Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research launched an Electric Tiller for small farmers, prioritizing user comfort and eco-sustainability. Features include enhanced torque, electronic controls, and versatile charging options like AC and Solar DC. It produces zero exhaust emissions, supporting India’s commitment to eco-friendly farming. Compatible with various attachments, it minimizes operator fatigue, boosts productivity, and has the potential to reduce operational costs by up to 85%. Tilling improves soil quality and promotes healthy crop growth.

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The Limestone Langur (Trachypithecus leucocephalus), endemic to Guangxi province, China, faces imminent extinction due to habitat destruction and fragmentation. Found in a 200 square kilometer area between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers, they inhabit lower elevations with high tree canopy density near water sources. Characterized by a white fur-covered head and black-and-white coat, they primarily consume leaves. Listed as critically endangered by the IUCN and on CITES Appendix II, they are threatened by poaching, habitat loss, and hybridization. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect this unique primate species.

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The Supreme Court has halted a 90-acre project in the ecologically fragile and seismic-prone lower Himalayan ranges of Uttarakhand’s Kumaon hills. This region lies between the Sutlej and Kali Rivers and includes the Siwalik Range and Great Himalayas. It features peaks like Nanda Devi and Kamet, lakes such as Naini and Bhimtal, and hill stations like Nainital. It is home to indigenous tribes including Tharus and Bhutiyas.

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The Indian Army and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to incorporate green and sustainable transport solutions. Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande and IOCL Chairman Shrikant Madhav Vaidya were present. The Army received a hydrogen fuel cell bus, marking the start of this collaboration, aimed at fostering innovation and advancing sustainable transport, according to the defence ministry.

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Indian armwrestlers won seven medals at the Asian Armwrestling Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan: one gold and six bronze. Shrimat Jha secured India’s only gold in the left-hand para category and a bronze in the right-hand para category. Laxaman Singh Bhandari and Sachin Goyal won two and one bronze medals, respectively. Ibi Lollen won two bronze medals in women’s categories. Preeti Jhangiani, PAFI president, praised the team’s success.

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Major Radhika Sen, an Indian peacekeeper in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, received the United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year for 2023. Serving with MONUSCO, she led the Engagement Platoon, established Community Alert Networks, and conducted mixed-gender patrols. Her efforts included providing education and training for locals, empowering women, and fostering a safe, inclusive environment. Her service ran from March 2023 to April 2024. The award, established in 2016, honors peacekeepers integrating gender perspectives. Major Sen is the second Indian recipient after Major Suman Gawani in 2019, who served in South Sudan.

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Scientists analyzing archived data from NASA’s Magellan mission discovered new lava flows on Venus, indicating volcanic activity between 1990 and 1992. Launched on May 4, 1989, aboard the space shuttle Atlantis, Magellan aimed to map Venus’s surface using radar imaging. Named after Ferdinand Magellan, it was the first interplanetary mission launched from a space shuttle. In 1994, Magellan intentionally plunged into Venus, gathering atmospheric data before ceasing operations.

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Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos successfully launched its first sub-orbital test vehicle, Agnibaan SOrTeD, powered by the world’s first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine. This milestone, achieved after four previous launch attempts, marks the second private startup launch in India and the first from a private launchpad at Sriharikota. Dr. Pawan Goenka hailed the launch as a historic moment for India’s space sector.

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A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently signed between the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and Common Service Centre eGovernance Services India Limited to integrate eMigrate services into CSCs. Aimed at assisting blue-collar workers heading to Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries, the project streamlines the emigration process online and connects foreign employers, recruitment agents, and insurance companies. This collaboration enhances accessibility and promotes legal migration.

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Indian mountaineer Satyadeep Gupta achieved a historic feat by becoming the first person to climb Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse twice in one season. He also set the record for the fastest traverse from Mount Everest to Mount Lhotse, completing it in 11 hours and 15 minutes. Accompanied by guides, Gupta summited Mount Everest on May 21, followed by Mount Lhotse on May 22, marking the first Double Dual Ascent in a single season.