Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
Ukraine’s parliament approved a bill permitting select prisoners to join the military due to a shortage of troops, a shift from past opposition. The legislation, pending final approval, limits participation to certain prisoner groups with less than three years left on their sentence. Despite concerns about discrimination and uncertainties, as Ukraine confronts heightened Russian aggression, efforts to bolster military recruitment have intensified.

Notes:
Researchers discovered that offspring of C. elegans worms, after consuming disease-causing bacteria, inherited the knowledge to avoid the same bacteria from birth. C. elegans, a nematode worm, matures from egg to adult in 3-5 days, offering insights into human and biological sciences. It was the first multicellular organism to have its genome sequenced and neural wiring mapped. With hermaphroditic reproduction, it can self-fertilize, aiding genetic studies.

Notes:
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is a global campaign on May 11 & October 12, 2024, emphasizing migratory bird conservation. The theme “Insects” underscores insects’ significance for birds and addresses declining insect populations’ impact. WMBD raises awareness about the importance of preserving habitats for migratory birds.

Notes:
The 4th Joint Committee meeting for AITIGA review convened in Putrajaya, Malaysia from 7-9 May 2024. AITIGA, signed in 2009, is a trade pact between ASEAN and India, effective since 2010, commonly known as the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement. Focused on physical goods, it excludes services, with a separate ASEAN-India Trade in Services Agreement established in 2014 during the 7th ASEAN Economic Ministers-India Consultations in Bangkok, Thailand.

Notes:
The project ‘slope stabilization using soil nailing and Hydroseeding method’ is implemented by Tamil Nadu’s state highways department around Nilgiris’ major roads. It employs geotechnical engineering techniques like soil reinforcement through steel tendons, creating composite masses akin to gravity walls. Methods include drilled and grouted, driven, drilling, and jet grouted soil nailing. While driven is fast but lacks corrosion protection, drilling and jet grouted methods offer quicker stabilization and erosion control.

Notes:
The Grande Prairie Forest Area, Canada faces an unprecedented wildfire crisis, with multiple out-of-control blazes. Authorities rate the danger as extreme, hampering helicopter and air tanker operations due to limited visibility. Smoke from neighboring British Columbia worsens the situation. One major fire, GWF029, covers 90 hectares near Valhalla. Overnight, a fire guard was established, but ground crews continue battling surface fires until windy conditions ease.

Notes:
International Museum Day is celebrated annually on May 18 to highlight museums’ societal roles. Established by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in 1977, the first theme was introduced in 1992. The 2024 theme is “Museums for Education and Research.” Originating from a 1951 meeting for the “Crusade for Museums,” it invites global museum participation each year.

Notes:
A snake stone carving from the megalithic period was unearthed in Puthukkai village, Kerala’s Kasaragod district. Megaliths are massive stone structures used for burials or memorials, prevalent from the Neolithic to Iron Age. They mark significant cultural transitions, spanning the Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages. This discovery sheds light on ancient rituals and the historical landscape of Kerala, enriching our understanding of prehistoric civilizations.

Notes:
Anti-Terrorism Day in India commemorates the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was killed by an LTTE suicide bomber on May 21, 1991, in Sriperumbudur. This day highlights the nation’s commitment to combating terrorism and promoting peace, unity, and security. It encourages citizens to stand united against divisive and violent forces, reinforcing India’s resolve to maintain national and global stability.

Notes:
The World Bank unveiled “Water For Shared Prosperity” at the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, Indonesia, defining shared prosperity as equitable growth, especially for the poorest. It identifies four key pillars: human, social, and natural capital, and economic opportunities. The report highlights disparities in water access due to population growth, urbanization, and climate change. In 2022, 197 million lacked safe drinking water, 211 million lacked basic sanitation, with 450 million in high-poverty, low-water-access areas globally.