Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
ISRO achieved the third successful landing of its Pushpak reusable launch vehicle (RLV LEX-03), testing it under challenging conditions. The vehicle reused components from previous flights and employed advanced sensors for precise landing. Designed to reduce launch costs significantly, it aims to retrieve and land like an airplane after deploying satellites into space. The demonstration validated critical technologies, including advanced error correction algorithms, crucial for its future operational success and cost-effectiveness in space missions.

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:
The United States has designated Kenya as a major non-NATO ally (MNNA), offering benefits in defense trade and security cooperation. President Biden pledged this status during Kenyan President William Ruto’s recent US visit. The MNNA designation, a symbol of close US relations, provides military and economic privileges without security commitments. This status enhances Kenya’s defense and security partnership with the US.

Notes:
David Warner’s 15-year international cricket career ended quietly as Australia’s exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup. Warner had announced this World Cup as his last, marking his final stages in international cricket. He played his last ODI in 2023, his final Test in early 2024, and concluded his career after the T20 World Cup, despite hinting at a possible return for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

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:
Every June 26th, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking raises awareness about the detrimental impact of drugs on society. In 2024, the theme is “The evidence is clear: invest in prevention.” Established by the UN General Assembly on December 7, 1987, this day highlights global efforts to combat drug use and trafficking, acknowledging the persistent health risks they pose despite widespread awareness among youth about their dangers for recreational use.

Notes:
Paraguay has become the 100th full member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) by officially handing over its Instrument of Ratification in New Delhi. The ISA, co-founded by India and France during the 2015 COP21, promotes global solar energy deployment. The alliance now has 119 signatories, with 100 ratified members. The ISA aims to implement the Paris Climate Agreement through extensive solar energy adoption.

Notes:
Recently, the Australian government signed an $18 million MoU with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, as part of the Space MAITRI mission. This initiative strengthens bilateral ties in space exploration, focusing on debris management and sustainability. NSIL will launch Australia’s Space Machines Company’s Optimus spacecraft in 2026 on ISRO’s SSLV, marking a significant collaboration in space technology and fostering responsible space operations between India and Australia.

Notes:
IIT Madras and the University of Leeds have partnered to establish the Joint Virtual Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Development (VCoE-SD). This MoU aims to foster impactful research and innovation towards achieving sustainable development goals. The collaboration will enhance academic exchange through joint projects, courses, and conferences, creating a network of high-quality staff to drive sustainable solutions globally, as highlighted by Prof. Vasilis Sarhosis from the University of Leeds.

Notes:
Kapil Dev, renowned Indian cricketer and avid amateur golfer, has been elected as the new president of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI). He succeeds H Srinivasan, withdrawing his candidacy. Kapil Dev, captain of India’s 1983 Cricket World Cup-winning team, served as vice president and member of PGTI’s governing body. Known as the “Haryana Hurricane,” he played a key role in promoting professional golf in India since PGTI’s inception in 2006, organizing tournaments nationwide.