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:
A pall of gloom fell over Kumaradevam gram panchayat in East Godavari district after the death of a century-old Indian siris tree. The Indian Siris, or Albizia lebbeck, is a tropical deciduous tree native to India and Southeast Asia, growing up to 20 meters with an umbrella-shaped canopy. It fixes nitrogen, enriches soil, and helps with soil conservation and erosion control, producing fragrant white flowers.

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The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has started copying stone inscriptions at the Thalishwarar temple in Tamil Nadu using the estampage method. This involves cleaning the stones, transferring the engravings to maplitho paper, inking it, and recording details. The replicated inscriptions, including those in ancient Tamil scripts from the 9th and 12th centuries, offer insights into historical lifestyles and the temple’s construction by a Chera ruler.

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:
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:
K Kailashnathan has taken oath as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry at a ceremony held at Raj Nivas. Acting Chief Justice D. Krishnakumar administered the oath, while Chief Minister N Rangasamy and other officials attended. Kailashnathan has assumed office as the new Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, marking a new chapter in the union territory’s administration under his leadership and guidance.

Notes:
A contentious bill to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, aiming to include non-Muslim individuals and Muslim women in Waqf bodies, is set to be presented in the Lok Sabha. The Waqf Act of 1954 defines a Waqf as a property dedicated for religious and charitable purposes. It can be established by deed or long-term usage and fund institutions like mosques and schools. Waqfs are non-transferable, perpetual, and managed by a mutawali under the Waqf Act, 1995.

Notes:
The Ministry of Textiles has empowered cotton ginners to produce Kasturi Cotton Bharat using QR code certification technology. Kasturi Cotton Bharat is a premium brand initiative for Indian cotton, focusing on traceability, certification, and branding. It was formalized through an MoU between the Cotton Corporation of India and the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council on December 15, 2022. QR-based certification and Blockchain technology ensure full traceability across the supply chain. The program is promoted both nationally and internationally, with no state-level fund allocation.

Notes:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing the Pinaka-MK3, a new multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL). Pinaka, designed by DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), targets area threats like enemy troops and vehicles. It features a multi-tube launcher with two pods of six rockets each, capable of covering 700 × 500 meters in 48 seconds. The 214 mm rocket carries a 100 kg payload and offers various warheads. Supported by hydraulically actuated outriggers, the system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility. India has versions of Pinaka with ranges of 48 km, 60 km, and 90 km.

Notes:
The Union Finance Minister introduced the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, to transfer unclaimed dividends, shares, and bonds to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF). The IEPF was established under the Companies Act, 1956, and manages unpaid amounts like dividends, deposits, and debentures unclaimed for seven years. The fund also receives grants and donations and is managed by the Investor Education Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA). IEPFA was established in 2016 under the Companies Act, 2013, and is overseen by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.