Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
The Department of Public Enterprises has bestowed Navratna status upon the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA). Established in 1987 under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, IREDA functions as a Non-Banking Financial Institution. The Navratna status is awarded based on specific criteria including consistent high performance, such as achieving ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ ratings in MoUs for three out of the last five years and a composite score of 60 or above in selected performance indicators.

Notes:
The Old Kijabe Dam burst in southern Kenya, causing deadly floods attributed to climate change and El Nino. At least 42 people died in the dam breach near Kenya’s Rift Valley town. The Great Rift Valley, part of the East African Rift System, spans 4,000 miles across multiple countries, including Kenya. It’s a significant geological feature, stretching from Jordan to Mozambique’s coast, impacting regions like Eritrea, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda.

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:
Indonesia’s Mount Ruang volcano erupted multiple times, prompting the highest alert level and evacuation orders for thousands due to potential tsunami risks. The country’s volcanology agency cautioned that the threat persists after over half a dozen eruptions this month, leading to the evacuation of over 6,000 individuals.

Notes:
The Sri Madhava Perumal Temple reveals a historic trade route from over 1,000 years ago. Submerged in the Bhavanisagar dam, lowered water levels now unveil the temple in Erode district, Tamil Nadu. Hoysala King Veera Ballala III appointed Madhava Perumal Dhandanayaka to govern, who constructed the Dhandanayaka Fort 680 years ago. His son, Veera Siddha Keththaya Dhandanayaka, built the temple within. Later ruled by Vijayanagara Empire, Ummattur chiefs, and Tipu Sultan, the fort witnessed the Battle of Sathyamangalam in 1790.

Notes:
India protests China’s construction in Shaksgam Valley, deemed illegal. The valley is part of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. It is a disputed territory claimed by India but controlled by Pakistan and ceded to China in 1963 by Pakistan. Article 6 of the agreement stipulates renegotiation after Kashmir dispute settlement. It borders Xinjiang, POK, and Siachen Glacier. The Karakoram highway, built in the 1970s, resulted from the agreement between China and Pakistan.

Notes:
The Bhadra Tiger Reserve, located in Karnataka’s Western Ghats, has seen a surge in safari visitors. Tourists must tread carefully in this eco-sensitive zone. The reserve, declared India’s 25th Project Tiger site in 1998, houses a significant tiger population alongside elephants and diverse fauna. Drained by the Bhadra River, it boasts dry-deciduous to semi-evergreen vegetation, including teak and medicinal plants. Other Karnataka tiger reserves include Bandipur, Nagarhole, Dandeli-Anshi, and Biligiriranga.

Notes:
Red colobus monkeys, belonging to genus Procolobus, inhabit African Savanna across West, Central, and East Africa. The Savanna’s diverse habitat offers ample trees and food sources like leaves and fruits. They serve as seed dispersers and prey for predators. Living in social groups, they exhibit striking features with reddish-brown fur. This species plays a vital ecological role in their habitat, vital for maintaining the balance in their ecosystem.

Notes:
Nepal introduced a new Rs 100 currency note featuring disputed Indian territories—Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani—triggering contention from India. Prime Minister Prachanda chaired a meeting where the decision was made. Rekha Sharma, also the communication minister, announced the update following Nepal Rastra Bank’s proposal. The move follows tensions since Nepal’s 2020 political map included these areas. India had included them in its 2019 map, leading to diplomatic strains, notably over a road construction.

Notes:
IN-SPACe has released norms, guidelines, and procedures (NGP) for Indian Space Policy, 2023, enhancing regulatory predictability and ease of business. It covers Authorization for space activities within Indian territory and jurisdiction, including launch, operation, and re-entry of space objects. Only Indian entities can seek Authorization, while non-Indian entities can apply through Indian counterparts. The NGP outlines criteria and conditions for Authorization, ensuring transparency and compliance with regulations in the Indian space sector.