Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
The city of Nashik in Maharashtra has been selected by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India to host the National Youth Festival (NYF) 2024. As per recent announcements, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the 5-day youth festival in Nashik on January 12, which will see participation of around 7,500 youths from across India. NYF is held every year to celebrate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on January 12. The selection of Nashik as the host gained attention as preparations are underway to organize this youth-centric national event focused on cultural programmes and competitions.

Notes:
Dharavi Redevelopment Project, spearheaded by the Adani Group, aims to transform Asia’s largest slum into a model of urban renewal, revitalizing its infrastructure and elevating the quality of life of its residents. The project, which involves global experts like architect Hafeez Contractor, design firm Sasaki, and consultancy firm Buro Happold, as well as experts from Singapore, is not just focused on physical redevelopment but also on nurturing the vibrant culture of Dharavi. The project’s goal is to create a sustainable, integrated live-work-play environment that respects and enhances the local community’s life, setting a global benchmark in equitable urban housing and redevelopment.

Notes:
The Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian is distinguished from its predecessors by its Electro-magnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). This advanced system enables the Fujian to launch a broader range of aircraft from its deck, marking a significant technological advancement over the previous carriers Shandong and Liaoning. The EMALS is noted for being more reliable and energy-efficient, and it represents a milestone in the modernization of the Chinese military. This feature places the Fujian alongside the Ford-class aircraft carriers of the US Navy, which are also equipped with the latest version of the EMALS, highlighting its significance in global naval capabilities. The development and implementation of the EMALS on the Fujian align with President Xi Jinping’s calls for increased combat-readiness and technological advances in the Chinese military.

Notes:
‘Aasha’ the female cheetah named by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave birth to a litter of three cubs inside Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This momentous event marks a major milestone for the cheetah restoration project in India. Authorities are closely monitoring Aasha and the cubs to ensure their healthy growth and development.

Notes:
Megha Engineering & Infrastructures contributed ₹87 crore, the highest among corporates, to electoral trusts in political funding during 2022-23 followed by Serum Institute of India at ₹50.25 crore as per the ADR report. Top 10 donors comprised 90.66% of total corporate contributions received by such trusts.

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NewSpace India Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO, plans to launch communications satellite GSAT-20 in Q2 of 2024 on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. It is a demand-driven high throughput satellite ordered by NSIL to meet India’s growing broadband needs.

Notes:
IHCL’s Managing Director & CEO Puneet Chhatwal assumed charge as Chairman of FAITH after Nakul Anand stepped down following retirement from ITC Hospitality. Chhatwal aims to make FAITH a strong tourism and hospitality policy advocacy body.

Notes:
Rajesh Kumar, CEO of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), in a recent media interaction revealed statistics that over ₹10,300 crore were siphoned off from India by cybercriminals since April 2021. I4C is a body established under the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide a framework for law agencies to tackle cybercrime.

Notes:
The 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement is to be held from January 17 to 20 in Kampala, Uganda, with a preceding foreign ministers’ meeting from January 15. The summit is a significant event for India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who will be attending and focusing on priorities for the Global South and outreach to Africa. The NAM, consisting of a diverse membership from across various continents, is a critical platform for global cooperation and solidarity, and Uganda’s chairmanship is seen as an opportunity for advancing common goals among the member countries. Uganda is set to chair the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) for the period 2024-2027.

Notes:
The brand name of the environmental label provided under the Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme, recently launched by the environment ministry, is PRAMAAN. This label is designed to inform both domestic and international consumers about the origin and source of forest and tree-based products. The certification scheme, which includes forest management certification, tree outside forest management certification, and chain of custody certification, aims to encourage sustainable forest management and agro-forestry practices. The PRAMAAN label plays a crucial role in addressing concerns regarding deforestation and illicit timber trade, thereby enhancing the marketability and export potential of India’s wood-based products.