Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been conducting Financial Literacy Week (FLW) every year since 2016. The 2024 FLW will be observed from February 26 to March 1, 2024 with the theme “Make a Right Start – Become Financially Smart”. The FLW aims to promote financial literacy by spreading financial education messages to the public.

Notes:
In February 2024, the 60-member Mizoram Assembly adopted a resolution against the Centre’s decision to fence the India-Myanmar border and scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) agreement with the neighboring country. The FMR allows people living on both sides of the border to travel 16 km into each other’s territory without a visa.

Notes:
NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) collaborates with Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MAHAGENCO) to establish Renewable Energy Parks in Maharashtra. This joint venture aligns with green energy initiatives and bolsters India’s energy transition goals, aiming to build gigawatt-scale renewable energy parks in the state, showcasing a commitment to sustainable development and clean energy sources.

Notes:
The Indian government has implemented supportive measures for Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. FCV tobacco, cured through a heat-exposure process, is favored for its mild, sweet flavor and high sugar content, commonly used in cigarette blends. Predominantly produced in India’s Mysore and Hassan districts (over 95%), it’s a vital crop in the global market. The Government’s initiatives aim to bolster the livelihoods of FCV tobacco farmers in these regions.

Notes:
The 66th Network Planning Group (NPG) meeting in New Delhi, chaired by the Additional Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, assessed three projects from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and two from the Ministry of Railways. The Integrated Multimodal NPG oversees unified planning and integration for connectivity infrastructure ministries, facilitating stakeholder interactions. It guides departments in creating economic zones and connectivity infrastructure, aligning with the National Master Plan objectives to minimize disruptions and enhance efficiency in national infrastructure projects.

Notes:
Nicaragua achieves a historic milestone by becoming the first Spanish-speaking nation to recognize the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) as the official book of standards for drugs manufactured and marketed in India. Published by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Rules 1945, IPC is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, dedicated to the timely publication of the IP.

Notes:
REC Limited, in collaboration with UNISED, is contributing Rs. 9.91 crores through REC Foundation to educate 75,500 children in Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh. As a Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Power, REC aims to empower students with modern educational tools. UNISED will implement solar-operated smart classes and joyful learning labs in government schools, fostering innovative learning. Additionally, REC Foundation recently allocated Rs. 15 crores to support the education of 12,500 children of ex-servicemen through the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund.

Notes:
Cuttack’s renowned Rupa Tarakasi (Silver Filigree) has secured the Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai. The Odisha State Co-operative Handicrafts Corporation Limited submitted the application, supported by the Department of Textile and Handicrafts, Government of Odisha. Filigree, linked to exquisite craftsmanship in classical jewelry, dates back to 3500 BCE in Mesopotamia. Historical evidence suggests its introduction to Cuttack from Persia through Indonesia around 500 years ago via sea trade.

Notes:
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of MoPSW & AYUSH, virtually inaugurated the ‘Ocean Grace,’ a 60T bollard pull tug, and a Medical Mobile Unit (MMU). Developed by Cochin Shipyard Limited under MoPSW, Ocean Grace is India’s first ASTDS Tug. The MMU is part of the port’s corporate social responsibility. The event, attended virtually by dignitaries like Shri Shripad Naik and Shantanu Thakur, aligns with PM Modi’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.

Notes:
India has successfully reduced extreme poverty, with under 3% of its population living below the poverty line, in accordance with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal. Recent data from the World Poverty Clock, supported by organizations such as IFAD and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, highlights India’s significant strides towards ending extreme poverty, a key global objective set for achievement by 2030.