Daily Current Affairs Quiz: February 7, 2024

Notes:
The Union Agriculture Minister revealed in Rajya Sabha that Thrips Parvispinus, an invasive pest, may have displaced native chilli thrips in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. This polyphagous pest affects various crops, including drumstick, pigeon pea, and mango. Originally reported in India in 2015, Thrips Parvispinus has spread globally, causing economic losses and viral infections. The pest’s infestation, exacerbated by heavy rainfall, leads to flower drop, reducing fruit production, posing a threat to horticultural crops amid changing agricultural practices and climate conditions.

Notes:
Namibia’s President, Hage Geingob, has died at 82 following cancer treatment. The first prime minister post-independence, he became Namibia’s third president in 2014, securing re-election in 2019. Geingob, a key figure since independence from South Africa, held the record for Namibia’s longest-serving prime minister before assuming the presidency. His passing marks the end of a significant era in Namibian political history.

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.

Notes:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently achieved success with four flight trials of ‘ABHYAS,’ a high-speed expendable aerial target. Developed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment, ABHYAS serves as a realistic threat scenario for weapon systems practice and validates Armed Forces equipment for aerial engagement. It features an autonomous flying design, an indigenously made autopilot, and a laptop-based Ground Control System for integration and analysis.

Notes:
The Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) program, initiated by the Ministry of Culture, aims to culturally map India’s 6.5 lakh villages, encompassing 29 States and 7 Union Territories. Launched on July 27, 2023, under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping, it compiles information on seven categories, from arts and crafts to historical and ecological aspects. The virtual platform enables people to explore India’s rich cultural heritage, fostering appreciation, economic growth, social harmony, and artistic development in rural communities.