Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
Krystyna Pyszkova of the Czech Republic won Miss World 2024 at the Jio World Cinema in Mumbai, succeeding Poland’s Karolina Bielawska. Alongside the main title, Pyszkova was honored with the Best Fashion Designer Award – Europe. Notable contestants included India’s Sini Shetty and Trinidad and Tobago’s Aché Abrahams. The first runner-up was Yasmina Zaytoun from Lebanon. The event featured a grand ceremony with Bielawska crowning her successor in a star-studded affair.

Notes:
The Andaman & Nicobar Command marked the 40th anniversary of INAS 318 and International Women’s Day with a historic all-women maritime surveillance mission. The crew, consisting of Lt Cdr Shubhangi Swaroop, Lt Cdr Divya Sharma, and Lt Vaishali Mishra, showcased women’s pivotal role in the Naval Air Arm. The event emphasized gender equality, as women officers handled pre-flight briefing, meteorological briefing, medical check-up, and Air Traffic Control. The mission’s success reaffirms women’s capability in executing independent operational tasks, reinforcing their crucial contributions to national defense.

Notes:
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers introduced the Revamped Pharmaceuticals Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme (RPTUAS). The initiative provides quality-based subsidies to pharmaceutical companies for achieving Revised Schedule M and WHO-GMP certifications. The scheme aims to elevate the pharmaceutical industry’s standards, promoting adherence to Revised Schedule-M and WHO-GMP guidelines, thereby enhancing the quality and safety of pharmaceutical products manufactured in the country.

Notes:
The Union Minister of Science & Technology inaugurated India’s first National Speed Breeding Crop Facility at the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) in Mohali, Punjab. The facility will revolutionize crop improvement programs by rapidly developing advanced crop varieties through speed breeding methods. Established in 2010, NABI is India’s first Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, dedicated to catalyzing transformations in the agri-food sector. NABI has actively contributed to initiatives like ‘Atal Jai Anusandhan Biotech (UNaTI) Mission’ and Biotech Kisan Hubs for various regions.

Notes:
Kishor Makwana assumed the position of Chairman of the National Scheduled Castes Commission (NCSC), appointed by the President of India. Luv Kush Kumar also joined as a member on the same day. The NCSC, a constitutional body, works to prevent the exploitation of Scheduled Castes (SC) and promotes their social, educational, economic, and cultural interests in India.

Notes:
Researchers discovered a new scorpion species with 8 eyes and 8 legs in Thailand’s Kaeng Krachan National Park. Named Euscorpiops Krachan, it belongs to the subgenus Euscorpiops. Found during a wildlife expedition near the Tenasserim Mountain Range, the species was uncovered beneath a rock during a camping trip. This finding highlights the park’s biodiversity and underscores the importance of continued exploration and conservation efforts.

Notes:
The FAO’s inaugural national report on AMR surveillance in India’s fisheries and livestock sectors (2019-22) highlights the critical role of antibiotic use in food animal production in driving Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR). Low resistance levels were observed to less commonly used antibiotics like chloramphenicol, but significant resistance to macrolides and quinolones was noted. The report underscores the necessity for prudent antibiotic usage in aquaculture and livestock production.

Notes:
Annually on March 14th, the International Day of Action for Rivers is observed, with the 2024 theme “Water for All” highlighting universal access to clean water. Originating from the 1997 First International Meeting of People Impacted by Dams in Curitiba, Brazil, experts from 20 nations declared March 14th as the “Day of Action for Rivers.” Its aim is to combat the degradation of ecologically sensitive water bodies, rivers, and watersheds.

Notes:
ISRO’s Project SOORYA is the name of its Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) project, which aims to build the country’s own space station and send Indians to the moon. The project is led by S. Sivakumar, with the initial phase being his responsibility. The first launch of the NGLV, codenamed SOORYA, is expected by 2034-35, and will require a third launch pad at Sriharikota. The project demonstrates ISRO’s commitment to technological innovation and solidifying India’s position as a global space power.

Notes:
A group of conservationists and the IISc’s Energy and Wetlands Research Group have called for the establishment of an Aghanashini Ramsar Wetland Conservation Authority to help with the wise use of natural resources at the estuary. The Aghanashini estuary, in Karnataka, merges with the Arabian Sea, being a biodiverse hotspot. Recently honored as Ramsar sites under the Ramsar Convention, it’s renowned for its productivity and ecological richness. Setting up a conservation authority is crucial for safeguarding this vital coastal ecosystem in Karnataka.