Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
The Union Minister of Agriculture urged state governments to encourage farmers to register on the e-Samridhi portal for assured pulse procurement at Minimum Support Prices (MSP). Launched by NAFED and NCCF, the portal allows direct registration or through PACS and FPO. Payments are made directly to farmers’ bank accounts by NAFED. NAFED, an apex marketing cooperative founded in 1958, promotes agricultural trade and is headquartered in New Delhi.

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Srinagar, the largest city in Jammu and Kashmir, has been designated as a “World Craft City” by the World Crafts Council. This recognition, shared by the Office of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, highlights the city’s skilled and dedicated artisans. The award honors and aims to protect Srinagar’s unique traditional crafts, showcasing their global admiration and cultural richness.

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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.

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Gunmen in Russia’s Dagestan Region killed 15 police officers and a priest. Dagestan, officially a part of the Russian Federation, is a predominantly Muslim region with a history of insurgency and terrorism. Its name, “Land of Mountains,” highlights its rugged terrain in the Eastern North Caucasus. The capital, Makhachkala, lies on the Caspian Sea coast. Avars are the largest ethnic group, followed by Dargins, Kumyks, and Lezgins, contributing to its diverse cultural fabric.

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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.

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Recently, the 350th contract under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) was signed with SpacePixxel Technologies Pvt Ltd for a miniaturized satellite. iDEX, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence, promotes self-reliance and innovation in Defence and Aerospace by engaging MSMEs, start-ups, and R&D institutes. Managed by the Defence Innovation Organization (DIO), it supports innovators through financial aid and technical guidance. iDEX has launched 11 Defence India Start-up Challenges and the ADITI scheme.

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Historians and enthusiasts are restoring Srikakulam’s ancient history in Andhra Pradesh. Known for its prominent Buddhist sites like Dantapuri and Salihundam, Neolithic-era caves, and ancient temples, Srikakulam was once part of the Kalinga Dynasty and later ruled by the Gajapati Kingdom, Eastern Chalukyas, Kakatiya, and Vijayanagara empires. Key sites include the Sri Suryanarayana Swamy Temple in Arasavalli and the Srimukhalingam Temple by the Vamsadhara River.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) has proposed to acquire 10 TAPAS drones, officially known as Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance Beyond Horizon-201, or Tapas BH-201. Developed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment, these medium-altitude, long-endurance drones, previously called Rustom-II, fulfill the tri-services’ Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Tracking & Reconnaissance (ISTAR) needs. Capable of operating day and night at 30,000 feet with a 24-hour endurance, they feature a 250 km range, carry up to 350 kg payloads, and include advanced surveillance and radar technologies.

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Researchers from IISc’s Department of Bioengineering have developed a 3D hydrogel culture system that mimics the mammalian lung environment. This innovation allows precise tracking and study of tuberculosis bacteria infection in lung cells. The system serves as a robust platform for testing the effectiveness of TB therapeutics.

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A severe bleaching event has ravaged 97% of coral at Lizard Island, part of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, due to extreme heat stress. Known as Jiigurru or Dyiigurra, Lizard Island is located in Queensland. The island’s traditional owners are the Dingaal people, an Aboriginal Australian clan also known as Dingiil, Walmbarddha, or Walmbaria.