Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

Notes:
The Global IndiaAI Summit, held on July 3-4, 2024, in New Delhi, gathered over 2,000 AI experts, policymakers, and industry leaders. Concurrently, India hosted the 6th GPAI Ministerial Council meeting. Organized by the Ministry of Electronics and IT, both events highlighted India’s leadership in AI. Union Minister Jitin Prasada chaired the GPAI meeting, with India serving as the 2024 GPAI Chair and Serbia set for 2025.

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 Government of India recently mandated that stainless steel and aluminum utensils must adhere to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications. This move aims to improve kitchen safety, quality, and efficiency. Issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on March 14, 2024, the Quality Control Order requires the ISI mark on these utensils, with non-compliance subject to penalties.

Notes:
The Indian “Iron-Dome” Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) is competing with China’s Sky Dragon-50 for an order from Brazil. Developed by India’s DRDO and produced by Bharat Dynamics Ltd, Akash SAM defends against air threats, including fighter jets and ballistic missiles. It operates with the Indian Army and Air Force, featuring a Rajendra radar for target guidance. Akash SAM is mobile, automatic, and adaptable, with capabilities to engage multiple targets simultaneously up to 45 km away.

Notes:
A high-level committee led by an Orissa High Court judge has accelerated the process of opening the Ratna Bhandar treasury of Shree Jagannath Temple after 46 years. Located in Puri, Odisha, the Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath and dates back to the 12th century under the Eastern Ganga dynasty. Known for its Kalinga architecture, the temple houses idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra, and hosts the famous Ratha Yatra festival annually.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh government has launched ‘Mitra Van’ under Vriksharopan Jan Abhiyan-2024, aiming to plant 35 crore saplings along the Uttar Pradesh-Nepal border. Coordinated by the Forest Department, the campaign will involve 35 forest divisions and neighboring state dignitaries. Key districts include Saharanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Maharajganj. Additional initiatives like ‘Shakti Van’ and ‘Yuva Van’ will also be established. The campaign starts on July 20.

Notes:
The Panchaganga river in Kolhapur is rising and may soon cross the 39-feet warning level. This ancient river, a tributary of the Krishna River, originates from the Sahyadri mountains in Maharashtra at Prayag Sangam in Chikhlee Taluka. It is formed by the confluence of five rivers: Kasari, Kumbhi, Tulsi, Bhogawati, and Saraswati. The river, which joins the Krishna at Kurundvad, supports fertile valleys but faces increasing pollution from untreated sewage in Kolhapur.

Notes:
The Khandwa forest department, Madhya Pradesh reclaimed 100 hectares of encroached jungle used for farming, destroying illegal soybean and corn crops. Despite heavy rains, earthmoving machines and tractors were employed. The operation included digging contour trenches and sent a strong message to encroachers. Efforts will continue to clear remaining areas, followed by reforestation with seed balls and wire fencing. A detailed afforestation plan will be prepared after reclaiming a total of 2000 hectares this year.

Notes:
The Philippines and Japan signed a reciprocal access agreement (RAA) to enhance defense ties, focusing on regional stability amid tensions with China. The pact, easing equipment and troop entry for training and disaster response, is Japan’s first in Asia. Philippine and Japanese defense ministers highlighted the importance of cooperation against China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea. This agreement strengthens the defense relationship between two key U.S. allies in Asia.

Notes:
The Madhya Pradesh government is investigating alleged tiger poaching and management irregularities in the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve. The reserve, the state’s seventh and India’s 54th, spans 2,339 square kilometers across Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts, and includes parts of the Nauradehi and Veerangana Durgavati Sanctuaries. Following wildlife activist Ajay Dubey’s complaint, the forest department mandated a report within seven days. The reserve features diverse landscapes and the Singorgarh Fort.