Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
Morni Hills, Haryana’s lone hill station, recently battled a severe forest fire amid scorching temperatures exceeding 46°C. The blaze spread rapidly through the arid landscape, engulfing shrubs, bushes, and trees. Situated in the Shivalik range at 3,600 feet above sea level, Morni Hills harbor diverse flora and fauna. Haryana features various hills and ranges, including the Shivalik in the north and the Aravalli stretching from southwest Haryana to Delhi, with Morni Hills in Panchkula and Dhosi Hills in Mahendragarh known for its extinct volcano.

Notes:
In 2023-24, India received the highest foreign direct investment (FDI) from Singapore, amounting to $11.77 billion despite a 31.55% decline, according to government data. Overall, FDI into India contracted by about 3.5% due to global economic uncertainties. However, Singapore remained the top source of FDI for India during this period.

Notes:
The All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) has launched “Bank Clinic” to aid bank customers with grievance redressal. This advisory platform guides customers on remedies per RBI guidelines, serving as an additional channel alongside the Banking Ombudsman process. It aims to support customers amid rapid technological expansion and evolving RBI guidelines on retail banking.

Notes:
A recent study warns that the January 15, 2022, eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai Volcano may lead to unusual weather patterns throughout the decade. Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai is a submarine stratovolcano in the Tongan archipelago in the Southern Pacific Ocean. It’s part of the Tonga-Kermadec Islands volcanic arc, resulting from the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Indo-Australian Plate. Eruptions from this highly active area have occurred regularly over the past few decades.

Notes:
New research reveals Tmesipteris oblanceolata, a fork fern species, boasts the largest genome known. A genome encompasses an organism’s complete genetic information. This fern contains 160 billion base pairs, surpassing the human genome by over 50 times. Belonging to an ancient plant group predating dinosaurs, it’s exclusive to New Caledonia and nearby Pacific islands, thriving in rainforest canopies.

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The US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework is convening a ministerial meeting in Singapore. The gathering includes major firms participating in a “Clean Economy” investor forum aimed at enhancing infrastructure and climate investments across the region.

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Recent research identified a novel protein, “Neo,” crucial in bacterial defense against bacteriophages. Discovered by Stephen Tang and Samuel Sternberg in Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neo is part of the DRT-2 system. It involves rolling-circle reverse transcription of non-coding RNA, producing double-stranded cDNA upon phage infection. This cDNA generates mRNAs encoding the Neo protein, which induces bacterial cell dormancy, protecting the population from phage spread.

Notes:
Amid public outrage over the Gaza conflict, Maldives has banned Israeli passport holders’ entry into the country. The decision contrasts with diplomatic relations restored in 2010 after lifting a ban in the early 1990s. This move reflects Maldives’ stance on the conflict and underscores tensions in the region.

Notes:
The Defense Accounts Department (DAD) collaborated with four banks to enhance its SPARSH program for pension administration. Banks like Bank of India, Canara Association, Central Bank of India, and Utkarsh Small Finance Bank will establish SPARSH service centers in 1,128 branches nationwide under MoUs. This initiative aims to streamline pension management, ensuring direct payments to beneficiaries. SPARSH, a Ministry of Defence initiative, seeks to bring efficiency, responsiveness, and transparency to defense pension administration.

Notes:
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, in collaboration with UNESCO South Asia Regional Office, hosted a Workshop on Safe, Trusted, and Ethical Artificial Intelligence in New Delhi. Additional Secretary Abhishek Singh emphasized the importance of building AI frameworks that prioritize user safety and innovation. Professor Ajay Kumar Sood highlighted India’s balanced approach to AI adoption, citing initiatives like the India AI mission. The workshop aimed to inform policy development for equitable and sustainable AI adoption nationwide.