Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2024

Notes:
India has been elected Vice-Chair of the Supply Chain Council under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Agreement, focused on Supply Chain Resilience. The IPEF, with 14 member countries, also elected chairs and vice-chairs for the Crisis Response Network and Labor Rights Advisory Board. The Supply Chain Council’s Chair is the USA. IPEF, led by the USA, was launched by President Joe Biden on 23 May 2022 in Tokyo.

Notes:
India’s Health Minister announced a new action plan to manage Zika virus Disease. Zika is a mosquito-borne RNA virus discovered in Uganda in 1947 and first reported in humans in 1952. It mainly affects tropical and subtropical regions and spreads through bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The plan aims to manage and control the virus’s impact effectively.

Notes:
Researchers from the Korean Institute of Basic Science, South Korea have developed Nano-MIND, a magnetogenetics technology that allows precise, remote control of brain circuits using magnetism. Tested on mice, it can activate specific neurons to alter behaviors such as maternal instincts and feeding. This breakthrough advances brain research and could impact brain-computer interfaces and treatments for neurological disorders.

Notes:
PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development), a unit within NCERT established in 2023, has recommended including student performance from Classes 9, 10, and 11 in the final Class 12 marks. Its goal is to standardize school board assessments across India, focusing on competency-based assessment, large-scale surveys, and equivalence of school boards. The unit, staffed by assessment experts, aims to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and create a common assessment platform.

Notes:
The Madhya Pradesh government will provide gas cylinders at a subsidized rate of ₹450 per year for beneficiaries of the Ladli Behna scheme, focusing on women, especially those under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). Additionally, beneficiaries will receive ₹250 for the Rakhi festival. The central government also offers a targeted subsidy of ₹300 per 14.2 kg LPG cylinder for PMUY beneficiaries.

Notes:
India hosts ‘Tarang Shakti,’ largest international air exercise, in two phases: August in Tamil Nadu and September in Rajasthan. The event aims to strengthen strategic relations, inviting 51 countries with 30 participating. Phase one in Tamil Nadu features France, Germany, Spain, and the UK. Phase two in Rajasthan includes Australia, Bangladesh, Greece, Singapore, UAE, and the USA. This exercise enhances collaboration and operational skills.

Notes:
India selected Group Captains Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair for the Axiom-4 mission. They will train in the U.S., and their experience will benefit India’s human space program. Axiom-4 is the fourth private astronaut mission by NASA and Axiom Space, expected to dock with the ISS for fourteen days. SpaceX is the launch provider for this mission.

Notes:
India and Russia conducted a maritime partnership exercise (MPX) in St. Petersburg on the 328th Russian Navy Day. The exercise featured India’s INS Tabar and Russia’s Soobrazitelny, showcasing naval maneuvers like communication drills, search and rescue tactics, and replenishment at sea. This MPX reinforced strong bilateral naval ties, highlighting both nations’ commitment to regional peace, stability, and security, and demonstrated professionalism and interoperability between their navies.

Notes:
The “VIRAASAT” exhibition, celebrating the 10th National Handloom Day, is being held from August 3 to August 16, 2024, at Handloom Haat, Janpath, New Delhi. Organized by the National Handloom Development Corporation Ltd (NHDC) under the Ministry of Textiles, this event promotes India’s rich handloom traditions and supports weavers. National Handloom Day, established on August 7, 2015, commemorates the Swadeshi Movement of 1905 and the handloom sector’s socio-economic contributions.

Notes:
A Bangladesh-registered C-130J Hercules jet became the most tracked flight on Flightradar24.com amid rumors of the Bangladesh Prime Minister leaving the country. The C-130J Super Hercules, developed by Lockheed Martin, is a four-engine military transport aircraft used for tactical missions. It has a 19-ton payload capacity, can operate from rough runways, and is primarily used by the US and other nations for airdropping troops and equipment.