Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

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.

Notes:
World Radio Day is celebrated on February 13th, and 2024 will be the 11th edition of the event. The theme for World Radio Day 2024 is “Radio: A century informing, entertaining and educating”. This theme is meant to highlight the history of radio and its influence on many areas, including news, music, sports, and drama. The theme also emphasizes radio’s ongoing evolution in a digital age.

Notes:
The Prime Minister of India launched PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, a ₹75,000 crore initiative providing 300 units of free electricity per month to 1 crore households. The scheme promotes rooftop solar systems through incentives to Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats. The Central Government ensures no financial burden on citizens, offering subsidies and concessional bank loans. Benefits include annual savings, electric vehicle charging, entrepreneurship, and job opportunities in solar-related fields.

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On February 14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir in Abu Dhabi. BAPS, a socio-spiritual Hindu faith rooted in the Vedas, was formally established in 1907 CE. It promotes practical spirituality and addresses spiritual, moral, and social challenges. BAPS followers adhere to five lifetime vows, and the organization is involved in global humanitarian activities, education, women’s development, and holds NGO status with the UN Economic and Social Council.

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NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, part of a joint mission with ESA and ASI, recently unveiled a vast ocean beneath the icy surface of Saturn’s moon Mimas. Launched in 1997, Cassini orbited Saturn from 2004 to 2017, contributing vital insights about the planet and its moons. Weighing 2,125 kg, it mapped Titan’s surface with radar and studied Saturn’s magnetic field. Cassini’s Huygens probe, weighing 349 kg, landed on Titan, discovering six moons and identifying Enceladus and Titan as potential locations for extraterrestrial life.

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The Rajasthan government introduced the Mukhyamantri Vishwakarma Pension Yojana, offering a monthly pension of Rs. 2,000 to eligible workers aged 60 or above. The initiative aims to support laborers and street vendors, ensuring their welfare by helping them meet daily needs independently. This special scheme underscores the government’s commitment to improving the livelihoods of vulnerable sections in Rajasthan.

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The Andhra Pradesh government has enforced a month-long fishing ban within a 5-km radius of Hope Island to safeguard Olive Ridley turtles along the Kakinada coast. Olive Ridleys, named for their green carapace, are the smallest sea turtles globally. Known for unique mass nesting called Arribada, they primarily inhabit warm waters in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. The Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Odisha houses the world’s largest rookery of sea turtles. With a Vulnerable status on the IUCN Red List, Olive Ridleys face threats requiring protective measures.

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Union Minister Shri Parshottam Rupala unveiled the enhanced Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) scheme with an increased outlay of ₹29,610 crore, up from ₹15,000 crore, showcasing the government’s dedication to boost the livestock sector. The Cabinet approved the realignment, extending the scheme until 2025-26, emphasizing support for rural livelihoods. Additionally, a Radio Jingle for AHIDF was introduced during the event in New Delhi.

Notes:
The United World Wrestling (UWW) lifted the suspension on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The WFI was placed under a provisional suspension on August 23, 2023, after failing to hold an election within a reasonable time frame. The suspension lift means that Indian wrestlers can now compete in upcoming tournaments under their country’s flag.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the 300 MW Barsingsar Solar Power Plant in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district, advancing India’s renewable energy goals. NLC India Limited, a Navratna CPSE, is implementing the project under the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy’s CPSE Scheme. The initiative, aligned with the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative, uses cutting-edge technology, aims to produce 750 million units of green power annually, and marks NLCIL as the first CPSE to achieve a 1 GW Solar capacity milestone in India.