Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
Astronaut Lora O’Hara on the International Space Station captured Alpenglow near the Hindu Kush. This natural phenomenon occurs during sunrise or sunset, casting rosy, reddish, or orange hues on mountain slopes. Alpenglow’s colors vary due to the sun’s angle and atmospheric conditions. Vibrancy depends on sun location, light angle, clouds, humidity, and particulates. The phenomenon rapid changes make it a captivating spectacle during the twilight hours.

Notes:
India has included five additional wetlands in the Ramsar Convention’s global list of significant wetlands, bringing the nation’s total to 80. Announced by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, the newly added wetlands include Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve, Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, and Aghanashini Estuary from Karnataka, along with Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary and Longwood Shola Reserve Forest from Tamil Nadu. This designation underscores India’s commitment to preserving vital waterlogged ecosystems.

Notes:
The German eROSITA consortium has released data from the first all-sky survey conducted by the eROSITA X-ray telescope on the Russian-German SRG observatory. eROSITA stands for extended ROentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array and is the main instrument on the Russian spacecraft Spektrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG). Launched in July 2019, it maps the entire celestial sphere every six months, with eight surveys planned until December 2023. The survey aims to provide insights into various astrophysical phenomena, including supermassive black hole evolution and X-ray-emitting solar system bodies.

Notes:
Researchers have discovered a new frog species, Sphaerotheca varshaabhu, thriving in Bengaluru’s urban landscape. Named for its rain-loving behavior, the amphibian emerges from burrows during early showers. With unique characteristics, it adapts to urban challenges, displaying behaviors and physical attributes that set it apart. The team employed genetic analysis, morphological studies, and bioacoustics to confirm its distinctiveness from known frog species.

Notes:
An international team of astronomers recently observed AT 2023clx, the nearest Tidal Disruption Event (TDE) to Earth. TDEs happen when a star comes too close to a supermassive black hole, torn apart by tidal forces. The resulting debris falls onto the black hole, emitting radiation that indicates a TDE’s occurrence. This international team’s multi-wavelength observations enhance our understanding of these celestial events.

Notes:
The 2024-25 government budget is projected at Rs 47, 65,768 crore (47.66 lakh crore), indicating a 6% rise from the revised 2023-24 estimate. Anticipated growth includes a 3.2% increase in revenue expenditure and a significant 16.9% surge in capital expenditure, reflecting fiscal priorities and economic strategies for the upcoming year.

Notes:
In February 2024, the Uttarakhand Police adopted self-balancing electric scooters to patrol the streets of Haridwar. The scooters are part of a new law enforcement method and are intended to improve safety for locals and tourists. The scooters are donated by Utkarsh Small Finance Bank and are intended to be used in crowded and narrow areas.

Notes:
PM Modi inaugurated the 2024 Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) – Commonwealth Attorneys and Solicitors General Conference (CASGC) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event brought together legal representatives from Commonwealth nations across Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Caribbean. With the theme “Cross-Border Challenges in Justice Delivery,” the conference addressed crucial topics such as judicial transition, ethical aspects of legal practice, executive accountability, and the reformulation of contemporary legal education. Stakeholders engaged in meaningful discussions on these issues, fostering collaboration in the Commonwealth legal fraternity.

Notes:
Justice Ritu Bahri made history by becoming the first woman Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court, taking the oath administered by Governor Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh. Previously a senior judge in Punjab and Haryana High Court, Bahri’s appointment marks a milestone for Uttarakhand. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj, Higher Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat, and Chief Secretary Radha Raturi were present at the swearing-in ceremony.

Notes:
Union Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated the foundation stone for India’s digital National Museum of Epigraphy at the Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad. Managed by the Archaeological Survey of India, the museum aims to digitize one lakh ancient inscriptions from various periods and languages, aligning with the Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions initiative. Reddy praised the development as a key stride in the Modi government’s “Vikas Bhi Virasat Bhi” commitment, underscoring the role of technology in providing universal access to cultural heritage and highlighting the museum’s transformative potential for scholars.