Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
Pakistan and China jointly launched iCube-Qamar, Pakistan’s inaugural lunar mission. The 7kg satellite, developed by Pakistan’s Institute of Space Technology (IST), SUPARCO, and China’s SJTU, is part of China’s Chang’e-6 mission. Equipped with two optical cameras, it orbits the moon, enabling Pakistan to conduct satellite-based research on lunar surface imagery independently.

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Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has introduced an AI-generated avatar, Victoria Shi, as its digital spokesperson. Shi, clad in professional attire, presents updates on consular affairs via social media. While her appearance is AI-generated, the content she delivers is human-written and verified. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba lauds Shi’s introduction as a groundbreaking move, highlighting time and resource savings. Ukraine showcases its embrace of innovative tech in diplomatic operations.

Notes:
India VIX, a volatility gauge, surged 15% to 16.58, prompting caution against leveraged positions. It measures market volatility expectation, dubbed the “fear index”. Volatility indicates stock price or index value change rate. A spike suggests future volatility. Created by Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) in 1993, based on S&P 500, it’s a global volatility gauge. India VIX, launched in 2010, aligns with Indian markets. It’s calculated by NSE and correlates negatively with Nifty; when VIX falls, Nifty rises.

Notes:
Kerala embraces the SMART-PDS scheme, aimed at modernizing and enhancing efficiency in the Public Distribution System. Led by the Department of Food & Public Distribution, it aims to curb food grain leakage and improve distribution chain efficiency. This technology-driven initiative centralizes ration card data and enables real-time monitoring from procurement to distribution. Costs are shared between Union and State governments, with the State covering expenses for key components like training and infrastructure. Smart ration cards with beneficiary fingerprints ensure transparent transactions.

Notes:
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:
World Thalassaemia Day, observed annually on May 8th, aims to raise awareness about thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare held an event in New Delhi, led by Secretary Apurva Chandra, stressing timely detection and prevention. Panos Ennglezos established the day in 1994 in memory of his son George. The 2024 theme is “Empowering Lives, Embracing Progress: Equitable and Accessible Thalassaemia Treatment for All.” Thalassemia affects the production of hemoglobin, crucial for oxygen transport in red blood cells.

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.

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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.

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United World Wrestling (UWW) provisionally suspended Bajrang Punia, Tokyo bronze medallist, until December 31, 2024, citing National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) of India’s suspension. NADA suspended Punia after he refused an anti-dope test on April 23, 2024. Punia’s failure to respond to NADA’s notice further complicates his situation. If cleared by NADA, Punia might still compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, beginning on July 26, 2024.