Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
Scientists are using remote sensing and AI to find a female Encephalartos woodii in Ngoye Forest, South Africa. This cycad, a “living fossil” from the Carboniferous period, has thick trunks and stiff leaves. Cycads, gymnosperms like conifers, reproduce via insect-pollinated cones. Despite their ancient lineage, cycads are highly endangered due to slow growth, habitat loss, and illegal trade. The search aims to preserve this rare species.

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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.

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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.

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ISRO achieved the third successful landing of its Pushpak reusable launch vehicle (RLV LEX-03), testing it under challenging conditions. The vehicle reused components from previous flights and employed advanced sensors for precise landing. Designed to reduce launch costs significantly, it aims to retrieve and land like an airplane after deploying satellites into space. The demonstration validated critical technologies, including advanced error correction algorithms, crucial for its future operational success and cost-effectiveness in space missions.

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On June 25, the Madhya Pradesh cabinet decided that state ministers must pay their own income tax, reversing a 1972 rule where the state government covered these taxes. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced the decision, emphasizing the end of the state’s financial responsibility for ministers’ income tax on salaries and perks.

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 Union Ministry of Home Affairs is testing eSakshya, a mobile app developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. It aids police in recording crime scenes and uploading evidence to a cloud-based platform. Each recording can be up to four minutes long, with multiple files per First Information Report (FIR). The app aims to ensure digital evidence integrity, crucial for new criminal laws to prevent potential legal loopholes.

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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.

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India participated in the CLGF Annual Board meeting in Sri Lanka, focusing on “Reinforcing Social Resilience through Women’s Political Representation.” CLGF, headquartered in London since 1995, unites local governments and ministries across 56 Commonwealth nations, including India. It advocates for gender equality in local governance to support women’s active participation in public life, aligning with SDG 5 goals.

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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.