Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
The Forest Department conducted the annual wildlife census at Point Calimere, located in Kodiakkarai, Tamil Nadu. Also known as Cape Calimere, it’s situated on the Coromandel Coast, about 9 km south of Vedaranyam. This area boasts historical significance with structures like the Kodi Kuzhagar temple from the Chola period and a Chola lighthouse, destroyed during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The forests here are remnants of the East Deccan dry evergreen forests ecoregion.

Notes:
Tropical cyclone Gamane struck Madagascar, claiming 18 lives and displacing thousands, reported by the country’s disaster management office. Madagascar, the world’s second-largest island, spans 592,800 sq. kilometers in the Indian Ocean. Its geography comprises three regions: eastern coastal strip, central plateau, and western low plateaus. The Tsaratanana Massif in the north hosts Maromokotro, Madagascar’s highest peak at 2,876 m.

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:
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 A five-point resolution includes annual conferences, a study center for unpublished Sanskrit manuscripts, support for gurukuls’ development, joint research, and training programs.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:
REC Limited, a Ministry of Power entity, clinched the SKOCH ESG Award 2024 in ‘Renewable Energy Financing’. This accolade acknowledges REC’s dedication to sustainable financing, driving the shift towards renewable energy. As a pivotal player in India’s clean energy transition, REC spearheads numerous sustainable projects and engages in discussions with developers across various green sectors. The SKOCH ESG Awards highlight organizations’ commitment to environmental, social, and governance factors, crucial for India’s sustainable future.

Notes:
Germany, now the largest EU nation to legalize recreational cannabis, faces mixed reactions. Despite opposition, the law allows adults over 18 to possess 25 grams of cannabis and grow three plants at home. This marks a significant shift in drug policy, aligning Germany with progressive cannabis laws in Europe, like Malta and Luxembourg. The Netherlands, once lenient, has tightened regulations to curb cannabis tourism.

Notes:
The Bhojshala complex, located in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh, is a historically contested site between Hindus and Muslims. Protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, it holds significance as a temple for Hindus and a mosque for Muslims. An arrangement by ASI allows Hindus to conduct pujas on Tuesdays and Muslims to offer namaz on Fridays. Recently, the Supreme Court rejected a stay on ongoing scientific surveys, emphasizing no physical alterations to the structure

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:
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:
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.