Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
India and Croatia convened their 11th Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi. Discussions encompassed regional and global concerns, emphasizing bilateral relations’ enhancement in trade, defense, science, tourism, and culture. Cultural and people-to-people exchanges were underscored. Indian Secretary Pavan Kapoor and Croatian Director General Dr. Petar Mihatov led the respective delegations. They also deliberated on international cooperation, emphasizing the India-EU Free Trade Agreement’s timely conclusion.

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:
India will host the BWF World Junior Championships 2025 at the National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati, as announced by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). It marks India’s first hosting since 2008, when Pune held the event. The specific dates for the 2025 edition will be disclosed later.

Notes:
The Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks awarded the Geographical Indication certificate to ‘Kutch Ajrakh’ artisans from Gujarat. Ajrakh, a textile craft deeply rooted in Gujarat’s culture, especially in Kutch, Sindh, and Barmer, involves intricate hand-block printing on cotton cloth. Its name derives from ‘Azrak’, meaning indigo, a key dye used. Traditionally, Ajrakh prints symbolize sky (blue), land and fire (red), and stars (white), reflecting rich symbolism and history.

Notes:
Recently, an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter collected water from Bhimtal Lake in Nainital, Uttarakhand to help control a nearby forest fire.The Indian Army and the IAF were called in to help control the blaze, with MI-17 choppers lifting water from the lake for firefighting efforts. Bhimtal Lake, Uttarakhand’s largest lake in the Nainital district, is a centerpiece of the Kumaon region, dubbed India’s “lake district.” Named after the Mahabharata’s Bhima, it formed naturally due to Earth’s crust shifts. Constructed in 1883 during the British era, it features a masonry dam.

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:
The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board and Starscapes have collaborated to introduce Nakshatra Sabha, an Astro Tourism venture. Beyond star-gazing, it offers solar observations, astrophotography contests, and camping. Aimed at astronomy enthusiasts and adventurers, it aims to merge cosmic wonders with Uttarakhand’s natural beauty, fostering an engaging platform for travelers.

Notes:
India will acquire MQ-9B Predator drones from the US, deploying them in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, it’s a high-altitude, long-endurance armed UAV. Used by the US for surveillance and airstrikes, it has two variants: SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian. The latter has been utilized by the Indian Navy since 2020.

Notes:
Starting May 15, 2024, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) gains sole authority to issue manufacturing licenses for new drugs intended for export, sidelining state governments. All export-related No Objection Certificates (NOCs) must now be applied for through CDSCO zonal offices via the SUGAM Portal. Previously, state authorities handled this. The move aims to streamline exports and tackle delays identified by the Drug Consultative Committee (DCC). CDSCO, under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, regulates drugs across India through 9 zonal offices.

Notes:
INCOIS, established in 1999 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, issues alerts to coastal states about rough seas, high waves, and inundation risks. It operates under ESSO, aiming to furnish oceanic data, information, and advisory services to various sectors. Its activities include round-the-clock monitoring and warning services for tsunamis, storm surges, and high waves, daily advisories for fisherfolk, and short-term ocean state forecasts. It also deploys Ocean Observing Systems to collect data and predict oceanic changes.