10 PM Current Affairs Quiz #91 February 18, 2020

Explanation: The Antarctic has registered a temperature of more than 20C (68F) for the first time on record, prompting fears of climate instability in the world’s greatest repository of ice. The 20.75C logged by Brazilian scientists at Seymour Island on 9 February was almost a full degree higher than the previous record of 19.8C, taken on Signy Island in January 1982. It follows another recent temperature record: on 6 February an Argentinean research station at Esperanza measured 18.3C, which was the highest reading on the continental Antarctic Peninsula. These records will need to be confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization, but they are consistent with a broader trend on the peninsula and nearby islands, which have warmed by almost 3C since the pre-industrial era – one of the fastest rates on the planet.

Explanation: Just a month to go for the biggest multilateral naval exercise — Milan – in the Indian Ocean, the exercise “offers an opportunity for friendly navies to engage as professionals, learn from each other, and absorb best practices in the maritime domain.” Forty-two countries, including the US and Russia and some others who don’t have much in common, have been invited to Milan, which will be conducted at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, in March. The theme for Milan is ‘Synergy Across the Seas’. Milan, a multilateral naval exercise hosted by India, made a modest beginning in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 1995 with participation of four littoral navies. Over the last two decades and half, it has progressively grown in magnitude with the previous edition in 2018 being attended by 17 countries. The exercise is restricted to only friendly countries. India has not invited Chinese Navy for the exercise. The Indian Navy has been watchful of the Chinese presence since 2008.

Explanation: Sammakka Saralamma Jatara also known as Medaram Jatara is a tribal festival held biennially in the state of Telangana.It is a State Festival of Telangana. The festival commemorates the fight of a mother and daughter, Sammakka and Saralamma, with the reigning rulers against an unjust law. It is believed that after Kumbh Mela,the Medaram jatara attracts the largest number of devotees in the country.

Explanation: BioAsia, Asia’s largest annual global Biotechnology and Life Sciences forum organized by the Government of Telangana. BioAsia is a comprehensive framework dedicated to investors, researchers, start-ups, and conglomerates in biotechnology, pharma and healthcare to bring them at one stage. The aim is to create business paradigms for the ever-evolving needs of the Life-sciences industry.

Explanation: The Asur tribe has been using mobile radio to transmit local news and songs which are helping them revive the dying tribal language. Asur (particularly vulnerable tribal group) people are a very small Austroasiatic ethnic group living primarily in the Indian state of Jharkhand, mostly in the Gumla, Lohardaga, Palamu and Latehar districts. As per the 2011 census, the tribe has a population of around 23,000. They were once hunter gatherers. However, the majority of them shifted into agriculture. Now, 91.19 percent are enlisted as cultivators.