Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
Nepal’s government imposed a ban on its citizens from traveling to Russia or Ukraine for employment due to concerns over their recruitment in the ongoing armed conflict. The Department of Employment in Nepal issued a notice following reports that Nepalese nationals were being recruited by the Russian Army to fight in the conflict, with some casualties and captures reported. There are also unconfirmed beliefs that some Nepalese citizens might be fighting as hired soldiers on the Ukrainian side. This decision by the Nepalese government highlights the serious implications of international conflicts on citizens and the measures taken to ensure their safety and well-being.

Notes:
The Al Udeid Air Base, where the United States has extended its military presence for an additional 10 years, is located in Qatar. This base is significant as it hosts the largest US military facility in West Asia. The extension of the US military presence at Al Udeid Air Base underscores the strategic importance of Qatar in the region and the ongoing partnership between Qatar and the United States in military and defense matters. The base plays a crucial role in various US military operations in the region, making this extension a key development in international military and geopolitical dynamics.

Notes:
Sheikh Hasina, who recently secured a record fourth consecutive term as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, belongs to the Awami League. Under her leadership, the Awami League won 200 seats in the 300-seat parliament in the Bangladesh general elections. This significant victory not only solidified Sheikh Hasina’s position as the Prime Minister but also reaffirmed the Awami League’s strong presence and influence in Bangladeshi politics. The party’s success in these elections continues its long-standing dominance in the country’s political landscape.

Notes:
According to the recent agreements signed between India and Nepal, India has agreed to purchase 10,000 MW of hydropower from Nepal. This agreement will facilitate the export of 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal to India over the next 10 years. The agreement was one of several signed during the comprehensive talks held between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Nepalese counterpart, N P Saud. This hydropower purchase is a significant aspect of the bilateral ties between the two countries, emphasizing cooperation in the energy sector. It reflects the ongoing efforts to strengthen economic and strategic relations between India and Nepal. Additionally, the agreement is a step forward in enhancing energy security and promoting sustainable energy development in the region.

Notes:
Karnataka is set to release its Human Development Index (HDI) report for tribal groups, becoming the second state in India to do so after Kerala. The research project, undertaken by the University of Mysore’s Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP) led by its director DC Nanjunda and Professor GS Premakumar from the Mandya PG Study Centre Department of Economics, was sponsored by the Union ministry of tribal affairs. This comprehensive study, conducted over three years, involved collecting data from over 5,000 members of more than 51 vulnerable tribal groups spread across various settlements in Karnataka.

Notes:
Assam government has launched ‘Baayu’, an app-based electric bike taxi service by the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC). It is India’s first decentralized, app-based 100% electric bike taxi service that was flagged off by Assam Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya in Guwahati.

Notes:
The INS Kabra, an indigenous fast attack craft of the Car Nicobar class, recently docked at the Colombo port as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka. Named after an island in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, the INS Kabra is one of the high-speed offshore patrol vessels built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) for the Indian Navy. As the eighth vessel in a series of 10 Fast Attack Crafts, it is designed for cost-effective patrol, anti-piracy, and rescue operations in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The class and its vessels are named after Indian islands, and they represent the first water jet propelled vessels in the Indian Navy.

Notes:
Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the ISRO and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) for the development of a Joint Small Satellite. MoU will help to establish a framework for cooperation between ISRO and MRIC on the development of a joint satellite as well as for cooperation on the use of the MRIC’s Ground Station.  Some of the subsystems for the joint satellite will be taken up through the participation of Indian industries and would benefit the industry.

Notes:
Paleontologists in Argentina have recently uncovered fossil fragments of a new sauropod dinosaur species named Sidersaura marae. This dinosaur lived during the Cenomanian age of the Late Cretaceous epoch, approximately 96 to 93 million years ago, in the Patagonian region. Belonging to the Rebbachisauridae family, which is widespread across South America, Africa, North America, Europe, and Asia, Sidersaura marae is characterized by distinct teeth, some of which formed tooth batteries reminiscent of hadrosaurs and ceratopsian dinosaurs.

Notes:
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, leading the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, launched the book “Modi: Energising A Green Future.” Published by Pentagon Press in collaboration with the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, the book explores PM Narendra Modi’s vision for a sustainable future. Edited by notable figures like RK Pachnanda and Bibek Debroy, it offers a comprehensive analysis of India’s environmental policies, showcasing the nation’s leadership in the global environmental movement under PM Modi’s guidance.