Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
The Indian Army inaugurated a state-of-the-art skin bank at Army Hospital (Research & Referral) on June 18. This facility, a first within Armed Forces Medical Services, focuses on treating severe burn injuries for armed forces personnel and families. It addresses injuries from fire accidents, electrical incidents, and high-altitude kerosene warmers. The skin bank centralizes collection, processing, storage, and distribution of skin grafts, enhancing medical capabilities nationwide for military hospitals.

Notes:
Recently, a Long March 2-C rocket launched the French-Chinese satellite SVOM from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Center. SVOM, weighing 930 kilograms, aims to detect and study gamma-ray bursts from an orbit over 600 kilometers above Earth. Equipped with instruments from both nations, it has a designed life of five years but could operate up to 20 years. Gamma-ray bursts, originating from stellar explosions, offer insights into cosmic evolution by studying the light’s journey through space.

Notes:
United Nations Public Service Day is celebrated globally on June 23rd to highlight the importance of public service and honor the dedication of public servants. The day aims to celebrate the value of public service to communities, showcase its contribution to development, honor the work of public servants, and inspire young people to consider careers in the public sector.

Notes:
Union Health Minister and Family Welfare JP Nadda launched the National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2024, aiming for zero child deaths from diarrhoea. The two-month drive involves distributing ORS packets and zinc to children under five. Initiatives like the National Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan have reduced childhood diarrhoea deaths. Emphasis is on sensitizing health workers and enhancing diarrhoea management. Officials are urged to focus on cleanliness and prevention targets.

Notes:
India and the US are discussing co-producing American Javelin missiles in India for its military needs. The Javelin is a man-portable antitank guided missile (ATGM) developed by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. Designed to defeat heavily armored vehicles and other targets like bunkers and helicopters, it features a 2,500-meter range, “fire-and-forget” infrared guidance, and a high-explosive antitank warhead. It can be shoulder-fired or vehicle-mounted.

Notes:
Recently, the 350th contract under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) was signed with SpacePixxel Technologies Pvt Ltd for a miniaturized satellite. iDEX, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence, promotes self-reliance and innovation in Defence and Aerospace by engaging MSMEs, start-ups, and R&D institutes. Managed by the Defence Innovation Organization (DIO), it supports innovators through financial aid and technical guidance. iDEX has launched 11 Defence India Start-up Challenges and the ADITI scheme.

Notes:
India secured a total of 29 medals at the 2024 BRICS Games in Kazan, Russia, comprising 3 gold, 6 silver, and 20 bronze medals. The Indian team excelled across diverse sports disciplines, demonstrating noteworthy accomplishments in this international multi-sport event, highlighting their successful performance.

Notes:
NASA recently observed gigantic jets over the Himalayan Mountains. These rare and powerful lightning phenomena extend from the top of a cloud to the edge of space, differing from regular cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning. Documented only in the 21st century, the bottoms of gigantic jets resemble blue jets, while the tops look like red sprites. This discovery adds to our understanding of atmospheric phenomena.

Notes:
A mainland serow, a mammal between a goat and an antelope, was sighted at 96 meters above sea level in Raimona National Park, Assam, near human habitation. Documented by a team of scientists, this finding was published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa. The serow, usually found at 200-3,000 meters in the India-Bhutan border region, highlights biodiversity conservation efforts in the park, previously affected by poaching and logging.

Notes:
Intensive animal agriculture, or factory farming, raises livestock and poultry in dense facilities to boost dairy output cost-effectively. Concerns include antibiotic resistance in 53% of Indian egg samples, zoonotic diseases originating from animals (60% known, 75% emerging), and significant environmental impact (14.5%-16.5% of global greenhouse gases). Diets rich in animal products also heighten risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes.