Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

Notes:
Indian Naval Ship INS Ranvir, a Rajput Class Guided Missile Destroyer, arrived in Chattogram, Bangladesh for an Operational Deployment. Commissioned in 1986, the upgraded ship features state-of-the-art indigenous weapons and sensors. The visit includes professional interactions, community outreach, and sports with Bangladeshi naval personnel. INS Ranvir will also participate in a Maritime Partnership Exercise. This visit enhances India-Bangladesh friendship, cooperation, and regional security, aligned with India’s SAGAR initiative.

Notes:
Protests have arisen against a Chinese company’s exploration license threatening Congo’s Conkouati-Douli National Park, a UNESCO site rich in endangered species. The park is located in the Republic of the Congo, distinct from the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and is known for its biodiversity. Brazzaville, the capital, serves as a key inland port on the Congo River, highlighting the country’s geographical and environmental significance amidst conservation concerns.

Notes:
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) recently approved a wireless network architecture developed at IIT Bombay for affordable rural broadband access. This system uses a cellular network, like 5G, comprising network equipment and communication links to transfer data between devices and the Internet. The network is divided into two sub-networks: the access network (AN) and the core network (CN).

Notes:
NITI Aayog launched the ‘Sampoornata Abhiyan’ on July 4, 2024, targeting 100% saturation of 12 key social sector indicators across 112 Aspirational Districts and 500 Aspirational Blocks. Running until September 30, the campaign saw enthusiastic participation from officials, frontline workers, and citizens nationwide. Events included health camps, cultural programs, and awareness yatras, emphasizing community involvement and commitment to the campaign’s goals from Jammu and Kashmir to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Notes:
The State Bank of India (SBI) launched “MSME Sahaj”, a digital business loan solution tailored for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Key features include financing against GST-registered invoices, a quick process under 15 minutes from application to disbursement, automated loan closure, and data-driven assessment using machine learning models and authentic GST and credit data. This initiative aims to boost working capital and address liquidity challenges for MSMEs effectively.

Notes:
At Asteroid Day 2024, ISRO Chairperson announced plans to study asteroid Apophis in 2029 when it comes within 32,000 km of Earth to enhance planetary defense efforts. Discovered in 2004, Apophis is a near-Earth object (NEO) once considered highly hazardous. However, radar observations in March 2021 confirmed there is no risk of Apophis impacting Earth for at least the next century.

Notes:
NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) and TransUnion CIBIL have launched the SEHER programme to enhance financial literacy and business skills among women entrepreneurs. This initiative aims to improve access to financial tools for business growth and job creation, supporting WEP’s goal of improving financing for India’s 63 million MSMEs. Launched in 2018, WEP supports women entrepreneurs through promotion, finance access, market linkages, training, mentoring, and business development services.

Notes:
Bajaj Auto launched the world’s first CNG-powered two-wheeler, the Freedom 125, in Pune. Priced at around Rs 95,000, this entry-level vehicle aims to revolutionize the motorcycle market. CEO Rajiv Bajaj highlighted its freedom from petrol reliance. Key features include telescopic front forks, mono-link suspension, front disc and rear drum brakes, and a 125cc engine.

Notes:
Bone remains from the Baishiya Karst Cave on the Tibetan Plateau, 3,280 meters above sea level, reveal that Denisovans, an extinct human species, survived there for millennia. The study, published in Nature, found a rib bone dated between 48,000 and 32,000 years ago. This discovery highlights Denisovans’ resilience to climatic fluctuations and suggests their interbreeding with Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. The remains also indicate their diverse diet, including blue sheep and woolly rhinos.

Notes:
The recent NATO summit in Washington, D.C., extensively discussed Ukraine’s potential membership. The alliance also considered providing at least €40 billion ($43.28 billion) in military aid to Ukraine over the next year. NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance comprising 32 member states.