Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
The central government has extended the Digital Health Incentive Scheme (DHIS) for digitising patients’ health records and linking them with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Account (ABHA ID) until June 30, 2025. Launched on January 1, 2023, under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, the DHIS aims to promote digital health practices in India. Eligibility includes health facilities and digital solution companies, with incentives based on the number of ABHA-linked digital health records created.

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.

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Scientists at Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea are pioneering “meaty rice,” injecting beef cells into rice grains coated with fish gelatine. This innovative food technology aims to offer a sustainable protein source without animal agriculture’s ethical concerns. The rice’s porous structure facilitates cell growth over 11 days in a Petri dish. Meaty rice promises a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to traditional beef production, potentially revolutionizing global food sustainability practices.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new Nalanda University campus near the ancient ruins in Rajgir, Bihar. Founded by Kumargupta in the 5th century, Nalanda was a renowned monastic university for 600 years, flourishing under Harshavardhan and the Pala monarchs. It attracted students from across Asia, teaching subjects like Buddhism, medicine, and astronomy. Destroyed in 1193 by Bakhtiyar Khilji, it was rediscovered in 1812 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Notes:
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed an MoU with Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT Delhi) to enhance road safety using AI-based solutions to improve road sign availability on national highways. The project will cover approximately 25,000 km. IIIT Delhi will conduct surveys to collect imagery and data on road sign conditions along selected highway stretches.

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A project by IIIT-Delhi won joint second prize in the Trinity Challenge’s second competition for addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The Trinity Challenge (TTC) is a charity fostering data-driven solutions to global health threats, partnering with over 40 organizations. Launched in response to COVID-19, TTC funds public challenges to enhance pandemic preparedness, awarding £5.7 million for innovative health solutions.

Notes:
Researchers at the University of Houston discovered a significant seasonal energy imbalance on Saturn using data from the Cassini probe. This finding challenges existing models of gas giants’ climate and planetary evolution. Saturn’s large orbital eccentricity, varying nearly 20%, causes substantial seasonal variations in solar energy absorption, unlike Earth. This discovery by Xinyue Wang highlights the influence of internal heat on Saturn’s climate and reshapes understanding of planetary and atmospheric sciences in our solar system.

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The Hemis Festival, celebrating Tibetan Buddhism, occurs annually in Ladakh, India. In 2024, it celebrated on June 16th and 17th. Known as Hemis Tsechu, it commemorates Guru Padmasambhava’s birth anniversary. The two-day event fills Hemis Monastery, Ladakh’s largest Buddhist monastery, with vibrant colors, music, and spiritual energy, making it a significant cultural celebration.

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At the Archery World Cup 2024 Stage 3 in Antalya, Türkiye, 22-year-old Dhiraj Bommadevara won two bronze medals in the recurve events. India secured four medals overall: one gold, one silver, and two bronze. The Indian women’s compound team, consisting of Aditi Swami, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, and Parneet Kaur, achieved a hat-trick of gold medals, marking their third consecutive win this season.

Notes:
Olympic Day is celebrated worldwide on June 23, marking the foundation of the International Olympic Committee in Paris in 1894. Proposed by Dr. Josef Gruss in 1947, the first Olympic Day was celebrated in 1948. The 2024 theme, “Let’s Move and Celebrate,” encourages global participation in sports. The 33rd Summer Olympics will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11, 2024.