Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
The IMF’s Fiscal Monitor warns against relying solely on industrial policy initiatives to spur economic growth in the US, Europe, and beyond. Released biannually by the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, it offers insights into public finance trends, fiscal outlooks, and policy implications for the global economy. Projections, aligned with the World Economic Outlook and Global Financial Stability Report, are crafted by IMF desk economists following WEO guidelines.

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.

Notes:
Two people drowned in the Tons River while bathing in UP’s Ballia, the largest tributary of the Yamuna. Originating from Bandarpunch Mountain in Uttarakhand, it traverses through Garhwal and Himachal Pradesh. Spanning 200 km, it cuts through gorges and valleys, ending at the Yamuna near Kalsi. Despite being a tributary, Tons contributes more water than the Yamuna itself. Pabbar and Asan rivers are its main tributaries, enriching the culturally significant Tons Valley inhabited by indigenous tribes.

Notes:
Zimbabwean scientist innovates by converting carbon dioxide into valuable fuels, aiming to reduce emissions. Their research focuses on creating materials to capture and convert CO2 from fossil fuel burning into energy sources like formic acid and methanol. Formic acid, derived from carbon monoxide and alcohol with a catalyst, is utilized across industries including pharmaceuticals, textiles, and food processing. It’s naturally present in ants and is a colorless liquid with a sharp odor.

Notes:
International Day for Human Space Flight (IDHSF) is celebrated annually on April 12, honoring Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space in 1961. The UNGA declared it in 2011 to advocate for peaceful space exploration. In 2024, the theme is “Encouraging Scientific Curiosity” to foster outer space exploration’s peaceful advancement. Gagarin’s historic flight paved the way for humanity’s space ventures, promoting benefits for all.

Notes:
The Muria tribe, primarily located in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, faces challenges including lack of access to primary education, safe drinking water, and social welfare benefits. They are at risk of displacement and are referred to as ‘Gutti Koyas’. Speaking the Koya language, they practice animism and have unique cultural practices like Ghotul for youth education. Despite holding ST status in Chhattisgarh, they lack recognition in migrated states like Telangana.

Notes:
New evidence from the Australian Marine Conservation Society shows that coral bleaching in the southern Great Barrier Reef is worse than expected. The reef, off Australia’s northeastern coast, is the world’s longest and largest, spanning over 2,300 km with 3,000 reefs and 900 islands. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a marine protected area. The recent bleaching underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts to preserve this vital ecosystem.

Notes:
Russia successfully tested its Angara-A5 space rocket from Vostochny Cosmodrome. Earlier attempts on April 9 and 10 were canceled due to technical issues. The rocket reached an altitude of over 25,000 kilometers per hour. This marked Russia’s third successful test. The test coincided with Cosmonaut Day, commemorating Yuri Gagarin’s historic spaceflight in 1961. The Angara-A5 is a 54.5-meter, 773-ton three-stage rocket capable of carrying 24.5 tons into space.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh is leading in implementing the Green Credit Programme, with 500+ approved land parcels for tree plantation across 10 states in two months. 10,000 hectares of land are earmarked. MP has the highest approved degraded forest land (954 hectares), followed by Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Assam. Public sector undertakings will carry out plantations to earn green credits. The program focuses on ecosystem services, promoting non-carbon environmental actions, benefiting local soil, water, and ecosystems.

Notes:
Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania recently broke the men’s discus throw world record at the Oklahoma Throws Series in Ramona, USA, on April 14, 2024, with a throw of 74.35 meters. He surpassed Jurgen Schult’s 38-year-old record of 74.08 meters. Cuban Yaime Perez also impressed with a 73.09-meter throw, maintaining the women’s record since 1989. Alekna’s record-breaking throw came on his fifth attempt, securing his place in athletics history.