The Hindu-Review-January-March-2024-english Miscellaneous Current Affairs
- A groundbreaking archaeological discovery has been made in Chettimedu Pathur village, approximately 77 kilometres from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Researchers from the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology at the University of Madras have unearthed a child burial site dating back to the Neolithic period, around 2500 BCE to 3000 BCE, offering new insights into ancient burial rites and cultural practices in the region.
- Researchers in Ecuador’s rainforest have uncovered a new species of anaconda, Eunectes Akiyama, which split from its closest relatives 10 million years ago. Despite their genetic distinction, these anacondas are visually identical to the previously known species, Eunectes murinus.
- The Geological Survey of India (GSI) commemorated its 174th Foundation Day on March 4th, 2024, with zeal and enthusiasm resonating across all its offices nationwide. The event was a grand affair, with celebrations held in Kolkata, the Central Headquarters of GSI, and the Southern Region’s headquarters in Hyderabad.
- In a significant nod to India’s rich heritage of craftsmanship and artistry, the Cuttack Rupa Tarakasi, more widely known as Silver Filigree, has recently been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai. This recognition, sought by the Odisha State Co-operative Handicrafts Corporation Limited and supported by the Department of Textile and Handicrafts, Government of Odisha, places Cuttack’s Silver Filigree on the map as a unique and protected form of art.
- President Droupadi Murmu nominated author and philanthropist Sudha Murty to the Rajya Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced this and congratulated Sudha Murty, saying her contribution to diverse fields has been “immense and inspiring”.
- Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, announced the establishment of North India’s first Government Homeopathic College in the Jasrota area of Kathua district, J&K. The project, funded centrally at Rs 80 crore, reflects a significant stride in healthcare and education infrastructure development in the region.
- Majuli, the largest river island in the world, has received two prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tags from the Indian government for its traditional crafts - Majuli mask making and Majuli manuscript painting.
- Sea6 Energy, a pioneer in the Blue Economy, has launched the world’s first large-scale mechanized tropical seaweed farm off the coast of Lombok, Indonesia. The one-squarekilometer seaweed farm is a significant milestone in establishing the scalability of sustainable tropical seaweed cultivation for various industrial applications.
- Excavation sites worldwide yield artifacts and fossils crucial for understanding history. In Nuremberg, Germany, construction laborers stumbled upon an astonishing find while building a house: a vast number of human skeletons, indicating the presence of what may be Europe’s largest cemetery. Nearly a thousand skeletons have been unearthed so far, with estimates suggesting the total could surpass $\mathrm{1 5 0 0}$.
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has certified nearly $\mathrm{1 0 0}$ jails across the nation as ‘Eat Right Campus,’ a part of its broader Eat Right India movement. This initiative aims to ensure safe, healthy, and sustainable food practices within various institutional settings, including correctional facilities.
- The beautiful Dal Lake in Kashmir witnessed an exciting event on March 18. Formula-4 car racing was held for the first time in the region. The sleek racing cars raced along the Boulevard road near the lake, creating a thrilling atmosphere. The Zabarwan Hills provided a stunning backdrop for the event.
- In a groundbreaking medical achievement, surgeons from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston have performed the first pig-to-human kidney transplant. A 62 -year-old man with end-stage renal disease received a new kidney from a genetically modified pig.
- The Chipko Movement originated in the Uttarakhand region of the Himalayas in early 1973. The name “Chipko” means “to hug” in Hindi, referring to the practice of embracing trees to protect them from being cut down. The Chipko movement, which began in Uttarakhand, a state in the Himalayas, in early 1973, marks its 50th anniversary.
- A 900-year-old Kannada inscription dating back to the Kalyana Chalukya dynasty has been discovered in a state of utter neglect at Gangapuram, a temple town in Jadcherla mandal, Mahabubnagar district. The rare inscription was found lying uncared for on a tank bund near the Chowdamma temple.
- The world’s first-ever temple designed in the iconic Om shape has been inaugurated in the village of Jadan, Pali district of Rajasthan. This architectural masterpiece, spanning across $\mathrm{2 5 0}$ acres, is not only expected to attract tourists but will also boast an impressive visual presence visible from space.
- Allu Arjun, the popular Telugu actor, has achieved a new milestone in his career. He has been honoured with a wax statue at the renowned Madame Tussauds Museum in Dubai.
