Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh has launched a campaign to eliminate malaria by 2027, intensifying efforts under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme. With 771 cases reported this year, the initiative focuses on thorough case investigation, treatment, and community education. Enhanced vector control measures and mosquito prevention activities are underway, crucial ahead of the monsoon. Malaria, caused by Plasmodium parasites, threatens health, with P. falciparum and P. vivax posing the highest risks among the five parasite species.

Notes:
According to the World Bank’s Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report, gas flaring reached 148 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2023, the highest since 2019. Gas flaring, the burning of natural gas during oil extraction, persists due to market constraints, regulatory issues, and political factors. Although flaring safely disposes of gas, it wastes a valuable resource that could be used for power generation or conservation.

Notes:
The Ele-fence project, India’s first AI-based smart fence, is being deployed in Wayanad, Kerala, to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, primarily involving elephants. Implemented by White Elephant Technologies and the Kerala Forest Department, it aims to prevent crop loss and casualties caused by elephants encroaching on human habitats. Human-wildlife conflicts escalate as human populations grow and encroach into animal habitats, affecting biodiversity and local economies. The Ele-fence seeks to protect both wildlife and human livelihoods in affected areas.

Notes:
Indian botanists discovered two new plant species in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Arunachal Pradesh. Dendrophthoe longensis, an aerial stem-parasitic plant, was found on mango trees in the evergreen forests of the Andamans. Petrocosmea arunachalense, a small, white, and hairy herb with purple blotches, was discovered in a cave in Arunachal Pradesh. It is only the second known Petrocosmea species in India.

Notes:
Sreeja Akula of Hyderabad made history as the first Indian table tennis player to clinch a WTT Contender singles title and also secured the doubles title at WTT Contender Lagos 2024. The event, held in Lagos, Nigeria, from June 19 to 23, offered a prize of USD 80,000. Sreeja defeated China’s Yijie Ding 4-1 in the singles final, showcasing her prowess ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics where she has already qualified.

Notes:
In Madhya Pradesh, the Prime Minister College of Excellence will be inaugurated in all 55 districts on July 1. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav announced a new drone policy and emphasized enhancing teaching for aviation, agriculture, and AI job opportunities. Each college will also establish a Centre of Traditional Indian Knowledge. To promote environmental awareness, educational gardens will be developed in all government, non-government, and aided colleges.

Notes:
A new plant species, Didymocarpus janakiae, was discovered in Arunachal Pradesh’s West Kameng district at 2,300 meters elevation. Named in honor of pioneering Indian botanist E. K. Janaki Ammal, this species belongs to the Didymocarpus genus, part of the African Violet family (Gesneriaceae). Found in pristine habitats, it highlights ecosystem quality. The genus comprises 111 species, 27 of which are in India, including D. janakiae.

Notes:
Exercise HOPEX is a joint military drill between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Egyptian Air Force aimed at enhancing bilateral and regional cooperation. Indian assets like Rafale fighter jets, C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft, and IL-78 tankers are participating in this exercise, which takes place in Egypt.

Notes:
India’s largest leopard safari has opened at Bannerghatta Biological Park, Karnataka. Covering 20 hectares, the safari houses eight leopards, with plans to increase this number. The area is secured with railway barricades and enclosed with 4.5-meter-tall chain-link mesh and mild steel sheets to ensure the leopards remain within the boundaries.

Notes:
Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy has been awarded the 2024 PEN Pinter Literary Prize for her courageous writing. This honor comes shortly after the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi sanctioned her prosecution under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The award ceremony will be held in October in London. Previous winners include Salman Rushdie and Margaret Atwood. The PEN Pinter Award, established in 2009, recognizes exceptional English-language writers from the UK, Ireland, or the Commonwealth.