Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
Two South American countries express interest in the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers, designed by India’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE). The Pinaka MBRL, utilized in the Kargil War, effectively neutralized Pakistan Army positions. It delivers lethal fire against various targets, boasting a range of 60 to 75 kilometers. The system includes a multi-tube launcher vehicle, replenishment-cum-loader vehicle, replenishment vehicle, and a command post vehicle. With two pods of six rockets each, it can cover a 700 × 500 square meter area in 48 seconds.

Notes:
Recently, a cheetah named Shaurya died in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district. Shaurya was a seven-year-old cheetah from Namibia. With Shaurya’s death, 13 of the original 20 cheetahs that were imported from Africa remain. Since March 2023, seven adult cheetahs and three cubs born in India have died in the park. Some experts believe that heavy rain, extreme heat, and humidity may have contributed to the deaths. Others say that the radio collars on the cheetahs could be killing them. The pathogens that aggravate the wounds under the collars could be new to the African cheetahs or to Indian conditions.

Notes:
As of January 17, 2024, Rear Admiral Shantanu Jha is the Chief Staff Officer (Operations) of the Eastern Naval Command. Jha is a 1993 graduate of the NDA and a recipient of the Nausena Medal. Before becoming Chief Staff Officer, Jha was the Commodore in (Strategy, Concepts & Transformation) at Naval Headquarters. The Eastern Naval Command is commanded by a Vice Admiral with the title Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command (FOC-in-C). Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar became the FOC-in-C on August 1, 2023.

Notes:
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched the EcoMark green accreditation framework for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland on January 17, 2024. The EcoMark certification is based on ISO standards and is digitally enabled. The Ecomark scheme provides accreditation and labeling for household and consumer products that meet specific environmental criteria while maintaining quality standards as per Indian norms. The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change of the Government of India introduced the Eco mark Certification Rules, 2023 to promote sustainability and environment friendly consumption patterns.

Notes:
A recent study in Scientific Reports explored the link between migraines and the development of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). IBD encompasses chronic inflammation in the digestive tract, ranging from mild to severe. Types include Ulcerative colitis, affecting the colon and rectum, and Crohn’s disease, marked by inflammation in the digestive tract, commonly in the small intestine. Indeterminate colitis IBD combines features of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, posing potential life-threatening complications for some individuals.

Notes:
The book “Forgotten Trails: Foraging Wild Edibles” by Malemleima Ningombi and Harisha RP explores the Soligas and Yeravas tribes’ traditional food practices in the Cauvery Basin. Soligas, among the oldest indigenous communities in Karnataka, forage from the Ghats, relying on honey and Silver cockscomb, a nutrient-rich leafy green. Living in a tiger reserve, Soligas secured forest rights, a landmark legal recognition. The scientific community honored them with a wasp genus (Soliga ecarinata).

Notes:
India launched the “Global Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality” during the 54th annual World Economic Forum in Davos. This initiative aims to advance women’s empowerment and gender equality globally. Focused on education, health, and enterprise, the alliance facilitates knowledge sharing, investment opportunities, and best practices to address Sustainable Development Goals, such as Good Health, Quality Education, Gender Equality, and Global Partnership for Development.

Notes:
The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru and the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi were jointly awarded the “Best Airport of the Year” at the 2024 Wings India Awards. The award was presented by Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia at an event in Hyderabad on January 18, 2024. The Mangaluru airport was also named the “best airport” in the under 5 million passenger category.

Notes:
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards achieved a milestone by launching the Soraya satellite into a record-high orbit of 750 km using the Ghaem-100 carrier. Despite U.S. warnings on the dual-use nature of such technology, Iran claims this as a success for its aerospace program. The satellite, weighing around 50 kg, marks Iran’s first placement in orbits higher than 500 km, raising concerns about potential dual-use capabilities for ballistic missiles, including those with nuclear warheads.

Notes:
The Supreme Court has declared that the State of Rajasthan can prohibit mining in the environmentally sensitive Aravalli Range. Stretching 670 km in northwestern India, the Aravalli is one of the world’s oldest fold mountains, hosting diverse ecosystems. Guru Shikhar, its highest peak at 5,650 feet, overlooks Mount Abu, a popular hill station. The range serves as a geological boundary, separating the Thar desert from eastern Rajasthan. Rich in minerals, it also houses national parks like Sariska and wildlife sanctuaries.