Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2024

Notes:
The Department of Posts released commemorative stamps for the Paris Olympics. These limited-edition stamps celebrate significant events, personalities, and issues. They are available at Philatelic Bureaux and through the Philatelic Deposit Account Scheme. Stamps can honor institutions on major anniversaries, personalities of national/international importance posthumously, and heritage sites. Proposals for stamps can be submitted by any Indian citizen, following specific guidelines by the Ministry of Communications.

Notes:
The Centre’s PARIVESH portal, developed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has crossed 50,000 clearances. PARIVESH, which stands for Pro Active and Responsive Facilitation by Interactive and Virtuous Environmental Single-window Hub, is a single-window portal for obtaining and monitoring Environment, Forest, Wildlife, and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances across the nation.

Notes:
The Bombay High Court dismissed a PIL challenging the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a Maharashtra government scheme providing Rs 1,500 monthly to eligible women aged 21-65. Eligibility requires a family income below Rs 2.5 lakh and no income tax payers in the family. The petitioner argued taxes should fund infrastructure, not such schemes. The court ruled paying taxes is compulsory and their use cannot be dictated by individuals.

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:
During her first official visit to Fiji from August 5 to 7, 2024, President Droupadi Murmu was honored with Fiji’s highest civilian award, the Companion of the Order of Fiji. She is the first Indian President to visit Fiji, where she met with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and President Ratu William Maivalili Katonivere. The Fiji government also allocated land for a 100-bed Super Speciality Hospital, supported by India.

Notes:
Bluetongue disease has been found in all 12 provinces of the Netherlands. This viral disease affects wild and domestic animals like sheep, goats, and cattle, and is spread by biting culicoides midges. It is not contagious between animals. Symptoms vary, with sheep showing the most signs, including internal bleeding. Young lambs are particularly vulnerable, with a mortality rate of up to 30%. Vaccination and insect control are key to managing the disease.

Notes:
Researchers have recently identified a new clade of Candida auris, increasing the total number to six globally. Candida auris is a multi-drug-resistant fungal pathogen that can cause a range of infections, from skin infections to severe, life-threatening bloodstream infections. It was first identified in Japan. It spreads mainly in healthcare settings through contaminated surfaces or person-to-person contact. The fungus can either colonize parts of the body without symptoms or cause serious infections if it enters the bloodstream or wounds.

Notes:
Indian Railways is issuing tenders to equip 10,000 locomotives with Kavach 4.0, the latest version of the Automatic Train Protection system. Kavach is a highly reliable electronic safety system with a probability of error of 1 in 10,000 years. Developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) with Indian industry, it features centralized live monitoring, prevents Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD), and includes automatic braking to prevent overspeeding.

Notes:
India and Zambia held their 4th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Lusaka to strengthen bilateral relations and explore new cooperation areas. They reviewed issues like institutional mechanisms, scholarships, training, and collaboration in higher education. Discussions covered trade, defense, health, agriculture, mining, SMEs, digital platforms, and cultural exchanges. Both sides were pleased with their relationship and discussed regional and international issues, focusing on multilateral cooperation. An agreement was made to hold the next FOC in New Delhi, continuing their strategic partnership.

Notes:
Aaranyak launched a mobile app and a handbook to address Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) in Assam. The app, ‘HaatiApp,’ provides early warnings about wild elephants near villages and includes a form for victims to claim compensation.
Aaranyak will handle form submissions to Forest Divisions. The handbook, in Assamese, covers solar-powered fences, offering guidance on their use, installation, and maintenance to prevent HEC.