Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2024

Notes:
The Indian Army and Air Force conducted the first paradrop of the Aarogya Maitri Health Cube at 15,000 feet elevation. Aarogya Maitri Health Cube is the world’s first portable hospital, designed indigenously under Project BHISHM. It includes medical equipment like a mini-ICU, operation theatre, cooking station, food, water, power generator, blood test equipment, and an X-ray machine. This innovative hospital can provide essential healthcare in remote and high-altitude areas.

Notes:
The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) obtained the Oeko-Tex certification for its Eri Silk. Eri Silk is the world’s only vegan silk, as the moth naturally exits the cocoon without being killed. This silk is produced mainly in the northeastern states of India, especially Assam, and is a Geographical Indication (GI) tagged product. The Oeko-Tex certification ensures that Eri Silk is free from harmful substances and produced in eco-friendly conditions. This certification enhances Eri Silk’s global export potential and emphasizes its sustainability and regional importance.

Notes:
Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai inaugurated India’s first digital court, 24*7 ONCOURTS, in Kollam, Kerala, to handle cheque bounce cases. This digital court operates entirely online, from case filing to judgments, aiming to increase efficiency and reduce case backlog. The court will start accepting cheque bounce cases in September 2024 and may set a precedent for similar courts in Kerala. Automation is expected to improve productivity and reduce pending cases, with potential future expansion to cases under the Motor Vehicles Act.

Notes:
DRDO recently handed over the Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP) of the ‘Nipun’ munition to the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA). DGQA is a century-old organization under the Ministry of Defence, responsible for quality assurance of all defense equipment for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. It tests products rigorously under extreme conditions and collaborates with DRDO on development projects. DGQA also handles import substitution, documentation, codification, and standardization to reduce component variety.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Power launched three new online platforms: PROMPT (Portal for Online Monitoring of Projects—Thermal), DRIPS (Disaster Resource Inventory for Power Sector), and JAL VIDYUT DPR, to improve the power sector’s efficiency. It has developed by the Central Electricity Authority under the Ministry of Power with NTPC’s help for PROMPT, these platforms aim to improve efficiency and transparency in the power sector. PROMPT tracks and analyzes thermal power projects in real-time to address construction delays. JAL VIDYUT DPR monitors the status of hydroelectric and pumped storage projects to ensure better management. DRIPS helps identify and manage power disruptions from natural disasters by linking nodal officers and agencies.

Notes:
The 51st Fighter Wing at Osan Air Base in South Korea is conducting a major military training exercise. This exercise is integrated with Ulchi Freedom Shield 24, an annual joint exercise between the U.S. and South Korea. The combined exercise began on August 19, 2024, and continue until August 23, 2024. The aim is to enhance military preparedness and readiness to respond to potential threats.

Notes:
India celebrated its first National Space Day on August 23, 2024. This day marks the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander on the Moon’s southern polar region. India is the first country to land in this uncharted region and the fourth overall to achieve a lunar landing. The theme for the celebration is “Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga.”

Notes:
A 2,492-carat diamond, the second-largest ever found, was discovered in the Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana by Lucara Diamond. This diamond is second only to the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond found in South Africa over a century ago. Botswana is a major diamond producer, with the industry contributing 30% of its GDP and 80% of its exports. Advanced X-ray transmission technology was used to unearth the diamond, preserving its size and quality. The diamond still needs to be fully assessed to determine its quality and potential for high-value gems.

Notes:
The state government approved the relocation of four villages from the core area of Amrabad Tiger Reserve (ATR). ATR is located in the Nagarkurnool and Nalgonda districts of Telangana, covering part of the Nallamala Forest. It spans 2,611.4 square kilometers, making it one of the largest tiger reserves in India. ATR is the second-largest tiger reserve in terms of core area. Originally part of Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, it became ATR after Telangana’s state bifurcation. The Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar Dams are fed by the Krishna River and streams originating in ATR.
The Chenchu tribe lives in the ATR. The area has dense grass and various tree species like Terminalia tomentosa and Hardwickia binata.

Notes:
Visitors are imitating the Temple Run game at Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, raising concerns about damage to the 900-year-old site. Angkor Wat is the world’s largest religious monument, covering 200 acres. It was built in the 12th century by Khmer King Suryavarman II. It was originally a Hindu temple for Vishnu, later becoming Buddhist. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. The temple features intricate carvings, five towers symbolising Mount Meru, and thousands of bas-reliefs. It is located in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was part of the Khmer Empire’s capital, Angkor, which thrived from the 9th to 15th centuries.