CURRENT AFFAIRS – 25-03-2024

POCKET INFO

1) Google DeepMind and Stanford University unveiled the humanoid robot

“Mobile ALOHA.”

2) A woman robot astronaut named Vyommitra will fly into space ahead of
ISRO’s “Gaganyaan” mission.

3) IIT Madras incubator develops India’s 1st septic tank cleaning robot.

4) Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launched the AI supported Telemedicine

Mobile Clinic “Aarogya-Doctors on Wheels” in Udhampur, Jammu and
Kashmir.

5) Krutrim AI became India’s first AI startup to reach unicorn status.

6) Google announced the launch of its AI video model “Lumiere.”

7) Digital University Kerala introduced the silicon proven AI chip “Kairali

AI Chip.”

8) AIIMS, Delhi, in collaboration with CDAC Pune, launched the AI platform

“iOncology.ai.”

9) Microsoft initiated the “ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA” program to equip 2

million Indians with AI skills by 2025.
10) Google declared the establishment of an “AI Centre of Excellence” at IIIT
Nagpur.

Important Days & Theme (March 2024)

3 Mar - UN World Wildlife Day

Theme 2024 - “Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital
Innovation in Wildlife Conservation.”

8 Mar - International Women's Day

Theme 2024 - "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress" and "Inspire
Inclusion."

20 Mar - International Day of Happiness

Theme 2024 - “Reconnecting for Happiness: Building Resilient
Communities.”

21 Mar - International Day of Forests

Theme 2024 - Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World.

22 Mar - World Water Day

Theme 2024 - “Water for Peace".

24 Mar - World Tuberculosis Day

Theme 2024 - "Yes! We Can End TB.

Quiz
1. At what percentage has RBI kept the repo rate unchanged for the sixth
consecutive time?
A. 6.0%
B. 6.25%
C. 6.5%
D. 6.75%

Ans – C

Exp –
  RBI did not make any change in the repo rate for the sixth consecutive
time.
 All 6 members of the RBI MPC voted unanimously to keep the repo rate
unchanged at 6.5%.
 Whereas the real GDP growth estimate for FY24 was maintained at 6.5%.
 RBI projects real GDP growth of 7 pc for FY‟25 with risks evenly
balanced
 Inflation projection for FY24 has also been retained at 5.4%.
 RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das revealed the decisions taken in the MPC
meeting.
 The next meeting of the MPC is scheduled during April 3 to 5, 2024.

 RBI Repo Rate are as under

 Policy Repo Rate: 6.50%
 Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): 6.25%
 Marginal Standing Facility Rate: 6.75%
 Bank Rate: 6.75%
 Fixed Reverse Repo Rate: 3.35%
 CRR: 4.50%
 SLR: 18.00%

2. Which state High Court has held the Madrasa Education Act 2004
unconstitutional?
A. Uttarakhand
B. Maharashtra
C. Uttar Pradesh
D. Madhya Pradesh

Ans – C

Exp –
 The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has declared the UP
Board of Madrasa Education Act 2004 as unconstitutional.
 The court ruled that the Act violates the principle of secularism as well as
several Articles including Articles 14, 21 and 21-A of the Constitution.
 Additionally, the court observed that the Act also violated Section 22 of
the University Grants Commission Act of 1956.
 The decision will affect 16,513 madrassas in the state, of which 560
receive grants from the government.
 The court has concluded that education under the Madrasa Act is not
equivalent to education provided to students of state primary and high
 schools and other regular educational institutions recognized by the
Intermediate Board.
 Therefore, the education imparted in madrasas is neither of 'quality' nor
of 'universal' nature.

3. Who is the first Indian table tennis player to win the singles title in the World
Table Tennis (WTT) feeder series event?
A. Sanil Shankar Shetty
B. Sharath Kamal
C. G. Sathiyan
D. Manav Thakkar

Ans – C

Exp –
 Indian table tennis player G. Sathiyan won the men's singles title by
defeating Indian player Manav Vikas Thakkar in the World Table Tennis
(WTT) Feeder Beirut 2024 Table Tennis Tournament held at Al Qawthar
Secondary School in Lebanon on 21 March 2024.
 Diya Chitale and Manush Shah clinched their second title for India by
winning the mixed doubles title.
 World No. 103 ranked G. Sathiyan became the first Indian to win a
singles title in a WTT feeder series event. He defeated Manav Thakkar,
ranked 74th at the global level, in the final.
 The WTT Series is the highest-ranked tournament where top male and
female players compete.

