Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) partnered with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd for two Pilot Projects under the Drone Didi Yojana. Launched to empower women in agriculture, it aims to train 15,000 women in drone operation for tasks like crop monitoring and seeding. The projects will run at Noida and Hyderabad Centers, training 500 rural women in drone flying, data analysis, and maintenance.

Notes:
IndiaSkills 2024, the nation’s largest skill competition, kicked off in New Delhi on May 15, 2024, at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka. Organized by NSDC under MSDE, it spans 61 categories, testing skills nationwide until May 18. This biennial event enjoys broad support from state governments, industry, SSCs, SSDMs, corporates, and partner institutes. It provides a crucial platform for youth to exhibit their talents nationally and internationally.

Notes:
The Silver Croaker, a top fish predator in Jaguari reservoir, Jaguari River, and Rio do Peixe, has led to a significant decline in native species diversity. Its impact on taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic structure has been detrimental. This large predatory fish, native to the Amazon, is rare among freshwater croakers, characterized by its silvery scales. Vital for subsistence and sport fishing, its decline poses ecological concerns for the region’s biodiversity.

Notes:
The International Day of Light, established by UNESCO, celebrates light’s impact on society and technology. May 16th marks its observance, commemorating Theodore Maiman’s 1960 laser breakthrough. In 2024, themed “Light in Our Lives,” it highlights light’s guiding role. Originating from the 2015 UN International Year of Light, IDL was adopted by UNESCO in 2016. Its inaugural celebration was on May 16, 2018, emphasizing the global significance of light science and its applications.

Notes:
A recent study in Nature, titled ‘The rise of baobab trees in Madagascar’, sheds light on the origins and spread of baobabs, deciduous trees found in Madagascar, Africa, and Australia. These trees, known for their towering stature up to 50 meters and longevity of up to 2,000 years, face threats. Baobabs also exist in India, with a notable 400-year-old tree near Golconda Fort in Andhra Pradesh.

Notes:
Astronomers found SPECULOOS-3b, an Earth-sized planet, orbiting an ultra-cool red dwarf star 55 light-years from Earth. The star emits light 100 times dimmer than the sun, with half the temperature, making SPECULOOS-3b the second planet of its kind found around such a star. High radiation levels suggest it lacks an atmosphere, receiving 16 times more energy than Earth. It takes 17 hours to orbit and is likely tidally locked, with one side in perpetual daylight and the other in darkness.

Notes:
Prayagraj is set to inaugurate its second Sentinel Surveillance Hospital Lab (SSH Lab) to diagnose dengue virus, addressing the current lack of facilities. Currently, only one SSH lab operates at Moti Lal Nehru Medical College. Plans were discussed during a workshop on National Dengue Day at MLN College, aiming to establish the specialized lab at Tej Bahadur Sapru hospital by the end of 2024, enhancing diagnostic capabilities in the district.

Notes:
World Metrology Day, celebrated on May 20, marks the 1875 Metre Convention signing, establishing a global measurement system. The 2024 theme, “Sustainability,” emphasizes the role of measurements in fostering a sustainable economy and environment. Key applications include monitoring energy use, managing agricultural resources, identifying pollution sources, and regulating vehicle emissions. Accurate measurements support environmental protection, sustainable transportation, and improved manufacturing processes.

Notes:
Google unveiled Project Astra at its annual developer conference, a versatile AI agent adept at real-time interactions via text, video, images, and speech. It can assess code correctness via phone camera and doesn’t display emotional diversity in its voice. Demonstrated on smartphones and smart glasses, Astra aims for a human-like assistant experience, capable of remembering and understanding the world around it.

Notes:
Public Wi-Fi hotspots under the Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme are nearing 200,000 in India. Launched in December 2020 by the Department of Telecommunications, PM-WANI aims to provide affordable, high-speed internet in rural and remote areas. The scheme establishes a public Wi-Fi network using Wi-Fi Access Points set up by Public Data Offices (PDOs), which operate on an open-architecture system, enabling multiple service providers to offer internet services.