Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
The Ministry of Mines and Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation signed an MoU to enhance knowledge support for critical minerals crucial to India’s economic growth, national security, and low-carbon energy transition. The agreement was inked during the ‘Critical Minerals Summit’ at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, emphasizing the importance of beneficiation and processing capabilities.

Notes:
The UK government has implemented groundbreaking laws mandating minimum security standards for internet-connected smart devices, aiming to shield consumers and businesses from hacking and cyber-attacks. Manufacturers are now barred from employing weak default passwords such as “admin” or “12345”. Users will be prompted to change any common passwords upon device start-up, enhancing overall security measures.

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:
Indian Chess Prodigy Vaishali Ramesh Babu, awarded Grandmaster by FIDE, highlighted India’s rising prominence in chess. She anticipates India’s strong showing in the World Championship. Praising Viswanathan Anand’s impact, she credits her father’s decision to steer her towards chess. Supported by her parents, Vaishali became India’s third female Grandmaster after Humpy and Dronavalli. She achieved the 2500 ELO points at the Llobregat Open, with FIDE formally granting her the title at the recent Candidates Tournament in Toronto.

Notes:
RailTel Corporation of India has partnered with a tech firm to implement KAVACH, an indigenous Automatic Train Protection System, in India and abroad. Developed by RDSO in collaboration with the Indian industry, KAVACH operates at Safety Integrity Level – 4 with a remarkably low error probability. Its features include centralized train movement monitoring, automatic overspeed prevention, and SOS message relaying.

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 Bhadra Tiger Reserve, located in Karnataka’s Western Ghats, has seen a surge in safari visitors. Tourists must tread carefully in this eco-sensitive zone. The reserve, declared India’s 25th Project Tiger site in 1998, houses a significant tiger population alongside elephants and diverse fauna. Drained by the Bhadra River, it boasts dry-deciduous to semi-evergreen vegetation, including teak and medicinal plants. Other Karnataka tiger reserves include Bandipur, Nagarhole, Dandeli-Anshi, and Biligiriranga.

Notes:
The 2024 BWF Thomas and Uber Cup, held in Chengdu, China, saw the Chinese badminton team’s dominance, winning both men’s and women’s titles. In the Thomas Cup, China beat Indonesia 4-1, claiming their 11th victory. India, defending champions, lost to China in the quarterfinals. The Uber Cup followed a similar narrative. China’s victory marks the first time since 2012 that one nation has clinched both titles at the world team championships.

Notes:
Catatumbo lightning, a natural phenomenon over Venezuela’s Catatumbo River, occurs due to warm Caribbean air meeting cooler Andean air, creating towering cumulonimbus clouds charged with electricity. Lake Maracaibo’s proximity to the Andes and the Caribbean enhances this phenomenon. With up to 160 nights of lightning annually and 28 strikes per minute at its peak, the region earns the title “the lightning capital of the world.” Lake Maracaibo is Latin America’s largest and one of the oldest lakes.

Notes:
A Bengaluru-based company has introduced FWD-200B, India’s premier indigenous bomber UAV. The medium-altitude, long-endurance craft boasts a maximum take-off weight of 498 kg and operates up to 9,000 ft above sea level. It’s equipped with optical surveillance gear and integrated with missile-like weapons for precision air strikes, marking a significant advancement in India’s defense technology.