Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
The Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX) is a joint mission between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to explore the moon’s South Pole region. JAXA will provide the launch vehicle and rover, while ISRO will contribute the lander. Equipped with tools to measure water content in lunar sand and conduct drilling and sampling, the rover promises vital insights into the Moon’s Polar Regions.

Notes:
In FY 2023-24, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, comprising Kolkata Dock System and Haldia Dock Complex, handled a record-breaking 66.4 MMT of Cargo, up 1.11% from the previous year. Chairman Shri Rathendra Raman attributed this success to strategic initiatives boosting productivity and safety. Haldia Dock Complex reached its highest volume of 49.54 MMT, a 1.91% increase, while KDS managed 16.856 MMT. The port also achieved a remarkable 65% growth in net surplus, reaching Rs. 501.73 crores.

Notes:
Sierra Leone’s President has declared a national emergency on substance abuse due to the surge in the use of the dangerous synthetic drug “kush.” The tropical West African country, bordered by Guinea, Liberia, and the Atlantic Ocean, faces this challenge. Its landscape comprises lightly wooded hills and mangrove swamps along the coast, with major rivers like the Rokel, Taia, Moa, and Sewa flowing through its terrain.

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Peter Pellegrini, backed by Slovakia’s nationalist-left government, wins the presidential election, defeating liberal Ivan Korčok. With 53.85% of the vote, Pellegrini pledges to maintain Slovakia’s peace stance. He becomes the sixth president since independence in 1993, succeeding Zuzana Čaputová. As president, Pellegrini will appoint the prime minister, swear in the government, and influence judicial appointments. His victory signifies a shift towards state interventionism. The new government halts weapon exports to Ukraine.

Notes:
India has invoked the WTO’s Peace Clause for the fifth time, citing breach of rice subsidy limits. The clause shields developing nations from dispute challenges regarding subsidy breaches. Global trade norms dictate subsidies should not exceed 10% of production value based on a 1986-88 reference price. India seeks amendments to this formula and proposed the Peace Clause in 2013 as an interim measure until a permanent solution is negotiated.

Notes:
Israel deployed its ship-mounted defense system, C-Dome, for the first time. C-Dome, a naval adaptation of the Iron Dome, protects against rocket and missile threats. Utilizing radar detection and interceptors, it boasts high effectiveness. Mounted on Sa’ar 6-class corvettes, it integrates with ship radar for enhanced target detection. Operational since November 2022, C-Dome ensures comprehensive maritime defense against modern threats, showcasing Israel’s advanced military technology.

Notes:
India has achieved the elimination of visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar, meeting its target as per National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control data. Kala-azar is the second deadliest protozoan parasitic disease globally, endemic in 76 countries. It’s transmitted by infected sandflies and primarily affects the reticuloendothelial system. Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a possible complication. Leishmaniasis is associated with poverty, malnutrition, weak immunity, and environmental changes like deforestation and urbanization.

Notes:
On April 10, 2024, President Droupadi Murmu of India inaugurated a two-day Homoeopathy Symposium in New Delhi, organized by CCRH, to commemorate World Homoeopathy Day. She emphasized Homoeopathy’s global acceptance as a simple and accessible treatment. President Murmu lauded the Ministry of AYUSH and government bodies like CCRH, National Commission for Homoeopathy, and National Institute of Homoeopathy for their pivotal roles in promoting Homoeopathy in India.

Notes:
NASA has been tasked with establishing Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) as a unified standard for timekeeping on the Moon and other celestial bodies. Unlike time zones, time standards define units of time and aid in timekeeping. With lunar missions planned, a standard is crucial due to varying gravitational forces and celestial influences.

Notes:
Canara Bank and Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SINE), IIT Bombay, formalized collaboration via a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This collaboration aims to bolster the startup sector by offering financial aid and support. Canara Bank’s Canara Start-Up Scheme will provide funding for industrial units, while SINE, a renowned technology incubator, will offer full incubation and acceleration services to tech startups. Together, they seek to foster the growth and success of businesses in India.