Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
The Defence Minister is set to inaugurate two piers and seven towers, providing 320 homes for Navy officers and Defence civilians at Naval Base Karwar, Karnataka, under Project Seabird—the largest naval infrastructure project in India. Conceived in the early 1980s and sanctioned in 1985, the project spans 11,000 acres, featuring a deep-sea harbour, breakwaters, a township, a naval hospital, and more. Once completed, it will be the largest naval base in the Eastern Hemisphere, accommodating warships, submarines, and aircraft.

Notes:
India’s Prime Minister inaugurated the core-loading process of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Madras Atomic Power Station, Kalpakkam. The PFBR is a nuclear machine generating more fuel than it consumes, utilizing Uranium-Plutonium Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel and Thorium-232 for transmutation. Liquid sodium serves as a coolant, facilitating electricity production. With advanced safety features, the indigenously designed PFBR by BHAVINI marks a significant achievement involving 200+ Indian industries, including MSMEs.

Notes:
The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Meta partnered to create Frontier Technology Labs (FTLs) in key schools, advancing beyond Atal Tinkering Labs. These labs, backed by cutting-edge infrastructure, promote innovation among students by providing access to Artificial Intelligence, Augmented & Virtual Reality, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Robotics, 3D Printing, and Internet of Things technologies. This collaboration seeks to democratize future technology access, fostering a culture of innovation in education.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
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:
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:
The 54th DG-level BGB-BSF Border Conference is held at the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) headquarters in Dhaka from March 5–9, 2024. BGB DG Major General Siddiqui welcomed the Indian delegation, followed by a tribute to Great Liberation War martyrs. Additionally, a BSF Wives Welfare Association delegation joined, invited by SHIPKS chief patron Naureen Ashraf. The event is organized by BGB Border Family Welfare Association and Border Officers Ladies Club.

Notes:
In March 2024, the Jammu and Kashmir police launched Operation Kamdhenu to curb cattle smuggling. The operation’s goal is to catch the masterminds of cattle smuggling and to scrutinize their activities. The operation includes a meticulous approach, such as documenting details like the engine and chassis numbers, mobile numbers, and Aadhar card details of vehicles involved in smuggling.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister of India, approved the Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme, 2024 (UNNATI – 2024 scheme), proposed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, for the North East Region. Aimed at fostering industrialization and employment, the scheme has a ten-year duration, effective until March 31, 2034, with a financial outlay of Rs. 10,037 crore. Divided into Parts A and B, it focuses on incentivizing eligible units and implementing institutional arrangements, respectively, to promote overall socio-economic development in the region.

Notes:
On International Women’s Day, the Indian Army unveiled plans for 2 Army Girls Sports Companies (AGSC), aligning with the national agenda for women empowerment. The Army designated two Centers of Excellence, the Army Marksmanship Unit in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, and the Army Sports Institute in Pune, to operate these companies. Starting from April 1, AGSC aims to educate and train girls nationwide in sports, enabling direct entry into the army upon graduation, fostering talent and contributing to military institutions’ recruitment goals.