Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2024

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP) to improve fruit crop quality and productivity nationwide. The Clean Plant Programme aims to provide virus-free, high-quality planting materials to boost crop yields and quality, benefiting farmers’ income. It focuses on improving productivity and quality rather than cutting production costs.
Implemented by the National Horticulture Board (NHB) with ICAR, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, it is part of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). The programme supports sustainable agriculture and aligns with Mission LiFE and One Health initiatives. It includes Clean Plant Centres, a certification and legal framework, and enhanced infrastructure.

Notes:
The Indian Army and Sri Lankan Army started their 10th joint exercise, “Mitra Shakti,” at Maduru Oya in Sri Lanka’s Southern Province. This year’s focus is on joint operations in semi-urban areas, in line with UN Chapter VII on peace and security threats. This year’s exercise involves 120 soldiers from India’s Rajputana Rifles. The goal is to boost both armies’ skills in counter-terrorism and urban warfare. The exercise aims to strengthen defense ties, enhance coordination, and improve interoperability between the Indian and Sri Lankan armed forces.

Notes:
The Cabinet approved an amendment in the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana to provide financial support for Advanced Biofuel Projects. The scheme promotes the production of 2nd-generation (2G) bioethanol from renewable sources like lignocellulosic biomass. Launched in 2019, it was recently extended until 2028-29. It is implemented by the Centre for High Technology under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The objective of scheme is to establishing commercially viable 2G ethanol projects, providing farmers income from agricultural waste, and addressing environmental pollution. Financial support is provided through Viability Gap Funding (VGF).

Notes:
The US Navy’s new AIM-174B missile aims to counter China’s aerial dominance. It’s an air-launched version of the SM-6 missile and was introduced in July 2024 by Raytheon. This long-range air-to-air missile can strike targets up to 400 km away, exceeding the range of China’s PL-15. Deployed in the Indo-Pacific, it supports US power projection amid rising regional tensions. The AIM-174B targets high-priority ground objects like air defense sites and warships, operating in a quasi-ballistic manner.

Notes:
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 37, became Thailand’s youngest prime minister after Srettha Thavisin was dismissed. She is the third member of the Shinawatra family, after her father and aunt, to hold the position. Paetongtarn won 319 votes in the parliamentary vote, showing strong legislative support. Despite her family’s political influence, she faces challenges like a struggling economy and political competition. Her party, Pheu Thai, is also under pressure with a pending $14.25 billion cash handout program.

Notes:
Researchers rediscovered the rare owlfly species Glyptobasis dentifera in Kerala after 75 years. Owlflies belong to Order Neuroptera and are often mistaken for dragonflies due to similar appearance. Owlflies are aerial predators and can release a musk-like chemical when threatened. They lay eggs in groups on tree limbs, with females creating protective shields. Larvae typically live in soil or trees in clusters for defense.

Notes:
A research team at Central University of Kerala, led by Dr. Ravi Kumar Kanaparthi, developed an advanced cyanide sensor to improve safety in drinking water and food. Cyanide is a dangerous toxin found in certain plants and foods like cassava, almonds, and apple seeds, and the WHO recommends keeping its concentration below 0.19 mg/L in drinking water. Recent cyanide poisoning incidents, like the death of 13 cows in Idukki, highlight the need for effective detection. The sensor changes color from yellow to colorless or bluish-green in the presence of cyanide, allowing for easy and accurate detection.

Notes:
The winners of the 70th National Film Awards were recently announced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The National Film Awards was established in 1954 to encourage films of aesthetic, technical excellence, and social relevance, promoting cultural appreciation across India. Initially called ‘State Awards,’ they included President’s Gold Medals and certificates of merit. Awards are given in three sections: Feature Films, Non-Feature Films, and Best Writing in Cinema.
Since 1973, the Directorate of Film Festivals has administered these awards, promoting Indian films and cultural exchange through various events and international participation.

Notes:
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Bal Paushtik Aahar Yojana’ to provide nutritious food to government schoolchildren. The scheme offers boiled eggs or fruits once a week to students from nursery to class eight. Fresh fruits will be locally sourced based on children’s preferences. It complements the existing mid-day meal scheme, covering 15,181 schools and 5,34,293 students. The state allocated Rs.12.75 crore for the scheme in 2024-25. The CM also launched a scheme to provide free tablets to primary school teachers to enhance digitalization in education.

Notes:
The Chhattisgarh Forest Department held a Van Mahotsav in the Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district, planting saplings using the Miyawaki method. The Miyawaki method, is a urban afforestation method, developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. It involves planting 2-4 types of native trees per square meter. Dense planting leads to rapid growth as seedlings compete for sunlight. Only native species, suited to the local climate and naturally occurring without human interference, are planted. Trees become self-sustainable and reach full growth in about three years. Miyawaki forests grow 10 times faster, are 30 times denser, and have 100 times more biodiversity.