Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
Humza Yousaf resigned as Scotland’s first minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) after 13 months in office, amidst political turmoil. His leadership faced criticism following the SNP’s failed coalition with the Scottish Greens, leading to upcoming no-confidence motions.

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:
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:
Rajasthan introduced a digital water distribution system for agriculture, employing “Barabandi,” a fixed turn method for canal water distribution. The new online “barabandi” system, developed by NIC Jaipur, allows scheduled irrigation supply accessible remotely. Farmers can track water flow to their fields, reducing manual errors. This innovation aims to optimize water usage and enhance agricultural efficiency in Rajasthan.

Notes:
The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) marks its 50th anniversary, initiated by WHO in 1974. Renamed UIP in India in 1985, it now offers vaccines for 13 universally recommended diseases and 17 context-specific ones. Global DPT coverage surged from 5% in the ’70s to 84% in 2022. Smallpox eradicated; polio remains in Afghanistan & Pakistan. In India, coverage grows yearly, reaching 76% in 2019-21. Immunization boasts significant returns, predominantly delivered through government facilities.

Notes:
SEBI approved changes in mutual fund regulations to combat front-running in Indian asset management companies (AMCs). Front-running, or trading with non-public information ahead of significant transactions, is illegal in India and can impact asset prices. It occurs in various financial markets like stocks and commodities. Common strategies include Buy-Buy-Sell (BBS) and Sell-Sell-Buy (SSB) patterns. These regulatory changes aim to safeguard market integrity and investor interests.

Notes:
NPCI’s overseas arm signed a pact with the Bank of Namibia to develop a UPI-like instant payment system for Namibia, leveraging India’s UPI technology and experiences. The collaboration aims to modernize Namibia’s financial ecosystem, enhancing accessibility, affordability, and connectivity with domestic and international payment networks. It also emphasizes interoperability, signaling a significant step towards improving financial inclusion and digital transactions in Namibia.

Notes:
On May 3, 2024, the Permanent Mission of India to the UN and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, with UNFPA, host “Localizing the SDGs: Women in Local Governance in India Lead the Way” during CPD57 in New York. Elected women representatives, including Sabhadhipati Supriya Das Datta (Tripura), Sarpanch Kunuku Hema Kumari (Andhra Pradesh), and Sarpanch Neeru Yadav (Rajasthan), led by Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj, will showcase Indian women’s grassroots leadership.

Notes:
Geological Survey of India (GSI) explorers discovered ancient fossils, estimated at 35-40 million years old, in Tolegre, South Garo Hills, Meghalaya. Garo Hills, part of Meghalaya State, lies in the Meghalaya subtropical forests eco-region near the Indo-Bangladesh border. The Patkai hill range, extending into Myanmar, encompasses Garo Hills, known for heavy rainfall. It comprises five districts and is inhabited by the Garo tribe, the state’s second-largest ethnic group.

Notes:
In celebration of World Asthma Day 2024, GINA promotes the theme “Asthma Education Empowers”, stressing the importance of educating those with asthma for effective disease management and timely medical intervention. With over 260 million affected globally, asthma causes over 450,000 preventable deaths annually. Health professionals are urged to enhance their understanding of asthma’s impact and evidence-based management to offer optimal care and reduce avoidable morbidity and mortality.