Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

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:
NITI Aayog’s Great Nicobar Development plan aims to promote the holistic development of Greater Nicobar. The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife denotified the entire Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, for infrastructure development. Opposition arises due to ecological impact, wildlife concerns, tribal rights violations, health risks for the Shompen tribe, seismic risks, and local concerns. The project threatens 130 sq km of forest land, critical habitats, and the ancestral lands of the Great Nicobarese.

Notes:
Local residents in Dehradun rallied to save 2,000 Sal trees in Khalanga Reserve Forest, prompting the state government to relocate a planned drinking water plant due to public outcry. Environmental activists and locals protested against the felling of trees for the Song Dam drinking water project. Social media campaigns and symbolic acts like tying Raksha-Sutras to trees were employed. The project aims to supply drinking water to 60 wards in Dehradun, costing an estimated Rs. 3,000 crores.

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.

Notes:
Since February, the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in Mizoram has killed over 3,350 pigs. ASF is a highly contagious viral disease with a 100% mortality rate in pigs. Symptoms include fever, weakness, and diarrhea. The virus spreads through direct and indirect contact and survives long in pork products. Endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, it reached India in 2020. There is no cure or vaccine, necessitating animal culling to prevent spread.

Notes:
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:
Jaipur Military Station is now the second in India to have a road made of plastic waste, inaugurated on June 26, 2024, by Major General R. S. Godara. The 100-meter road, built under GE (South) and CE Jaipur Zone with Deep Constructions Pvt Ltd, follows the first plastic road at Narangi Military Station, Assam. These roads are more durable, with less wear and tear, reduced water induction, and increased sustainability.

Notes:
Mark Rutte, Netherlands Prime Minister, has been appointed as the next Secretary General of NATO. Approved by NATO’s 32 member countries on June 26 in Brussels, he will succeed Jens Stoltenberg on October 1, 2024. Rutte’s nomination came after overcoming opposition from Hungary and Turkey, and the withdrawal of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. He became the sole candidate and was elected to lead the Western military alliance after serving as Dutch Prime Minister since 2010.

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:
A severe bleaching event has ravaged 97% of coral at Lizard Island, part of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, due to extreme heat stress. Known as Jiigurru or Dyiigurra, Lizard Island is located in Queensland. The island’s traditional owners are the Dingaal people, an Aboriginal Australian clan also known as Dingiil, Walmbarddha, or Walmbaria.