Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
A study mapped Afghanistan’s five river basins, each crucial for irrigation and regional dynamics. Notably, the Harirod-Murghab, originating in central mountains, sustains fertile lands in the northwest. The Helmand Basin, covering 51%, hosts Afghanistan’s longest river, vital in the southwest. The Kabul Basin, formed by the Kabul River, dominates the southeast’s drainage, while the Northern Basin differs in its internal flow. Understanding these basins aids water management and regional stability.

Notes:
India will host the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM 46) and the 26th Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP 26) in Kochi, Kerala, from May 20 to 30. Organized by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) through the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), these meetings aim to foster global discussions on Antarctica’s environmental conservation and scientific collaboration. India, a Consultative Party since 1983, operates two research stations and enacted the Antarctic Act in 2022.

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:
China launched the Chang’e-6 probe to gather samples from the Moon’s far side, aiming to be the first nation to do so. Previously, only the USA and USSR collected lunar samples, all from the near side. China’s Chang’e 4 landed on the far side in 2019 but didn’t retrieve samples. In 2023, India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission achieved a first by landing near the Moon’s South Pole. The “dark side” of the Moon receives sunlight, contrary to its name.

Notes:
India and the Netherlands held the 12th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in The Hague on May 2, 2024. The consultations were led by Shri Pavan Kapoor, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. The meeting was a chance to evaluate progress since the last FOC in New Delhi in December 2022. During the meeting, India and the Netherlands agreed to strengthen their bilateral ties by focusing on new technologies like green hydrogen and semiconductors.

Notes:
The Koothandavar festival in Koovagam, Tamil Nadu, unfolds a narrative of marriage and widowhood within a day during the Tamil month of Chithirai. Lasting 18 days, it honors Lord Aravan’s sacrifice from the Tamil Mahabharata. Transgender individuals marry Aravan on the 17th day, symbolizing devotion. On the final day, Aravan is ritually sacrificed, and his widowed spouses mourn, echoing Lord Krishna’s lament for Aravan’s plight. This unique celebration draws global attention to transgender identity.

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:
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:
Pakistan and China jointly launched iCube-Qamar, Pakistan’s inaugural lunar mission. The 7kg satellite, developed by Pakistan’s Institute of Space Technology (IST), SUPARCO, and China’s SJTU, is part of China’s Chang’e-6 mission. Equipped with two optical cameras, it orbits the moon, enabling Pakistan to conduct satellite-based research on lunar surface imagery independently.

Notes:
Archaeologists unearthed a 7000-year-old prehistoric settlement near the Tamiš River in northeastern Serbia. Spanning 11-13 hectares and encircled by 4-6 ditches, it dates to the late Neolithic era. Geophysical techniques uncovered Vinča culture artifacts, highlighting their presence in southeastern-central Europe. This discovery is pivotal, shedding light on the sparse identification of larger Late Neolithic settlements in the Serbian Banat region.