Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
Tamluk, located in West Bengal, was a significant ancient city known as Tamralipta or Tamralipti. It served as the capital of the Suhma kingdom and later the Pala Empire during the 7th to 9th centuries CE. Excavations have revealed remnants of the ancient town Chandraketugarh. Today, Tamluk is renowned for its production and export of paan (betel leaf), shedding light on its historical trade importance in Indian kingdoms.

Notes:
Child Rights and You (CRY) launched “Poori Padhai Desh Ki Bhalai” to enhance girls’ school attendance nationwide. In India, female literacy rates lag behind males, with significant dropout rates in rural areas before fifth grade. However, rural women’s literacy has risen by 26% in the last decade. Girls’ gross enrolment ratios at elementary, secondary, and higher secondary levels surpass boys’. The initiative aims to bridge educational disparities and empower more girls through increased participation in schools.

Notes:
Gunmen in Russia’s Dagestan Region killed 15 police officers and a priest. Dagestan, officially a part of the Russian Federation, is a predominantly Muslim region with a history of insurgency and terrorism. Its name, “Land of Mountains,” highlights its rugged terrain in the Eastern North Caucasus. The capital, Makhachkala, lies on the Caspian Sea coast. Avars are the largest ethnic group, followed by Dargins, Kumyks, and Lezgins, contributing to its diverse cultural fabric.

Notes:
The UN has introduced ‘Global Principles’ to combat online misinformation amid rising concerns about digital platforms’ role in spreading falsehoods. Technologies like AI escalate misinformation’s volume, velocity, and virality, impacting global stability. The principles aim to safeguard information integrity by promoting transparency, privacy, and responsible content practices among stakeholders. Recommendations include integrating safety measures in tech design, promoting transparency in news media, and enhancing political transparency and access to information.

Notes:
Manav Rachna University (MRU) partnered with ISRO and NARL to install Delhi NCR’s first Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver. This initiative aims to enhance research in atmospheric and space sciences, offering engineering and science students practical experience with satellite navigation technology. This collaboration marks a significant step in advancing educational and research opportunities in these fields at MRU.

Notes:
Historians and enthusiasts are restoring Srikakulam’s ancient history in Andhra Pradesh. Known for its prominent Buddhist sites like Dantapuri and Salihundam, Neolithic-era caves, and ancient temples, Srikakulam was once part of the Kalinga Dynasty and later ruled by the Gajapati Kingdom, Eastern Chalukyas, Kakatiya, and Vijayanagara empires. Key sites include the Sri Suryanarayana Swamy Temple in Arasavalli and the Srimukhalingam Temple by the Vamsadhara River.

Notes:
David Warner’s 15-year international cricket career ended quietly as Australia’s exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup. Warner had announced this World Cup as his last, marking his final stages in international cricket. He played his last ODI in 2023, his final Test in early 2024, and concluded his career after the T20 World Cup, despite hinting at a possible return for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Notes:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) handed over the Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR) to the Indian Navy in New Delhi. Developed by DRDO’s Defence Laboratory in Jodhpur, this technology obscures radar signals and creates a microwave shield to reduce radar detection. The chaff rocket uses special fibers with unique microwave obscuration properties, assembled to enhance radar evasion capabilities.

Notes:
South African scientists launched the “Rhisotope” project, injecting radioactive material into live rhino horns to combat poaching. The aim is to make the horns detectable at borders and toxic for consumption. Involving 20 rhinos, the process includes drilling, inserting radioisotopes, and adding microdots and chips. This innovative method, lasting five years, is more cost-effective than frequent dehorning, addressing high poaching rates driven by demand in Asia for traditional medicine.

Notes:
Finland is the first country to offer preemptive bird flu vaccinations to specific workers exposed to animals. Vaccines will target workers at fur and poultry farms, lab technicians, veterinarians, and those in bird sanctuaries and animal by-product plants, aged 18 and over. Finland secured vaccines for 10,000 people through an EU procurement of 40 million doses from CSL Seqirus. Vaccinations start next week, following past bird flu outbreaks in fur farms.