Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2024

Notes:
A new weather forecasting mission with a budget of at least Rs 10,000 crore is set to be launched soon. This mission will be much larger than the existing National Monsoon Mission (NMM). The NMM has developed advanced models for weather and climate prediction that are now fully operational. These models provide forecasts for short-range (1-10 days), medium-range (10-30 days), and seasonal (up to one season) periods. Over the past three years, these models have shown high accuracy in predicting weather events. The NMM aims to improve monsoon prediction across India for all time scales. It encourages international collaboration for better prediction systems.

Notes:
The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) held a consultation meeting on the Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for Tilaiya Dam, as part of the Dam Safety Act of 2021. The meeting, chaired by DVC Chairman S Suresh Kumar, included government officials, DVC representatives, and local community members. Tilaiya Dam, built on the Barakar River in Jharkhand, India, was constructed in 1953 as the first of four dams in DVC’s initial phase. The dam is 1,200 feet long and 99 feet high, with a reservoir covering 36 square kilometers. It has a hydroelectric plant with two 2 MW units, and a third unit may be added in the future.

Notes:
The Maharashtra government has declared 1,500 geoglyphs across 70 locations in Ratnagiri district as a ‘protected monument’. Geoglyphs are large designs drawn on the earth, typically using stones, gravel, or earth. They are often more than four meters long and best viewed from the sky. There are two types: positive geoglyphs, created by arranging materials on the ground, and negative geoglyphs, formed by removing part of the ground surface. Variations include arborglyphs, made by planting specific designs, and ‘chalk giants,’ carved into hillsides to expose bedrock.

Notes:
Experts believe Iran could attack Israel using its ‘axis of resistance’ coalition. The ‘axis of resistance’ is a network of autonomous militant Islamist groups led by Iran, originating from the Iranian Revolution of 1979. It includes Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia militant organization; Hamas, a Palestinian Sunni militant group; Palestinian Islamic Jihad; and the Houthis, a militant group from Yemen. Hezbollah, meaning ‘Party of God,’ founded in Lebanon in the early 1980s, is the largest and most capable member of this coalition.

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:
Grandmaster Karthik Venkataraman from Andhra Pradesh won the 61st National Chess Championship in Gurgaon. The event was organized by The Haryana Chess Association at RPS International School. Karthik received a trophy and a cash prize of six lakh rupees. Surya Ganguly, who led the tournament, finished second with a prize of five lakh rupees. IM Neelash Saha also scored nine points but placed third due to lower tiebreaks, earning four lakh rupees.

Notes:
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways launched the Voluntary Vehicle Modernization Program, also known as the Vehicle Scrapping Policy. The policy focuses on the voluntary scrapping of commercial and passenger vehicles that are deemed unfit based on their condition, regardless of their age. It aims to phase out polluting vehicles through Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities and Automated Testing Stations. For two years, commercial vehicle manufacturers will offer discounts, and for one year, passenger vehicle manufacturers will also provide discounts, given a Scrappage Certificate.

Notes:
Assam has identified around 1.2 lakh people as ‘D’ (Dubious or Doubtful) voters, with 41,583 declared as foreigners. The D-Voter concept is specific to Assam, where migration and citizenship are major political issues. It was introduced in Assam in 1997. D-Voters are those who cannot prove their Indian nationality. People with questionable or disputed citizenship were marked as D-Voters during the National Register of Citizens (NRC) preparation. The term ‘Doubtful voter’ is not defined in the Citizenship Act of 1955 or the Citizenship Rules of 2003. The Citizenship Rules of 2003 outline the process for creating the National Population Register and National Register of Indian Citizens.

Notes:
The Indian Coast Guard launched its first indigenously developed Pollution Control Vessel (PCV), Samudra Pratap, in Goa.
This vessel was built by Goa Shipyard Limited, marking a milestone in India’s move towards self-reliance in defense production. The launch reflects India’s commitment to becoming Atmanirbhar in defense and eventually a net exporter of defense equipment. Samudra Pratap is designed to combat oil spills and pollution along India’s coastlines. The ship is 114.5 meters long, 16.5 meters wide, and has a displacement of 4,170 tons.

Notes:
Assam has recently passed the ‘Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024,’ making it mandatory to register Muslim marriages and divorces with the government. This new bill replaces the outdated British-era Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Act of 1935, which permitted child marriages and did not address polygamy effectively. The bill aims to prevent child marriages, ensure consent, protect women’s rights, and limit polygamy within the Muslim community. It highlights the importance of formalizing marriages and divorces through official registration.
Existing marriage registrations by Qazis will remain valid, but the focus is on new marriages under this legislation, balancing respect for Islamic practices with legal clarity.