Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2024

Notes:
Israel and Egypt are making progress in resolving their differences over the Philadelphi Corridor and the Rafah crossing point. The Philadelphi Corridor is a narrow strip along the Gaza-Egypt border, established as a demilitarized buffer zone by the 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. This area is crucial for controlling movement and preventing smuggling between Gaza and Egypt. It has been central in ceasefire talks and conflicts involving Israel, Hamas, and Egypt.

Notes:
India and the US have signed two key defence agreements: the Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Liaison Officers to boost defence cooperation. SOSA aims to enhance industry collaboration by ensuring priority support for defence goods and services between the two nations. Under SOSA, both countries can request faster delivery for defence contracts from each other’s companies, helping manage supply-chain issues. The US will offer India assurances through its Defense Priorities and Allocations System, while India will set up a code of conduct for prioritizing US defence needs. India is now the 18th country to sign SOSA with the US, joining nations like Australia, Israel, Japan, and the UK.

Notes:
The 24th International Mother Teresa Awards Ceremony was held at the Millennium Plaza Dubai. The event commemorated the 114th birth anniversary of Mother Teresa. Organized by the All-India Minority and Weaker Sections Council, it was held outside India for only the second time, both times in Dubai. The awards were established after Mother Teresa’s death in 1997. They honor outstanding contributions in education, science, culture, sports, social work, medicine, industry, and politics in India. This year’s ceremony featured awardees from various countries and sectors, highlighting their significant achievements.

Notes:
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh Chief Ministers announced the development of a new religious circuit named the ‘Shri Krishna Gaman Path’. The initiative is aimed at boosting religious tourism and preserving cultural heritage. The circuit will connect Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, with Ujjain, a sacred city in Madhya Pradesh. This project will trace the footsteps of Lord Krishna, one of the most revered deities in Hinduism. The ‘Shri Krishna Gaman Path’ is expected to enhance cultural ties and attract pilgrims and tourists to these significant religious sites.

Notes:
Tiger ST-2303 has moved from Sariska Tiger Reserve to Jhabua forests in Rewari, Haryana. Jhabua forest is rich in prey like nilgai and wild boar, providing the tiger with abundant food and dense cover, making relocation difficult. The tiger’s presence near villages has raised concerns about human-wildlife conflict. Forest officials are working with Rajasthan authorities to safely return the tiger to Sariska. The Sariska Tiger Foundation has requested the Union Environment Minister to ensure the tiger’s return to its original habitat, emphasizing the need to protect wildlife corridors for future tiger migrations.

Notes:
Solar Paraboloid technology is a promising advancement for improving solar energy efficiency. It is a type of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) that uses a Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC). Parabolic mirrors focus sunlight onto a receiver tube at the focal line. This technology offers advantages over traditional photovoltaic (PV) systems, including higher operating temperatures, greater thermal efficiency, and reduced heat losses. However, it faces challenges like high upfront costs and significant infrastructure needs.

Notes:
Rajasthan launched the Ayushman Jeevan Raksha Yojana to encourage quick help for road accident victims. Under this scheme, people who take accident victims to hospitals quickly will receive Rs 10,000 and a citation. To get the reward, individuals must also provide necessary personal details. The scheme is funded by the Dedicated Road Safety Fund. The goal is to improve emergency response times and reduce road accident deaths. This initiative shows Rajasthan’s commitment to improving road safety and supporting accident victims.

Notes:
Mangaluru district jail started a nursery program where prisoners grow ornamental plants like croton, hibiscus, jasmine, and royal farm plants. The program, led by Superintendent B T Oblesappa, involves 30 inmates and aims to rehabilitate them by teaching valuable agricultural skills. It provides prisoners with a potential way to earn a living after release.
The initiative has been well-received locally, with strong demand for the saplings. It also helps increase government revenue. This program highlights a successful approach to prisoner rehabilitation and promoting self-sufficiency.

Notes:
The Ministry of Defence ordered 73,000 SIG716 rifles from U.S. company Sig Sauer, to be delivered by end-2025. SIG716 is an American-made automatic assault rifle. The Indian Army uses these rifles extensively, especially in mountainous and border regions. The rifle is 34.39 inches long with a 15.98-inch barrel and weighs 3.58 kg. It has a higher recoil and is designed to hit targets at 600 meters. The rifle uses a 7.62x51mm caliber for longer range and more power than INSAS and AK-47 rifles. Its gas piston system boosts reliability and lowers maintenance. The SIG716’s modular design allows easy customization with accessories.

Notes:
Researchers from CeNS and CSIR-NCL have developed a security alert system using piezoelectric polymer nanocomposites.
These polymers generate electric charges when subjected to pressure, converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.
They offer higher piezoelectric stress constants than ceramics, making them superior sensors. The polymers have low dielectric constants, low elastic stiffness, and low density, providing high voltage sensitivity and low acoustic and mechanical impedance, useful for medical and underwater applications. They are lightweight, flexible, and can be manufactured into large areas and complex shapes, with high dielectric breakdown and operating field strength.