Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
India’s first National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) was inaugurated by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The center is located near the Ganga River on the Patna University campus. The NDRC is a center of excellence that will help researchers and students understand the ecosystem of rivers. Researchers at the center will focus on various aspects of dolphin behavior in their natural habitat, including studying food habits and adaptation to changing environments. The center will also play a crucial role in training fishermen on methods to avoid inadvertently harming dolphins during fishing activities.

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Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal unveiled the ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’ initiative in New Delhi, aiming to make the agriculture sector the cornerstone of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. The digital gateway, developed by the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA), streamlines farmers’ warehousing logistics through technology, ensuring fair prices for produce. Goyal also announced a reduction in security deposit charges at WDRA warehouses, from three percent to one percent, encouraging more farmers, particularly small-scale ones, to utilize the facilities and boost their income.

Notes:
Researchers recently identified a new flowering plant species, Begonia Narahari, in Arunachal Pradesh. This Begonia naraharii, discovered in the Lohit district, is distinguished by its vibrant blue iridescence under direct light. Named in honor of Prof. Garikapati Narahari Sastry, the former CSIR-NEIST director, the species is part of the Begoniaceae family. Due to scarce global population data, it is provisionally classified as Data Deficient according to IUCN guidelines, emphasizing the need for further research and conservation efforts.

Notes:
International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global event on March 8th, acknowledging women’s accomplishments in social, economic, cultural, and political spheres. In 2024, the United Nations’ theme is ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,’ emphasizing the need for gender equality. IWD serves as a worldwide celebration of women’s achievements and a powerful call to action for advancing women’s rights and opportunities.

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The Karnataka state government has partnered with the World Economic Forum to establish a state-of-the-art AI center, formalized through a Letter of Intent signed on February 29. This strategic alliance aims to position Karnataka as a global hub for artificial intelligence, marking a crucial move towards integrating the state into the global digital and technological landscape.

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The Indian government, in consultation with the Election Commission of India, has increased the minimum age for senior citizens to use postal ballots from 80 to 85 years, effective immediately. With India’s electorate at 96.88 crore, 1.85 crore citizens are aged above 80. The amended Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, now defines “senior citizens” eligible for postal ballot voting as those above 85 years, replacing the previous threshold of 80 years, aiming to enhance electoral convenience for the elderly.

Notes:
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.

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The 17th Annual International Biocuration Conference (AIBC-2024) is set to take place at the National Capital Region (NCR) Biotech Science Cluster in Faridabad, India. The venue, comprising the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) and the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), offers a comprehensive platform for scientific discussions and collaboration during the conference.

Notes:
Entomologists from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment discovered Taeniogonalos deepaki, a new wasp species in Karnataka’s Western Ghat region. Found in Belgaum, it’s named after Dr. Deepak Deshpande. Taeniogonalos belongs to the Trigonalyidae family, known for hyperparasitoids. The genus spans various global regions, with previous Indian and Chinese species. Researchers also detailed the first male of Taeniogonalos eurysoma, expanding knowledge on these wasps, primarily found in South India.

Notes:
A school in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, introduced Iris, India’s first generative AI teacher, as part of the Atal Tinkering Lab project by NITI Aayog. Launched by the Kaduvayil Thangal Charitable Trust, Iris operates at KTCT Higher Secondary School, pushing educational boundaries and promoting innovation. The Atal Tinkering Lab initiative, announced in January 2021, encourages experiential learning and extracurricular activities, marking a significant step in integrating AI technology into Indian education.