Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2024

Notes:
The National Coal Index (NCI) declined by 3.48% in June 2024, showing ample coal availability to meet demand. NCI, introduced by the Ministry of Coal, tracks coal prices to determine revenue share in commercial auctions. It considers coking and non-coking coal prices from various sales channels, including imports, relative to the base year 2017-18. The NCI reflects market dynamics and price fluctuations. The recent decline indicates a balanced market, aligning supply and demand.

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:
Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi achieved Net Zero Carbon Emission Airport status, the first in India. This Level 5 certification recognizes the airport’s success in maintaining a net zero carbon balance. The airport reduced 90% of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and offset the rest. Originally aiming for net zero by 2030, it met the goal earlier through renewable energy, electric vehicles, zero waste programs, and green infrastructure. The airport now aims to achieve net zero in Scope 3 emissions by 2050.

Notes:
A recent study found that the South American lungfish genome has grown significantly over the past 100 million years. The lungfish, Lepidosiren paradoxa, is a freshwater species and the closest living relative to the first land vertebrates. It has the largest genome of any animal, over 50 times the size of the human genome. The DNA in each lungfish cell would stretch almost 60 meters, while human DNA stretches only 2 meters. The genome is mostly made up of repetitive elements, accounting for 90% of it. Found in Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and other South American countries.

Notes:
A landslide recently damaged six houses and an NHPC building at the Teesta-V hydropower station in Sikkim’s Gangtok district. Teesta-V is a 510 MW run-of-river hydropower project on the Teesta River, with a concrete gravity dam. The project began in 1999 and became operational in 2008, developed by NHPC. The Teesta River flows through Sikkim, West Bengal, and Bangladesh, and is a tributary of the Brahmaputra River. It forms a boundary between Sikkim and West Bengal, and its course includes a deep gorge through the Siwalik Hills.

Notes:
A vaccine-derived polio case was confirmed in a two-year-old in Tikrikilla, Meghalaya. This is not wild poliovirus but occurs in individuals with low immunity. India has been polio-free since 2014, with the last wild poliovirus case in 2011. Vaccine-derived polio (VDPV) occurs when the weakened virus in the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) mutates in under-immunized populations. Since 2000, 24 VDPV outbreaks have occurred globally with fewer than 760 cases. WHO recommends multiple rounds of high-quality immunization campaigns to prevent VDPV transmission. Polio is a viral disease that can cause paralysis and death.

Notes:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued an order on August 21, 2024, forming a 14-member National Task Force for the safety of medical professionals. The task force was established by the Supreme Court on August 20, 2024, after a postgraduate doctor was allegedly raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, leading to nationwide protests. Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba is appointed as the Chairperson. The task force includes 9 eminent doctors, the Home Secretary, Health Secretary, and leaders from the National Medical Commission and National Board of Examinations. The Health Ministry will cover all expenses for the task force.

Notes:
India approved an additional 251 MW of power exports from 12 hydropower projects in Nepal, raising total exports to 941 MW. Nepal will export power to Bihar for the first time under a medium-term agreement. Nepal became a net electricity exporter last fiscal year, earning NPR 16.93 billion. Nepal’s power exports to India grew from 39 MW in 2021 to over 941 MW in less than three years. Agreements with Indian states like Haryana and Bihar support Nepal’s exports. A long-term agreement aims for 10,000 MW exports from Nepal to India in the next decade.

Notes:
A bus carrying Indian tourists recently fell 150 meters into the Marsyangdi River in Nepal, killing at least 14 people and injuring 16 others. The Marsyangdi River is a 150 km long mountain river in Nepal. It is a major tributary of the Gandaki River, which joins the Ganga River in India. The river originates from the northern slopes of the Annapurna massif. It flows through rugged Himalayan landscapes, known for its fast currents and deep gorges. The river is popular for white water rafting and kayaking. It supports hydropower projects and is known for snow trout.