Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
Krishna M Ella, co-founder of Bharat Biotech, now heads the Indian Vaccine Manufacturers Association (IVMA) for 2024-2026. He succeeds Adar C Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India (SII). Ella aims to enhance collaboration among vaccine manufacturers, researchers, and policymakers to expedite vaccine development and bolster production. IVMA also prioritizes enabling access to affordable vaccines in developing nations. SII, under Poonawalla, pioneered the Covishield vaccine during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Notes:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a $1.1 billion disbursement to Pakistan under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA), aimed at addressing balance of payments issues. SBAs offer short-term financial aid to member countries, commonly used by both advanced and emerging economies. Eligibility extends to nations with external financing needs. Funding is contingent on policy reforms, including quantitative targets and structural measures. Loan duration ranges from 12 to 36 months.

Notes:
Daryapur arachnologist unveils Peucetia chhaparajnirvin, a new green lynx spider species. Found in Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan, it’s named after the locale. Typically dwelling on Vachellia nilotica leaves, its green hue aids camouflage for ambushing prey. With swift legs, it hunts nocturnally, feasting on small insects. Lynx spiders, known for their active hunting style sans webs, belong to the family Oxyopidae in the order Araneida.

Notes:
The Indian government renews an agreement with Bangladesh to train 1500 Bangladeshi officers from 2025 to 2030. Signed by DARPG India and Bangladeshi Ministry of Public Administration, the pact emphasizes mid-career capacity-building for Bangladesh Civil Servants. During a 3-day visit (28-30 April 2024), led by V. Srinivas, Secretary, DARPG, the agreement was finalized, focusing on field administration programs.

Notes:
Kundan Green Energy secures approval for a 42 MW hydropower venture in Okhali, Uttarakhand, as part of an 80 MW agreement with the state government with an investment of Rs 1,000 Crore. It targets completion by 2028, boosting the company’s hydropower capacity to 270 MW from 104 MW. A subsidiary of Kundan Group, it’s committed to India’s renewable energy goal of 500 GW by 2030, employing sustainable practices for a greener future.

Notes:
Hindu devotees gather in Hinglaj, Lasbela district, Pakistan, for an annual festival at the ancient cave temple of Hinglaj Mata. The pilgrimage begins with a trek to steep mud volcanoes, where pilgrims climb stairs and rocks to reach the summit. Tossing coconuts and rose petals into the crater, they seek divine permission to visit the temple. Dedicated to Goddess Hinglaj, it’s one of the oldest temples in the Indian subcontinent. Located near the Hingol River, in Balochistan, Pakistan, the temple complex features shrines, caves, and sacred natural formations.

Notes:
Researchers from Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) discovered a new marine tardigrade species, Batillipes chandrayaani, on Tamil Nadu’s southeast coast, named after Chandrayaan-3. Found in Mandapam’s intertidal beach sediments, it measures 0.15mm in length and 0.04mm in width. Sporting a trapezoid-shaped head and four pairs of legs with sharp-tipped sensory spines, both sexes share similar morphology. It’s the 39th species under the genus Batillipes. Tardigrades, dubbed “water bears,” are resilient micro-animals, with marine species constituting 17% of known tardigrades, found across all oceans.

Notes:
Ben Wells, a rising cricketer for England, retired at 23 due to a rare heart disease, ARVC. Despite signing with Gloucestershire in 2021 and delivering notable performances, he hadn’t played for England. His condition echoes that of former player James Taylor. Wells’ career, marked by an unbeaten 108-run knock, ends abruptly, raising awareness about ARVC’s impact on athletes’ lives.

Notes:
The first case of bird flu killing a walrus was found on Hopen Island, part of Svalbard, Norway. Hopen Island is located in the Arctic Ocean, in the Svalbard Archipelago, which is part of Norway. The island is situated in the southern part of the archipelago, between the Barents Sea and the Greenland Sea. Hopen Island is one of the smaller islands in the Svalbard group, covering an area of about 47 square kilometers. The island’s landscape is mainly made up of low-lying tundra, rocky outcrops, and coastal cliffs.

Notes:
Tamil Nadu accuses Kerala in Supreme Court of obstructing Mullaperiyar dam maintenance while raising safety concerns. Kerala allegedly delays routine maintenance for months to over a year. Tamil Nadu seeks court’s intervention for completing strengthening works on smaller and main dams, requesting permission to cut 15 trees. It criticizes Kerala for not cooperating despite supervisory committee’s authority under Dam Safety Act, 2021. The dam, built in late 1800s, diverts Periyar river to Tamil Nadu.