Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2024

Notes:
Indian badminton star Ashwini Ponnappa emotionally retired from the Olympic stage after her early exit at the Paris 2024 Games. Partnering with Tanisha Crasto, they lost their final match to Australia’s Setyana Mapasa and Angela Yu, ending their campaign with three consecutive losses. Ashwini, a three-time Olympian, is celebrated for her achievements with Jwala Gutta, including gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the World Championships in 2011.

Notes:
A recent study found that kidlins, adapter proteins in cell membranes, could offer a new cancer treatment pathway. The Kindlin family, with three distinct members, transfers mechanical cues to biochemical signals, interacting with structural proteins and receptors. Mutations in these proteins, caused by carcinogens like nicotine and UV rays, can disrupt cell signaling and mechanical homeostasis, affecting the body’s balance and function.

Notes:
Wayanad, Kerala, struck by a deadly landslide killing nearly 200 people, ranked 13th in ISRO’s 2023 Landslide Atlas of India. Prepared by National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of ISRO, the atlas details landslide occurrences and damage in 147 districts across 17 states and two Union Territories. It includes 80,000 landslides mapped from 1998 to 2022, categorized by season, event, and route. The data, using high-resolution satellite imagery, ranked districts based on socio-economic exposure to landslides.

Notes:
Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the ‘State Museum Conclave on the upcoming Yuga Yugeen Bharat Museum’ in New Delhi. The event aims to gather insights from stakeholders to develop a world-class museum. Minister highlighted India’s growing global interest and the need to showcase its heritage. The Yuga Yugeen Bharat Museum, part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, will be the world’s largest museum.

Notes:
Jharkhand’s government, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has launched Mukhyamantri Maiyaan Samman Yojana. This scheme provides financial aid to women for their empowerment, education, health, and nutrition. Seen as a pre-election move before the legislative assembly elections in late 2024, the government will hold enrollment camps across the state from August 3-10, 2024.

Notes:
India mourned the loss of Yamini Krishnamurthy, a revered classical dancer, who passed away at 83 in New Delhi. Mastering Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Odissi, she elevated Indian classical dance globally. Born on December 20, 1940, in Andhra Pradesh, she began her dance journey at five, training at Kalakshetra School under Bharatanatyam legend Rukmini Devi Arundale.

Notes:
The 7th Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Subordinate Officers’ Conclave, held on August 1-2, 2024, in New Delhi, was inaugurated by Director General Rakesh Pal. Themed ‘Towards an Inclusive Approach,’ the event included sessions on holistic living, stress management, and leadership. It provided a platform for officers to share ideas with decision-makers, focusing on inclusive growth, technology integration, and the principles of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and good governance.

Notes:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has analyzed precipitation and drought trends using the Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI). The SPI estimates wet or dry conditions based on long-term precipitation data, ideally over 30 years. It provides negative values for droughts and positive values for wet conditions. The index includes various timescales ranging from 1 to 72 months to assess the severity of conditions.

Notes:
Chief Minister Hemant Soren launched the ‘Upasthiti Portal’ to track daily attendance of health workers in Jharkhand. This system will verify biometric attendance to ensure accountability. Soren emphasized the government’s commitment to improving health facilities, aiming to provide better medical services in hospitals and health centers. Efforts include enhancing maintenance, resources, and investigation facilities to ensure accessible healthcare for all residents of Jharkhand.

Notes:
The Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM), announced in the 2019 Interim Budget, aims to provide social security to unorganized workers. Implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Employment through LIC and CSCs since February 15, 2019, it targets approximately 42 crore workers. LIC manages the pension fund and payouts. By the end of July 2024, over 50 lakh unorganised sector workers had enrolled in this Central Sector Scheme.