Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
The Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) payload on the Aditya-L1 satellite detected the impact of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) on solar wind. The PAPA payload is an energy and mass analyzer that measures solar wind electrons and ions. It contains two sensors, the Solar Wind Electron Energy Probe (SWEEP) and the Solar Wind lon Composition Analyser (SWICAR).

Notes:
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that Armenia had “suspended” its participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). According to a Russian expert, Pashinyan’s remarks are a result of recent agreements with France and a move to work with Western nations for military cooperation. The CSTO is a Russian-led regional military bloc established on May 14, 2002.

Notes:
In February 2024, Germany’s economy ministry announced a plan to allow carbon transport and sub-seabed storage for certain industries: Carbon capture: Capture carbon dioxide emissions, Carbon storage: Store carbon emissions underground or abroad, such as at offshore sites, Carbon use: Use captured carbon dioxide in other industries. The move marks a change in Germany’s attitude toward carbon storage, which was almost banned in the country about a decade ago. Campaigners have criticized the plan as expensive and a burden for future generations.

Notes:
Hyderabad-based Raghu Vamsi Machine Tools Private Limited unveiled its indigenous Micro Turbojet Engine, “INDRA RV25: 240N.” Developed with support from IIT Hyderabad, this micro turbojet is designed for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), air taxis, jetpacks, and power generation. The engine, operating on the principle of accelerating air to produce thrust, offers applications in various sectors. The fully indigenous technology marks a significant milestone in India’s aerospace capabilities, showcasing the firm’s expertise in turbojet engine development.

Notes:
The world’s first Vedic clock, displaying time according to the ancient Indian Panchang, has been erected in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, standing at 85 feet within Jantar Mantar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate it on March 1. The clock, adjacent to the Jiwaji observatory, showcases Vedic Hindu Panchang, planetary positions, Muhurat, astrological calculations, predictions, and indicates Indian Standard Time (IST) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Its time calculation is based on the duration from one sunrise to the next.

Notes:
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune officially inaugurated the Grand Mosque of Algiers, also known as Djamaa El-Djazair. The Grand Mosque of Algiers is the world’s third-largest mosque and features the world’s tallest minaret at 869 feet (265 meters).

Notes:
A recent study focused on the Stratospheric Aerosol Intervention (SAI) to combat global warming in West Asia and North Africa. SAI involves injecting reflective aerosols into the stratosphere to mimic the cooling effects of volcanic eruptions. Inspired by the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption, this method aims to scatter radiation in the stratosphere, reducing tropospheric absorption. The artificial aerosol layer can be created by deploying sulfur particles via cannons, balloons, or aircraft. The study evaluates SAI’s potential impact on mitigating global warming in the MENA region.

Notes:
The Uttarakhand government plans to introduce the Uttarakhand Public and Private Property Damage Recovery Bill in the upcoming budget session. This legislation aims to hold rioters financially responsible for damages to both government and private property during protests or strikes. If enacted, Uttarakhand would be the third state, following Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, to implement such a law. The initiative aligns with the government’s agenda to uphold law and order and safeguard public and private assets from unlawful destruction.

Notes:
The Assam government has repealed the Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act, 1935, as announced in a recent cabinet meeting in Guwahati. The Act, utilized by 94 Muslim registrars for marriage and divorce registrations, will no longer be valid. Assam Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah revealed the decision, stating that Muslim marriage and divorce registrations will no longer be conducted under this Act. The government will offer a one-time compensation of two lakh rupees to the affected Muslim Marriage Registrars for rehabilitation.

Notes:
Researchers in Goa have produced gold nanoparticles from the Termitomyces species, a wild mushroom widely consumed in the region. This mushroom plays a vital role in ecosystems, converting 50% of dead plant material into soil. Found on termite hills in the Western Ghats, it relies on termites for growth. Harvesting was banned in 1992 due to concerns about forest diseases, but the ban was later limited to wildlife sanctuaries and government-owned protected forests, emphasizing potential ecological risks.