Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
World Intellectual Property Day, observed annually on April 26, is organized by WIPO to highlight the significance of Intellectual Property (IP) in fostering innovation and creativity. The theme for 2024 is ‘IP and the SDGs: Building our common future with innovation and creativity’. WIPO traces its origins to the Paris Convention of 1883, which established IP protection for inventions, trademarks, and industrial designs. WIPO became a specialized agency of the UN in 1974.

Notes:
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) published the 2024 Global Education Monitoring Report: Gender report – Technology on her terms in France in 2024. The report examines the impact of technology on girls’ education opportunities and future technological development. It highlights ICT’s potential to overcome educational barriers for girls, citing the M-shule platform in Kenya. However, the digital divide persists, with fewer women owning mobile phones and having internet access compared to men.

Notes:
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will join the three-day synchronised Nilgiri Tahr census as a third-party observer. This census, starting April 29, is the first-ever synchronised effort to estimate the Nilgiri Tahr population. Collaborators include WWF-India, WII, and AIWC. Project Nilgiri Tahr, launched by the Tamil Nadu government, spans 2022-2027, aiming to safeguard the species and ensure its survival.

Notes:
The conclusion of the Chithirai festival was signified by the return procession of Lord Kallazhagar from the Vaigai river. Alagar Temple, situated at the foothills of Alagar hills in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, is one of Lord Vishnu’s 108 abodes, revered as Kallazhagar. It boasts six corridors within fort walls and is referenced in Tamil epic Silappadikaram and Alvars’ hymns. The temple’s mandapam pillars showcase Nayaka art style.

Notes:
The Union government plans to introduce a new test developed by the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID) to diagnose specific learning disabilities (SLDs) in Indian adults. NIEPID, established in 1984, operates under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, focusing on services for individuals with intellectual disabilities. With headquarters in Secunderabad, Telangana, it offers training, research, and rehabilitation services nationwide.

Notes:
In 2023, Indian service sector exports surged by 11.4% to $345 billion, while Chinese service exports fell by 10.1% to $381 billion, as per a UNCTAD report. India’s service imports slightly decreased by 0.4% to $248 billion. India ranks 7th globally in service exports, with the US leading. Additionally, India stood as the 9th largest service-importing country. The US and China hold top positions as service importers, according to UNCTAD.

Notes:
Defense Secretary Giridhar Armane participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defence Ministers meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan on April 26, 2024. All member states’ defense ministers signed a protocol. They endorsed the concept of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, echoing the Indian philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. The joint communique outlined further collaborative initiatives, emphasizing unity and global interconnectedness.

Notes:
India’s men’s recurve team clinched a historic gold at the Archery World Cup Stage-1 by defeating South Korea, breaking a 14-year gold drought. The triumphant trio – Dhiraj Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai, and Pravin Jadhav – beat South Korea’s world-champion squad 5-1. This marked India’s highest-ever medal tally in an Archery World Cup, with eight medals, including five golds, two silvers, and one bronze. India sent a 16-member squad, featuring eight men and eight women, to Shanghai.

Notes:
Despite the export ban, India permits 99,150 tonnes of onions to Bangladesh, UAE, Bhutan, Bahrain, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka. New Delhi also allows 2,000 tonnes of white onions for Middle East and European markets. National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) handles exports, primarily from Maharashtra. The ban was enforced on December 8, 2023, amid lower crop estimates. Directorate General of Foreign Trade oversees trade matters. Onion buffer procurement target for 2024 is 5 lakh tonnes.

Notes:
The Indian Navy recently showcased twin carrier operations with its two aircraft carriers: INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. India operates these carriers, with INS Vikrant being the first aircraft carrier purchased from the UK, active since the 1960s. INS Viraat, India’s second carrier, was originally HMS Hermes. INS Vikramaditya, formerly Russia’s Admiral Gorshkov, joined the Indian Navy in 2013, marking India’s third carrier.