Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
The Supreme Court reserved one-third of SCBA executive committee seats for women. Minimum 3 out of 9 positions and 2 of 6 Senior Executive Member posts will be for women. At least one office-bearer post exclusively for women by rotation. Treasurer post in 2024-2025 election reserved for women. Reservation ensures minimum representation, eligible women can contest all committee posts. Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan directed the decision.

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:
A recent study identified a unique subtype of Fusobacterium nucleatum prevalent in colorectal cancer (CRC) tumors. F. nucleatum, a Gram-negative anaerobic bacillus, is commonly found in the human mouth and gastrointestinal tract. Named Fna C2, this subtype exhibits higher resistance to acid, potentially facilitating direct migration to the intestines. Moreover, Fna C2 can hide within tumor cells, evade the immune system, and utilize gastrointestinal nutrients, distinguishing it as a significant factor in CRC development.

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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) sets the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides in food products in India. The FSSAI is the country’s apex food safety regulator and is part of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The FSSAI evaluates field trial data on pesticide residues to set MRLs, taking into account dietary exposure and risk assessment. The FSSAI only sets MRLs after the Registration Committee (RC) approves a pesticide. The FSSAI recently increased the MRL for pesticides in herbs and spices from 0.01 mg/kg to 0.1 mg/kg, which is a tenfold increase.

Notes:
Russia’s Defence Ministry announced drills involving tactical nuclear weapons, designed for battlefield use with yields as low as 1 kiloton. Unlike strategic weapons, their quantity isn’t disclosed. These weapons, like artillery ammo or short-range missile warheads, can be discreetly transported and delivered by various means. They’ve never been restricted by arms control agreements. The Hiroshima bomb was 15 kilotons. These drills signal Russia’s readiness to employ tactical nuclear options in combat scenarios.

Notes:
The Widal Test, crucial for diagnosing typhoid fever caused by Salmonella Typhi, suffers from inaccuracies, complicating India’s battle against the disease. Symptoms of typhoid overlap with other illnesses, necessitating precise testing. Developed in the late 1800s, the test lacks reliability, prompting caution from the World Health Organization. Despite its convenience, reliance on it risks misdiagnoses, escalating expenses, and fostering antimicrobial resistance, urging a shift towards more dependable diagnostics.

Notes:
India and Moldova inked an agreement permitting visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic and official passports. The deal aims to bolster bilateral relations, established since March 20, 1992, characterized as “warm, stable and friendly” by the Ministry of External Affairs. In January, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar congratulated Mihai Popsoi on his appointment as Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

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Pirates’ recent assault in the Gulf of Aden sparks alarm. The gulf acts as a crucial maritime corridor connecting the Red Sea and Arabian Sea. Named after Yemen’s Port of Aden, it borders Somalia to the south and Yemen to the north, with the Arabian Sea to the east and Djibouti to the west. The prominent Sheba Ridge characterizes its terrain, extending from the Indian Ocean ridge system.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin reappointed Mikhail Mishustin as prime minister, continuing a technocratic leadership. Mishustin, credited with maintaining stable economic performance amid Western sanctions, submitted his Cabinet’s resignation as per Russian law during Putin’s fifth term inauguration. Mishustin, 58, a former head of Russia’s tax service, has kept a low political profile and is expected to retain most Cabinet members, although Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s fate remains uncertain.

Notes:
A High Court-appointed panel in Meghalaya highlights stalled efforts in restoring environments damaged by rat-hole coal mining. This method, prevalent in the state’s Jaintia and Khasi Hills, involves narrow, manual pits for coal extraction. Classified into side-cutting and box-cutting, it lacks regulation and safety measures, leading to accidents and fatalities. Despite a 2014 ban by the NGT, rat-hole mining persists, posing environmental and human risks.