Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

Notes:
India and the United Kingdom have launched the Technology Security Initiative (TSI) to boost collaboration in critical and emerging technologies (CET) and align with the India-UK Roadmap 2030. Coordinated by the National Security Advisors (NSAs) of both countries, the TSI will foster partnerships across telecoms, critical minerals, semiconductors, and quantum technology. The UK is a strategic partner for India, concerned about China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific, with shared interests in defense technology and maritime security. Joint military exercises and a commitment to doubling bilateral trade by 2030 highlight their cooperation, alongside civil nuclear collaboration and support for India’s infrastructure projects.

Notes:
The Chief Economic Advisor emphasized the need for private investors to prioritize sustainable investments, noting the low “greenium” from India’s sovereign green bond offerings. Greenium, or green-premium, refers to the savings issuers gain on coupon payments for green bonds, which have lower yields than conventional bonds due to their sustainable appeal. Green bonds finance green projects like renewable energy, electric buses, and energy efficiency. These bonds attract investors willing to accept lower returns for sustainability benefits, reducing both physical and financial risks. This makes green projects financially attractive for issuers.

Notes:
New data from the NOvA experiment has deepened the mystery surrounding neutrino masses. NOvA (NuMI Off-axis νe Appearance) studies neutrino oscillations and properties. Managed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory near Chicago, Fermilab sends a beam of neutrinos 500 miles to a 14,000-ton detector in Ash River, Minnesota. By measuring neutrinos and their antimatter partners, antineutrinos, physicists study how these particles change type during travel, known as neutrino oscillation. NOvA aims to learn more about the ordering of neutrino masses.

Notes:
Recent outbreaks of listeria have been reported in the United States and Canada. Listeria monocytogenes, found in soil, vegetation, water, sewage, and animal and human feces, can contaminate food, leading to listeriosis. High-risk foods include milk, raw sprouts, deli meats, hot dogs, soft cheeses, and smoked seafood. Most people who ingest listeria do not develop symptoms, which can appear up to two months after consumption, complicating the identification of the infection source. Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, cramps, severe headache, constipation, and fever.

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The Ministry of Labour & Employment launched the SAMADHAN Portal to address industrial disputes for workmen, employers, and trade unions under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. It promotes efficiency and transparency through online filing, faster disposal, and internal monitoring. The portal also covers cases under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, Minimum Wages Act, 1948, Payment of Wages Act, 1936, Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, and Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.

Notes:
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare released a report titled “Economic Case for Investment in the Well-being of Adolescents in India,” highlighting key areas for investment in adolescent health. India has the largest adolescent population (253 million) globally. Between 2000 and 2019, the adolescent mortality rate dropped by over 50%, and fertility rates fell by 83%. Secondary school completion rates more than doubled from 22% in 2005 to over 50% in 2020. However, fatal road accidents among adolescents under 18 increased by 22.7% from 2021 to 2022. Recommended interventions are projected to boost India’s economy by 10.1% of annual GDP.

Notes:
A group of senators in Liberia, located along the coast of western Africa, has proposed relocating the capital city, Monrovia, due to recurring flash floods. Liberia is Africa’s oldest republic and the only African state never subjected to colonial rule. Bounded by Sierra Leone, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Atlantic Ocean, Liberia features notable elevations like Cape Mount, Cape Mesurado, and Cape Palmas. Major rivers include the Mano, Morro, and Cavalla, which form parts of its boundaries. Liberia is rich in natural resources such as iron, diamonds, gold, lead, manganese, graphite, and cyanite.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced a Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework to improve weak Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs). This framework aims for timely supervisory intervention, ensuring UCBs initiate remedial measures to restore financial health. The PCA will focus on monitoring capital, asset quality, and profitability. It replaces the existing Supervisory Action Framework (SAF) and will apply to UCBs with deposits exceeding Rs 100 crore. The PCA framework serves as an early intervention tool to enhance the stability and performance of UCBs.

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Rashtrapati Bhavan will auction selected gifts presented to the President and former Presidents via the online portal E-Upahaar. Launched on July 25, 2024, by the President of India, E-Upahaar is designed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, to increase citizen engagement and support a noble cause, with proceeds going to children in need. Established in 1976, the NIC provides technology-driven solutions to Central and State Governments and operates under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. NIC’s primary focus is on e-Government solutions, supported by its extensive ICT network, “NICNET,” linking various government departments and states.

Notes:
Russia’s Wagner mercenary group reported severe losses, including a commander, in battles with separatist forces in northeast Mali. Wagner, a private military company founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, emerged in 2014 during Russia’s annexation of Crimea and operates in several countries including Syria, Libya, and Mali. Despite being technically illegal in Russia, it registered as a “private military company” in 2022.