Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
The Indian Navy rescued the Iranian fishing vessel Al Kambar and its 23 Pakistani crew members from armed pirates in the Indian Ocean under Operation Sankalp. INS Sumedha and INS Trishul conducted the operation, lasting over 12 hours, about 90 nautical miles southwest of Socotra. The vessel is undergoing checks for seaworthiness. The Socotra Archipelago, near the Gulf of Aden, is under Yemen’s jurisdiction.

Notes:
Scientists from the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation in India discovered Cnemaspis vangoghi, a new lizard species in Tamil Nadu’s Southern Western Ghats. Named after Vincent Van Gogh, it measures up to 3.4 cm and sports a striking coloration reminiscent of ‘The Starry Night’. Preferring rocky habitats, it can be found on buildings and trees. Alongside C. vangoghi, another species, Cnemaspis sathuragiriensis, was identified in the same region. Both species inhabit low-elevation forests in the Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve.

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:
NICES programme, operated by ISRO and the Department of Space, called upon Indian researchers to combat climate change. Launched in 2012 under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, NICES monitors climate variability using Earth Observation satellites. Its objectives include disseminating Essential Climate Variables crucial for understanding Earth’s climate. With over 70 accessible geophysical variables, NICES focuses on space-based indicators, weather extremes, and climate services.

Notes:
India aims to boost marine product exports to 12 billion in two years through increased processing capacity and higher-value products. In 2022-23, exports totaled 8.09 billion. However, from April to February 2023-24, exports dipped 7.5% to 6.8 billion, largely due to decreased exports to the US and Europe. The government targets 9.1 billion in exports for 2023-24. India ranks third in fish production globally and second in aquaculture.

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:
Archaeologists from Kerala University recently uncovered a 5,200-year-old Harappan settlement at Padta Bet near Juna Khatiya, Gujarat. The site is adjacent to an Early Harappan necropolis. Archaeobotanical samples were collected for plant identification and understanding agricultural practices. Previously, a mass burial site with 500 graves was discovered nearby. The recent excavation revealed skeletons, pottery, animal bones, semi-precious stones, terracotta spindle whorls, copper, and various tools.

Notes:
National Maritime Day, observed annually on April 5th, honors the pivotal role of maritime transport in global trade. It commemorates the 1919 voyage of SS Loyalty from Mumbai to London. Additionally, ‘World Maritime Day’ is celebrated on the last Thursday of September, with the 2024 date set for September 26th. This year’s theme for India’s National Maritime Day, declared by the Union Shipping Ministry, is “Navigating the Future: Safety First.”

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.

Notes:
The Sannati Buddhist site, discovered in the 1990s by ASI excavations, underwent neglect until a restoration project in 2022. Situated by the Bhima River near Kanaganahalli in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, it’s renowned for the Chandrala Parameshwari Temple. Notable findings include the Maha Stupa constructed over three phases from 3rd Century B.C. to 3rd Century A.D. and the Ranamandala area showcasing a chronological scale from prehistoric to early historic eras. An inscription in Prakrit using Brahmi script was also unearthed.