Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
Former world number one archer Deepika Kumari re-inducted into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) core group for Paris Games. TOPS, initiated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2014 (revamped in 2018), aims to enhance India’s Olympic and Paralympic performance. Funded by the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) and Khelo India scheme, it identifies elite athletes through the TOPS Elite Athletes’ Identification Committee and provides targeted training via the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC).

Notes:
Sri Lanka’s Cabinet approves renovation of Kankesanthurai Port, funded entirely by India. The port, located in the Northern Province, spans about 16 acres and is 104 km from Karaikal Port in Puducherry, India. The decision underscores efforts to enhance connectivity and infrastructure in the region. Additionally, a direct passenger ship service links Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu to Kankesanthurai, covering 111 km in around three and a half hours.

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:
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposes reclassifying marijuana from Schedule-I to Schedule-III, less tightly regulated. President Biden’s suggestion aims to align marijuana regulation with its medical potential, contrasting with Schedule-I categorization alongside heroin and LSD. Despite pending scrutiny by White House Officials and public commentary, the move signals a shift toward acknowledging marijuana’s therapeutic benefits backed by scientific evidence.

Notes:
The OECD’s “Economic Outlook” report, released on May 2, 2024, raised India’s economic growth forecast for 2024-25 to 6.6%, up from 6.2%. It also projects a 6.6% growth rate for 2025-26. The OECD joins other institutions in revising India’s growth prospects. The report attributes India’s accelerated growth to increased public investment and business confidence. It emphasizes the need for the government to address indebtedness through revenue growth, spending efficiency, and fiscal rules.

Notes:
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), Girish Chandra Murmu, signed an MoU with Nepal’s Auditor General, Toyam Raya, in Kathmandu. The MoU aims to enhance cooperation between the auditing institutions of both countries, facilitating the exchange of expertise and professional capacity-building in public sector auditing. During his visit, Murmu met Nepal’s Prime Minister and Finance Minister, along with discussions on mutual cooperation in public sector audit with the Chairman of Nepal’s Public Accounts Committee.

Notes:
Retired Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra appointed as President of GSTAT, the Second Appellate Authority under the Central GST Act, 2017. GSTAT hears appeals against orders from the Appellate Authority under CGST Act, 2017 and State GST Acts, ensuring dispute resolution uniformity. GSTAT comprises a Principal Bench in New Delhi, led by the President and two Technical Members (one from Centre, one from State), along with several State Benches.

Notes:
An Atlas V rocket is poised to launch Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule on its third test flight, marking the first with astronauts aboard. Starliner is a spacecraft designed to ferry astronauts to space, consisting of a crew capsule and service module. With innovative features like wireless internet and tablet interfaces, it’s reusable up to 10 times, fitting atop Atlas V rockets operated by United Launch Alliance, a Boeing-Lockheed Martin venture.

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:
José Raúl Mulino, 64, wins Panama’s presidential election with nearly 35% of votes and a 9% lead over rivals. Outgoing president, Laurentino Cortizo, congratulates him. The election, held on May 5, 2024, saw Mulino stand in for Ricardo Martinelli, who faced legal troubles. Mulino, supported by Martinelli’s party, acknowledges his assistance. Martinelli fled after a money laundering conviction. Elections also chose parliament and local governments for the next five years.