Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2024

Notes:
Ministry of Education launched the National Apprenticeship and Training Scheme (NATS) 2.0 Portal, disbursing ₹100 crore in stipends via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The portal supports apprenticeships in IT, manufacturing, and automobiles, enhancing youth skills and employability. It simplifies registration, application, and contract management, ensuring timely stipend payments.

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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:
Wayanad, Kerala, struck by a deadly landslide killing nearly 200 people, ranked 13th in ISRO’s 2023 Landslide Atlas of India. Prepared by National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of ISRO, the atlas details landslide occurrences and damage in 147 districts across 17 states and two Union Territories. It includes 80,000 landslides mapped from 1998 to 2022, categorized by season, event, and route. The data, using high-resolution satellite imagery, ranked districts based on socio-economic exposure to landslides.

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World Lung Cancer Day, observed on August 1st, raises awareness about lung cancer, highlighting its impact and educating the public on risks, symptoms, and treatments. The day advocates for early detection, better treatment options, and more research funding. This year’s theme, “Close the Care Gap: Everyone Deserves Access to Cancer Care,” emphasizes the need for equitable healthcare access for all cancer patients.

Notes:
The Health Ministry has asked the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to stop surrogate advertising of tobacco and alcohol products by sportspersons. Surrogate advertising uses the brand image of one product to promote another, often due to legal restrictions on advertising the original product. Brands like liquor and tobacco companies use this method to subtly promote their products by advertising similar or different items under the same brand name. This helps maintain brand recognition and legally spread their message, a process known as “brand extension.”

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GAIN’s report, “The Case for Investment in Nutritious Foods Value Chains,” urges nutrition investments in the agri-food sector to reduce gender inequalities, boost productivity, and enhance business resilience. GAIN, a Swiss NGO launched at the UN in 2002, addresses malnutrition by supporting public-private partnerships to increase access to essential nutrients in diets.

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The National Institute of Technology, Calicut (NIT-C) launched NIVAHIKA, an innovative web portal for advanced data management. This platform streamlines data collection, storage, and analysis, enhancing efficiency. NIVAHIKA features real-time data processing, customizable dashboards, and seamless integration with existing systems, setting a new benchmark in digital data handling and management.

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Genetic screening, now popular among athletes, identifies individuals at higher risk for certain disorders by analyzing changes in genetic material. It helps in determining traits and risk factors, allowing for preventive measures and early treatment. Initially used for detecting diseases, genetic tests entered sports in the late 1990s, revealing how genes influence performance traits like endurance and flexibility. About 66% of athletic differences are due to genetics, with the rest shaped by environmental factors.

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In a new study, scientists used AI to convert glioblastoma cancer cells into dendritic cells, which help the immune system target and kill cancer. Glioblastoma is a fast-growing brain or spinal cord cancer caused by DNA mutations, originating from astrocytes that support nerve cells. It makes its own blood supply, invades healthy tissue, and is more common in older adults, accounting for nearly half of adult brain tumors.

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Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) secured a Rs 10,000 crore contract from Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for Koderma Thermal Power Station Phase-II in Jharkhand. The project includes supplying and installing boilers, turbines, generators, and systems. BHEL will also handle civil works and commissioning, emphasizing its crucial role in improving India’s thermal power infrastructure and solidifying its status in the energy sector.