Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) recently sanctioned a study on the impact evaluation of Geographical Indication (GI) products to Symbiosis School of Economics. A GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. The protection of intellectual property through laws will help to reap benefits in terms of economic growth, employment and income generation.

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:
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:
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:
World Tuna Day, celebrated annually on May 2nd, highlights the decline in global tuna stocks and the necessity of enforcing international regulations for their preservation. Tuna, vital for both developed and developing nations, faces threats from overfishing. The day emphasizes sustainable fishing practices, reducing bycatch, and promoting international cooperation to ensure future tuna supplies. It serves as a crucial reminder of the urgent need to address the challenges confronting the tuna industry globally.

Notes:
Shashi Bhushan Singh, an Indian Railway Traffic Service officer, has been appointed as Secretary (Director level) of the National Jute Board in Kolkata by the Central Government. The appointment is for 5 years or until further notice. Established under the National Jute Board Act, 2008, the NJB began operations on April 1, 2010, consolidating the Jute Manufactures Development Council and the National Centre for Jute Diversification.

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:
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) sets the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides in food products in India. The FSSAI is the country’s apex food safety regulator and is part of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The FSSAI evaluates field trial data on pesticide residues to set MRLs, taking into account dietary exposure and risk assessment. The FSSAI only sets MRLs after the Registration Committee (RC) approves a pesticide. The FSSAI recently increased the MRL for pesticides in herbs and spices from 0.01 mg/kg to 0.1 mg/kg, which is a tenfold increase.

Notes:
The ICAR-NBFGR discovered a new catfish species, Glyptothorax punyabratai, in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tung Stream, a Brahmaputra River tributary. It’s nocturnal and benthic, common traits among catfish. Catfish, over 2000 species strong, mostly inhabit freshwater, some marine. They possess a cylindrical body with flattened ventral sides, long barbels resembling cat whiskers, and leading spines in dorsal and pectoral fins, while being scaleless, distinguishing them from other fish.

Notes:
New aerial footage of Batagay Crater reveals its yearly growth as permafrost thaws. Also called the “Gateway to Underworld” or “Doorway to Hell,” it’s the largest permafrost crater globally, located in Siberia, Russia. The crater, formed due to thawing permafrost, has expanded significantly since the 1960s, accelerated by deforestation and climate change. From 1991 to 2018, its area tripled, indicating the alarming pace of environmental change in the region.