Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
Tamil Nadu accuses Kerala in Supreme Court of obstructing Mullaperiyar dam maintenance while raising safety concerns. Kerala allegedly delays routine maintenance for months to over a year. Tamil Nadu seeks court’s intervention for completing strengthening works on smaller and main dams, requesting permission to cut 15 trees. It criticizes Kerala for not cooperating despite supervisory committee’s authority under Dam Safety Act, 2021. The dam, built in late 1800s, diverts Periyar river to Tamil Nadu.

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:
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.

Notes:
India’s Mindgrove Technologies, incubated by IIT Madras, has launched Secure IoT, the nation’s first high-performance SoC (system on chip). Supported by Peak XV Partners, the chip enables Indian OEMs to integrate locally-made technology, reducing costs without sacrificing quality. Secure IoT, a system-on-chip, consolidates multiple electronic components into one, facilitating smaller and more efficient devices. This breakthrough marks a significant step towards India’s self-reliance in technology and innovation.

Notes:
Kerala’s health department confirms five West Nile fever cases in Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Thrissur districts. Health Minister Veena George orders increased mosquito control measures. Four patients have recovered; one remains under observation. Kerala recorded its first West Nile case in 2011 and first death in 2022. The virus, traced back to Uganda in 1937, primarily infects birds and spreads via migratory birds. It’s a flavivirus, with global cases from Africa to the Americas. West Nile Fever, caused by the West Nile Virus (WNV), is a flavivirus commonly found in Africa, Europe, and the Americas. It primarily spreads through infected mosquitoes biting birds and occasionally humans.

Notes:
The African Union (AU), comprising 55 member states, condemned the Israeli military’s incursion into Rafah, southern Gaza, urging the international community to halt the “deadly escalation” of the conflict. Established in 2002, replacing the Organization of African Unity (OAU), AU aims to foster unity, cooperation, and development among African nations. Guided by its vision, AU seeks an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa through Agenda 2063, emphasizing African-led initiatives.

Notes:
India showcased dominance at the Asian Open Pickleball Championship in Vietnam, clinching three gold and two bronze medals. Sachin Pahwa and Priyanka Chhabra secured gold in mixed doubles intermediate 35+. Isha Lakhani and Pei Chuan Kao triumphed in women’s doubles open, while Aniket Patel and Rohit Patil claimed gold in men’s doubles. These victories highlight India’s prowess in pickleball on the international stage.

Notes:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has instructed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to present an additional report within two weeks on Hindon River pollution, detailing actions against polluting municipal bodies. Hindon, a Yamuna tributary, spans 400 km from Saharanpur to Noida. Urban, agricultural, and industrial waste have rendered it one of the most polluted stretches in the Ganga basin. In 2015, CPCB declared it a ‘dead river,’ unfit for bathing.

Notes:
The Mammoth Direct Air Capture and Storage (DAC+S) plant, operated by Climeworks in Iceland, is the world’s largest facility of its kind. It’s the second commercial DAC+S plant by Climeworks, dwarfing its predecessor, Orca. DAC+S technology captures CO2 directly from the atmosphere, distinct from capture at emission points. CO2 can be permanently stored underground or utilized. Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) activities are crucial for achieving net-zero CO2 emissions, as per the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report.

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The Japan-U.S. GPI Project aims to intercept hypersonic missiles. Modified missiles from U.S. Navy ships target hypersonic weapons in their “vulnerable” glide phase. Hypersonic missiles exceed Mach 5 speeds, nearly 4,000 mph. Glide phase sees weapons separate from boosters, using gravity to accelerate and maneuver toward targets.