Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
The 11th bilateral Consular Dialogue between India and the US took place in New Delhi. The Indian delegation, led by Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, is hosting the US delegation led by Ambassador Rena Bitter. The dialogue is intended to strengthen the cooperation between the two countries on consular issues.The discussion includes topics such as: Extradition, Mobility of students and professionals, Safe and legal migration, Protection of vulnerable women and children and Enabling smooth travel of their respective nationals

Notes:
Odisha’s State Government has extended the KALIA scheme for three more years. The initiative aims to financially support small and marginal farmers, including sharecroppers and tenant farmers, through direct income transfers. The scheme, synchronized with PM-KISAN, provides a combined annual benefit of ₹10,000 to small and marginal farmers, comprising ₹6,000 from PM-KISAN and ₹4,000 from KALIA. Additionally, it offers various benefits such as scholarships for KALIA beneficiaries’ children and livelihood packages for landless households.

Notes:
Over 500 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the defense sector are participating in Maharashtra’s inaugural MSME Defence Expo in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune. Organized by the state government and inaugurated by Chief Eknath Shinde, the event showcases products developed for the Indian Armed Forces by these enterprises. The expo highlights the growing contribution of MSMEs to the defense industry, fostering innovation and collaboration in the region.

Notes:
The completion of Shahpur Kandi barrage on the Punjab-Jammu and Kashmir border has stopped water flow from the River Ravi to Pakistan. Located downstream from the Ranjit Sagar Dam, the Shahpur Kandi Dam Project aims at power generation and irrigation in Punjab and J&K. Constructed by the Punjab government’s irrigation department; it includes a 55.5 m high concrete gravity dam, a 7.70 km long hydel channel, two head regulators, and two powerhouses, with a total output capacity of 206 MW.

Notes:
Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism introduces a five-year multiple-entry visa to boost travel between India and the UAE. In response to a surge in Indian visitors, India is the leading source market for tourists in the region. The visa, processed in 2-5 days, allows a 90-day stay, extendable for another 90 days, totaling a maximum of 180 days within a year. This initiative aims to facilitate and encourage increased tourism between the two countries.

Notes:
Shafiqur Rahman Barq, a 93-year-old Samajwadi Party MP representing Sambhal, passed away after a prolonged illness. He served as a four-time MLA and was elected as MP in 2019. Barq’s deteriorating health led to his admission to a Moradabad hospital. The Samajwadi Party mourns his loss, expressing deep sadness and extending condolences to his family.

Notes:
Indian PM and Mauritius PM will inaugurate a modern airstrip and jetty on Agalega Island, Mauritius, strengthening connectivity with mainland Mauritius. Agalega, a dependency of Mauritius, comprises two outer islands in the southwest Indian Ocean, situated 1,050 km north of Mauritius Island, with a total area of 2,600 ha. The projects enhance transportation infrastructure for the remote islands.

Notes:
According to the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) consumer expenditure survey, India’s poverty rate is 5%. This indicates that both rural and urban areas are becoming more prosperous. The survey also shows that per capita monthly household expenditure has doubled. The survey also shows that rural poverty has declined from 25.7% in 2011-12 to 7.2% in 2022-23. Urban poverty has also declined from 4.6% in 2011-12 to 4.5-5% in 2022-23.

Notes:
Odisha has appealed to the NTCA to introduce tigers into Similipal Tiger Reserve to address the emergence of pseudo-melanistic tigers. Out of 30 tigers in the reserve, 13 adults exhibited pseudo-melanistic traits, a phenomenon unique to Similipal. This indicates potential inbreeding and strong stochastic effects. No other wild habitat globally has pseudo-melanistic tigers. The move seeks to enhance genetic diversity and preserve the unique characteristics of Similipal’s tiger population.

Notes:
Recently, scientists found North Atlantic right whales are diminishing in size, impacting their breeding. Migratory, they winter in warm waters and migrate to polar regions in late summer. Inhabiting temperate and subpolar waters of the North Atlantic and North Pacific, their distribution is mainly along the East Coast of the United States and Canada. There are three recognized species globally. Critically endangered, North Atlantic right whales skim-feed on plankton, facing threats like habitat loss, making conservation crucial (IUCN: Critically endangered, CITES: Appendix I).