Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

Notes:
In Mokokchung district, Nagaland, ‘Cassava villages’ are replacing plastics with compostable bioplastic bags made from Cassava starch, produced by the MSME Ecostarch. Cassava, a tropical crop native to South America, is known for its high starch content, making it ideal for bioplastics and bioethanol production. This plant thrives in warm, humid climates and well-drained soils, requiring over 100 cm of annual rainfall. Its versatility in growing conditions supports food security while providing an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastics. Bioplastics, made from plant materials like Cassava, are biodegradable and compostable, reducing environmental impact.

Notes:
The Centre anticipates that approximately 273,000 additional trees will be cut down for mining in the Hasdeo Arand forests, despite the absence of a total mining prohibition. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change highlighted issues related to forest diversion in Hasdeo Arand, Chhattisgarh, and the Great Nicobar Island development project. A biodiversity assessment report revealed that 94,460 trees were felled for the Parsa East Kete Basen Mine, with over 5.3 million trees planted for compensatory afforestation. Hasdeo Arand, spanning 170,000 hectares, is a critical forest area with 23 coal blocks.

Notes:
India has set a target to gasify 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030. Coal gasification is a thermo-chemical process that converts coal into carbon monoxide and hydrogen, producing syngas, dimethyl ether, ammonium nitrate, and methanol. Syngas can substitute for LPG and electricity generation, while dimethyl ether is an alternative for diesel engines, and ammonium nitrate can be used for explosives. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on imports, conserve foreign exchange, and support India’s oil, gas, fertilizer, and petrochemical sectors. Currently, India imports about 83% of its oil, over 90% of its methanol, and 13-15% of its ammonia.

Notes:
The World Heritage Committee (WHC) has recently included Palestine site of Tell Umm Amer in the UNESCO World Heritage Site List and the List of World Heritage in Danger. Located on coastal dunes south of Gaza City, Tell Umm Amer, also known as the Monastery of Saint Hilarion, was founded in the fourth century by Hilarion the Great. It represents the first monastic community in the Holy Land and was strategically positioned on key trade routes between Asia and Africa. UNESCO, a UN specialized agency established in 1946, aims to foster international collaboration in education, science, and culture to promote peace and sustainable development.

Notes:
In the past year, 1,862 disease outbreaks were reported to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), with Kerala recording the highest number. The IDSP, launched in November 2004 with World Bank assistance, is a decentralized, state-based program by India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Its objectives include monitoring disease trends and responding to outbreaks through trained Rapid Response Teams (RRTs). The program integrates surveillance activities at central, state, and district levels, utilizes ICT for data management, and strengthens public health laboratories. Weekly data collection on epidemic-prone diseases helps identify trends, with RRTs investigating and controlling outbreaks as needed.

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On July 29, 2024, Delhi unveiled India’s first sunken museum at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Humayun’s Tomb. This innovative museum will offer a unique view of Mughal history and architecture by integrating advanced technology with historical displays. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has spearheaded the project in collaboration with various stakeholders, aiming to enhance the preservation and presentation of India’s rich historical legacy.

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The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) is set for a crucial flyby of Earth on August 20, 2024. This mission, aimed at exploring Jupiter and its moons Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede, seeks to investigate the potential for life and understand Jupiter’s origins. JUICE will study Jupiter’s magnetic, radiation, and plasma environments, and in about four years, it will enter orbit around Ganymede, marking the first probe to orbit a planetary moon other than Earth’s. The mission will provide unprecedented insights into one of the largest moons in our solar system.

Notes:
At an international medical meet, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his contributions to diabetology, diabetes care, and research. He was also honored as the Lifetime Patron of RSSDI, India’s largest diabetologists’ association.

Notes:
The “State of the World’s Mangroves 2024” report by the Global Mangrove Alliance highlights that Southeast Asia holds nearly one-third of global mangroves, with Indonesia having 21%. Half of the world’s mangroves are threatened, including those in Lakshadweep and Tamil Nadu. Key drivers of mangrove loss are climate change, industrial shrimp aquaculture in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, and conversion to oil palm plantations and rice cultivation.

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Goa’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has launched the ‘Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevjan’ initiative to promote solar energy in the state, complementing the Prime Minister’s Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. This scheme aims to increase solar rooftop installations for residential households. With an initial investment of ₹35 crore and a total outlay of ₹75,021 crore, it will help households generate their own electricity and reduce costs.