Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

Notes:
The Odisha government plans to plant nearly 19 lakh palm trees in 2024-25 to mitigate lightning risks. Each forest block boundary will receive four palm trees, costing Rs 7 crore. Palm trees like Coconut and Palmyrah are part of tropical ecosystems, with Palmyrah designated as Tamil Nadu’s State Tree. They act as natural conductors during lightning strikes, potentially saving lives. Male palm trees bear flowers, while females produce fruits.

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:
In 2023, the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland, faced unprecedented fires due to severe water loss. The area covered by water was 61% below average, leaving only 2.6% of the Pantanal wet, leading to extreme dryness and wildfires. This crisis threatens its rich biodiversity, including jaguars and capybaras. Located in South America’s Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay, the Pantanal spans 68,000 square miles and is a vital, productive habitat.

Notes:
The Karnataka state government formed a nine-member committee to investigate Kaveri River contamination. The Kaveri River, also known as the Cauvery, is sacred to Hindus and originates from Brahmagiri Hill in the Western Ghats at 1,341m elevation. It flows 800 km through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. The river basin covers 81,155 sq. km across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Puducherry. Major tributaries include the Harangi, Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavati, Lakshmantirtha, Kabbani, Suvarnavati, Bhavani, Noyil, and Amaravati. Key dams are Krishna Raja Sagara, Mettur, and Banasura Sagar.

Notes:
World Zoonoses Day, observed on 6 July each year, commemorates Louis Pasteur’s first rabies vaccine administered in 1885. It raises awareness about diseases transmissible between animals and humans, known as zoonoses. These diseases, caused by pathogens like viruses, bacteria, and parasites, can spread through direct contact, contaminated food or water, or vectors like mosquitoes. The 2024 theme, “One World, One Health: Prevent Zoonoses,” underscores the global effort needed to break transmission cycles and prevent future pandemics.

Notes:
The vaquita, the world’s most endangered marine mammal, faces imminent extinction with fewer than 20 individuals left in the wild. Found exclusively in the northern Gulf of California, vaquitas are small porpoises, measuring 4 to 5 feet long and weighing 65 to 120 pounds. Their decline is exacerbated by illegal gillnet fishing for totoaba, a fish of similar size. Vaquitas, known for their elusive nature and echolocation, are critically endangered due to habitat loss and bycatch.

Notes:
In an effort to combat coastal erosion in Kerala’s Poonthura region, the irrigation department plans to construct eight groynes costing Rs 17.5 crore. Groynes, typically made of wood, rock, or concrete, extend from shore into the sea to trap sediment, dissipate wave energy, and counter longshore drift. They reduce erosion, widen beaches, and require minimal maintenance, serving as durable structures crucial for stabilizing coastlines and supporting local activities.

Notes:
June 2024 was recorded as the warmest June globally, with temperatures averaging 0.67°C above the 1991-2020 average and surpassing the previous high set in June 2023 by 0.14°C, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). C3S, part of the Copernicus Earth Observation Programme by the EU, supports climate policies and resilience efforts globally. It utilizes data from earth observation satellites and in situ sensors, processing it to provide authoritative climate information. Implemented by ECMWF, C3S contributes to understanding and mitigating human-induced climate change, aligning with user needs defined by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) and World Climate Research Programme (WCRP).

Notes:
The prototype of India’s indigenous light tank, Zorawar, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), was unveiled on July 6. Powered by a Cummins engine, it is designed for extreme weather and high altitudes along the northern border. Extensive trials will follow, aiming for Army user trials by August 2025. DRDO is also developing a new domestic engine for the tank.

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.