Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
Every year, May 1st marks International Labour Day, celebrated worldwide, including in India, to honor the contributions of the labor movement. Originating from the 1886 Chicago labor strike demanding an eight-hour workday, it gained significance after the Haymarket incident. In 1889, leaders from twenty nations established it as International Labour Day. The 2024 theme focuses on workplace safety and health amidst climate change, emphasizing ongoing challenges faced by workers globally.

Notes:
Justice (retired) Dinesh Kumar, former Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, has been appointed as the Presiding Officer of the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT), filling a 4-month vacancy left by Justice Tarun Aggarwal’s retirement in December 2023. SAT, an autonomous body under the SEBI Act, 1992, hears appeals against orders from financial regulators like SEBI, PFRDA, and IRDAI, aiming to streamline appeal processes outside of High Courts.

Notes:
The Pension Department has launched an online portal called Bhavishya for tracking pension payments and sanctions for government retirees. The portal is integrated with the pension processing and payment services of five banks, including State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, and Canara Bank.

Notes:
The Supreme Court ordered an end to illegal mining in the Aravalli Range in Rajasthan. Stretching 692 kilometers across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Haryana, the Aravallis are India’s oldest mountain range, vital for ecology and hydrology. They prevent desertification, regulate climate, and support diverse ecosystems and rivers like Sabarmati and Luni. Abundant in biodiversity, the range hosts dry deciduous forests, scrublands, and numerous species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects.

Notes:
India’s World Press Freedom Index score declined from 36.62 to 31.28 in 2024, per Reporters Without Borders. This annual report assesses journalism freedoms across 180 nations. India’s rank improved from 161 to 159 due to others’ decline. However, India lags behind Turkey, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Despite a slight improvement in security, scores fell across other indicators, signaling challenges to press independence.

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.

Notes:
The Border Road Organisation (BRO) marked its 65th raising day on May 7, 2024, with a ceremony in New Delhi, led by Union Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane. Established in 1960 by the Nehru government, BRO undertakes critical road projects for the Army. Notably, Project Tuskar, now Project Vartak, connects Bhalukpong to Tenga in Arunachal Pradesh, while Project Beacon focuses on Kashmir. Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan currently heads BRO, operating under the Ministry of Defence with the motto: “In the Silence of Our Great Mountains – Work Speaks.”

Notes:
Researchers recently found that FLVCR2, a protein, facilitates the transportation of the essential nutrient choline into the brain. Choline plays a crucial role in cellular growth and metabolism, existing in both water and fat-soluble forms. While the body can produce choline in the liver, dietary intake is necessary to meet daily requirements. Rich sources include meat, fish, dairy, eggs, as well as various fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Notes:
The Areca Research Centre at Shivamogga discovered that Areca nuts from Tirthahalli, Karnataka, are of superior quality compared to other varieties. Areca nut, also known as Betel Nut or Supari, is a key cash crop in India. It ranks fourth among the most commonly consumed psychoactive substances globally, following caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. Widely chewed, especially in Southern Asia, it’s a key ingredient in various Smokeless Tobacco (SLT) products. Over 600 million people consume it regularly.

Notes:
Columbia University announced the 2024 Pulitzer Prize winners on May 7. The prestigious award, established by Joseph Pulitzer in 1904, recognizes excellence in journalism, arts, and culture. Winners are selected by the Pulitzer Prize Board, with categories spanning journalism and arts. The ceremony, to be held later, will see recipients honored by the university president. This year’s winners join a legacy dating back to the first prize in 1917.