Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced the framework for recognizing self-regulatory organizations in the financial technology sector (SRO-FT). SROs act as intermediaries between industry players and regulators, setting standards for conduct and promoting ethical practices. India boasts the world’s third-largest fintech ecosystem, with significant global funding. The Indian fintech industry was valued at 50 billion in 2021, expected to reach around 150 billion by 2025. India also accounted for 46% of global real-time transactions in 2022.

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The National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru received the 2024 Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion from WHO. This award, established in 2019, honors significant contributions to health promotion. Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Union Health Secretary Shri Apurva Chandra congratulated NIMHANS, highlighting it as a recognition of India’s efforts in inclusive healthcare and pioneering mental health work.

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A recently discovered sarcophagus fragment beneath a religious center’s floor is identified as belonging to Ramesses II, a prominent ancient Egyptian pharaoh. Sarcophagi, highly decorated coffins, date back to ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece. Typically made of stone, they vary in design and are adorned with carvings and inscriptions. Sarcophagi offer valuable insights into ancient societies’ art, culture, and beliefs, making them significant artifacts for archaeologists and historians.

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Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra recently documented the first photograph of a spot-bellied eagle-owl, Ketupa nipalensis. This large bird of prey inhabits diverse environments like forests and savannas across India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. Recognizable by its rich brown coloration and striking white-spotted pattern, it’s a nocturnal apex predator feeding on various prey. Classified as Least Concern by IUCN, it comes protection under India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) developed PraVaHa, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. Parallel RANS Solver for Aerospace Vehicle Aero-thermo-dynamic Analysis (PraVaHa) simulates airflow for launch vehicles, crucial for designing their shape, structure, and thermal protection systems. It is used in the Gaganyaan program for analyzing human-rated launch vehicles. Currently, it simulates airflow for perfect and real gas conditions, with ongoing validations for chemical reactions in scramjet vehicles.

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The Sundhnukagigar Volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted for the fifth time since December 2023. Iceland, known as the Land of Fire and Ice, sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where Eurasian and North American plates diverge, making it volcanically active. Hotspots, like the Reunion hotspot, and divergent plate margins, such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, contribute to volcanic activity. Volcanoes, vents in the Earth’s crust, release gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide upon eruption.

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Tanzania’s conservation efforts face scrutiny as reports emerge of human rights abuses by Ruaha National park rangers. Such incidents highlight escalating conflicts between conservation authorities and local communities. Tanzania’s focus on conservation and tourism development, backed by international funding, has led to land disputes and disruptions to indigenous livelihoods. The World Bank’s withdrawal of $150 million from Tanzania’s REGROW project underscores concerns over human rights violations. Ruaha National Park is situated west of Iringa town in south-central Tanzania. Spanning an elevation of 2,500 to 5,200 feet (750 to 1,900 m), it covers 5,000 square miles (12,950 square km). Initially, it was part of the Rungwa Game Reserve.

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Marine microbiologists from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research discovered the marine fungus Parengyodontium album, which can break down plastic polyethylene (PE) in the ocean. This fungus converts PE-derived carbon into fungal biomass, aided by UV sunlight’s initial photodegradation of PE. This discovery highlights its potential in reducing oceanic plastic litter. Annually, humans produce over 400 billion kilograms of plastic, much of which pollutes the ocean.

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The 12th Plenary Assembly of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) was hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) from June 3–5, 2024. The assembly included over 700 partners and FAO members. The GSP is a globally recognized mechanism that promotes sustainable soil management and has implemented programs around the world. The assembly is a key platform for GSP partners and FAO members to exchange knowledge and expertise and make important decisions about the global soil agenda.

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The iconic Maharani Temple, situated on a small hillock in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir , was tragically gutted in a blaze. Constructed in 1915 by Mohini Bai Sisodia, wife of Maharaja Hari Singh, it was a royal temple of the Dogra dynasty. Dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati, the temple featured intricate Indian and Persian designs. The Indian Army and local communities restored it in 2021, highlighting its cultural significance.