Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

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.

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The ‘Jaiva Gramam’ campaign launched in Karumalloor, Kerala, aims to promote organic farming. Supported by the local panchayat and Lions Club, it encourages households to grow vegetables for Onam. Participants receive subsidies for saplings, fertilizers, and tools, and learn from experienced farmers. The initiative aims for sustainable agricultural growth, self-sufficiency in vegetable production, and preserving Kerala’s farming heritage to boost farmers’ economic prospects.

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The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $170 million loan to enhance India’s health system for future pandemics. Key signatories were Ms. Juhi Mukherjee and Ms. Mio Oka. The “Strengthened and Measurable Actions for Resilient and Transformative Health Systems Programme” aims to improve disease surveillance, human resources for health, and climate-resilient public health infrastructure, supporting initiatives like the National Health Policy 2017 and PM-ABHIM.

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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav introduced the Lokpath Mobile App to enhance transparency and public welfare. Developed by the Public Works Department, the app aims to improve the state’s 40,000 km highways by enabling the public to report road issues. It ensures accountability, with officers expected to resolve complaints within seven days. The app is downloadable from the Public Works Department’s website and promotes an open, efficient working system.

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A 51,200-year-old painting depicting humans interacting with a pig was found in Leang Karampuang cave on Sulawesi island, Indonesia. The scene, in dark red pigment, shows a pig with three human-like figures; one holds an object near its throat, another is upside-down above it, and a larger figure with a possible headdress holds an unidentified object. This discovery predates European cave art and is interpreted as the oldest evidence of narrative storytelling in art, revealing advanced ancient mental capacities.

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Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi recently took oath as the 15th Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court. Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan administered the oath at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi, in the presence of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato, judges, and senior officials. The appointment process for High Court judges involves consultation between the President, Chief Justice of India (CJI), and the State Governor, as per Article 217 of the Constitution.

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A high-level committee led by an Orissa High Court judge has accelerated the process of opening the Ratna Bhandar treasury of Shree Jagannath Temple after 46 years. Located in Puri, Odisha, the Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath and dates back to the 12th century under the Eastern Ganga dynasty. Known for its Kalinga architecture, the temple houses idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra, and hosts the famous Ratha Yatra festival annually.

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A 15-year-old bridge over the Gandaki River in Bihar’s Saran district collapsed on July 4, the third bridge collapse in the district within 24 hours. The bridge connected villages in Saran to Siwan district. Over the past 17 days, 12 bridges have collapsed across Bihar. The Gandaki River, also known as Narayani and Gandak, originates in Nepal and flows into the Ganges near Patna, Bihar. Spanning 475 miles, it has a catchment area of 46,300 sq.km, with 7,620 sq.km in India. The river is bordered by the Himalayas, Ganga, Burhi Gandak Basin, and Ghagra Basin, with 1,710 glaciers and over 300 lakes in its upper catchment.

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The Centre has launched the unified Right to Repair Portal India, urging automobile companies and other sectors to participate. Led by the Department of Consumer Affairs, the portal aims to empower consumers with easy access to repair information, promoting reuse and reducing e-waste. Chaired by Nidhi Khare, the meeting involved major automobile associations and companies like TATA Motors, Mahindra, and Yamaha Motors India. The portal, launched on National Consumer Rights Day 2022, integrates information across sectors, enabling affordable repairs by original equipment manufacturers or third-party repairers.

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Exploring the Chandravalli cave complex in Karnataka, also known as Ankali Math, reveals a historical site with multiple chambers including a puja area with a shivlinga. Excavations uncovered artifacts from the Hoysala, Satavahana, and Vijayanagara dynasties, and a rock inscription from the Kadamba dynasty. The site shows connections to Rome and China through discovered coins and features paintings done in organic paint.