Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

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:
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:
Manav Rachna University (MRU) partnered with ISRO and NARL to install Delhi NCR’s first Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver. This initiative aims to enhance research in atmospheric and space sciences, offering engineering and science students practical experience with satellite navigation technology. This collaboration marks a significant step in advancing educational and research opportunities in these fields at MRU.

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:
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:
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:
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.

Notes:
The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is establishing a bioplastic park in Kumbhi village, Gola Gokarnnath tehsil, Lakhimpur Kheri district, to combat plastic pollution. Covering 1000 hectares and costing Rs 2000 crore, the project will be developed by Balrampur Chini Mill, with UPEIDA as the nodal agency. Bioplastics, made from renewable sources, decompose quickly, offering an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based plastics.

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:
An advanced AI system for early forest fire detection has deployed at Pench Tiger Reserve. Located across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, Pench is known for its diverse forest types including Tropical Moist Deciduous and Teak. The reserve, designated a National Park in 1975 and Tiger Reserve in 1992, is divided by the Pench River and hosts a rich biodiversity featuring tigers, leopards, and diverse flora like Mahua and Salai.