Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh is fast-tracking the Ghatampur and Obra C thermal power projects to meet rising energy demands. The combined capital expenditure exceeds Rs 32,000 crore, with the Ghatampur project (1,980 MW) costing Rs 19,006 crore and led by Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power. Scheduled for completion in 2024-25, Ghatampur will supply 75% of its electricity to the state. Obra C (1,320 MW) faced cost overruns, partly covered by state borrowings and share capital contributions.

Notes:
A deadly fire in Kuwait claimed 49 lives, sparking scrutiny of the Kafala system. Introduced in the 1950s across West Asia, it binds migrant workers to employers who control their entry, employment changes, and exit from the country. This arrangement aimed to manage labor influx during economic booms but has faced criticism for exploitation and hindering workers’ rights to mobility and safety.

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.

Notes:
Assam’s wildlife officials reported the first recording of the striped caecilian (Ichthyophis spp) in Kaziranga National Park during a recent herpetofauna survey. Caecilians are elongated, limbless amphibians in the order Gymnophiona, resembling earthworms or snakes. Named “Caecilian” meaning “blind,” they inhabit moist tropical and subtropical regions, mainly burrowing underground. There are about 200 known species, mostly found in forests, grasslands, and wetlands.

Notes:
Six Asiatic lions recently migrated from Gir Forest to Barda Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS). These endangered lions, slightly smaller than African lions, are protected under IUCN’s Endangered status, CITES Appendix I, and India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. They exhibit moderate mane growth and lack a specific breeding season. The Gir forest and other protected areas in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region are their exclusive habitats.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh has established the world’s first conservation and breeding center for Asian king vultures in Maharajganj district. Named Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre, it aims to revive the critically endangered species, listed since 2007. The vultures face threats from habitat loss and diclofenac poisoning. Currently housing a male-female pair with plans to pair more females, the center monitors them round-the-clock. Once ready, pairs will be released into the wild to bolster their population and ensure their survival.

Notes:
Air pollution is the second leading global risk factor for death, per the 2024 State of Global Air (SoGA) report by the Health Effects Institute and UNICEF. It causes non-communicable diseases like heart disease and lung cancer, with 8.1 million deaths in 2021. India and China accounted for 54% of the global air pollution disease burden. In 2021, air pollution caused 1,69,400 child deaths in India and 2,37,000 COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) deaths.

Notes:
The NSO released the “Statistical Report on Value of Output from Agriculture and Allied Sectors (2011-12 to 2022-23).” Key highlights include agriculture’s 18.2% share of GVA in 2022-23. Sub-sector contributions are Crop (54.3%), Livestock (30.9%), Forestry (7.9%), and Fishing (6.9%). From 2011-12 to 2022-23, Crop’s share declined from 62.4% to 54.3%, while Livestock, Forestry, and Fishing output increased significantly.

Notes:
The Union Home Minister inaugurated the Fast Track Immigration Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) at Indira Gandhi International Airport. This initiative by the Central Government aims to expedite immigration clearance for pre-verified travellers, reducing airport congestion. Collaborating with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Bureau of Immigration, it mirrors the US Global Entry Program. Implemented in multiple Indian cities, it includes e-gates for seamless clearance in two phases, starting with Indian citizens and OCI cardholders.

Notes:
World Hydrography Day, observed on June 21, is led by the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) since 1921. The IHO coordinates global efforts to survey and chart seas, oceans, and navigable waters. With 100 member states, it promotes uniformity in nautical charts and best practices. India, a member since 1955, operates the Indian Naval Hydrographic Department in Kolkata, central to hydrographic surveys with a modern fleet. The 2024 theme focuses on enhancing marine safety, efficiency, and sustainability.