Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2024

Notes:
According to recent study, climate change may reduce the Malabar Tree Toad’s range by up to 68.7% in India’s protected areas. This toad is the only species in the genus Pedostibes and was first discovered in 1876 but not seen again until 1980. It was rediscovered in Silent Valley National Park, Kerala. It is endemic to India’s Western Ghats. It lives in evergreen to moist deciduous forests, climbing trees and dwelling in tree cavities. Unique among Indian toads for its tree-climbing ability, it breeds in water pools during the monsoon.

Notes:
Typhoon Ampil hit the Tokyo area with heavy rains and mudslide warnings in northern Japan. The typhoon has led to hundreds of cancellations, impacting travel plans. With gusts up to 180 km/h, there are warnings for floods, landslides, and violent gusts. Climate change is making this typhoon season particularly intense, challenging Japan’s preparedness and response.

Notes:
The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DOPPW) introduced a centralized pension processing software called ‘Bhavishya’ for all central government Ministries/Departments. ‘Bhavishya’ is an online Pension Sanction & Payment Tracking System to address delays, clerical errors, and financial loss in pension processing. The software starts the pension process 15 months before retirement and uses a single form for the pensioner. It also integrates with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) for seamless electronic pension payments.

Notes:
MUDA is being investigated for possible unfair practices in compensating for acquired private land. Allegations surfaced that Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, received 14 plots in a prime area, raising legal and fairness concerns.
MUDA, established in 1904, manages urban planning in Mysuru and has faced legal issues due to incomplete land acquisitions. Financial problems and lawsuits have made it difficult for MUDA to compensate landowners properly. In 2020, MUDA introduced a 50:50 ratio scheme, giving half the developed land back to original owners to address compensation challenges.

Notes:
Biomedical researcher Leonard Hayflick, who discovered the “Hayflick limit,” recently passed away. “Hayflick limit” refers to the maximum number of times a cell can divide. This discovery is crucial for understanding aging and age-related diseases. Hayflick identified three phases of cell division: rapid division, slowing mitosis, and senescence, where cells stop dividing. After cells stop dividing, they eventually undergo programmed death, called apoptosis. In the 1970s, researchers found that telomeres, protective DNA sequences at chromosome ends, shorten with each division, eventually leading to the end of cell division. The exact link between telomere length and lifespan remains unclear.

Notes:
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren launched the Jharkhand Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana (JMMSY). Eligible women aged 21-50 from below poverty line families will receive Rs 1,000 monthly, totaling Rs 12,000 annually via Direct Benefit Transfer.
The state government has also decided to waive agriculture loans up to Rs 2 lakhs. Girls in government schools benefit from the Savitribai Phule Samridhi Yojana, and model schools are strengthening the education system. Loans at subsidized rates are provided under the Mukhyamantri Rojgar Srijan Yojana.

Notes:
The Indian Army held a landmark event, Shaurya Sampravah 1.0, at the Manekshaw Centre in Delhi, led by General Upendra Dwivedi. The event aimed to harness the experience and insights of veteran officers to shape the Army’s future and contribute to national growth. General Dwivedi expressed gratitude to veterans and emphasized the event as a platform for idea exchange between current leadership and veterans. The event featured a detailed briefing on the “Decade of Transformation” roadmap, focusing on modernization and enhancing operational capabilities.

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:
India is co-hosting a conference on online radicalization with the European Union (EU). The collaboration underscores the need to address online radicalization internationally. The EU is a significant political and economic union of 27 member states, mainly in Europe. With over 449 million people and contributing about one-sixth of the global GDP in 2022, the EU is a key global partner in this initiative.

Notes:
Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha will grow bamboo grass in the National Park. It is located in Mayurbhanj District, Odisha. It covers 2,750 sq km and features waterfalls like Joranda and Barehipani. It was designated as a tiger reserve in 1973 and a wildlife sanctuary in 1979. In 1980, 303 sq km was proposed as a National Park, and in 2009, UNESCO added it to its Biosphere Reserves list. The reserve is part of the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve and features hilly terrain with diverse vegetation, mainly Northern tropical moist deciduous forests and semi-evergreen patches.