Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
Olympic Day is celebrated worldwide on June 23, marking the foundation of the International Olympic Committee in Paris in 1894. Proposed by Dr. Josef Gruss in 1947, the first Olympic Day was celebrated in 1948. The 2024 theme, “Let’s Move and Celebrate,” encourages global participation in sports. The 33rd Summer Olympics will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11, 2024.

Notes:
Indian wrestlers secured 11 medals (4 gold, 2 silver, 5 bronze) at the Under-17 Asian Wrestling Championship 2024 in Amman, Jordan, held from June 22-24. They competed in men’s and women’s freestyle and men’s Greco-Roman categories across 10 weight divisions per format. The event precedes the ongoing U-23 championship. The 2023 championship took place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

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:
The UN has introduced ‘Global Principles’ to combat online misinformation amid rising concerns about digital platforms’ role in spreading falsehoods. Technologies like AI escalate misinformation’s volume, velocity, and virality, impacting global stability. The principles aim to safeguard information integrity by promoting transparency, privacy, and responsible content practices among stakeholders. Recommendations include integrating safety measures in tech design, promoting transparency in news media, and enhancing political transparency and access to information.

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:
On June 25, the Madhya Pradesh cabinet decided that state ministers must pay their own income tax, reversing a 1972 rule where the state government covered these taxes. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced the decision, emphasizing the end of the state’s financial responsibility for ministers’ income tax on salaries and perks.

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:
The Tamil Nadu government plans to build a high-level bridge to protect the Pallikaranai Marshland, a freshwater and saline wetland 20 km south of Chennai. As one of Chennai’s last natural wetlands, it serves as an aquatic buffer, draining 250 sq.km through Okkiyam Madavu and Kovalam Creek into the Bay of Bengal. A Ramsar site, it supports diverse species including 115 bird species, Russell’s viper, and the glossy ibis.

Notes:
New findings from NASA’s Juno probe reveal the extent of lava lakes on Jupiter’s moon Io. Launched in 2011, Juno is designed to study Jupiter’s origins and changes. It arrived at Jupiter in 2016 and orbits every 11 days. Initially a 5-year mission, it has been extended to 2025. During this extended mission, Juno explores Jupiter’s moons Ganymede, Europa, and Io, as well as its atmosphere and rings.

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.