Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

Notes:
The Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) initiative, launched by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS) in 2016, has won the 2024 Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity. Awarded by Portugal-based Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the prize honors contributions to global food security, climate resilience, and ecosystem protection. APCNF shares the €1 million prize with soil scientist Rattan Lal and Egypt-based SEKEM. Selected from 181 nominations, the award jury was chaired by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Notes:
Captain Avhilash Rawat and his crew from the oil tanker Marlin Luanda have received the 2024 International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea. They were recognized for their determination during a rescue mission in the Red Sea, where they encountered a serious fire after an anti-ship missile strike, allegedly from Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The award highlights the skill and bravery of Indian seafarers, as noted by India’s Directorate General of Shipping.

Notes:
The Uttarakhand Forest Department has inaugurated its first-ever bird gallery in Dehradun, enhancing wildlife education and conservation efforts. This initiative highlights the state’s commitment to preserving avian diversity, showcasing over 710 bird species, including the Himalayan Monal and Himalayan Griffon. The gallery features ten themed areas, each focusing on different bird types, and includes rich imagery, detailed information, and bird calls, creating an immersive experience that emphasizes the ecological importance of birds.

Notes:
At the annual ‘Fleet Awards Function-2024’ in Visakhapatnam on July 14, INS Delhi was recognized as the Best Ship of the Eastern Fleet for its operational achievements over the past year. INS Kavaratti received the award for Best Ship in the Corvettes/OPVs/LSTs category. Additionally, INS Shivalik, INS Sumedha, and INS Sumitra were acknowledged as the most spirited ships of the Sunrise Fleet for their performance in various challenging missions.

Notes:
The Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) inaugurated its first Asian “Pre-clinical Network Facility” in Faridabad, Haryana, on July 16, 2024, by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh. This Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC)-Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) lab is Asia’s first and the world’s ninth CEPI-accredited lab.

Notes:
The Yellow-legged Buttonquail, recently spotted in urban Ahmedabad, Gujarat resembles true quails but is unrelated. This bird is plump, with vibrant brown, grey, and black plumage. It is found in the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, and Southeast Asia, and migrates to Korea and southern Russia. Preferring open, sandy habitats, it shows sexual dimorphism with dominant, colorful females. It runs from danger, feeds on plants and insects, and is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Notes:
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced the ‘Ladka Bhau’ Yojana on July 17, 2024, in Pandharpur. This scheme offers job training and stipends to unemployed male youth, providing Rs 6,000 to 12th-pass, Rs 8,000 to diploma holders, and Rs 10,000 to graduates. The program aims to enhance employability by offering apprenticeships in various sectors. The announcement coincides with the upcoming legislative assembly elections in November 2024.

Notes:
A microcontinent has been discovered in the Davis Strait, between Canada and Greenland. Formed millions of years ago due to tectonic plate shifts, it features a 19–24 km thick continental crust, now named the Davis Strait proto-microcontinent. The strait, spanning 650 km north to south and 200-400 miles wide, connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans via the Northwest Passage, but is impassable in winter due to ice.

Notes:
The MV Sea Change, the world’s first commercial passenger ferry powered by 100% hydrogen fuel, launched at the San Francisco Ferry Building. Built by All American Marine Shipyard for SWITCH Maritime and designed by Incat Crowther, it carries 75 passengers and operates for 16 hours, covering 300 nautical miles per refueling. Emitting only heat and water vapor, it reaches speeds up to 20 knots and features drinkable water emissions.

Notes:
The Rajasthan government is organizing hold special camps to grant Indian citizenship to minority refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Simplified rules authorize district collectors to issue citizenship certificates. From 2016 to 2024, 2,329 refugees gained citizenship, with 1,566 applications pending. The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, offers citizenship to non-Muslim communities from these countries who entered India by December 31, 2014, exempting them from penalties under immigration laws.