Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
The Signals Technology Evaluation and Adaptation Group (STEAG) is a specialized unit of the Indian Army that researches and evaluates cutting-edge communication technologies for defense applications. STEAG is the first of its kind specialized unit in the Indian Army and is headed by a Colonel-rank officer from the Corps of Signals. The unit is made up of approximately 280 personnel and is poised to revolutionize communication infrastructure within the army.

Notes:
Vinay Kumar, an Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1992 batch, is appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Russia, currently serving in Myanmar. The Ministry of External Affairs announced his new assignment, reinforcing the longstanding partnership between India and Russia. The move highlights the strategic importance of diplomatic ties between the two nations amidst recent elections in Russia. Kumar is expected to assume his new role shortly.

Notes:
Researchers named a new species, Brucethoa isro, of deep-sea isopod found off the Kerala coast after ISRO. Discovered near Kollam, Kerala, this tiny fish-parasitic crustacean lives in the gill cavity of the Spinyjaw greeneye. It’s the second species of its genus found in India. Named in tribute to ISRO’s space missions, females reach 19mm length and 6mm width, larger than males. Isopods, a diverse order of invertebrates, include around 10,000 species inhabiting various environments worldwide.

Notes:
The IceCube neutrino observatory at the Earth’s South Pole has detected neutrinos, subatomic particles. The observatory is made up of thousands of sensors buried in the ice. The IceCube Collaboration, which includes many universities around the world, built and maintains the observatory. The University of Wisconsin, Madison leads the collaboration. IceCube detects 275 atmospheric neutrinos daily and about 100,000 per year, as well as 275 million cosmic rays every day. The observatory is dedicated to detecting mysterious subatomic particles.

Notes:
Hong Kong recently passed a new national security law that expands government powers to suppress dissent and imposes life sentences for treason and insurrection. The law also includes life sentences for sabotage and “colluding with foreign forces”. The law is seen as the latest step in a political crackdown that began in 2019 with pro-democracy protests. In 2020, Beijing imposed a national security law that gave it broad new powers to punish critics and silence dissenters.

Notes:
A study from the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia, reveals lianas, or woody vining plants, threaten forests. Also known as vines or climbers, lianas use trees to ascend to the canopy. Common in tropical forests, they flourish in warm, lowland areas and thrive in disturbed environments. Lianas compete with trees for sunlight, suppressing them and reducing carbon sequestration. This could worsen global warming by hindering forests’ ability to store carbon effectively, altering carbon cycles.

Notes:
IIT Madras has unveiled ‘NeoStand,’ an indigenous electric standing wheelchair, claimed as India’s most customizable. Launched on March 20 at the campus, it offers motorized standing with navigation. Professor Sujatha Srinivasan led its development under TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research. She also led ‘Arise,’ India’s first manual standing wheelchair, and ‘NeoBolt,’ the first motorized add-on. Commercialized through NeoMotion, an IIT Madras-incubated startup, it aims to benefit wheelchair users with ease of switching between sitting and standing.

Notes:
AMPC e-tender process for Byadagi Chilli in Byadagi led to violent protests over alleged low prices. Byadgi chilli, named after the town in Karnataka, is less spicy, renowned for vibrant color, crucial in South Indian cuisine. Primary varieties are Byadgi Kaddi, thin and less popular, and Byadgi Dabbi, prized for its color, flavor, and mild spiciness. Both varieties received Geographical Indication tag in 2011, contributing to India’s second-largest chilli turnover.

Notes:
Sharath Kamal, a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist in Table Tennis, will lead the Indian contingent as the flag bearer at the Paris Summer Olympics 2024, announced by the Indian Olympic Committee. The 32nd Summer Olympics will take place in Paris from July 26 to August 11. Mary Kom, a bronze medalist in the 2012 London Olympics, will serve as the Chef De Mission, and Shiva Keshavan as the deputy Chef de Mission, supporting and representing the team.

Notes:
World Meteorological Day, celebrated annually on March 23, highlights environmental awareness and human impact on Earth. It marks the founding of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The objective is to raise awareness about meteorology and its ongoing changes. The 2024 theme, “At the frontline of climate action,” emphasizes the vital role of meteorology in addressing climate change globally.