Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

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:
Italy recently reported its first case of Oropouche fever, caused by the Oropouche Virus (OROV), an emerging mosquito-borne disease. OROV, part of the orthobunyavirus family, has an incubation period of 4 to 8 days and was first identified in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and nausea. Severe cases can lead to meningitis or encephalitis. Transmission occurs through infected midges or mosquitoes, with no specific treatment or vaccine currently available.

Notes:
The Meghalaya Lokayukta has notified former officials of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) over alleged irregularities in implementing the Saubhagya scheme. Launched in October 2017, Saubhagya aims for universal household electrification nationwide, providing free LED bulbs and essential electrical items to BPL families. It emphasizes last-mile connectivity in rural areas and Solar Photovoltaic systems for remote villages. Urban connections target economically poor households, excluding non-poor urban dwellings from benefits.

Notes:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) approved Rs 56 crore for the next phase of conserving the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) and Lesser Florican. This program, running since 2016, aims for the long-term recovery of these critically endangered species, with around 140 GIBs and fewer than 1,000 Lesser Floricans surviving. Key efforts include breeding centers, in-situ conservation, artificial insemination techniques, and addressing threats like hunting and power line collisions.

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:
A recent study potentially documents the first case of Down syndrome in Neanderthals. Down syndrome occurs when a person has an extra chromosome or a part of a chromosome, specifically an extra copy of chromosome 21, called trisomy 21. This genetic condition impacts mental and physical development, causing various challenges. Although individuals with Down syndrome share similarities, their abilities vary. The condition typically arises randomly during early fetal development and is not inherited.

Notes:
India successfully test-fired the Rudram-1, its first indigenous anti-radiation missile developed by DRDO for the Indian Air Force (IAF). Key features include a launch platform on Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets, INS-GPS navigation, and a Passive Homing Head. It has a range of 100-250 km and speeds up to Mach 2. Rudram-1 enhances the IAF’s Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) capability, acts as a force multiplier, and marks a significant step towards self-reliance in defense technology.

Notes:
After several decades, the locally extinct Indian gaur has been spotted in the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) in Andhra Pradesh. Known as the largest and tallest wild cattle, the gaur (Bos gaurus) is native to South and Southeast Asia. They inhabit evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, and moist deciduous forests with open grasslands, preferring hilly terrains below 1,500-1,800 meters with large, undisturbed forest tracts and abundant water.

Notes:
The Global Conclave on Plastic Recycling and Sustainability (GCPRS) commenced at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi with Chief Guest Smt. Nivedita Shukla Verma inaugurating. Key attendees included AIPMA and CPMA leaders. Verma highlighted the need for collaborative efforts and government initiatives like the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016. Smt. Mercy Epao emphasized MSME’s support. The conference aims to address plastic waste management, with India’s industry projected to reach $6.9 billion by 2033.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh passed the Uttar Pradesh Nodal Investment Region for Manufacturing (Construction) Area Bill (NIRMAN)-2024, establishing Special Investment Regions (SIRs) to boost industrial growth and economic development. This includes an MoU between ITPO and MSME to enhance the business environment and the construction of new convention centres in Lucknow and Varanasi. These initiatives aim to promote MSMEs and position UP as a prime destination for industrial investments.