Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
Chamayavilakku, or the Kottankulangara Festival, celebrates goddess Bhagavathy in Kerala. Men don women’s attire, carrying lamps in processions. They hold Chamayavilakku, symbolizing devotion, circling the temple. Boys under 10 dress as girls for Kakkavilakku daytime rituals.

Notes:
Sanjay Nayar, former chairman of Sorin Investment Fund, assumes presidency at ASSOCHAM for 2024-25, succeeding Ajay Singh of SpiceJet. Nayar, with extensive global financial experience, notably at Citigroup and KKR, retired in 2023. He played pivotal roles in establishing KKR India operations and serves on Nykaa’s board. Active in various industry bodies, Nayar aims to bolster sustainability initiatives during his tenure, aligning with India’s developmental objectives.

Notes:
Irish researchers at University College Dublin discovered that Criollo cattle excel in adapting to a warming world due to their long-established resilience to hot and humid climates. Through micro-evolutionary analysis, they identified advantageous coat traits for solar radiation tolerance. Utilizing whole-genome sequencing, they pinpointed genes associated with thermotolerance, reproduction, fertility, and disease immunity.

Notes:
The recent viral video featuring US Vice President Kamala Harris making irrational remarks underscores the threat of shallow fakes. Unlike deepfakes created with AI, shallow fakes are produced using basic editing tools, posing a significant risk to society. Deepfakes, on the other hand, employ AI-generated content to deceive. The World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report 2024 identifies AI-powered misinformation as a major concern for the next two years, emphasizing the need for vigilance against digital deception.

Notes:
The Centre has issued a draft notification delineating an Ecologically Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandigarh. ESZs are vital and delicate areas near protected zones, designated by the central government under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Guidelines categorize activities as prohibited (e.g., commercial mining), regulated (e.g., tree felling), or permitted (e.g., local agriculture). This aims to safeguard biodiversity while allowing sustainable human practices.

Notes:
Neptis philyra, a rare butterfly species known as the long-streak sailor, was recently discovered in India’s Tale Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. Previously found in east Asia, it boasts serrated wings with rich brownish-black on top and yellow-brown underneath, featuring a distinctive “hockey stick” pattern on the forewing. Part of the Nymphalidae family, it thrives in habitats like evergreen forests and rocky streams, marking a significant addition to India’s biodiversity.

Notes:
India has invoked the WTO’s Peace Clause for the fifth time, citing breach of rice subsidy limits. The clause shields developing nations from dispute challenges regarding subsidy breaches. Global trade norms dictate subsidies should not exceed 10% of production value based on a 1986-88 reference price. India seeks amendments to this formula and proposed the Peace Clause in 2013 as an interim measure until a permanent solution is negotiated.

Notes:
India’s top tennis player, Sumit Nagal, advances to the second round of the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters, becoming the third Indian to reach the main draw. Nagal made history as the first Indian to play an ATP Masters 1000 match on clay since 1990. He defeated Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in a stunning comeback, marking his third win against a top-50 player. Nagal faces Denmark’s Holger Rune next, aiming for further success.

Notes:
The Port of Baltimore, a vital seaport on the Patapsco River in Maryland, serves as a commercial hub connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. Despite its closure due to a bridge collapse on March 26, efforts are underway to remove containers from the stranded ship Dali, a 984-foot vessel. Once completed, it will take weeks to tow the ship and reopen the port, which ranks ninth in the U.S. by trade volume.

Notes:
World Homeopathy Day (WHD) is celebrated annually on April 10 in honor of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, on his birth anniversary. The theme for 2024 is “Homeoparivar: One Health, One Family”, emphasizing holistic health. Homeopathy gained prominence in the 19th century due to Hahnemann’s success. He advocated against medical methods with adverse effects, pioneering homeopathy. WHD aims to promote the homeopathic system of medicine globally.