4. According to a new study released on March 20, India's solar waste could
reach ______ kilotonnes by 2030.
A. 300
B. 400
C. 600
D. 500

Ans – C

Exp –
 A study has shown that India's solar waste could reach 600 kilotonnes by
2030.
  According to a new study released on March 20, India's solar waste could
reach 600 kilotonnes by 2030, which is equivalent to filling 720 Olympic-
sized swimming pools.
 The study was released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
and independent think tank Council on Energy, Environment and Water
(CEEW) titled "Enabling a circular economy in India's solar industry:
Assessing solar waste quantum."
 "About 67% of this waste will come from five states: Rajasthan, Gujarat,
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
 Currently, India's installed capacity of 66.7 GW (as of FY 2023) has
already generated around 100 kilotonnes of garbage, which will increase
to 340 kilotonnes by 2030.

5. Who became the first black leader of government in the United Kingdom?
A. Fabian Picardo
B. Hamza Yusuf
C. Vaughan Gething
D. Michelle O'Neill

Ans – C

Exp –
 Vaughan Gething became the first black leader of government in Britain.
 Vaughan Gething has been elected First Minister of Wales. He became
the first black leader of a government in Britain.
 He has been elected government leader by members of the Welsh
Parliament. He secured 27 out of 51 votes in the Legislature.
 He is the son of a Welsh father and a Zambian mother. He will be sworn
in after the approval of King Charles III.

6. Where was the first Foreign Office Consultations between India and
Mauritania held?
A. Nouakchott
B. Kiffa
C. Chennai
D. New Delhi

Ans – A

Exp –
  The first Foreign Office Consultations between India and Mauritania
were held in Nouakchott.
 India and Mauritania agreed to hold the next Foreign Office
Consultations in New Delhi on a mutually convenient date.
 From USD 108 million in 2021-2022, it increased to around USD 378
million in 2022-2023.
 In June 2021, the Indian Resident Mission opened at Nouakot.
 India has extended a total Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 21.8 million to
Mauritania for projects related to drinking water and agro-industries,
including milk processing plants.

7. What is the theme of World TB Day 2024?

A. ‘End TB’
B. ‘Yes! We can end TB!’
C. ‘Stop TB in World’
D. ‘We can end TB’

Ans – D

Exp –
 World Tuberculosis Day is observed on March 24 every year.
 It is celebrated to raise awareness about tuberculosis (TB) and advocate
for more efforts to eliminate it.
 The World Health Organization (WHO) observed the first World
Tuberculosis Day on 24 March 1982.
 Theme of World TB Day 2024 - 'Yes!' We can end TB!'.
 Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. This
led to 1.3 million deaths in 2022.

8. In which country was the first transplant of genetically modified kidney from
pig to living man performed?
A. Italy
B. France
C. Australia
D. United States

Ans – D

Exp –
  The first live human transplant of a genetically modified pig kidney was
performed at Massachusetts General Hospital, a significant medical
achievement.
 Before transplanting this kidney, American surgeons have also
genetically edited it. The pig's kidney was then successfully transplanted
into a 62-year-old patient.
 A large team of surgeons in Boston, United States, has announced a
successful transplant of a pig kidney in a patient.
 It is being seen as a big revolution in the medical world.

9. Where did ASI start excavation to discover oldest temple in India?

A. Madhya Pradesh
B. Maharashtra
C. Uttar Pradesh
D. Gujarat

Ans – A

Exp –
 The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is excavating two mounds at
Nachne village in Madhya Pradesh's Panna district to uncover India's
oldest temple.
 The excavation sites are just 30 metres from two ancient temples – a
Gupta-era Parvati temple and the Chaumukh Nath temple built by the
Kalchuri dynasty.
 The Nachna Hindu temples, also known as the Nachna Mandir or the
Hindu Temple at Nachna
 Kuthara, are among the oldest surviving stone temples in central India,
along with Bhumra and Deogarh.
 Although the exact date of the Nachna temples is uncertain, their style is
comparable to structures that may date back to the Gupta Empire era of
the 5th or 6th century.
 The Chaturmukha Temple dates back to the 9th century and reflects the
North Indian style of Hindu temple architecture.

10. Who became the first Indian to score 12000 runs in a T20 match?
A. Rohit Sharma
B. Virat Kohli
C. Shubman Gill
D. KL Rahul
Ans – B
Exp –
 Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli has achieved another milestone in his
career by becoming the first Indian cricketer to score 12,000 runs in the
T20 format.
 Kohli achieved the feat during the opening match of the 2024 Indian
Premier League (IPL) between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal
Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
 The 12,000 runs include runs he scored for RCB in the IPL and the now-
defunct Champions League,
 for Delhi in domestic Twenty-over cricket and for India in T20
Internationals.
 Rohit Sharma is the second-highest run-scorer in T20 cricket with a total
of 11,156 runs.
 Leading the list is former West Indies opener Chris Gayle, who has
scored 14,562 runs in T20 cricket.
 He is followed by former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik with 13,360 runs
and West Indies player Kieron Pollard is in third place with 12,900 runs.
___________