MH 60R Seahawk, a maritime variant of the Blackhawk helicopter, on March 6, 2024, at INS Garuda, Kochi. The deal with the US government was signed in February 2020. The Seahawk will enhance the Navy’s maritime power with roles like anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and vertical replenishment. It underwent rigorous testing in Indian conditions and boasts advanced weapons and avionics, catering to conventional and asymmetric threats.

Notes:
The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) hosted the first “Blue Talks” meeting on February 29, 2024 in New Delhi. The meeting was co-partnered by the Embassy of France and Embassy of Costa Rica in India. The Ambassador of France to India and the Ambassador of Costa Rica were co-convenors of the General Assembly. The meeting focused on Ocean Health and Governance. The MoES took a significant step towards fostering international collaboration on ocean-related issues.