Daily Current Affairs Quiz 19th January 2024

“Notes: Scientists recently discovered a 22-million-year-old lost forest in the panama canal, a crucial artificial waterway connecting the Atlantic and pacific oceans. stretching 80 kilometers, the canal features locks to adjust water levels for ship passage through the isthmus. initiated by france in 1881, the united states took over in 1904, completing and managing the canal until 1999. panama assumed full control in 2000, following the torrijos-carter treaties with the u.s. in 1977.”

Notes: Scientists discovered a new phytopathogenic fungus species called paramyrothecium indicum in kerala most paramyrothecium are phytopathogens causing serious plant diseases that impact crop productivity

“Notes: the world economic forum (wef) and telangana government are establishing the 19th center of the wef’s fourth industrial revolution network (4ir) in hyderabad, slated for launch in february 2024. it will be the world’s first thematic center dedicated to health tech and life sciences, solidifying a strategic partnership between telangana and wef. the center aims to enhance healthcare technology, aligning with the broader vision of both entities. the launch during bioasia 2024 positions hyderabad as a global healthcare hub, emphasizing collaboration for improved living standards and global recognition for telangana in the 4ir network.”

“Notes: Rec limited, a maharatna psu under the ministry of power, achieved a milestone with its inaugural jpy 61.1 billion green bonds issuance. it marks rec’s eleventh entry into the international bond market and the first yen green bonds issuance by an indian psu. the bonds, with maturities of 5, 5.25, and 10 years, were issued at yields of 1.76%, 1.79%, and 2.20%, respectively. this euro-yen issuance is the largest in south and southeast asia, making it india’s largest yen-denominated issuance. the bonds received significant interest globally, with a high international allocation. they will be listed exclusively on india inx and nse ifsc in gift city, gujarat.”

“Notes: Tamil nadu secured the title of the ‘best performer’ state in the 2022 startup india state startup rankings. the state’s strategic efforts included the revamping of its nodal startup agency, startuptn, in 2021, and budget allocations for the launch of new funds like tamil nadu startup seed fund (tanseed), emerging sector seed fund, and tamil nadu sc/ st fund. the rankings also recognized gujarat, karnataka, kerala, and himachal pradesh as best performers, while maharashtra, odisha, punjab, rajasthan, and telangana were categorized as ‘leaders.’ currently, tamil nadu boasts over 7,600 startups registered under the startup india scheme, with more than 2,250 startups registering in 2022 alone.”

“Notes: A rare all-white gentoo penguin was recently spotted in chilean antarctica, a species exclusive to the southern hemisphere between 45 and 65 degrees south latitude. typically found along shorelines, gentoo penguins have distinct head markings with two white wedges around their eyes. predominantly inhabiting the falkland islands, these penguins are classified as “least concern” on the iucn red list. the unique sighting highlights the diversity of wildlife in the region.”

Notes: The government aims to cut accidental deaths by 50 by 2030 as announced at a national conclave on road safety held in new delhi on 4 september gadkari highlighted that every hour sees 53 injuries and 19 deaths from

“Notes: the national highways authority of india (nhai) recently introduced the ‘one vehicle, one fastag’ initiative, promoting the use of rfid technology for toll payments. fastag, a vehicle-specific rfid passive tag, allows seamless toll transactions while in motion. affixed on the windshield, it deducts toll fares directly from the linked prepaid or savings/current account. non-transferable between vehicles, fastag is available through national electronic toll collection member banks, requiring periodic recharging for prepaid accounts.”

Notes: The foreign affairs minister of india revealed that farsi persian is now classified under the new education policy as one of india’s nine classical languages

“Notes: In 2021, prime minister narendra modi declared january 16 as national startup day, marking a significant initiative to celebrate and boost the indian startup ecosystem. the department for promotion of industry and internal trade, along with the ministry of commerce and industry, designated january 10 to 16 as national startup week. on january 11, 2024, secretary rajesh kumar singh launched the startup india innovation week under the theme “startups unlocking infinite potential.” pm modi commended the sector’s growth during the inaugural national startup day on january 15, 2022.”