Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

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:
Four-time Olympian and 2012 bronze medallist Gagan Narang replaced Mary Kom as India’s chef-de-mission for the 2024 Olympics, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced. Mary Kom stepped down due to health issues. IOA President P.T. Usha expressed confidence in the athletes’ preparedness. P.V. Sindhu will be the female flagbearer. The Paris Olympics will run from July 26 to August 11, 2024.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank’s Financial Inclusion (FI) Index rose to 64.2 in March 2024, up from 60.1 in March 2023, indicating growth in financial inclusion across India. The index ranges from 0 (complete exclusion) to 100 (full inclusion) and comprises three parameters: access (35%), usage (45%), and quality (20%). The improvement was mainly driven by the usage dimension. The quality parameter uniquely captures aspects like financial literacy and consumer protection.

Notes:
Researchers at IIT Madras have discovered a method to create mineral nanoparticles using microdroplets of water, which are about 10 micrometers in size. This breakthrough has potential implications for the origin of life and agricultural soil replenishment. Microdroplets can break down minerals into nanoparticles faster than bulk water. Silica nanoparticles, for example, can enhance plant growth, potentially converting unproductive soils into fertile lands and improving food production and security.

Notes:
World Population Day is observed annually on July 11 since 1990, focusing on population growth, environmental impact, and development issues. Established by the UNDP in 1989, the date marks the global population surpassing five billion on July 11, 1987. The 2024 theme, “To Leave No One Behind, Count Everyone,” emphasizes the importance of population data for healthcare and rights, addressing the needs of marginalized communities.

Notes:
The Borehole Geophysics Research Laboratory (BGRL) in Karad, Maharashtra, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, leads India’s deep-drilling programme. It aims to reach 6 km into the earth’s crust to study reservoir-triggered earthquakes in Maharashtra’s Koyna-Warna region, prone to seismic activity since the 1962 impoundment of the Koyna Dam. BGRL’s pilot borehole in Koyna is at 3 km depth, with plans to deepen it. Using a hybrid drilling approach, BGRL conducts unique in situ experiments, monitors fault lines, and studies crustal composition. This effort advances seismology and technological innovation, vital for understanding geohazards and developing geo-resources.

Notes:
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India discovered a new deep-water dogfish shark species, Squalus hima, off Kerala’s southwest coast. This genus, known as spurdogs, features smooth dorsal fin spines, a small mouth, and no body spots. Squalus hima is distinct from other species in vertebrae count, teeth count, and fin structure. Exploited for liver oil rich in squalene, it’s crucial for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Notes:
A high-level Indian delegation, led by Shri T.K. Ramachandaran, participated in the 132nd session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council in London, addressing seafarer abandonment, with 44 active cases involving 292 Indian seafarers. India emphasized effective oversight and secured a position in the Joint Tripartite Working Group on seafarers’ issues. The delegation also discussed disruptions in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, highlighted successful Navy interventions, and proposed the South Asian Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Maritime Transport (SACE-SMarT) to promote eco-friendly maritime practices.

Notes:
World Malala Day, celebrated on July 12th, honors Malala Yousafzai’s advocacy for women’s and children’s rights. Born on July 12, 1997, in Pakistan, Malala survived a Taliban assassination attempt in 2012. She gained global recognition, speaking at the UN on her 16th birthday, being named one of TIME’s most influential people in 2013, and winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. She continues her education and activism from Birmingham.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Mumbai to launch and lay the foundation stones for projects worth over Rs 29,400 crore. Key projects include the Thane-Borivali Tunnel and the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road. The Thane-Borivali Tunnel, costing Rs 16,600 crore, will connect the Western Express Highway at Borivali to Thane Ghodbunder Road, reducing the journey by 12 km and saving about 1 hour of travel time.