Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
Queen Margrethe II, who recently announced her abdication after 52 years on the throne, is the Queen of Denmark. This decision was made official during her New Year’s speech on the anniversary of her own accession to the throne, where she expressed her desire to pass on the responsibilities of the crown to her son, Crown Prince Frederik. Queen Margrethe is Europe’s longest-reigning living monarch and has been a popular public figure in Denmark, known for her warm manners, linguistic skills, and design talents. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen praised her lifelong dedication to the Kingdom of Denmark.

Notes:
The recently renamed Maa Manikeswari University is located in the state of Odisha, India. Formerly known as Kalahandi University, it was renamed after Maa Manikeswari, the presiding deity of Kalahandi district. The university has been functioning since September 1, 2020, and the name change was officially announced by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on November 1, during the foundation day of Kalahandi district. It was initially granted unitary university status in 2019 and now offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, serving the Kalahandi and Nuapada districts with over 50 affiliated colleges.

Notes:
The National Fisheries Development Board is establishing an Eri silk spinning plant at Mushalpur, Baksa district in Assam. This ₹15 crore project, part of the blue revolution scheme, will provide direct employment to 375 individuals and benefit 25,000 households engaged in silk production.

Notes:
Sri Lanka’s decision to impose a one-year ban on Chinese research vessels in its EEZ was influenced by concerns raised by India and the US. These concerns were regarding the potential activities of the Chinese vessels, including scientific research and ballistic missile tracking in the Indian Ocean. This move, which was communicated through diplomatic channels, reflects the geopolitical dynamics in the region, especially concerning the presence and activities of Chinese vessels in waters close to India.

Notes:
On January 1, 2024, South Korea introduced a digital nomad visa, enabling foreigners to live and work remotely in the country. This “workcation” visa, as termed by the Korean Ministry of Justice, offers a one-year stay, extendable by another year, for remote work with foreign companies. This initiative aims to facilitate longer stays for international remote workers, contrasting with the prior 90-day limit under tourist visas.

Notes:
Gujarat set a Guinness World Record on the first day of 2024 for the largest number of people, exceeding 50,000, performing Surya Namaskar simultaneously at 108 different venues. This feat was recognized as a significant cultural achievement and hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who emphasized the special significance of the number 108 in Indian culture. The event, which culminated in a state-wide competition, saw a major gathering at the iconic Modhera Sun Temple in Mehsana district, overseen by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

Notes:
As India pursues food self-sufficiency, an analysis shows reliance on importing vegetable oils, pulses and dried fruits persist due to domestic supply limitations. For 2023, these three categories dominate agriculture imports, contributing 72.1% of the total import bill as per commerce ministry data. Palm oils alone account for 51.9 percent due to poor oilseed yields constraining India’s progress in edible oil security.

Notes:
Perihelion refers to the point in Earth’s elliptical orbit when it is closest to the Sun. In 2024, this event known as Perihelion Day will occur on January 3 when Earth comes within 91.4 million miles of the Sun. It occurs around two weeks after the December solstice each year. The opposite point when Earth is farthest from the Sun is called Aphelion which will occur on July 6, 2024.

Notes:
Kyrgyzstan has declared the snow leopard as its new national symbol. Snow leopards inhabit the Tian Shan mountain range in the country. They feature in Kyrgyz folklore and are seen as a symbol of greatness, nobility and resilience. Conservation of the endangered species will be promoted under the new status.

Notes:
Venezuela has agreed to provide oil to India’s ONGC Videsh (OVL) as a form of compensation for a pending dividend amounting to approximately $600 million. This decision follows the easing of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela, allowing Indian refiners to resume the purchase of Venezuelan oil. ONGC Videsh, the overseas investment arm of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, holds a 40% stake in the San Cristobal field located in eastern Venezuela’s Orinoco Heavy Oil belt. The agreement to allocate crude cargoes in lieu of the accrued dividend is part of OVL’s continuous dialogue with PdVSA, Venezuela’s state oil company, to recover the dividend through various mechanisms, including the allocation of crude oil.