Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2024

Notes:
Researchers from the University of Chile found that Chile’s Atacama Salt Flat is sinking due to lithium brine extraction. The Atacama Salt Flat, or Salar de Atacama, is the largest salt deposit in Chile. It features a white surface with a large salt lake beneath it. The lake under the salt flat holds one of the world’s largest lithium reserves. Located in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth, the northern part of the basin includes the San Pedro River delta.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh’s first semiconductor park was inaugurated at Noida International Airport. Three companies have been approved to set up semiconductor units on 275 acres of land in the park. This project aims to create around 13,780 jobs. It will boost India’s self-reliance in the technology sector, particularly in chip manufacturing, addressing recent global shortages.

Notes:
Recent tensions between Japan and China have increased due to a Chinese military aircraft violating Japanese airspace. A Chinese Y-9 surveillance plane breached Japanese airspace near the Danjo Islands for about two minutes. This is the first confirmed airspace incursion by a Chinese military aircraft into Japanese airspace. The Danjo Islands, situated in the East China Sea off Japan’s southern Nagasaki prefecture, are strategically important with potential resources. The incident adds to ongoing maritime provocations by Chinese vessels near these disputed islands.

Notes:
The ‘Anubhav’ online platform was launched in March 2015 by the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DOPPW) under the Prime Minister’s directions. It allows retiring and retired employees to share their significant achievements during their service. So far, 54 Anubhav Awards and 9 Jury Certificates have been given out. The 7th Anubhav Awards Ceremony took place on August 28, 2024, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State, presented the awards.
The awards aim to promote good governance and administrative reforms based on the experiences shared by retiring central government employees.

Notes:
Jay Shah was elected as the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on August 27, 2024. At 35, Shah will be the youngest ICC chairman, succeeding Greg Barclay, who chose not to seek a third term. Shah will officially start his role on December 1, 2024. Shah was the only nominee for the position, as elections would only be held if multiple candidates were proposed. Shah’s election is significant as cricket aims to grow globally, with the sport set to be included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Shah has previously chaired the ICC’s Finance and Commercial Affairs subcommittee.

Notes:
Shannon Gabriel, a West Indies fast bowler, announced his retirement from international cricket. Gabriel began his international career in 2012. He played in 59 Test matches, 25 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and two T20 Internationals, taking a total of 202 wickets. He found more success in Test cricket and became a regular in the West Indies team by 2017. In 2019, Gabriel was banned for four ODIs due to a homophobic remark against Joe Root. His last appearance for West Indies was in a Test match against India in July 2023. He plays for Trinidad and Tobago in domestic cricket.

Notes:
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly passed a bill to raise the minimum marriage age for women from 18 to 21 years. The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Himachal Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2024, was approved by voice vote. The Bill amends the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, which is a central law. Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil stated that raising the marriage age provides better opportunities for women. Early marriages hinder women’s education, career progress, and health. The Bill aims to improve women’s physical development and prevent early motherhood. Early marriage limits women’s success and affects their overall well-being.

Notes:
Gwalior hosted the third Regional Industry Conclave on August 28, 2024, to attract investments to Madhya Pradesh. The city’s strategic location at the intersection of three major national corridors—the North-South Corridor, the Agra-Mumbai Highway, and the East-West Corridor—made it an ideal venue. This positioning aimed to enhance the conclave’s success and positively impact the region’s industrial growth.

Notes:
ISRO has designed the skull for Vyomitra, a female half-humanoid set to be part of the Gaganyaan mission in 2025. The uncrewed Gaganyaan mission will send Vyomitra into space as part of a 3-day orbit with a crew of 3, landing them safely in seawater. Humanoids are robotic systems resembling humans, used in space to perform tasks like cleaning solar panels or fixing equipment. Vyomitra’s skull is made of a flexible, lightweight aluminum alloy, weighing 800 grams and measuring 200mm x 220mm. The humanoid will have a human-like upper body with movable arms, a face, and a neck.

Notes:
Distribution of green manure, Dhaincha, has started in Tamil Nadu. Dhaincha is a tall annual herb, often grown in wet areas and heavy soils in India. It is used to feed livestock and improve soil quality. Green manuring involves growing leguminous plants and incorporating them into the soil. This practice enhances soil structure, increases water retention, reduces erosion, controls weeds, and helps reclaim alkaline soils. It also adds organic matter to the soil and boosts microbial activity.