Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

Notes:
The Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir across the Cauvery River recently breached the 100-foot mark, with a maximum level of 124.80 feet. Located in Mandya, Karnataka, the gravity dam was constructed between 1911 and 1931. Named after Maharaja Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV and designed by Sir M. Visvesvaraya, its primary purposes are irrigation, hydroelectric power, and drought mitigation. The reservoir covers 130 sq. km.

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:
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) launched its first integrated tribal development program in Kulathupuzha Gram Panchayat, Kollam, on July 8. Implemented by Thanal, the five-year project aims to enhance the livelihoods of 413 tribal families through diverse agricultural and non-agricultural activities. It includes water resource development, skill training, and the creation of a Tribal Farmer Producer Company (FPO) to empower the community economically.

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 2024 summer census by Uttar Pradesh’s Forest Department revealed an increase in the state’s Sarus Crane population to 19,918, up by 396 from the previous year. Conducted with 10,000 citizens, this census highlights a consistent population rise, from 17,329 in 2021 to 19,522 in 2023. The Etawah Forest Division recorded the highest number at 3,289. Notably, the Mau division sighted six cranes for the first time in a decade. Uttar Pradesh, with the largest Sarus Crane population in India, declared it the state bird in 2014. The world’s tallest flying bird nests in wetlands and is protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Notes:
NewSpace Research and Technologies successfully tested a 100-kg Max Take Off Weight (MTOW) UAV at Unming La Pass. Located at 19,024 ft. in Eastern Ladakh along the Ladakh Range, Unming La Pass is the highest motorable road in the world, constructed by the Border Road Organization under Project Himank. The road enhances connectivity to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and improves local connectivity in the Chisumle-Demchok sector to Leh, boosting tourism. Other significant passes in Ladakh include Khardung La, Chang La, and Tanglang La.

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The Madhya Pradesh cabinet approved the ‘National e-Vidhan Application’ (NEVA) for a paperless Legislative Assembly under the Digital India initiative. The scheme, funded 60% by the Government of India and 40% by state governments, aims to unify all Legislative Assemblies on a single platform. Additionally, student scholarships in hostels and welfare centers will increase: boys from Rs 1230 to Rs 1550 and girls from Rs 1270 to Rs 1590 monthly. Tenders for seven Narmada Valley Development projects worth Rs 9,271.96 crore were also approved.

Notes:
The Upper Siang Multipurpose Storage Project in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Siang district, proposed by NHPC, aims to generate 11,000 MW of power by harnessing the Siang River, a major Brahmaputra tributary. As India’s largest hydropower project, it counters similar Chinese initiatives upstream. However, local communities strongly resist it, fearing the submersion of villages, displacement of over 100,000 Adi tribe members, and environmental disruptions in the seismically vulnerable region. Legislative amendments facilitating faster approvals without thorough environmental clearances have intensified opposition. The Siang River, originating near Mount Kailash in Tibet, becomes the Brahmaputra in Assam.

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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.

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The Maharashtra government has decided to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks within 500 meters of schools. FDA Minister Dharmarao Baba Atram announced the decision to protect student health by limiting caffeine intake. A directive will ensure swift enforcement, and a comprehensive list of banned drinks will be circulated. This step aims to create healthier environments for students and mitigate adverse effects of excessive caffeine consumption.