Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to conduct ‘Gagan Shakti-2024’, the nation’s largest air military exercise, involving all Air Force stations. Held every five years, it will commence on April 1, 2024, at Pokhran’s field firing range. Approximately 10,000 airmen will participate, with maneuvers spanning the Western and Northern fronts. The Indian Army is aiding logistical support, ensuring synergy across sectors for operational rail mobilization.

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:
IIT Kanpur recently signed an MoU with Conlis Global, a Canadian biotech company, for licensing a groundbreaking technology promoting bone healing and regeneration. Nano Hydroxyapatite-based Porous Composite Scaffolds, developed indigenously, possess biodegradable, osteoinductive, and osteopromotive properties crucial for bone regeneration. Highly biocompatible, these scaffolds demonstrate robust mechanical strength and foster excellent interaction between polymer networks and solvents, facilitating cell-material interactions with osteoblast cells.

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:
Documents obtained through an RTI application by Tamil Nadu’s BJP chief K. Annamalai reveal India’s inconsistent approach to the Katchatheevu island dispute with Sri Lanka. Katchatheevu, a small island in the Palk Strait, lacks a permanent settlement and freshwater source. Administered by both India and Sri Lanka historically, a 1974 agreement marked its boundary. Indian fishermen, particularly from Tamil Nadu, face challenges due to conflicting claims over the island.

Notes:
India’s Government e-Market (GeM) portal ranks as the world’s third-largest e-commerce platform for public procurement. GeM’s CEO PK Singh reported a gross merchandise value (GMV) exceeding Rs 4 lakh crore, doubling from the previous fiscal year. Launched in 2016, GeM facilitates transactions between government institutions and vendors, driving digital inclusion. The platform recorded Rs 2.01 lakh crore in orders for the last fiscal year, showcasing its significant growth trajectory.

Notes:
SEBI launched SCORES 2.0, enhancing complaint resolution for investors in securities markets. The system features auto-routing, auto-escalation, and monitoring by designated bodies, reducing complaint resolution timelines. SCORES is an online platform for lodging complaints. The new version is more user-friendly and aims for quicker complaint resolution. An application for SCORES will also be launched later.

Notes:
An anti-dumping investigation has commenced on imports of ‘insoluble sulphur’ from China and Japan. Insoluble sulphur, an amorphous form of sulfur, doesn’t dissolve in carbon disulfide. Widely utilized as a rubber additive, especially in automobile parts like tires and shoes, it acts as a vulcanization accelerator, enhancing rubber quality and durability through cross-linking. This process, vital in the rubber industry, improves product wearability and overall quality.

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:
Delhi’s Forest and Wildlife Department is setting up a tissue culture lab at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary to propagate endangered native trees. The lab aims to regenerate saplings of rare species facing challenges in natural regeneration. Tissue culture, also known as micropropagation, involves growing plant cells in a controlled, sterile environment. This technique allows for the production of clones from a single cell, aiding conservation efforts for threatened trees in the city.