Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

Notes:
Meta has introduced the Meta 3D Gen AI System, an AI tool that generates or retextures 3D objects in under a minute. It uses two sub-systems, Meta 3D AssetGen and Meta 3D TextureGen, to create high-quality 3D assets with high-resolution textures and material maps from user text prompts. Users can also input existing 3D meshes for retexturing. The system employs Physically-Based Rendering (PBR) techniques, producing results in about 30 seconds.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav introduced the Lokpath Mobile App to enhance transparency and public welfare. Developed by the Public Works Department, the app aims to improve the state’s 40,000 km highways by enabling the public to report road issues. It ensures accountability, with officers expected to resolve complaints within seven days. The app is downloadable from the Public Works Department’s website and promotes an open, efficient working system.

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:
Indian squash players secured two titles at the 2024 Asian Squash Doubles Championship in Johor, Malaysia. Abhay Singh and Joshna Chinappa won the mixed doubles, defeating Hong Kong’s Tong Tsz Wing and Ming Hong Tang. In the men’s doubles, Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar triumphed over Malaysia’s Ong Sai Hung and Syafiq Kamal. The championship featured 33 teams from seven countries and was held from July 4-7, 2024.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Modi, approved India signing the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, or ‘High Seas Treaty’. Under UNCLOS, this treaty aims to protect marine biodiversity in the high seas through international cooperation, ensuring sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits. It promotes an ecosystem-centric approach, traditional and scientific knowledge, and minimizes environmental impacts. The BBNJ Agreement becomes binding 120 days after 60 ratifications.

Notes:
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed concerns over the Teesta River’s water scarcity in summer and overflow during monsoons, and emphasized the need to renew the Farakka Treaty. Originating from the Pahunri Glacier in the Sikkim Himalayas, the Teesta River flows through Sikkim, West Bengal, and into Bangladesh, joining the Brahmaputra. Known for its turbulent flow, the Teesta has a 414 km length and a drainage area of 12,540 sq. km.

Notes:
The Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) has agreed to provide a $2.5 million line of credit to Guyana for installing a solar photovoltaic power plant at Cheddi Jagan International Airport. The deal, dated February 29, 2024, became effective on June 24, 2024. Disbursements under this credit line will be allowed until 48 months after the project’s completion, according to the Reserve Bank of India.

Notes:
The government has designated the Ministry of Minority Affairs as the nodal ministry for the Haj Committee, replacing the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). New rules, named the Haj Committee (Amendment) Rules, 2024, have been introduced. Officers from the ministries of External Affairs, Home Affairs, Finance, and Civil Aviation will be nominated as ex-officio committee members. Previously, the MEA managed Haj pilgrimage administration under the Haj Committee Act, 2002.

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.