Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
IIT Kanpur, in collaboration with DRDO, established a DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA CoE) for interdisciplinary research in next-gen defence technologies. This initiative aligns with DRDO’s strategy of setting up DIA CoEs in key academic institutions to foster technology development through experienced faculty, bright scholars, and DRDO scientists, creating a robust ecosystem for defence innovation.

Notes:
World Milk Day, observed annually on June 1, emphasizes dairy’s role in global nutrition. Established in 2001 by the FAO, it celebrates milk as a vital food source and the dairy sector. Milk consumption dates back to the Neolithic age, evolving into a significant part of many cultures and religious traditions. However, modern challenges such as industrialized distribution and consumer preferences impact its consumption, highlighting the need for continued advocacy.

Notes:
Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) allocates funds for canopy bridges aiding Hoolock Gibbon, India’s lone ape, to traverse railway tracks in eastern Assam. Gibbons, Asia’s smallest and fastest apes, inhabit tropical forests. Hoolock Gibbon, India’s sole ape species, dwells in Assam, Meghalaya, and other northeastern states. Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary hosts a significant population. They’re diurnal, monogamous, and vocal communicators. Endangered Western Hoolock Gibbon and Vulnerable Eastern Hoolock Gibbon face conservation concerns.

Notes:
The Centre for Science and Environment urges developed nations to meet climate finance commitments ahead of the 29th UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP). The 60th meeting of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB60) in Bonn, Germany, from June 3-13, 2024, will gather UNFCCC signatories, including national delegates and civil society. With around 6,000 participants, SB60 marks a pivotal moment between CoP28 and CoP29, setting the stage for future climate negotiations.

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:
In FY24, RBI relocated 100 metric tonnes of gold from the U.K. to Indian vaults in Mumbai and Nagpur. India’s gold reserves surged to 822 metric tonnes, with nearly 50% now stored domestically. RBI’s banknotes are secured by assets like gold, Government Securities, and Foreign Currency Assets, as per the RBI Act, 1934. The recent geopolitical tensions emphasized risks of storing gold abroad, exemplified by Western nations’ freezing of Russian assets.

Notes:
Zupee, India’s leading skill-based Ludo platform, partners with Gurugram Cyber Police for the 11th Cyber Security Summer Internship Program, ‘Cyber Warriors.’ The month-long internship, inaugurated by Commissioner of Police, Gurugram, Vikas Kumar Arora, includes 1,100 interns selected from 15,000 applicants worldwide. Guided by Cyber Security Expert Dr. Rakshit Tandon, candidates receive immersive cyber security training. Some will work directly with Gurugram Cyber Police, tackling real-world challenges to promote cyber safety.

Notes:
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) reintroduced 20 vultures into Maharashtra’s Tadoba and Pench tiger reserves. More white-rumped, slender-billed, and long-billed vultures will be released in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Reintroducing vultures in tiger habitats supports their sustenance by recycling prey remains and completing vital carbon and nitrogen cycles. Founded in 1883, BNHS is a leading Indian NGO in conservation and biodiversity research.

Notes:
The “Blaze Star” (T Coronae Borealis) will explode in a rare celestial event visible to the naked eye for the first time since 1946. Located 3,000 light-years away in the Corona Borealis constellation, Blaze Star is a recurrent nova, flaring approximately every 80 years. This binary star system consists of a white dwarf and a red giant. The white dwarf draws material from the red giant, leading to periodic thermonuclear explosions when the red giant’s surface temperature spikes. This event underscores the dynamic nature of the universe and stellar evolution processes.

Notes:
The first human case of H5N2 avian flu has been reported in Mexico City, involving a 59-year-old man who died. Bird flu, caused by the Avian Influenza A virus, primarily infects poultry and wild birds but can jump to humans through direct contact. H5N2, a subtype first reported in Mexican poultry, spreads through migratory bird patterns and interactions with domestic birds. Environmental changes also influence its spread.