Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
The Prime Minister inaugurated the Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport in Tamil Nadu, the second spaceport after Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The facility will specialize in launching Small Satellite Launch Vehicles commercially. Spanning 2,350 acres, it features 35 facilities, including launch pads and rocket integration areas. The spaceport’s unique advantage is launching directly south over the Indian Ocean, saving fuel for small rocket launches compared to the existing site. The project is estimated to cost Rs. 986 crore, boosting India’s space capabilities.

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The International Trade Centre (ITC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) have jointly initiated the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, with a substantial investment of USD 50 million. This global fund aims to support women-led businesses and entrepreneurs in developing economies and least-developed countries by facilitating the adoption of digital technologies. The primary objective is to enhance the online presence of these enterprises, enabling them to thrive in the digital economy.

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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.

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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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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.

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Article 371A of the Indian Constitution is a major obstacle to regulating coal mining in Nagaland. This provision protects Naga tribes’ customs, traditions, and religious practices from external interference. It also allows the continuation of indigenous legal systems and traditional methods of justice. Article 371A has made it difficult for the government to oversee small-scale mining, especially after recent fatalities in a rat-hole mine explosion. Rat-hole mining is a hazardous way of extracting coal by creating small tunnels just large enough for a person to crawl through.

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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.

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India’s rank in the World Bank’s Women, Business and Law index rose to 113 out of 190 countries. The index assesses the legal environment for women’s economic opportunities across eight categories, including mobility, workplace, and entrepreneurship. Scores range from 0 to 100, with 100 representing equal rights. The report provides objective benchmarks for global progress towards gender equality, highlighting achievements and underscoring the need for further efforts to ensure economic empowerment for all.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kolkata’s groundbreaking underwater metro train service, a milestone in India’s infrastructure. The project, part of Kolkata Metro’s East-West corridor, aims to boost connectivity between Howrah and Salt Lake. The Ministry of Railways disclosed that the 10.8-kilometer East-West Metro route includes both underground and elevated sections, totaling 5.75 kilometers. This initiative signifies a significant advancement in urban development and transportation for West Bengal’s capital.

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30 banks are part of the RBI’s UDGAM portal for unclaimed deposits. The remaining banks are also in the process of joining. The UDGAM portal, which stands for Unclaimed Deposits-Gateway to Access Information, is an online portal developed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The portal allows individuals to search for their unclaimed deposits and accounts.