Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2024

Notes:
Researchers have isolated India’s first indigenous methanotroph, Methylocucumis oryzae, from rice fields and wetlands in Western India. This cucumber-shaped bacterium, abundant in wetlands and rice fields, is important for methane consumption. It is larger than most bacteria and grows only below 37ºC. Methylocucumis promotes rice plant growth by inducing early flowering and increasing grain yield, though its slow growth limits large-scale applications.

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The Union Agriculture Minister announced an ₹18,000 crore plan to establish 100 export-oriented horticulture clusters over five years. Horticulture clusters are areas where specific crops are grown, processed, and marketed. This investment aims to improve quality and competitiveness of crops like apples and mangoes. By focusing on export standards, these clusters will help boost India’s global share in horticulture and increase farm income.

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Coal India Ltd and GAIL (India) Ltd have partnered to set up a coal-to-synthetic natural gas plant in Raniganj, West Bengal, using surface coal gasification technology. The plant will produce 633.6 million Nm³/hour of gas from 1.9 million tonnes of coal. This joint venture under the National Coal Gasification Mission aims to reduce import dependency on natural gas and secure raw materials for chemical and fertilizer production.

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The Maharashtra government has introduced a new prisons bill to replace the outdated Prisons Act of 1894.The bill aims to modernize prison operations with better staffing technology upgrades & mental health initiatives addressing overcrowding deaths custody & poor conditions.The bill has been approved by state cabinet as an ordinance awaiting central government & presidential approval.Maharashtra’s prisons currently hold over 40k prisoners despite capacity for only 27k.

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Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been appointed chief adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation amid protests. Yunus, born in 1940, is an economist known for pioneering microcredit through Grameen Bank, founded in 1983. The bank has loaned over $34 billion to nearly 10 million people, with a 97% repayment rate, inspiring global microfinance initiatives. Yunus’s appointment aims to address unrest over government job quotas.

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The Indian Army conducted the ‘Parvat Prahaar’ exercise in Ladakh, focusing on high-altitude warfare. The exercise highlights operations in rugged terrains near the India-China border. It involves real-world combat simulations to train soldiers for unique challenges. This fortnight-long drill involves various Army units, including infantry, artillery, and armoured forces, and showcases military assets like tanks, K-9 Vajra artillery, and UAVs. The exercise, involving the Mountain Strike Corps, is crucial for maintaining readiness in this sensitive region amid the ongoing India-China standoff.

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India’s men’s hockey team won bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics, defeating Spain 2-1. This victory marks India’s first consecutive Olympic hockey medals since 1972. The match took place at Yves du Manoir Stadium in Paris. Spain led early with a penalty stroke by Marc Miralles in the second quarter. India equalized before half-time with a drag flick goal by captain Harmanpreet Singh. The Netherlands won gold, beating Germany 2-1 in a shootout in the final.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in the bilateral Exercise Udara Shakti 2024 with the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The exercise took place in Kuantan, Malaysia, from 6-9 August 2024. Both air forces deployed seven Sukhoi-30 fighter planes, which are purchased from Russia. India’s Sukhoi-30 planes, mostly produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), are the Su-30MKI variant, specifically modernized for India. Exercise Udara Shakti 2024 included Training Exercises and Subject Matter Expert Exchange concepts. Training Exercises focused on air combat involving Su-30 planes from both countries.

Notes:
On August 9, 2024, the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0 with an investment of Rs 10 lakh crores. This new scheme will replace the original PMAY-U, which runs until December 2024. PMAY-U 2.0 will last for five years and aims to build one crore houses for the urban poor and middle-class families. The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will implement the scheme. It covers towns from the 2011 census and targets economically weaker sections, low-income groups, and middle-income groups families without pucca houses, with income limits of Rs 3 lakh, Rs 6 lakh, and Rs 9 lakh per year, respectively.

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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing the Pinaka-MK3, a new multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL). Pinaka, designed by DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), targets area threats like enemy troops and vehicles. It features a multi-tube launcher with two pods of six rockets each, capable of covering 700 × 500 meters in 48 seconds. The 214 mm rocket carries a 100 kg payload and offers various warheads. Supported by hydraulically actuated outriggers, the system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility. India has versions of Pinaka with ranges of 48 km, 60 km, and 90 km.