Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2024

Notes:
On 31 July 2024, President Droupadi Murmu appointed Preeti Sudan, a 1983 batch IAS officer and former Union Health Secretary, as the new Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), succeeding Dr. Manoj Soni. Sudan, the second woman to hold this position, has played key roles in government programs like Ayushman Bharat and Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. The UPSC, established in 1950, is an independent constitutional body.

Notes:
The recent All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2022 census reported that Achanakmar Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh saw its tiger population double from 5 to 10. Located in Bilaspur district, this reserve, established in 1975 and declared a tiger reserve in 2009, spans 553.286 sq. km. It connects Kanha and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserves and supports diverse wildlife and tribal communities.

Notes:
The Union Environment Ministry’s approval for oil and gas drilling in Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary may endanger the Hoolock gibbon further. This evergreen forest sanctuary, located in Assam’s Jorhat district, was established in 1997. It’s the only sanctuary in India named after a gibbon, containing the densest gibbon populations in Assam. The Bhogdoi River forms a waterlogged region with semi-hydrophytic plants along its border.

Notes:
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in an air strike in Tehran. Experts believe this could lead Iran to increase attacks against Israel through its allies, known as the Axis of Resistance. This coalition of Iranian-backed groups includes Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and the Houthis. The coalition’s origins trace back to the Iranian Revolution of 1979, which empowered radical Shia clerics and led Iran to support non-state actors to expand its influence and counter threats from Israel and the US.

Notes:
The Indian Naval Submarine INS Shalki, the first submarine built in India, arrived in Colombo for a two-day visit. This Shishumar-class diesel-electric submarine, commissioned in 1992, was constructed by Mazgaon Dock Limited in Mumbai. It is 64.4 m long, carries 40 people, and has a displacement of 1450-1850 tons. Its speed ranges from 11 knots surfaced to 22 knots submerged, with a range of 8,000 nautical miles.

Notes:
NITI Aayog’s report, “Strategy for the development of Seaweed Value Chain,” highlights the importance of seaweeds, marine plants thriving in water bodies, cultivated in aquaculture. The fishing and aquaculture sector contributes 1.5% to India’s GDP. Seaweed farming has economic significance for bioactive compounds in food and pharmaceuticals, environmental benefits in carbon sequestration and climate resilience, and nutritional value with essential minerals and vitamins.

Notes:
India and Russia conducted a maritime partnership exercise (MPX) in St. Petersburg on the 328th Russian Navy Day. The exercise featured India’s INS Tabar and Russia’s Soobrazitelny, showcasing naval maneuvers like communication drills, search and rescue tactics, and replenishment at sea. This MPX reinforced strong bilateral naval ties, highlighting both nations’ commitment to regional peace, stability, and security, and demonstrated professionalism and interoperability between their navies.

Notes:
A four-ringed butterfly, the great four-ring (Ypthima cantliei), was rediscovered in Namdapha National Park after 61 years. Last seen in Assam in 1957, it was photographed during a 2018-19 survey. Identified by its morphology and habitat, this butterfly belongs to the Nymphalidae family, which has 6,000 species. India has 35 Ypthima species, with 23 in the northeast. China, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar also host significant Ypthima diversity.

Notes:
In a new study, scientists used AI to convert glioblastoma cancer cells into dendritic cells, which help the immune system target and kill cancer. Glioblastoma is a fast-growing brain or spinal cord cancer caused by DNA mutations, originating from astrocytes that support nerve cells. It makes its own blood supply, invades healthy tissue, and is more common in older adults, accounting for nearly half of adult brain tumors.

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.