Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, inaugurated 201 CNG stations in 17 states and India’s first Small Scale LNG Unit at GAIL’s Vijaipur LPG plant. The event, conducted via video conferencing in New Delhi, included Minister of State Rameshwar Teli. Puri emphasized India’s commitment to cleaner fuels, marking progress towards a 15% natural gas share in the primary energy basket by 2030. The development aligns with the government’s vision for a gas-based economy, including a National Gas Grid and widespread City Gas Distribution network.

Notes:
The 17th Annual International Biocuration Conference (AIBC-2024) is set to take place at the National Capital Region (NCR) Biotech Science Cluster in Faridabad, India. The venue, comprising the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) and the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), offers a comprehensive platform for scientific discussions and collaboration during the conference.

Notes:
Iran launched its domestically developed “Pars-I” satellite into orbit using a Russian Soyuz-2.1b launcher from the Vostochny launch base, 8,000 km east of Moscow. The satellite, designed for remote sensing and imaging of Iran’s topography, orbits 500 km above Earth, providing high-resolution images. The successful deployment underscores the use of the X-band link, enhancing data transmission capabilities in satellite communication.

Notes:
Entomologists from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment discovered Taeniogonalos deepaki, a new wasp species in Karnataka’s Western Ghat region. Found in Belgaum, it’s named after Dr. Deepak Deshpande. Taeniogonalos belongs to the Trigonalyidae family, known for hyperparasitoids. The genus spans various global regions, with previous Indian and Chinese species. Researchers also detailed the first male of Taeniogonalos eurysoma, expanding knowledge on these wasps, primarily found in South India.

Notes:
The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) hosted a webinar on “Viksit Bharat: Corporate Governance for 2047” on March 7, 2024. Viksit Bharat is the Government of India’s vision to make India a developed nation by 2047. The vision includes many aspects of development, such as economic growth, social progress, environmental sustainability, and good governance.

Notes:
Asif Ali Zardari is the 14th president of Pakistan. He was sworn in on March 10, 2024, replacing Dr. Arif Alvi.Zardari is a veteran politician who has been the president of Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians and co-chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party. He is the first president to be elected twice to the office.

Notes:
The Rajasthan government has inked MoUs with NTPC, CIL, NLC India, and SJVN for 28.5 GW solar power capacity and green hydrogen production. NTPC collaborates with Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam to explore supercritical units at Chhabra Thermal Power Plant. CIL partners with RVUNL for 4,100 MW power projects. NLCIL agrees with Rajasthan for a 125 MW lignite power plant and 1,000 MW solar plant. SJVN’s subsidiary SGEL signs a 500 MW solar power usage agreement.

Notes:
INS Tushil, India’s latest naval asset, began sea trials from Russia’s Baltiysk naval base. It is the first Krivak-III frigate acquired under Project 11356M, a 2016 Inter-Governmental Agreement with Russia. The project involves four Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates, with Russia supplying two (INS Tushil and INS Tamala), and India constructing the other two. These Talwar-class frigates, based on Project 11356, are stealth-guided missile frigates tailored to Indian Navy specifications, addressing air, surface, and sub-surface dimensions.

Notes:
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) announced its collaboration with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to deploy rescue teams along the China border. The collaboration is in response to concerns raised by experts about an anticipated increase in disasters in the Himalayas due to climate change and human interventions. The ITBP is a paramilitary force that guards the India-China Line of Actual Control. The ITBP also conducts relief and rescue operations for natural calamities in the Himalayan region.

Notes:
Researchers discovered a new scorpion species with 8 eyes and 8 legs in Thailand’s Kaeng Krachan National Park. Named Euscorpiops Krachan, it belongs to the subgenus Euscorpiops. Found during a wildlife expedition near the Tenasserim Mountain Range, the species was uncovered beneath a rock during a camping trip. This finding highlights the park’s biodiversity and underscores the importance of continued exploration and conservation efforts.