Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
The Konda Reddi tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group in the Godavari region, possess valuable indigenous knowledge. They reside along the Godavari river and in hilly forests of Andhra Pradesh. Their language, Telugu, has a distinct accent. Marriage customs include negotiations, elopement, and capture. The tribe practices Folk Hinduism, worshiping local deities. They have a patriarchal family structure allowing polygamy.

Notes:
Adani Total Energies Biomass Limited (ATBL), a subsidiary of Adani Total Gas Limited (ATGL), has commissioned the first phase of Barsana BioGas plant in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. The project, developed in three phases, will have a total capacity of 600 tonnes per day, producing 42 tonnes per day of Compressed Biogas (CBG) and 217 tonnes per day of organic fertilizer. It’s set to be India’s largest agri-waste-based bio-CNG plant, costing over ₹200 crore, utilizing advanced anaerobic digestion technology for sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Notes:
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) published “A Decade of Documenting Migrant Deaths” marking ten years of its Missing Migrants Project (MMP), initiated in 2014. Key findings reveal over one-third of migrants from conflict zones, with two-thirds of deaths unidentified. Major causes include drowning, accidents, and suffocation. Brain drain exacerbates economic inequalities.

Notes:
The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KSO), celebrating its 125th year, is an Indian Institute of Astrophysics facility in Tamil Nadu. Pioneering in solar physics, it gained fame with John Evershed’s discovery of the Evershed Effect in 1909. Over centuries, it’s been pivotal in studying solar eclipses, sunspots, and solar flares, crucial for understanding the Sun’s impact on Earth’s atmosphere.

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:
Uttar Pradesh leads India with the most Geographical Indication (GI) certified products, now totaling 69 after the addition of 15 new items, surpassing Tamil Nadu’s 58. Sanjhi art, originating in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh in the 16th century, is renowned for intricate designs and spiritual significance. Associated with the mother goddess Sanjhi, the craft involves mud images crafted into cosmic forms. It originated around Krishna temples and is now practiced nationwide.

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:
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:
The Manohar International Airport, Mopa, joins 13 others in India adopting the Digi Yatra system, enhancing travel convenience. Launched by Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, it utilizes facial recognition to streamline passenger verification, reducing wait times and simplifying procedures. Passengers download the DigiYatra app, link it to their Aadhaar number, and create a Digi Yatra ID for ticket purchase. At the airport, scanning the boarding pass initiates facial recognition for seamless entry.

Notes:
India aims to establish its inaugural privately managed Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) by 2029-30, allowing trading rights to the operator. As the world’s third-largest oil importer and consumer, India prioritizes stable petroleum supply. Presently, it has three operational SPRs with a combined capacity of 5.33 MMT. To bolster energy security, India plans two new facilities in Karnataka and Odisha, with private companies permitted to trade 100% of stored oil in a public-private partnership model, enhancing SPR capacity and financing.