Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
World Tuberculosis Day, observed annually on March 24th, aims to raise global awareness about tuberculosis (TB), a contagious lung disease. The theme for 2024 is “Yes! We can end TB,” emphasizes efforts to eradicate this deadly disease through awareness and sustained action. The date commemorates Dr. Robert Koch’s discovery of TB bacteria in 1882, leading to improved understanding, diagnosis, and treatment. Since 1983, World TB Day has been observed worldwide to combat TB.

Notes:
Kerala’s decision to opt for an alternative approach to smart electricity meters undermines government’s Rs 3 lakh crore smart meters project. Smart meters record electricity usage and voltage levels, aiming to enhance billing and collection efficiencies for distribution companies. The Smart Meter National Programme (SMNP) seeks to replace 25 crore conventional meters with smart ones across India. Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture under the Ministry of Power, leads the implementation.

Notes:
ISRO’s PSLV Orbital Experimental Module 3 (POEM 3) Mission aims to tackle orbital debris with PSLV’s PS4 stage, designated as the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module. This marks ISRO’s third deployment of PS4 for orbital experiments, dubbed POEM-3. The module will conduct in-orbit scientific experiments for 4-6 months, powered by solar panels and a Lithium-ion battery. Equipped with 10 payloads, it aims to explore microgravity conditions and advance space research.

Notes:
Scientists at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University discovered a new disease, “Witches’ Broom,” affecting pea crops, caused by ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ (16SrI). The American Phytopathological Society published their report in ‘Plant Disease,’ marking the first research on the disease. Dr. B. R Kamboj, Vice-Chancellor, noted the significance of early detection for planned breeding programs. The university’s scientists are credited as the first to identify this global concern.

Notes:
ISRO’s START 2024 program is an online training program that teaches space science and technology to undergraduate and postgraduate science and technology students. The program is scheduled to take place in April and May 2024. The main goal of the program is to attract young students to space science and technology.

Notes:
At 44, Bassirou Diomaye Faye secures victory as Senegal’s youngest president-elect, defeating rival Amadou Ba, who conceded after the first-round vote. Faye, mentored by Ousmane Sonko, vows to transform Senegal’s political scene, focusing on democratic reforms, reducing executive authority, and fighting corruption. His agenda includes renegotiating international deals and possibly introducing a new currency. Faye’s win marks a significant shift in Senegalese politics, signaling a new era of change and promise.

Notes:
The World Health Organization (WHO) launched CoViNet, a global network of laboratories specializing in human, animal, and environmental coronavirus surveillance. It aims to detect and monitor emerging coronaviruses, including potential novel strains, enhancing risk assessment and informing WHO policies. CoViNet will expand surveillance capabilities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, to monitor MERS-CoV and other significant coronaviruses, contributing to global public health preparedness.

Notes:
Kuttanad, renowned for rice cultivation below sea level, faces a severe water crisis due to pollution, salinity, and erratic weather. Kuttanad, a delta on Kerala’s west coast, hosts the unique Kuttanad Below Sea-level Farming System (KBSFS), practicing rice cultivation below sea level in “Puncha Vayals” comprising Karapadam, Kayal, and Kari fields. The region is part of the Vembanad Kol wetland ecosystem, a Ramsar Site.

Notes:
CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, launches the White Rabbit Collaboration (WRC) to promote White Rabbit technology adoption in Industry. WRC provides specialized support, training, and facilitates R&D projects. White Rabbit (WR) technology, developed at CERN, offers sub-nanosecond accuracy and picosecond precision synchronization for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) accelerator chain. LHC, the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator, was first utilized in 2012 and incorporated into the Precision Time Protocol (PTP) global industry standard in 2020.

Notes:
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has released the 2023-24 list of Domestic Systemically Important Insurers (D-SIIs), including Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC), and New India Assurance Company. D-SIIs are vital insurers with potential to cause significant financial system disruption if they fail, often perceived as “too big to fail”. IRDAI oversees the insurance sector, aiming to mitigate systemic risks and moral hazards.