Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
The theme for Yoga Day 2024 is ‘Yoga for Self and Society’, emphasizing its holistic benefits for health and well-being. Established by the United Nations in 2014, at the suggestion of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the International Day of Yoga is celebrated annually on June 21, coinciding with the summer solstice. This day highlights yoga’s transformative power and its role in promoting balance and harmony in individuals and communities worldwide.

Notes:
In Khunti district, Jharkhand, individuals with sickle cell anemia will receive a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 under the Swami Vivekananda Nishakt Swawlamban Protsahan Scheme. The district administration has initially identified nine beneficiaries from various blocks, ensuring ongoing coverage for new cases. Sickle cell screening has been extensive, identifying 46 cases of sickle cell anemia-thalassemia among over 99,000 people tested. Pension eligibility is based on disability certificates, benefiting those severely affected by the condition.

Notes:
Food safety authorities in Denmark recalled three types of South Korean spicy instant noodles due to high capsaicin levels posing “acute poisoning” risks. Capsaicin, found in chili peppers’ placenta, binds to TRPV1 receptors in humans, which detect heat and pain. This triggers a false sensation of burning, causing sweating, a red face, runny nose, teary eyes, and gut cramps as the body attempts to expel the perceived heat.

Notes:
Six Asiatic lions recently migrated from Gir Forest to Barda Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS). These endangered lions, slightly smaller than African lions, are protected under IUCN’s Endangered status, CITES Appendix I, and India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. They exhibit moderate mane growth and lack a specific breeding season. The Gir forest and other protected areas in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region are their exclusive habitats.

Notes:
The UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2024 reveals a 2% global decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) flows in 2023, with significant drops noted in India. Funding for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) investments via sustainable finance products is also slowing. Established in 1964, UNCTAD aids developing nations in accessing the advantages of a global economy equitably.

Notes:
Scientists discovered the world’s oldest inhabited termite mounds in Namaqualand, South Africa. Known as ‘heuweltjies’ in Afrikaans, these mounds host the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator. Radiocarbon dating reveals organic carbon dating back 13,000 to 19,000 years, and carbonate dating up to 34,000 years. These mounds are the oldest with both organic and inorganic carbon, formed during a wetter climate that allowed minerals like calcite and gypsum to dissolve, enriching groundwater.

Notes:
Kozhikode in Kerala has been declared India’s first UNESCO City of Literature, joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). Established in 2004, UCCN promotes urban development through creativity, encompassing nearly 300 cities globally in fields such as literature, crafts, and music. Other Indian cities in UCCN include Srinagar and Jaipur (crafts and folk arts), Mumbai (film), Chennai, Gwalior, and Varanasi (music), and Hyderabad (gastronomy).

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:
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:
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.