Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
Nikhat Zareen and Minakshi won gold medals for India at the 3rd Elorda Cup 2024 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Zareen defeated Kazakhstan’s Zhazira Urakbayeva in the 52 kg category, while Minakshi overcame Uzbekistan’s Saidakhon Rakhmonova in the 48 kg category. India’s 21-member boxing contingent secured a total of 12 medals: 2 gold, 2 silver, and 8 bronze.

Notes:
The World Health Organization (WHO) released its updated Bacterial Priority Pathogens List (BPPL) 2024, aiding the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Originally launched in 2017 with 13 pathogens, the 2024 list now includes 24, categorized into critical, high, and medium priority groups. Developed using the multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) method, it guides investment in research and development (R&D) and public health interventions to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens.

Notes:
Airbus Helicopters and SIDBI signed an MoU for financing helicopter purchases in India. SIDBI, established in 1990, aims to promote MSME sector growth and coordinate related institutions’ functions. It operates under the Ministry of Finance, GoI, initially as a subsidiary of IDBI. Currently, the GoI and 22 other institutions hold SIDBI shares.

Notes:
The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, India, signed an MoU with UNDP India for digitalizing vaccine cold chain management and capacity building. The agreement, signed by Smt. Alka Upadhyay and Ms. Caitlin Wiesen, aims to improve immunization coverage in India. With a focus on enhancing supply chains and addressing the challenge of serving India’s vast human and livestock population, the partnership emphasizes efficient cold chain equipment and communication planning.

Notes:
The 10th Wild Ass Population Estimation (WAPE) exercise was conducted by the Gujarat forest department on May 21–22, 2024. The WAPE exercise is conducted every five years to estimate the population of Indian wild asses, also known as Equus Hemionus Khur, in the Little Rann of Kutch. During the 2024 exercise, officers scanned 15,500 square kilometers using drones to count the wild asses.

Notes:
The Supreme Court has temporarily halted a 90-acre hotel and township project in Uttarakhand’s Kumaon hills, challenging the “single window” clearance system meant to expedite development in ecologically sensitive Himalayan regions. The stay order comes amidst forest fires and green cover loss in Uttarakhand. The case underscores the conflict between rapid development and environmental protection, stressing the need for thorough environmental assessments and legal oversight for large projects in fragile ecosystems.

Notes:
Chhattisgarh’s Deputy Chief Minister urged Naxalites to integrate into mainstream society, seeking their input for a new surrender rehabilitation policy. Emphasizing dialogue, the government offers development initiatives like the Niyad Nellanar scheme, providing essential amenities to villages near security camps in the Naxal-affected Bastar region. This effort aims to ensure holistic development beyond anti-Naxal operations, fostering equality and progress in tribal areas.

Notes:
Next month, on June 3, six planets—Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—will align in the sky. This alignment, an optical illusion of perspective, will be visible from Earth. Mars and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye, though dimly, while Uranus and Neptune will require telescopes or binoculars. Mercury and Jupiter will be hard to see due to their proximity to the Sun. Planetary alignment refers to the illusion of planets forming a line in space when viewed from a specific vantage point, rather than being perfectly aligned. This optical phenomenon offers a unique celestial spectacle, highlighting the dynamic interactions within our solar system.

Notes:
The GSAP SKILLS Platform, launched at the Fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation, Convention on Biological Diversity. It aims to bolster global species conservation efforts. Managed by IUCN, it connects decision-makers, practitioners, and experts, providing real-time updates and technical resources. Supported by the Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea, and resources from the Tech4Nature Initiative by IUCN and Huawei, it facilitates collaboration and implements biodiversity targets with actionable interventions and tools.

Notes:
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has initiated a three-day elephant census at Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, located at the junction of Eastern and Western Ghats in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It spans 1,411.6 sq km, declared a tiger reserve in 2013, fostering a continuous habitat for tigers and other wildlife. The reserve boasts the world’s largest tiger population, over 280 tigers, and is home to indigenous tribes like the Irula and Kurumba.