Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

Notes:
The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Scheme 2024, launched in Maharashtra, offers free education for girls and support for the unemployed. Eligible women aged 21-60 will receive Rs. 1500 monthly. Aimed at promoting financial independence and self-reliance, the scheme includes a budget of 46 thousand crores, providing various benefits to women, enhancing their development and overall well-being.

Notes:
India has become the first country to prepare a comprehensive checklist of its entire fauna population, documenting 104,561 species. This milestone, announced by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav in Kolkata, coincided with the launch of the Fauna of India Checklist Portal by the Zoological Survey of India. This portal, vital for scientific research, encompasses 121 checklists of all known taxa. The event also featured the 2nd Animal Taxonomy Summit-2024.

Notes:
Researchers at IISER Tirupati devised a method to generate hydrogen efficiently using methanol and formaldehyde. They employed nickel catalysts, readily available in the market, without needing bases or activators. This hydrogen production enabled selective partial transfer hydrogenation of alkynes, converting them into alkenes. The method supports the synthesis of bioactive molecules, marking a significant advancement in chemical synthesis and sustainable hydrogen generation technologies.

Notes:
The District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Gallery was inaugurated at Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi. DMFs are non-profit trusts established in 2015 by state governments in mining-affected districts. They aim to benefit people and areas impacted by mining activities. Funded by royalties, state budgets, and private donations, DMFs are governed by a Board of Trustees, including government, local, and expert representatives, who oversee project implementation under PMKKKY and other schemes.

Notes:
India will host the 46th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session from July 21-31, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. This significant cultural diplomacy event will draw over 2,500 delegates from 195 countries, including state parties to the World Heritage Convention, advisory bodies, senior diplomats, heritage experts, and scholars. The gathering aims to discuss and decide on matters of global cultural significance.

Notes:
The ‘Jaiva Gramam’ campaign launched in Karumalloor, Kerala, aims to promote organic farming. Supported by the local panchayat and Lions Club, it encourages households to grow vegetables for Onam. Participants receive subsidies for saplings, fertilizers, and tools, and learn from experienced farmers. The initiative aims for sustainable agricultural growth, self-sufficiency in vegetable production, and preserving Kerala’s farming heritage to boost farmers’ economic prospects.

Notes:
A new nightjar species, Caprimulgus ritae, has been discovered in the tropical forests of Timor and Wetar, Lesser Sunda Islands. Nightjars are medium-sized, nocturnal, insectivorous birds in the Caprimulgidae family, found globally except in Antarctica and some island groups like the Seychelles. They feature long wings, short legs, and short bills. Their mottled plumage provides excellent camouflage, and they feed on flying insects at night.

Notes:
Sir Keir Starmer has been appointed as the UK’s 58th Prime Minister by King Charles III on 5 July 2024. His Labour Party won a landslide victory, securing 412 out of 650 House of Commons seats. He replaces Conservative leader Rishi Sunak, whose party won only 119 seats. Starmer will reside at 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the UK Prime Minister.

Notes:
India is set to trial US-made Stryker Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs) in Ladakh and desert regions. Built by General Dynamics Land Systems, the Stryker is an eight-wheel-drive armored vehicle with a V-hull design, cannon, and mobile gun. These trials are part of a broader defense-industrial cooperation roadmap between India and the US, which includes considering joint production of the latest generation of Stryker vehicles.

Notes:
Reformist leader Masoud Pezeshkian has been elected Iran’s new president, winning a run-off against Saeed Jalili on July 6, 2024. The election followed President Ebrahim Raisi’s death in a helicopter crash. Pezeshkian secured 53.7% of the votes in the run-off. Only 40% of the 61 million eligible voters participated, the lowest turnout since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Iranian president’s term is four years.