Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
With fishing halted, migratory birds flock to Maravakandy Dam in the Nilgiris. Situated 35 km from Ooty in Tamil Nadu, it was constructed in 1951 over Aravarihalla stream, a Sigur River tributary. This dam serves as the main water source for the Moyar hydroelectric powerhouse, attracting diverse avian species during migratory seasons.

Notes:
Indian and Nepalese Sanskrit scholars unite to enhance Sanskrit research and education. The three-day Nepal-India International Sanskrit Conclave in Kathmandu, organized by Niti Anusandhan Pratisthan, Nepal, along with Delhi’s Central Sanskrit University and India Foundation, saw over 120 experts participating. A five-point resolution includes annual conferences, a study center for unpublished Sanskrit manuscripts, support for gurukuls’ development, joint research, and training programs. The initiative aims to strengthen cultural ties and preserve Sanskrit heritage.

Notes:
The International Energy Agency (IEA) recently released its 2023 Clean Energy Transitions Programme report. Established in 2017, the program aims to accelerate global progress towards a net-zero energy system, aligning with the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals. IEA, founded in 1974 amidst an oil crisis, operates within the OECD framework, collaborating with governments and industries worldwide. With 31 member countries and stringent criteria for candidacy, it focuses on shaping a secure, sustainable energy future.

Notes:
Chamayavilakku, or the Kottankulangara Festival, celebrates goddess Bhagavathy in Kerala. Men don women’s attire, carrying lamps in processions. They hold Chamayavilakku, symbolizing devotion, circling the temple. Boys under 10 dress as girls for Kakkavilakku daytime rituals.

Notes:
The International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring in the Arctic (INTERACT) is a EU-funded project granting researchers access to Arctic research stations across Europe, Russia, and North America. It facilitates work in remote areas, fostering cross-fertilization and enabling comparative measurements. Researchers contribute to new research directions while accessing otherwise inaccessible regions.

Notes:
Deanna Syme Tewari, former Asian Games athlete and torchbearer at the 1982 Delhi edition, died in Dubai at 85. Representing Mysore State, she secured the long jump gold at the 1957 National Athletics Championship and 1958 National Games. She represented India at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta. Deanna also served as the torchbearer for the 1982 Asian Games. Despite her athletic achievements, she eventually retired from the sport.

Notes:
The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) in Bengaluru unveils OptiDrop, a groundbreaking microfluidic chip-based platform. OptiDrop simplifies single-cell studies, cutting costs and enabling precise analysis within encapsulated droplets. Supported by BIRAC, DST, and MHRD, its features include live data visualization and a ‘closed’ system design. With applications spanning diagnostics, therapeutics, agriculture, and animal health, OptiDrop facilitates drug screening, water contamination monitoring, CAR-T cell sorting, CRISPR-modified cell selection, and single-cell genomics.

Notes:
SJVN Limited has partnered with IIT Patna to enhance tunnelling projects using advanced geological models. The agreement, signed in New Delhi on April 2, 2024, aims to develop predictive analytics algorithms for early risk detection, reducing time and cost. The priority lies in integrating diverse geotechnical data sources and evaluating overburden-deformation relationships. This strategic collaboration underscores both entities’ commitment to sustainable development and technological innovation in infrastructure projects.

Notes:
India’s DRDO and Strategic Forces Command successfully tested the ‘Agni-Prime’ ballistic missile at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha. Range sensors, including two ships, captured data. Witnessed by top officials, Agni-P is a medium-range ballistic missile with nuclear capabilities, designed as successor to Agni-I and II. It boasts a 1,000-2,000 km strike range, advanced technology from Agni-IV/V, and features composite materials for lightweight and strength. It’s a two-stage, solid-fueled, road-mobile missile with dual navigation.

Notes:
Romania has developed the world’s most powerful laser, which is part of the European Union’s Infrastructure ELI project. The laser, called the “Extreme Light Infrastructure-Nuclear Physics”- (ELI-NP) laser, is located in Magurele, Romania, near Bucharest. It uses Chirped-Pulse Amplification, which is a groundbreaking technology based on the inventions of Nobel Physics Prize winners Gerard Mourou and Donna Strickland. The laser is operated by the French company Thales and is expected to have revolutionary applications in healthcare and space exploration.