Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

Notes:
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma launched the Mukhya Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, an income support scheme, at Krishi Upaj Mandi in Tonk. The first installment of Rs 650 crore was released to 65 lakh farmers. Eligible farmers will receive Rs 2000 annually in three installments, alongside the Rs 6000 from the central PM-KISAN scheme. The Cooperative Department is the nodal agency for implementation.

Notes:
The Indian men’s cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, won the 9th ICC Men’s T20 World Cup by defeating South Africa by 7 runs at Kensington Oval, Barbados on 29 June 2024. This is India’s second T20 World Cup win, following their 2007 victory. The final marked the T20 retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja. It was also Rahul Dravid’s last assignment as coach.

Notes:
Senior IAS officer Sujata Saunik became Maharashtra’s first female Chief Secretary (CS), the 45th since the state’s formation in 1960. She succeeds Nitin Kareer, who retired. Saunik will serve a one-year tenure until June 2025. Her appointment by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was unanimous. The transition ceremony took place at Mantralaya, the State Secretariat in Mumbai.

Notes:
The 16th India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise Nomadic Elephant started at Umroi, Meghalaya, running from July 3 to 16, 2024. It involves 45 Indian personnel and Mongolian Army’s 150 Quick Reaction Force Battalion. The annual event, alternating between the countries, focuses on counter-insurgency in semi-urban and mountainous terrain. Key attendees include Mongolian Ambassador Dambajavyn Ganbold and Major General Prasanna Joshi. The exercise enhances interoperability and defense cooperation.

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:
For the first time, a large-scale migration of Common Grass Yellow butterflies was observed during a three-day survey at Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR). The Common Grass Yellow (Eurema hecabe) is a small butterfly found across Asia, North America, Africa, and Australia. They prefer open grassy or bushy terrains and exhibit vibrant yellow wings with seasonal color variations. Notably migratory, these butterflies travel in large groups, with females seeking nectar alone. Despite their widespread presence, they are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and are not protected under India’s Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Notes:
A 51,200-year-old painting depicting humans interacting with a pig was found in Leang Karampuang cave on Sulawesi island, Indonesia. The scene, in dark red pigment, shows a pig with three human-like figures; one holds an object near its throat, another is upside-down above it, and a larger figure with a possible headdress holds an unidentified object. This discovery predates European cave art and is interpreted as the oldest evidence of narrative storytelling in art, revealing advanced ancient mental capacities.

Notes:
The 1st International Conference on Steel Slag Road was held in New Delhi by CSIR, where NITI Aayog released guidelines for using steel slag in road construction. This technology repurposes steel production waste, creating strong, durable, and eco-friendly roads. Processed steel slag offers high strength, hardness, abrasion resistance, and drainage capacity. It can partially meet India’s annual demand for 1.8 billion tonnes of natural aggregates. India’s first steel slag road was built in Surat.

Notes:
Recent volatility in the Stablecoin market, including the collapse of TerraUSD, has raised concerns about their stability and reliability. Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to assets like fiat currency or commodities (e.g., gold) to maintain a stable price. They offer an alternative to the high volatility of popular cryptocurrencies, making them potentially more suitable for everyday transactions.

Notes:
Indian squash players secured two titles at the 2024 Asian Squash Doubles Championship in Johor, Malaysia. Abhay Singh and Joshna Chinappa won the mixed doubles, defeating Hong Kong’s Tong Tsz Wing and Ming Hong Tang. In the men’s doubles, Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar triumphed over Malaysia’s Ong Sai Hung and Syafiq Kamal. The championship featured 33 teams from seven countries and was held from July 4-7, 2024.