Weekly Current Affairs: Quizzes, 19 to 24 Feb, 2024

EXPLANATION: 

• The Jnanpith Award is one of India's oldest and most prestigious literary honours. It is awarded annually to Indian authors for their outstanding contributions to literature. The award was instituted in 1961 by the Bharatiya Jnanpith, a trust founded by the Sahu Jain family. The name "Jnanpith" is derived from two Sanskrit words: "Jnana," meaning knowledge, and "Pitha," meaning seat or throne. Hence, statement 1 is correct. 
• The Jnanpith Award is conferred to those writers who have significantly contributed to Indian literature in any of India's 22 official languages, including English. The award carries a cash prize (15 lakh), a citation, and a bronze replica of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge and wisdom. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• Recently, Urdu poet Gulzar and Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya have been named the recipients of the 58th Jnanpith Award 2023 by the Jnanpith selection committee. Jagadguru Rambhadracharya is the founder and head of Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot and is a renowned Hindu spiritual leader, educator and writer of more than 100 books. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

EXPLANATION: 

• The relationship between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is characterised by historical ties, shared economic interests, and growing strategic cooperation. Both countries have worked to strengthen their bilateral relations in various domains over the years. The first diplomatic relations between India and the UAE were established in 1972, with the UAE opening its embassy in India in 1972 and the Indian Embassy opening in the UAE in 1973.
• The economic partnership between India and the UAE has flourished, with bilateral trade reaching USD 85 billion in 2022-23. The UAE is now India's third-largest trading partner, second-largest export destination, and fourth-largest source of FDI. 
• Indians constitute a significant part of the UAE's total population, with their numbers reaching into the millions. This rapid growth is a testament to the UAE's economic opportunities and global exposure to Indian professionals and workers. According to the United Nations Report 2023, Indian diaspora communities are higher in the United States than in UAE and Saudi Arabia. But in terms of Gulf nations, the United Arab Emirates hosts the highest number of Indian diaspora members. Hence, option C is NOT correct.
• PM Narendra Modi visited the UAE in February 2024 to inaugurate a temple constructed by the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha in Abu Dhabi. The PM Narendra Modi received the UAE's highest award, 'Order of Zayed' in 2019.

EXPLANATION:

• Recently, the Tamil Nadu government announced the 'TN-SHORE', a mission to restore coastal resources across 14 districts covering 1,076 km. The TN government said this initiative will capitalise on the potential of the Blue Economy and will primarily focus on the restoration of mangroves, coral reefs, and salt marshes.
• TN-SHORE aims to enhance coastal biodiversity and protection, improve coastal communities' livelihoods, and control pollution in coastal areas. The Tamil Nadu government also highlighted the Tamil Nadu Endangered Species Conservation Fund aimed at Endangered Species Conservation and the pursuit of Blue Flag certification for eight beaches. The scheme will involve the participation of the local communities, especially the youth, in conserving and managing the coastal resources. 
• Hence, statement 1 is incorrect, and statement 2 is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• The US-based company Intuitive Machines recently launched its robotic lunar lander, Odysseus, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. It is the second private company to attempt to land on the Moon after the failure of the Peregrine lander, which crashed on Earth after launch. The lander was nicknamed “Odie” or IM-1. It will land on the South Pole of the Moon and assess the environment in the south polar region. Hence, statement 1 is correct, and statement 2 is incorrect.
• It launched on February 15 atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and boasts a new type of supercooled liquid oxygen, liquid methane propulsion system that allowed it to race through space in quick time, snapping pictures of our planet along the way and the lander is scheduled to reach lunar orbit on February 22, 2024. It will conduct experiments and tech demonstrations and gather data for NASA’s Artemis program. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• The World Neem Organisation (WNO) is hosting the WNO Neem Summit on February 19 and 20, 2024, in New Delhi, India. This summit is a crucial platform for experts and enthusiasts to explore neem's diverse applications and contributions to sustainable practices. The events aim to showcase the multifaceted uses of neem in agriculture, healthcare, and environmental sustainability. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.
• Around 250 participants are attending the seminar, including 10 overseas participants. The theme is neem for sustainable agriculture, health, and environment. It emphasises Neem's potential to sustain the industry's raw material needs and its role in carbon farming. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• The European Union (EU) has officially launched a new naval mission called Operation Aspides to protect shipping in the Red Sea region. This comes in response to escalating attacks on commercial vessels by Houthi rebels based in Yemen over the last few months. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that Europe will ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, working alongside our international partners. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect, and statement 2 is correct.
• The naval mission will send European warships and airborne early warning systems to the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters. So far, France, Germany, Italy and Belgium have said they plan to contribute ships.
• Since November, the Houthis have been attacking commercial and military shipping in the busy Red Sea. The Red Sea is a long, narrow body of water located between Africa and Asia. It is connected to the Indian Ocean by the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

