Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2024

Notes:
The UP police have adopted the Trinetra app 2.0, a state-of-the-art digital platform, to revolutionize crime prevention and investigation. With 9.32 lakh criminal records digitized, officers can swiftly identify suspects during security checks. Launched by UP DGP Prashant Kumar and ADG Amitabh Yash, the app offers seamless accessibility for Inspector-ranked personnel and above. It includes features like facial and audio recognition for suspect identification and QR code generation for seized goods, aiding investigations and missing person’s cases.

Notes:
Genetic rescue is proposed to conserve Ranthambore National Park’s tiger population by introducing new genetic variation through migration. This process, known as gene flow, involves transferring individuals from a larger, healthier population to a smaller one. The strategy aims to reduce genetic load, decrease extinction risk, and enhance the viability of endangered species. However, it can have both positive and negative effects, influenced by factors like gene flow magnitude and duration, as well as population dynamics.

Notes:
The Election Commission of India initiated “Mission 414” in Himachal Pradesh to boost voter turnout in 414 polling stations with less than 60% participation in the last Lok Sabha elections. Ground-level outreach aims to educate voters about their rights. Additionally, in 8 Assembly constituencies with lower female voter turnout, “Mahila Preraks” will encourage women to vote, marking a concerted effort to ensure inclusive participation in the democratic process.

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Researchers at IIT Madras devised a method utilizing phosphoric acid to treat bauxite residue, commonly known as Red Mud. This process extracts valuable materials, including ceramics with notable dielectric and optical properties, suitable for electronic components and energy storage. Red Mud, a byproduct of aluminum production, harbors toxic heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and mercury. Its corrosive nature and high alkalinity pose significant threats to soil and ecosystems.

Notes:
The International Labour Organization (ILO) published a report titled ‘Profits and poverty: The economics of forced labour’, revealing that Forced Labour generates illegal profits of USD 36 billion annually, marking a 37% increase since 2014. Factors contributing to this rise include more people being forced into labour and higher profits from victim exploitation. Forced labour’s total annual illegal profits are highest in Europe & Central Asia, followed by Asia & the Pacific, the Americas, Africa, and the Arab States.

Notes:
A study from the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia, reveals lianas, or woody vining plants, threaten forests. Also known as vines or climbers, lianas use trees to ascend to the canopy. Common in tropical forests, they flourish in warm, lowland areas and thrive in disturbed environments. Lianas compete with trees for sunlight, suppressing them and reducing carbon sequestration. This could worsen global warming by hindering forests’ ability to store carbon effectively, altering carbon cycles.

Notes:
Despite conservation efforts, Kashmir’s hangul deer, also known as the Kashmir stag, faces extinction. This shy and sensitive species, the only surviving Asiatic sub-species of the European red deer, is Jammu and Kashmir’s state animal. Endemic to Kashmir’s hills, particularly in Dachigam National Park, it suffers from habitat loss and poaching. Critically endangered according to IUCN and listed in CITES Appendix I, urgent measures are needed to save it from disappearing.

Notes:
World Tuberculosis Day, observed annually on March 24th, aims to raise global awareness about tuberculosis (TB), a contagious lung disease. The theme for 2024 is “Yes! We can end TB,” emphasizes efforts to eradicate this deadly disease through awareness and sustained action. The date commemorates Dr. Robert Koch’s discovery of TB bacteria in 1882, leading to improved understanding, diagnosis, and treatment. Since 1983, World TB Day has been observed worldwide to combat TB.

Notes:
The National Cadet Corps (NCC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) signed a MoU to promote peaceful use of nuclear energy. Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh and BVS Shekhar signed the agreement in New Delhi in March, 2024. NPCIL will educate NCC cadets and provide resources for regional engagement and camps. Cadets will visit NPCIL facilities, gaining firsthand experience in nuclear energy’s peaceful applications and technical aspects.

Notes:
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution championing safe, secure, and trustworthy AI systems in alignment with sustainable development goals. It stresses human rights in AI development and recognizes its potential for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. Marking the first Assembly involvement in regulating AI, it urges against AI systems violating human rights and advocates for regulatory frameworks. Led by the US, the resolution garnered support from over 120 Member States.