Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

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.

Notes:
The Union Minister of Agriculture urged state governments to encourage farmers to register on the e-Samridhi portal for assured pulse procurement at Minimum Support Prices (MSP). Launched by NAFED and NCCF, the portal allows direct registration or through PACS and FPO. Payments are made directly to farmers’ bank accounts by NAFED. NAFED, an apex marketing cooperative founded in 1958, promotes agricultural trade and is headquartered in New Delhi.

Notes:
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced an increase in the annual income limit for the creamy layer of Other Backward Classes (OBC) from ₹6 lakh to ₹8 lakh. The reservation quota for OBCs in Group-A and Group-B positions will rise from 15% to 27%, aligning with Central government policy. This aims to enhance the welfare of the OBC community and benefit the youth in government jobs.

Notes:
Experts report a steady decline in the flamingo population at Lake Natron due to extreme weather and encroachment. Located on the Tanzania-Kenya border, this salt lake is part of the Great Rift Valley and a Ramsar site. Its unique warm, alkaline waters, fed by the Ewaso Ng’iro River, create ideal conditions for flamingos. However, agriculture, pollution, and climate change threaten this ecosystem, known for its striking red color.

Notes:
Russia has approved a draft logistics agreement with India, advancing military cooperation under the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS). This agreement aims to streamline logistics support for joint military operations, providing facilities for troops, warships, and aircraft during peacetime and wartime missions. It enhances India’s maritime influence, supports Arctic research collaboration, and helps balance logistics agreements with Quad countries, countering regional influences from the US and China.

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Om Birla has been re-elected as Speaker of the Lok Sabha, defeating opposition candidate K Suresh in the first test of strength for the new Modi government. This marks Birla’s second term as Speaker, making him the sixth person to hold the position twice.

Notes:
India, the largest remittance recipient globally, is expected to receive 124 billion in inward remittances in 2024 and 129 billion in 2025. In 2023, India received $120 billion, marking a 7.5% growth rate, projected to be 3.7% in 2024. The World Bank’s June 2024 Migration and Development Brief highlights these trends, noting India as the leading emigrant origin country with 18.7 million emigrants.

Notes:
Denmark will introduce the world’s first emissions tax on livestock in 2030, targeting greenhouse gases from cows, pigs, and sheep. Farmers will initially pay 43 per metric ton of CO2 equivalent, increasing to 108 by 2035. However, a 60% tax deduction will reduce the effective rates to 17 per metric ton in 2030 and 43 in 2035.

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The Union Minister of State for Science and Technology launched two geoportals: Bhuvan Panchayat 4.0 and NDEM 5.0, both with national geospatial databases created by ISRO. Bhuvan Panchayat 4.0 aims to integrate space-based information for governance and research, focusing on spatial planning at the Gram Panchayat level. NDEM 5.0 provides a comprehensive geospatial database for nationwide situational assessment and decision-making during emergencies.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced a new school curriculum chapter on the Emergency of 1975-77, highlighting the “excesses and repression” during that period. This aims to educate the younger generation about the struggle against the Emergency. Additional benefits for ‘Loktantra Senanis’ include air ambulances for serious health issues, fare discounts, state honors for funerals, and increased funeral financial support from ₹8,000 to ₹10,000. Employment training will also be provided to their families.