Daily Current Affairs Quiz: April 12, 2024

Notes:
According to a report from energy cargo tracker Vortexa, China has overtaken India as the primary importer of Russian crude oil through sea routes, importing 1.82 million barrels per day (bpd) in March 2024, compared to India’s 1.36 million bpd. This shift is attributed to India’s slowdown in imports due to sanctions and rising prices. Before the Ukraine conflict, Russian oil accounted for only 2% of India’s total oil imports in fiscal year 2021-22. However, post-invasion, Russia climbed to the top, driven by substantial discounts on oil prices.

Notes:
NASA has been tasked with establishing Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) as a unified standard for timekeeping on the Moon and other celestial bodies. Unlike time zones, time standards define units of time and aid in timekeeping. With lunar missions planned, a standard is crucial due to varying gravitational forces and celestial influences.

Notes:
Canara Bank and Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SINE), IIT Bombay, formalized collaboration via a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This collaboration aims to bolster the startup sector by offering financial aid and support. Canara Bank’s Canara Start-Up Scheme will provide funding for industrial units, while SINE, a renowned technology incubator, will offer full incubation and acceleration services to tech startups. Together, they seek to foster the growth and success of businesses in India.

Notes:
Dr. Ashvini Keshavan, an Indian-origin neurologist and Senior Clinical Research and Honorary Consultant Neurologist Fellow at University College London (UCL), has been selected to be part of Britain’s research team on dementia. The team, called ADAPT (Alzheimer’s disease Diagnosis And Plasma pTau217), will focus on the biomarker p-tau217, which reflects the levels of two proteins found in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease: amyloid and tau. The team will conduct a clinical trial to see if measuring p-tau217 in the blood can increase the rate of diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease in people with early dementia, as well as in those with mild, progressive memory problems.

Notes:
The Government of India has launched CDP-SURAKSHA, a digital platform for horticulture farmers to receive subsidies efficiently. It integrates with PM-KISAN and utilizes e-RUPI vouchers for instant subsidy disbursal. Features include UIDAI validation, eRUPI integration, and geotagging. Farmers can order planting material, contribute their share, and receive subsidies automatically. Vendors deliver materials, verified by geo-tagged media. IA releases funds upon verification, with subsidy released to IA after document submission to CDA.