Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

Notes:
India has been placed in the “regular follow-up category” by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) after its plenary meeting in Singapore from June 26-28, 2024. The meeting evaluated 17 countries on anti-money laundering, anti-terrorism financing, and anti-proliferation compliance. India, Russia, France, Italy, and the UK were kept in the regular follow-up, while one country was grey-listed. The FATF commended India’s efforts but urged quicker prosecution in such cases.

Notes:
US-based Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) and Blue Origin have partnered with India for their human spaceflight program. They will offer six seats on a future New Shepard mission to citizens from countries with limited space presence. New Shepard, a reusable suborbital rocket, will take the selected astronauts on an 11-minute journey past the Kármán line, the internationally recognized space boundary at 100 km.

Notes:
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Government of Haryana and the National Forensic Science University (NFSU), Gandhinagar, in Panchkula. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister Manohar Lal, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh attended. This collaboration aims to enhance Haryana’s criminal justice system by leveraging NFSU’s expertise. Forensic teams will visit for serious offences, increasing the demand for forensic experts.

Notes:
The 16th India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise Nomadic Elephant started at Umroi, Meghalaya, running from July 3 to 16, 2024. It involves 45 Indian personnel and Mongolian Army’s 150 Quick Reaction Force Battalion. The annual event, alternating between the countries, focuses on counter-insurgency in semi-urban and mountainous terrain. Key attendees include Mongolian Ambassador Dambajavyn Ganbold and Major General Prasanna Joshi. The exercise enhances interoperability and defense cooperation.

Notes:
Researchers in France discovered zinc’s crucial role in legume crop health. Zinc, a silvery blue-grey metal, is the fourth most widely used globally after steel, aluminum, and copper. In India, Rajasthan holds the largest lead-zinc ore reserves. Australia leads in global zinc reserves, followed by China and Russia. Zinc is essential for galvanizing steel due to its corrosion resistance and is used in die-castings and zinc oxide production for paints and rubber.

Notes:
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) recently approved a wireless network architecture developed at IIT Bombay for affordable rural broadband access. This system uses a cellular network, like 5G, comprising network equipment and communication links to transfer data between devices and the Internet. The network is divided into two sub-networks: the access network (AN) and the core network (CN).

Notes:
A stampede at a religious gathering in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh has resulted in over 100 deaths. Past incidents include the Kalkaji temple platform collapse and the 2022 Vaishno Devi stampede. Stampedes occur when orderly crowd movement is disrupted, leading to injuries and fatalities. Causes include poor event management, excessive crowd density, and natural disasters like sudden heavy rain, floods, or earthquakes.

Notes:
The District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Gallery was inaugurated at Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi. DMFs are non-profit trusts established in 2015 by state governments in mining-affected districts. They aim to benefit people and areas impacted by mining activities. Funded by royalties, state budgets, and private donations, DMFs are governed by a Board of Trustees, including government, local, and expert representatives, who oversee project implementation under PMKKKY and other schemes.

Notes:
Dhruv Sitwala defeated Pankaj Advani 5-2 to win the 2024 Asian Billiards Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This victory marks Sitwala’s third Asian billiards title, having previously won in 2015 and 2016. Advani, aiming for his third title and a hat-trick of championships, fell short in the final.

Notes:
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) launched its first integrated tribal development program in Kulathupuzha Gram Panchayat, Kollam, on July 8. Implemented by Thanal, the five-year project aims to enhance the livelihoods of 413 tribal families through diverse agricultural and non-agricultural activities. It includes water resource development, skill training, and the creation of a Tribal Farmer Producer Company (FPO) to empower the community economically.