Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
India’s first kamikaze drone, developed by Kadet Defence Systems with DRDO, is a Loitering Aerial Munition (LAM) or Suicidal drone. It loiters over targets for precise identification, capable of changing targets mid-flight or aborting missions. Adaptable to diverse terrains like deserts and high-altitude areas, it has a 12-hour loitering capacity and a flying range of 150-300 km.

Notes:
Indonesia’s Ibu volcano, located on Halmahera island in the Maluku Islands, erupted, sending ash 5 km high. The country’s volcanology agency issued a warning. Ibu is a stratovolcano known for its steep slopes and explosive eruptions. It stands approximately 1,325 meters tall with a base diameter of 10 kilometers. Situated in Indonesia’s eastern region, Halmahera is the largest island in the Maluku archipelago.

Notes:
Recently, two American women of Indian origin were rescued from Churdhar Valley by an army helicopter after becoming trapped while trekking. Churdhar Valley is located in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, India. The Churdhar peak, at an elevation of 3,647 meters (11,965 feet), is the highest point in the valley and the outer Himalayas.

Notes:
INS Kiltan arrived at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam on 12 May 24, strengthening ties between India and Vietnam. The visit, part of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet deployment, emphasizes professional, social, and community exchanges. Kiltan, an ASW corvette, symbolizes India’s naval prowess and was built domestically. The visit culminates in a Maritime Partnership Exercise, enhancing interoperability between the two navies and reflecting their shared values.

Notes:
Aman Sehrawat made history as the first Indian male wrestler to clinch a quota for the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the World Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers in Istanbul, he secured the Paris quota in the men’s 57kg freestyle category by defeating Chongsong Han of Korea 12-2 in the semi-final. This marks India’s sixth quota in wrestling for the 2024 Olympics, with all previous five quotas won by Indian women wrestlers.

Notes:
P Shyaamnikhil, Tamil Nadu native, became India’s 85th chess Grandmaster at 31. Starting his career at eight, he clinched his third GM norms at 2024 Dubai Police Masters Chess Tournament. R Vaishali preceded him as the 84th Indian GM. Before the tournament, Shyaamnikhil required one win and eight draws. Despite accumulating 2500 ELO rating points and two GM norms in 2012, he waited 12 years for the third GM norm, achieved in Dubai.

Notes:
India recently signed a 10-year agreement with Iran to develop and manage the Chabahar port, a deep-water port in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province. It’s strategically located on the Gulf of Oman at the Strait of Hormuz mouth, granting direct Indian Ocean access. Comprising Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari ports, its proximity to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, alongside its role in the International North-South Transport Corridor, signals its potential as a vital commercial center.

Notes:
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has joined the PM Gati Shakti portal to enhance social security coverage. PM Gati Shakti, launched in 2021, is the National Master Plan for Multimodal Connectivity, integrating 16 ministries. Its goal is integrated planning and implementation of connectivity projects, improving movement of people and goods between transport modes. The initiative focuses on six pillars: Comprehensiveness, Prioritization, Optimization, Synchronization, Analytical, and Dynamic.

Notes:
NASA announced FLOAT (Flexible Levitation on a Track), the first lunar railway system, aiming to transform cargo transfer on the Moon. FLOAT, part of NASA’s Moon to Mars initiative, utilizes unpowered magnetic robots on a three-layer flexible film track. These robots levitate above the track, reducing wear from moon dust and offering dependable transportation for sustainable lunar colonies. The system integrates diamagnetic levitation, electromagnetic propulsion, and optional solar panels for power generation.

Notes:
Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA) initiated bio-energy projects in Uttarakhand to utilize pine needles for power generation, covering 16.36% of the state’s forest area. These projects failed due to technology limitations. Chir pine forests produce 15 lakh tonnes of needles annually. Utilizing 40% could fulfill power needs and create employment.