Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

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:
Rajasthan introduced a digital water distribution system for agriculture, employing “Barabandi,” a fixed turn method for canal water distribution. The new online “barabandi” system, developed by NIC Jaipur, allows scheduled irrigation supply accessible remotely. Farmers can track water flow to their fields, reducing manual errors. This innovation aims to optimize water usage and enhance agricultural efficiency in Rajasthan.

Notes:
The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) marks its 50th anniversary, initiated by WHO in 1974. Renamed UIP in India in 1985, it now offers vaccines for 13 universally recommended diseases and 17 context-specific ones. Global DPT coverage surged from 5% in the ’70s to 84% in 2022. Smallpox eradicated; polio remains in Afghanistan & Pakistan. In India, coverage grows yearly, reaching 76% in 2019-21. Immunization boasts significant returns, predominantly delivered through government facilities.

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 UN has formed a panel to address critical energy transition minerals, primarily sourced from underdeveloped nations like those in Africa. This initiative aims to curb resource nationalism and environmental damage caused by high demand for these minerals. The panel’s goal is to establish global principles for a smoother transition to renewable energies, aligned with sustainable development goals and climate agreements. It emphasizes equitable benefits for communities and environmental protection.

Notes:
Uttarakhand government suspends Patanjali Ayurved’s manufacturing licenses for 14 products over misleading ads. The company faces scrutiny for non-compliance with advertising regulations. The move, issued on April 24 by the state’s drug regulator, cites Patanjali’s persistent dissemination of deceptive efficacy claims. This action reflects the government’s commitment to enforce truthful advertising standards and holds implications for Ramdev’s legal battles.

Notes:
SEBI approved changes in mutual fund regulations to combat front-running in Indian asset management companies (AMCs). Front-running, or trading with non-public information ahead of significant transactions, is illegal in India and can impact asset prices. It occurs in various financial markets like stocks and commodities. Common strategies include Buy-Buy-Sell (BBS) and Sell-Sell-Buy (SSB) patterns. These regulatory changes aim to safeguard market integrity and investor interests.

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:
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:
RailTel Corporation of India has partnered with a tech firm to implement KAVACH, an indigenous Automatic Train Protection System, in India and abroad. Developed by RDSO in collaboration with the Indian industry, KAVACH operates at Safety Integrity Level – 4 with a remarkably low error probability. Its features include centralized train movement monitoring, automatic overspeed prevention, and SOS message relaying.