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:
Recently, five Army personnel, including a JCO and four jawans, died when their T-72 tank got stuck in the Shyok River near Nyoma-Chushul, Eastern Ladakh, due to a sudden water level rise. Despite rescue efforts, strong currents prevented their rescue. The T-72 tanks, initially designed by the Soviet Union and later modernized as T-72 Ajeya, were deployed in Ladakh post-2020 Galwan clash.

Notes:
For the first time, ISRO will launch its latest large satellite, GSAT 20, on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. GSAT 20, a hi-tech communication satellite, weighs 4,700 kg and has a throughput capacity of 48 GBPS. It features 32 spot beams covering all of India, especially the Northeast. Owned by ISRO’s commercial arm NSIL, it uses SpaceX due to the limitations of India’s Launch Vehicle Mark 3.

Notes:
In June, approximately 300 families were relocated from Gardi Sugdub island in Panama’s Guna Yala province due to rising sea levels. It is a tiny island in the caribbean sea and part of the San Blas archipelago, inhabited by 1,200 indigenous Guna people facing displacement to the mainland due to climate change. Panama plans further evacuations by 2050, marking the first complete island community relocation in Latin America. Sea levels in the Caribbean, where Panama is situated, rise by an average of 3 to 4 millimeters annually.

Notes:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched two initiatives: Virtual NQAS Assessment for Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM) and Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHL), ensuring compliance with Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS). The Spot Food License Initiative uses the Food safety and compliance system (FoSCoS) platform for instant licensing and registration across India, aiming to streamline processes. These initiatives support “Healthcare for All” by enhancing real-time monitoring of health facilities and simplifying food safety compliance.

Notes:
National Statistics Day, celebrated annually on June 29 in India, honors Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis for his contributions to statistics and economic planning. Initiated in 2007, its goal is to raise awareness, particularly among youth, about the pivotal role of statistics in shaping socio-economic policies. The theme for 2024, “Use of data for decision-making,” underscores the importance of informed decision-making through statistical insights in fostering national development.

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:
For the first time, the Taliban participated in the United Nations Conference on Afghanistan, held in Doha on 30 June and 1 July 2024. Despite attendance from 25 countries and organizations, including the EU and SCO, no substantial progress was made. The Taliban, represented by Zabihullah Mujahid, joined after their demands were met, excluding Afghan civil society representatives. India was represented by J.P. Singh from the Ministry of External Affairs.

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:
UNESCO introduced the New World Soil Health Index at an international conference in Morocco to standardize soil quality assessment globally. It aims to monitor soil degradation trends and improvements across different ecosystems. UNESCO will pilot sustainable soil management in ten Biosphere Reserves to develop best practices. Globally, soil degradation affects 75% of land, impacting 3.2 billion people, and is projected to reach 90% by 2050. In India, 32% of land is degraded, with 25% undergoing desertification due to various factors including deforestation and industrial pollution.