Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
Prem Singh Tamang of Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) was sworn in as Chief Minister of Sikkim for a second term on June 10. The 56-year-old took the oath in Nepali, administered by Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at Paljor Stadium, Gangtok, attended by thousands of supporters. Despite a firecracker ban, celebrations erupted. Eleven other ministers, including Sonam Lama and Arun Kumar Upreti, were also sworn in.

Notes:
The Prime Minister released the 17th installment of the PM Kisan Nidhi scheme. This Central Sector Scheme, managed by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, aims to support land-holding farmers’ financial needs. It provides income support of Rs. 6,000 annually, distributed in three Rs. 2,000 installments every four months. Beneficiaries include all eligible landholding farmer families, excluding those of higher economic status.

Notes:
Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and nine others died in a plane crash. The military aircraft left Lilongwe but couldn’t land at Mzuzu due to poor visibility and lost contact after being ordered back. President Lazarus Chakwera confirmed the wreckage was found in Chikangawa Forest with no survivors. Chilima, once a potential presidential candidate, was cleared of graft charges last month.

Notes:
The first BRICS ministerial meeting with new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE was held in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on 10-11 June 2024. Russia, the current BRICS chairman, hosted the meeting to prepare for the 16th annual BRICS summit in October 2024. Argentina declined membership. The 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August 2023, had invited six countries to join.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav inaugurated the ‘PM Shri Tourism Air Service’ on June 13, 2024, marking his government’s six months in power. This intra-state air service, launched with JETSERVE Aviation, connects religious and tourist spots across eight cities, including Bhopal, Indore, and Khajuraho. Initially, flights connect Bhopal, Jabalpur, Rewa, and Singrauli, with Gwalior and Ujjain joining soon. The service operates with two six-passenger aircraft.

Notes:
Indian traders have urged the central government to resume border trade with China through the Lipulekh Pass. Located in Uttarakhand at 5,334 meters, Lipulekh connects India with Tibet and is key for trade and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage. Historically significant as a trade route, it was the first Indian border post for trade with China, opened in 1992, followed by Shipki La and Nathu La passes.

Notes:
Russia claimed to have targeted a Ukrainian airbase in Mirgorod using the Iskander-M missile system. The Iskander-M, in service since 2006, is a short-range ballistic missile system designed for tactical strikes. It can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads, has a range of 400-500 km, and travels up to Mach 7. The missile system includes features like maneuverable re-entry vehicles and decoys to evade defenses.

Notes:
Punjab Police, in collaboration with the BSF and VDCs, conducted a one-week anti-drug campaign, “Mission Nishchay,” in Fazilka district from June 15 to 21. They will engage residents of 42 villages along the India-Pakistan border to gather intelligence on drug demand and supply. The initiative aims to foster community participation, with a special focus on youth and women, in curbing the drug menace.

Notes:
Harpal Singh Bedi, a revered sports journalist renowned for his insightful coverage spanning over four decades, including serving as the national Olympic contingent’s press attache in 2012, passed away in New Delhi on June 15. Known for his friendly demeanor and sharp journalistic skills, Bedi left an indelible mark on Indian sports media. His demise at 72 followed a prolonged illness, leaving behind a legacy of engaging sports reporting and warmth in the media community.

Notes:
IN-SPACe’s Pre-Incubation Entrepreneurship (PIE) program aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in India. It targets Indian citizens, especially recent graduates, and startups registered after July 1, 2022. The program spans 21 months across three phases—Ideate, Innovate, and Demonstrate—to transform ideas into prototypes. Participants gain entrepreneurial skills and may receive grants to advance scientific discoveries and socio-economic growth, without prior funding from private or government sources.