Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

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The Prime Minister launched the Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan evam Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan (PM-SURAJ) Portal, overseen by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Targeting marginalized groups like Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, and sanitation workers, it offers credit assistance nationwide. Eligible individuals can access support through banks, NBFC-MFIs, and other entities, fostering socio-economic upliftment.

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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.

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India and Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on law and dispute resolution. The MoU focuses on exchanging best practices in law and dispute resolution. The collaboration is expected to lead to the adoption of more effective dispute resolution mechanisms.

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World Consumer Rights Day, observed annually on March 15, aims to safeguard consumer rights globally. It raises awareness about consumer needs, rights, and market injustices. The theme for 2024 is ‘Fair and Responsible AI for Consumers’. This initiative sheds light on persistent consumer issues and promotes understanding of consumer rights and benefits. It’s an opportunity to advocate for fair treatment and ethical practices in the marketplace, emphasizing the importance of consumer protection.

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The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation inaugurated a digital Criminal Case Management System (CCMS) and the ‘Sankalan’ mobile app. CCMS, developed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), aids in terrorism and organized crime case coordination, enhancing justice delivery. Sankalan serves as a guide through new criminal laws, bridging old and new legislation, benefiting all stakeholders.

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In March 2024, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appointed Mohammad Mustafa as the new prime minister of Palestine. Mustafa is a political independent and economist who has been educated in the United States. He is the economic advisor to Abbas. Mustafa will lead a technocratic government in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which could potentially administer Gaza before the state becomes independent.

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Scientists recently discovered a massive volcano on Mars called Noctis, which is located on the eastern edge of Tharsis, a broad regional topographic rise. The volcano is 9,022 meters high and 450 kilometers wide, which makes it almost 200 meters taller than Mount Everest. It’s located south of Mars’ equator, in Eastern Noctis Labyrinthus, west of Valles Marineris, the planet’s vast canyon system. Scientists discovered Noctis using data from NASA’s Mariner 9, Viking Orbiter 1 and 2, Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter missions, as well as ESA’s Mars Express mission.

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National Vaccination Day, celebrated annually on March 16, signifies collective commitment to public health. Its 2024 theme, “Vaccines Work for All,” emphasizes universal protection against diseases through vaccination. Originating in 1995 with India’s Pulse Polio Vaccination Program, it also commemorates WHO’s polio eradication initiative since 1988. Notably, it marks the 1975 eradication of smallpox. This day underscores the vital role of vaccination in preventing infectious diseases globally.

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Madrigal Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s drug Rezdiffra gained the first US approval to treat nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a potentially deadly liver disease caused by fat buildup. NASH, part of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, can lead to cirrhosis. Symptoms include fatigue, unexplained weight loss, weakness, and upper right belly ache. Risk factors include obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome. Treatment involves managing conditions like cholesterol levels, weight, and diabetes.

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Arunachal Bugun Tribe generously donates land in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary for the protection of critically endangered Bugun Liocichla, a small babbler bird with olive-grey plumage and black cap, measuring only 20 cm. Discovered by astrophysicist Ramana Athreya in 2006, this species is exclusive to Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary. With just 14 individuals spotted in Braiduah village, it’s India’s first bird discovery post-independence, facing severe endangerment.