Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
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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The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) and IIT Hyderabad have signed an MoU to collaborate on research and training. This partnership aims to innovate medical devices and address health issues for soldiers in diverse terrains. The agreement was signed by Lt Gen Daljit Singh and Prof. BS Murty, with IIT Hyderabad providing technical expertise through its Biotechnology, Biomedical Engineering, and Bioinformatics departments.

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The Indian government launched BIMReN (BIMSTEC-India Marine Research Network) with MEA and BOBP-IGO to boost blue economy development. BIMReN supports PhD students from BIMSTEC countries to conduct research in India through Split-Site Doctoral Fellowships, offering up to INR 1 million and 6-12 months at Indian labs. It also promotes Twinning Research Projects with grants up to INR 5 million for 24-month regional collaborations.

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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.

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Australia will allow non-citizen residents from the Five Eyes Alliance to join its armed forces. The Five Eyes is an intelligence-sharing network between the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, which exchange a wide range of intelligence. They have established the Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Review Council to enhance cooperation, including non-political intelligence oversight, review, and security entities from these countries.

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Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP), Andhra Pradesh excels in captive breeding of threatened species like Asiatic wild dogs, striped hyaenas, Indian grey wolves, and others. Striped hyaenas, found in various regions including North Africa and India, are primarily scavengers and mostly nocturnal. Asiatic wild dogs, endangered and pack-living, inhabit diverse Asian environments. IGZP’s efforts are crucial for the conservation of these species, which are listed as Near Threatened and Endangered by IUCN.

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The US Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet was recently spotted with an air-launched variant of the SM-6 (RIM-174) missile. The SM-6, developed by Raytheon for the US Navy, became operational in December 2014. It serves multiple missions, including anti-air, anti-ship, and terminal ballistic missile defense. The missile measures 6.6 m in length, 0.5 m in diameter, and weighs 1,500 kg, carrying a 64 kg warhead. It has a range of 240 km, extendable to 463 km.

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Stanford researchers, driven by curiosity and “recreational biology,” discovered how a simple cell exhibits complex behavior without a nervous system. In biology, origami involves folding molecules like DNA into specific shapes, inspired by Japanese paper origami. Applications include synthetic biology for designing new proteins, drug design for targeting protein structures, and nanotechnology for creating nanoscale devices and materials.

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The inaugural meeting of the Joint Task Force on Investment (JTFI) between India and Qatar took place in New Delhi, co-chaired by officials from both nations. The JTFI aims to enhance investment cooperation and bilateral relations, focusing on sectors like infrastructure, energy, and technology. It highlights the shared commitment to inclusive development and mutual growth, reinforcing the strong economic ties between India and Qatar based on shared values and common objectives.

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The Haryana government announced changes to the “Mukhyamantri Kisan Evam Khetihar Mazdoor Jeevan Suraksha Yojana,” removing age restrictions for recipients. The scheme provides financial aid to farmers and laborers in case of death or incapacity while operating agricultural machinery. Compensation ranges from Rs 37,500 to Rs 5 lakh. Previously limited to ages 10 to 65, the recent modification opens eligibility to children under 10 and adults over 65, expanding the initiative’s reach.