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:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted India a significant loan of USD 170 million (approximately Rs 1,418 crore) to enhance its healthcare system’s readiness and response capabilities for future pandemics. Aligned with India’s National Health Policy 2017, the policy-based loan aims to improve governance and policy frameworks essential for achieving universal healthcare coverage. Key initiatives include strengthening disease surveillance networks nationwide through interconnected laboratories, enabling quicker responses to infectious disease threats across cities, states, and union territories.

Notes:
In Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi, at least 34 people died, and around 100 were hospitalized after consuming spurious liquor, known as hooch. Hooch, derived from the Alaskan Hoochinoo tribe, is produced in crude settings without quality control. Made through fermentation and distillation, it often contains toxic methanol. Improper distillation can concentrate methanol, making it highly dangerous. The incident underscores the lethal risks of consuming illicit alcohol.

Notes:
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the Australian Government held a roundtable to review the Australia-India Critical Agriculture Skills Pilot Project. Led by Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari and Mr. Mathew Johnston, the discussion focused on scaling and replicating the initiative. Representatives from NCVET, NSDC, ICAR, MoE, and ASCI attended. The project, initiated last March, identified five critical agriculture job roles through extensive consultations with 89 experts from 64 organizations.

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:
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:
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.

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:
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.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced a new school curriculum chapter on the Emergency of 1975-77, highlighting the “excesses and repression” during that period. This aims to educate the younger generation about the struggle against the Emergency. Additional benefits for ‘Loktantra Senanis’ include air ambulances for serious health issues, fare discounts, state honors for funerals, and increased funeral financial support from ₹8,000 to ₹10,000. Employment training will also be provided to their families.