EXPLANATION: 

• The 50th edition of the famous Khajuraho Dance Festival 2024 is set to commence on February 20. The event, which will conclude on February 26, will be held at the Kandariya Mahadev Temple and Devi Jagadamba Temple inside the Western Temple Group complex — an architectural marvel of the Chandela era.
• The Khajuraho Dance Festival is a renowned cultural event celebrated annually in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. The Khajuraho dance festival began in 1975 from the temple premises itself. It typically takes place in February, usually around the time of the Mahashivaratri festival, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The festival showcases various classical Indian dance forms performed by renowned dancers nationwide. The events focus on the cultural landscape of various genres of Indian dances, which are performed in an open-air auditorium. Hence, statements  1 and 2 are correct.
• Khajuraho, famous for its intricately carved temples dating back to the Chandela dynasty, provides a picturesque backdrop for this festival. The Department of Culture organised the festival and was assisted by Madhya Pradesh Tourism.
• The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is famous for Its Nagara style, and sensuous carvings provide a unique assembly point intersecting spirituality, history, architecture, music and dance. The ‘Sandhya Tandava’ dance of Lord Shiva finds extensive sculptural representation. Hence, statement 3 is correct. 
• The Khajuraho Dance Festival is a significant event for dance enthusiasts and those interested in Indian culture and heritage. It provides a platform for artists to showcase their talent while preserving and promoting India's traditional art forms.

EXPLANATION:

• Recently, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) published Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2024. It is an annual publication highlighting progress on the 17 SDGs and their 169 targets in the Asia-Pacific region, examining various dimensions such as sex, urbanisation, education, age, and income. 
• The report indicates that most Asian countries will likely miss the 2030 SDG target, projecting that the region will only fulfil its SDG agenda by 2062, despite the overall average progress towards achieving all 17 SDGs increasing from 4.4% in 2017 to 17% in 2023.  Hence, option D is NOT correct.
• India has improved 85 SDG parameters, with stable progress in 27 and a decline in 36. The report also noted some emerging challenges for the Indian economy, which included rising obesity levels among children, higher annual inflation, and resources made available to strengthen statistical capabilities. The report also highlighted women facing trouble accessing education and employment opportunities across the region despite progress in school enrolment rates. India’s female labour force participation is still lower than China, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

EXPLANATION:

• The Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj inaugurated the ‘Smart Gram Panchayat: Revolution towards Digitization of Gram Panchayat’ Project at Paprour Gram Panchayat of Begusarai District, Bihar, signalling a significant leap towards digital empowerment in rural India. 
• Begusarai has become the first District in Bihar to equip all Gram Panchayats with WiFi services under the PM-WANI Scheme. The primary goal is to digitalise gram panchayats, enhancing connectivity and bridging the rural-urban divide. The project aims to improve access to online services in crucial sectors like health, education, and skills by enhancing connectivity.
• The project, financed under the redesigned Rashtriya Gramme Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), aims to reach 455 Gramme Panchayats spanning 37 Blocks in Begusarai and Rohtas Districts, with execution monitored by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• Hence, option C is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• Recently, the Prime Minister of Greece visited India. During a two-day visit to India, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis engaged in extensive discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bolster cooperation between the two nations. The visit marks the first by a Greek head of state to India in 15 years.
• PM Modi commended Greece for its decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, emphasising the significance of Greece's involvement in regional affairs. Additionally, both countries agreed to collaborate in the Eastern Mediterranean region and advance the development of the IMEC Corridor, which was initiated during India's G20 presidency.
• The meeting between the two leaders underscored the strengthening of the strategic partnership between their nations, particularly in the defence and security sectors, indicative of the deep mutual trust shared by India and Greece.
• India-Greece bilateral trade in 2022-23 was about $2 billion, with India’s exports at $785.72 million and imports at $1.16 billion, per government data. The talks focused on expanding strategic collaboration in various sectors, including trade and counter-terrorism efforts, emphasising doubling bilateral trade by 2030.
• The Greek parliament ratified the International Solar Alliance (ISA), a treaty-based organisation that was proposed by Modi in 2015.
• Both Countries have mutual respect, historical connections, and a shared interest in expanding cooperation across various sectors. The first diplomatic relations between India and Greece were established in 1950.
• Hence, option C is correct.