Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

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:
According to a UNCTAD report, foreign direct investment (FDI) to India dropped by 43% in 2023, falling from 49 billion in 2022 to 28 billion. Globally, FDI declined by 2%. India, China, France, Australia, and the USA saw reduced FDI inflows. India’s global FDI recipient rank fell from 8th to 15th in 2023 but remained in the top five for attracting greenfield projects and international project finance deals.

Notes:
The 64th International Sugar Organisation Council meeting began on June 25, 2024, in New Delhi, hosted by India, the current chairman. Delegates from over 30 countries will discuss sugar industry and biofuel issues until June 27. India, elected chairman at last year’s meeting in London, is the second-largest sugar producer and the largest consumer globally, contributing 20% to global production and 15% to consumption.

Notes:
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the “One Week One Theme” (OWOT) campaign to highlight India’s recent successes in science and technology. Aimed at integrating CSIR lab efforts, the initiative promotes innovation and benefits citizens by creating employment opportunities and empowering MSMEs, startups, and researchers. The launch saw 24 technology transfers and product launches. The campaign aligns with PM Modi’s vision to extend scientific benefits beyond labs to improve living standards.

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:
The Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry launched the Safai Apnao, Bimaari Bhagao initiative under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 from July 1 to August 31. It aims to prepare Urban Local Bodies for monsoon challenges, focusing on cleanliness and health. Aligning with the Health Ministry’s ‘STOP Diarrhoea Campaign,’ it promotes inter-departmental collaboration to address cleanliness and disease risks during heavy rainfall.

Notes:
Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have gained new insights into planet formation around binary star systems, where two stars orbit a common center of mass. ALMA, with 66 antennas in Chile’s Atacama Desert, studies celestial objects at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths, penetrating dust clouds to observe distant galaxies and stars. Operated by an international partnership, ALMA detects faint radio signals with extraordinary sensitivity.

Notes:
Since 2017, June 27 has been observed as Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) Day, recognizing the sector’s role in economic development and employment. MSMEs account for 90% of businesses, 60-70% of employment, and 50% of GDP globally. The United Nations General Assembly established MSME Day on April 6, 2017. The 2024 theme is “MSMEs and the SDG,” focusing on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Notes:
After 164 years, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India opened its first museum at Chadwick House in Shimla. Inaugurated by CAG GC Murmu, the museum highlights India’s federal audit heritage. Chadwick House, where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during the 1946 Cabinet Mission, also housed the first training school for Indian Audit and Accounts Service probationers in 1950. Exhibits include Chanakya writing the Arthashastra.

Notes:
The Indian Army swiftly constructed a 150-foot foot suspension bridge in North Sikkim within 48 hours to restore connectivity to border villages affected by heavy rains and landslides. This initiative aimed to aid locals following the tragic loss of six lives earlier this month. Suspension bridges feature roadways suspended from cables anchored securely, providing crucial infrastructure amidst challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions.