Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
April 18 marks ‘World Heritage Day,’ honoring cultural sites globally. It’s also ‘International Day for Monuments and Sites,’ stressing heritage preservation. Recognized by UNESCO, it celebrates significant cultural and natural sites. In 2024, the theme is “Discover and Experience Diversity,” urging reflection on our global treasures. It emphasizes understanding diverse cultures, traditions, and ecosystems, fostering appreciation for our shared heritage.

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In Kerala, the Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory of DRDO unveiled the Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and Evaluation (SPACE). It’s a testing hub for sonar systems on Indian Navy ships, subs, and helicopters. SPACE has two parts: a floating platform and a submersible one reaching 100m depth. It facilitates quick deployment and recovery of scientific gear, aiding survey, sampling, and data collection for Anti-Submarine Warfare research.

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The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) released the 2024 State of the World’s Population report in April 2024. India leads with a population of 144.17 crore, expected to double in 77 years. 68% aged 15-64, with a Total Fertility Rate of 2.0. Life expectancy at birth is 71 and 74 years for men and women respectively. Child marriage rates were 23%, and women with disabilities face up to 10 times more gender-based violence. Marginalized communities are largely ignored despite 30 years of SRH progress.

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Severe drought and intense heat have caused the complete drying up of the Lakshmana Tirtha River, a tributary of the Kaveri in Karnataka. Originating in the Brahmagiri hills, it flows eastward before merging with the Kaveri River at Krishna Raja Sagara Lake. The famous Lakshmanatirtha Falls, or Irupu Falls, adorns its path, near Kerala’s border. The Kaveri River, originating at Talakaveri, is sacred to Hindus and empties into the Bay of Bengal at Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu.

Notes:
Discovered in Gujarat, a fossil vertebrae confirms ‘Vasuki Indicus’ as the largest snake ever, estimated at 11-15 meters and 1 tonne. Likely an ambush predator in marshy swamps, it lived during a period of high global temperatures. Comparable to Titanoboa, a Colombian snake measuring 43 feet long and weighing over a tonne, Vasuki Indicus sheds light on prehistoric serpents’ immense size and ecological roles.

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The Higher School of Economics in Russia and the University of Delhi signed a strategic cooperation agreement, establishing a joint research hub. New Delhi hosted the Indo-Russian Education Summit, a landmark event in bilateral relations, with 60 Russian universities participating from various regions. The summit aims to enhance educational ties and foster collaboration between India and Russia, marking a significant milestone in their partnership.

Notes:
Zero Shadow Day was recently observed in Pondicherry. It happens twice yearly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, occurring between the December and June solstices, and vice versa. This phenomenon is exclusive to latitudes within +23.5 and -23.5 degrees. On this day, the Sun is directly overhead, casting no shadows. This occurs when sunlight strikes surfaces perpendicularly, resulting in shadows being obscured.

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The inaugural Rainbow International Tourism Conference in Kathmandu, Nepal, organized by Mayako Pahichan and Nepal Tourism Board, aimed at promoting LGBTQ-inclusive tourism. Minister Bhagawati Chaudhary and Sunil Babu Pant inaugurated the event, emphasizing inclusivity in tourism. Discussions covered topics like pink tourism, accessibility, and cultural sensitivity. With global LGBTQ travel spending at USD 202 billion, the conference advocated for LGBTQ-friendly tourism to boost economies. Collaboration with stakeholders aimed to foster diversity in tourism initiatives.

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India, at the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona, proposed a region-specific ocean observation center for deep-sea ecosystem understanding. Led by Earth Sciences Secretary M. Ravichandran, the delegation emphasized better forecasting. The conference, from April 10 to 12, aimed to assess progress toward UN Decade of Ocean Science goals (2021-2030). Spain, with UNESCO, hosted the event under the theme “Delivering the science we need for the ocean we want.”

Notes:
The Supreme Court set July 10 to finalize legal matters regarding Tamil Nadu’s objection to Kerala’s Survey of India report on the Mullaperiyar catchment area. The case arose from Kerala’s construction of a mega car park, prompting Tamil Nadu to seek a permanent injunction against encroachment. Conflict intensified in 2023 when the National Green Tribunal allowed Kerala’s projects in the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The Mullaperiyar Dam is located on Periyar River in Kerala and is built between 1887 and 1895, diverts Periyar river water to arid regions.