Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
The UNEP report “Raising Ambition, Accelerating Action: Towards Enhanced NDCs for Forests” highlights significant gaps in forest protection in current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). From 2019-2023, tropical deforestation emitted 5.6 billion tonnes of CO2 annually in the top 20 countries. Only 8 countries have quantified deforestation targets, and just 38% of UNFCCC Parties include forest conversion reduction measures. Agriculture and weak land-use policies are major deforestation drivers.

Notes:
The National Commission for Indian Medical Systems held a two-day National Conference, ‘PRANA’ (Protecting Rights and Novelties in ASUS), in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education and the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell to mark its fourth foundation. The conference highlighted patentable innovations suitable for commercialization and startups in the Indian System of Medicines. Padmashree Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha emphasized the vast scope for ISM innovations.

Notes:
World Blood Donor Day is observed annually on June 14 to raise awareness about the importance of donating safe blood. Initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2004, the day honors Austrian biologist Karl Landsteiner, born on June 14, 1886. In 2005, the World Health Assembly officially recognized the day. The 2024 theme is “20 years of celebrating giving: thank you, blood donors,” marking the 20th anniversary of the observance.

Notes:
The Empowered Programme Committee of the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) has approved 7 startup proposals under the GREAT scheme. GREAT (Grant for Research & Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles) is part of NTTM’s Research, Development, and Innovation Component, led by the Ministry of Textiles. It offers grants-in-aid of up to INR 50 lakhs over 18 months to harness India’s technical textiles sector expertise for innovative product and technology development. The GREAT Scheme supports innovators in technical textiles to develop prototypes into market-ready technologies and products, facilitating commercialization. Aimed at enhancing India’s startup ecosystem in sectors like sustainable textiles, speciality fibres, and smart textiles, it offers crucial support for innovation.

Notes:
President Murmu rejected the mercy petition of Pakistani national Mohammed Arif, sentenced to death for the 2000 Red Fort attack that killed three, including two Army jawans. The court reaffirmed the “rarest of rare” standard, while the 262nd Law Commission Report (2015) recommended abolishing the death penalty, except for terrorism-related offenses. Constitutional provisions, Articles 21, 72, and 161, outline the right to life and executive clemency powers. The “rarest of rare” doctrine, established in Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab (1980), mandates the death penalty only when no other option is viable, considering aggravating and mitigating circumstances.

Notes:
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), with World Bank assistance, aims to enhance trash management by 2026-2027, focusing on stopping waste disposal at the Kodungaiyur dump. In a recent meeting with state officials, GCC discussed making solid waste management strategic, setting a Zero Waste goal, and eventually closing the Perungudi dumpsite following Kodungaiyur’s success.

Notes:
HelpAge India’s report, “Ageing in India: Exploring Preparedness & Response to Care Challenges,” was released on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15. Key findings include: 65% of elders are financially insecure, with 40% of illiterate elderly lacking income sources. Only 29% access social security schemes, and 15% are employed. Health-wise, 52% face daily living challenges, and 54% have multiple NCDs. Additionally, 59% lack digital device access, exacerbating isolation.

Notes:
Kolkata hosted the conference “India’s Progressive Path in the Administration of Criminal Justice System,” organized by the Ministry of Law and Justice. The event focuses on three new laws: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. It gathers legal experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss and raise awareness about these legislations’ implications for criminal justice administration in India, aiming to foster informed dialogue and strategic implementation strategies.

Notes:
A hidden chamber was recently discovered beneath the inner layers of Ghodbunder Fort during restoration work. Ghodbunder Fort, located in Thane, Maharashtra, on the Ulhas River, was built by the Portuguese and completed in 1730. Initially used for horse trading, it was later occupied by the Marathas and the British. The fort features a Portuguese church from the early 16th century and various historical structures.

Notes:
NASA’s MAVEN orbiter, launched in 2013, recently captured stunning purple-colored auroras in Mars’ atmosphere. MAVEN’s primary mission is to study the Martian upper atmosphere and understand how solar activity has stripped away much of its atmosphere, transforming the planet into a cold, barren desert. This research aims to unravel Mars’ transition from a potentially habitable world to its current state, crucial for understanding its past potential for microbial life.