Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

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.

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Researchers at IIT Jodhpur created a nanosensor for rapid Cytokine detection, crucial in cell regulation. It aims to reduce mortality by addressing delayed diagnoses. This technology promises rapid, point-of-care health monitoring, disease diagnosis, and immune response tracking. Prof. Ajay Agarwal stated the technique shows promise for key biomarkers like IL-6, IL-β, and TNF-α. Currently in development, clinical trials are imminent. This innovation could revolutionize healthcare diagnostics and patient management.

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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) initiated an awareness campaign in Delhi’s major markets like Khan Market and INA Market in April, 2024, in collaboration with the Food Safety Department. The campaign focused on detecting and mitigating pesticide residue and contaminants in food products, utilizing FSSAI’s “Food Safety on Wheel” mobile lab. Traders were educated on pesticide hazards, the necessity of testing, and adherence to safety standards, emphasizing collective responsibility for food safety.

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Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT) have signed an MoU for technical collaboration on Critical Minerals. Led by Shri Sadashiv Samantaray and Dr. Ramanuj Narayan, the agreement aims at leveraging CSIR-IMMT’s expertise for various projects including metallurgical test plans, process flowsheets, and technology selection. The partnership will also foster joint research and scientific exchange. Shri Sridhar Patra, CMD of NALCO & Chairman of KABIL, hailed the collaboration as pivotal for India’s mineral security and technological advancement.

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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:
The World Trade Organization’s Global Trade Outlook and Statistics Report indicates early signs of trade fragmentation. In 2023, intermediate goods trade decreased by 6%, contrasting with stagnant non-intermediate trade. China’s share of Asian trading partners for parts and accessories slightly dropped. Disruptions in key shipping routes, such as the Panama and Suez Canals, are challenging global trade resilience. Traffic diversion via the Cape of Good Hope adds approximately 10 days to Asia-Europe journeys.

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International Day for Human Space Flight (IDHSF) is celebrated annually on April 12, honoring Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space in 1961. The UNGA declared it in 2011 to advocate for peaceful space exploration. In 2024, the theme is “Encouraging Scientific Curiosity” to foster outer space exploration’s peaceful advancement. Gagarin’s historic flight paved the way for humanity’s space ventures, promoting benefits for all.

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The BepiColombo mission, collaboration between ESA and JAXA, recently made a fleeting visit to Venus, offering surprising insights into atmospheric gas stripping. Launched in 2018, it comprises two spacecraft headed to Mercury, aiming to study its magnetic field, composition, and geology. Scheduled to reach Mercury in 2025, BepiColombo honors Italian mathematician Giuseppe “Bepi” Colombo. It marks the second mission to orbit Mercury, promising unprecedented complexity in its investigations.

Notes:
A study in Leicester led by Dr. Joseph Barker and Prof. Andre Ng used AI to detect ventricular arrhythmia (VA), a deadly cardiac disorder. The AI tool, VA-ResNet-50, accurately identified VA 80% of the time, analyzing 270 adults’ ECGs from 2014 to 2022. Ventricular arrhythmia, if untreated, can cause sudden death. Published in the European Heart Journal – Digital Health, the study highlights AI’s potential in diagnosing critical heart conditions.

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Mali recently prohibited media coverage of political parties and associations. The landlocked nation is situated in western Africa, primarily within the Sahel region, acting as a transition between the Sahara Desert and humid savannas. It shares borders with Algeria (north), Niger, and Burkina Faso (east), Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea (south), and Senegal and Mauritania (west).