Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
The rare Dusted Apollo butterfly (Parnassius stenosemus) was recently spotted and photographed for the first time in Himachal Pradesh, extending its known distribution from Ladakh to West Nepal. Resembling Ladakh Banded Apollo, it distinguishes with a complete discal band on the upper forewing. The sighting of the protected Regal Apollo (Parnassius charltonius) also occurred, highlighting the rich diversity of Apollo butterflies in the region. Urgent conservation is needed as Apollos face commercial poaching threats, emphasizing the importance of community awareness and establishing conservation measures like butterfly parks.

Notes:
Australian researchers recently developed a solution for a lupus defect. Lupus, an autoimmune disease, prompts the immune system to harm organs and tissues, causing inflammation in skin, joints, blood, and vital organs like kidneys and heart. Its origin is unknown, believed to result from a blend of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. Lupus predominantly affects women. Variants include Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Discoid lupus, Subacute cutaneous lupus, Drug-induced lupus, and rare Neonatal lupus linked to maternal antibodies in newborns.

Notes:
The 7th Indian Ocean Conference, hosted in Perth, Australia, is a key consultative forum for Indian Ocean Region nations. Organized by the Ministry of External Affairs and India Foundation, the theme is “Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean.” Notable attendees include India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong. Over 22 countries and 400 leaders will discuss regional cooperation for Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).

Notes:
Russian forces recently launched a 3M22 Zircon missile targeting Kyiv. The 3M22 Zircon is a scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missile developed in Russia, boasting speeds up to Mach 9 and a 1000 km range. It features a two-stage design with solid fuel in the first stage and a scramjet motor in the second. The missile employs cooled supersonic combustion ramjet engines, creating a plasma cloud during flight for radar invisibility. It differs from other hypersonic weapons like China’s DF-17 or Russia’s Avangard, using an active and passive radar seeker guidance system.

Notes:
The Kalingarayan Anicut, a 13th-century barrage on the Bhavani River in Erode, Tamil Nadu, is among the world’s oldest water diversion projects. Acknowledged as a World Heritage Irrigation Structure in 2021 by ICID, it was commissioned by Kalingarayan, the ruler of Poondurai Nadu, a Kongu Nadu subdivision. In 1240, he joined Madurai Pandyas as a soldier, and in 1265, earned the title ‘Kalingarayan’ from Sadayavarman Sundara Pandyan, subsequently ruling Poondurai Nadu.

Notes:
Astronomers at Nanjing University, China, using the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope, FAST, detected a radio pulsar in CTB 87 supernova remnant. FAST, located in Guizhou, has a receiving area equivalent to 30 football fields and aims to maintain its world-class status for 20-30 years. Its goals include detecting neutral hydrogen at the universe’s edge, reconstructing early universe images, discovering pulsars, participating in gravitational wave detection, and contributing to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

Notes:
Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar inaugurated Precision Approach Radar (PAR) at INS Utkrosh in Andaman and Nicobar Islands during his 3-day visit to bolster the strategic tri-service command. The PAR, manufactured by a Chennai company, enhances aircraft landing safety in low visibility conditions, such as heavy rain and fog, offering precise horizontal and vertical guidance. This system strengthens the Andaman and Nicobar Command’s defense capabilities.

Notes:
The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) faces local extinction in Andhra Pradesh’s Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary due to no sightings for years. Established in 1988, it’s the state’s sole GIB Sanctuary, aiming to protect the endangered bird. Situated amid Nallamalai and Yerramalai hill ranges, the sanctuary harbors diverse flora, including 32 grass species and prominent trees like Cassia fistula and Butea monosperma. The absence of GIB sightings underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts in the region.

Notes:
The Assam cabinet approved the Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024 to address the issue of magical healing practices in the name of treatment. The bill states that anyone found guilty of committing the illegal act in the name of treatment/magic healing shall be punished with imprisonment and a fine. The bill’s purpose is to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation in the name of magical healing.

Notes:
The Odisha government designates Gupteswar forest in Koraput district as its fourth Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS), recognizing its unique and ecologically fragile ecosystems. BHS criteria include species richness, high endemism, rare and threatened species, keystone species, evolutionary significance, and cultural values. State governments, under the Biological Diversity Act, declare BHS in consultation with local bodies, framing rules for management and conservation. BHS helps combat biodiversity loss, vital for ecological security, urging conservation ethics within communities.