Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
Delhi’s biomining project aimed at clearing landfill sites is facing another setback as it is expected to miss the 2024 deadline. Biomining involves extracting metals from solid materials using micro-organisms. This technique is not only used for metal extraction but also for cleaning up polluted sites. The process involves microbes oxidizing metals, making them soluble in water, or breaking down surrounding minerals to make metal recovery easier. Bioleaching and bio-oxidation are common biomining processes.

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India’s first battery energy storage (BESS) gigafactory will be established in Jammu and Kashmir, and is expected to start operations in October 2024. The 7 GWh capacity facility is being developed by GoodEnough Energy, a battery energy storage systems manufacturer based in Greater Noida. The factory’s goal is to help reduce carbon emissions by 5 million tons annually, which is equivalent to the Indian Railways annual carbon reduction target of 4 million tonnes. The factory will also help to ensure the stability of the power grid.

Notes:
World Water Day, observed on March 22 since 1993, raises awareness about freshwater conservation. The United Nations General Assembly initiated this observance to emphasize water’s significance in our lives. The 2024 theme, ‘Leveraging Water for Peace’, highlights the crucial role of transboundary water cooperation in fostering universal peace and sustainable development.

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The National Cadet Corps (NCC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) signed a MoU to promote peaceful use of nuclear energy. Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh and BVS Shekhar signed the agreement in New Delhi in March, 2024. NPCIL will educate NCC cadets and provide resources for regional engagement and camps. Cadets will visit NPCIL facilities, gaining firsthand experience in nuclear energy’s peaceful applications and technical aspects.

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The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, introduced the Cinematograph Certification Rules 2024 to revamp the film certification process. Last year, the outdated Cinematograph Act of 1952 was amended after nearly 40 years to address certification issues. The new rules, part of ongoing government efforts, aim to regulate the certification and exhibition of cinematograph films effectively. They are a significant step towards modernizing the Indian film industry’s regulatory framework.

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Federal Bank collaborates with NPCI to launch ‘Flash Pay,’ a RuPay smart key chain for contactless NCMC payments. It allows users to tap and pay at metros and PoS terminals, ensuring swift and secure transactions. Key features include effortless payments up to ₹5,000 without PIN, PIN authentication for transactions over ₹5,000, and a daily transaction limit of ₹1 lakh at PoS terminals for financial management.

Notes:
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) completed the strategic Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road in Ladakh. This 298-km road connects Manali to Leh via Darcha and Nimmu on Kargil – Leh Highway. It’s the third axis linking Ladakh to the hinterland, alongside Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh routes. Notably, the road is shorter and crosses only one pass, Shinkun La (16,558 feet), where tunnel work by BRO is set to begin.

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A recent study unveils the secrets behind the unique aroma of Mushk Budiji, a native rice variety from the Kashmir Himalaya. Initially threatened by extinction due to low yield and rice blast disease, a revival initiative by SKUAST scientists since 2007 has led to its slow resurgence. In August 2023, Mushk Budiji was granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. This niche crop thrives under specific climatic conditions, securing its place in Kashmir’s agricultural heritage.

Notes:
A citizen scientist recently discovered the 5,000th comet using Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) data. SOHO, a collaboration between ESA and NASA, launched in 1995 to study the Sun from the first Lagrangian Point. Equipped with 12 scientific instruments, it continuously observes the solar atmosphere, helioseismology, and solar wind. Despite its mission ending in 1998, SOHO persists, providing invaluable insights into the Sun’s dynamics and discovering numerous comets, making it the longest-lasting Sun-watching satellite.

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India’s National Disaster Management Authority official, Kamal Kishore, appointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as special representative for disaster risk reduction. Kishore (55), currently serving as NDMA’s secretary to the government of India, succeeds Mami Mizutori. Appointed assistant secretary-general and special representative of the secretary-general for disaster risk reduction at UNDRR, Kishore’s role is crucial in global disaster mitigation efforts, announced by the UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.