Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
The US, UK, and Australia have formed a new pact to construct Australia’s SSN-AUKUS submarines, marking a milestone in defense cooperation. ASC and BAE Systems will build the submarines, equipped for intelligence, surveillance, and undersea warfare. SSN-AUKUS will enhance industrial collaboration, bolster collective capacity, and spur economic growth in defense sectors. AUKUS aims to fortify a robust submarine industrial base across the three nations, ensuring production and maintenance capabilities

Notes:
India and Bhutan have strengthened their bilateral ties through multiple MoUs and agreements covering energy, trade, digital connectivity, space, and agriculture. Notably, they finalized an MoU to establish rail links, including the Kokrajhar-Gelephu and Banarhat-Samtse routes. India will aid Bhutan’s supply through designated entry/exit points. Additionally, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India will recognize Bhutan Food and Drug Authority’s control, easing trade and compliance costs for both nations.

Notes:
Telangana’s Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary faces forest fires in the Tadvai region. Established in 1953, it lies near Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana borders, traversed by the Dayyam Vagu River. Renowned for the Sammakkka Sarakka Jathra, it’s traversed by the Godavari River. Vegetation comprises tropical dry deciduous types with teak, bamboo, and climbers. Notable fauna include Indian gaur, giant squirrel, tiger, leopard, and various others like sloth bear and wild dogs.

Notes:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare introduced ‘Kalpa Suvarna,’ a new dwarf coconut variety, and two cocoa hybrids by CPCRI. ‘Kalpa Suvarna’ is optimal for tender coconut and copra production, blooming 30-36 months after planting. Its fruits are large, oblong, green, with tender nut water content of 431ml, copra content of 186g, and 64.5% oil. Yielding 108 to 130 nuts yearly, it suits Karnataka and Kerala. The cocoa hybrids, VTL CH I and VTL CH II, have high fat and nutrient contents, with CH I suitable for intercropping in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, and CH II resistant to black pod rot, fitting high rainfall regions.

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.

Notes:
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:
The 2nd Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting, led by Brazil, convened in Brasilia with India’s participation. Ms. Sumita Dawra, Secretary of Labour & Employment, India, co-chairs alongside Brazil and South Africa. The meeting’s focus includes quality employment, just transition amidst digital transformations, technology’s role in enhancing life quality, and gender equity in workplaces. The Indian delegation emphasized inclusivity, advocating for equal representation and empowerment irrespective of demographics.

Notes:
Scientists discovered a new species of cicada in Meghalaya, dubbed “Butterfly Cicadas.” Cicadas, belonging to the Cicadidae family, are sound-producing insects with two pairs of wings, compound eyes, and ocelli. They measure 2 to 5 cm and males produce loud noises via vibrating membranes. Females typically lay eggs in woody plants. Over 3,000 cicada species exist, predominantly in tropical regions like deserts, grasslands, and forests.

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:
France may become the first country to pass a bill that bans hair discrimination, with the law proposed by Olivier Serva potentially addressing race-based discrimination. The bill is supported by President Macron’s party, but faces opposition.