Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
The caracal, a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, Middle East, and parts of Asia, including India, faces extinction due to habitat loss, hunting, and illegal trade. In India, it’s called Siya gosh, meaning ‘black ear’. Known for its distinctive long ears and hunting prowess, the caracal primarily preys on small mammals and birds. Despite being listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, conservation efforts are crucial to safeguard its population.

Notes:
Sanjay Nayar, former chairman of Sorin Investment Fund, assumes presidency at ASSOCHAM for 2024-25, succeeding Ajay Singh of SpiceJet. Nayar, with extensive global financial experience, notably at Citigroup and KKR, retired in 2023. He played pivotal roles in establishing KKR India operations and serves on Nykaa’s board. Active in various industry bodies, Nayar aims to bolster sustainability initiatives during his tenure, aligning with India’s developmental objectives.

Notes:
International Mine Awareness Day, observed annually on April 4th, aims to raise awareness and eliminate landmines. The 2024 theme is “Protecting Lives, Building Peace.” Previously, in 2023, the focus was “Mine Action Cannot Wait.” Established by the UN General Assembly in 2005, it urges national mine-operation capabilities with UN support. The day highlights the dangers of landmines and strives for their eradication, emphasizing peace and safety worldwide.

Notes:
Recently, a destructive tornado hit Mainaguri, Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, leaving five dead and over a hundred injured within its 10-minute rampage. Tornadoes, though rare, afflict India’s eastern regions like West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand, especially pre-monsoon. A 2016 study by India Meteorological Department noted increased tornado activity in Bengal, with fatalities. Rising occurrences in India are attributed to factors like warming Bay of Bengal and unusual wind patterns.

Notes:
The Tamil Nadu State Forest Department, with WWF-India, radio-collared a male Nilgiri Tahr in Mukurthi National Park, marking the first collar operation without tranquilization. Nilgiri Tahr, also called Varaiaadu, is Tamil Nadu’s state animal and the sole mountain ungulate in southern India. With an endangered status, its habitat spans the Western Ghats. Threatened by habitat loss and poaching, the species’ resilience underscores its ecological significance in high-stress environments.

Notes:
Widespread damage to cardamom plantations in Kerala due to drought has led to significant losses for farmers. With fears of further crop destruction, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Idukki suggest strategies like foliar application of PPFM and disease prevention treatments to mitigate the impact on cardamom production, emphasizing the urgent need for action to safeguard livelihoods in affected regions.

Notes:
The 2nd INSA-NCGG LEADS program, held in New Delhi from April 1-7, 2024, is a collaborative effort between the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG). It aims to cultivate future leaders in science and technology, promoting visionary leadership and scientific excellence in India. Professors and scientists from various prestigious institutions participate, supported by NCGG’s governance training and INSA’s scientific excellence promotion.

Notes:
The Centre has issued a draft notification delineating an Ecologically Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandigarh. ESZs are vital and delicate areas near protected zones, designated by the central government under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Guidelines categorize activities as prohibited (e.g., commercial mining), regulated (e.g., tree felling), or permitted (e.g., local agriculture). This aims to safeguard biodiversity while allowing sustainable human practices.

Notes:
Miraj, a town in Maharashtra’s Sangli district, famed for crafting sitars and tanpuras, earns Geographical Indication (GI) tags. These instruments are highly sought after by classical musicians and film industry professionals. Craftsmanship from Miraj is renowned, with artisans claiming their instruments are favored by prominent artists for their quality and sound.

Notes:
The Port of Baltimore, a vital seaport on the Patapsco River in Maryland, serves as a commercial hub connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. Despite its closure due to a bridge collapse on March 26, efforts are underway to remove containers from the stranded ship Dali, a 984-foot vessel. Once completed, it will take weeks to tow the ship and reopen the port, which ranks ninth in the U.S. by trade volume.