Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
An international study announced the discovery of living shallow-marine stromatolites on Sheybarah Island, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. Stromatolites, sedimentary formations, are primarily created by photosynthetic microorganisms like cyanobacteria. Their surface layer hosts active microbes, while the underlying build-up resembles lithified remnants of past microbial communities. Stromatolites played a vital role in the Great Oxygenation Event, altering Earth’s atmosphere. The world’s largest living stromatolite system is found in Hamelin Pool.

Notes:
Zupee, India’s leading skill-based Ludo platform, partners with Gurugram Cyber Police for the 11th Cyber Security Summer Internship Program, ‘Cyber Warriors.’ The month-long internship, inaugurated by Commissioner of Police, Gurugram, Vikas Kumar Arora, includes 1,100 interns selected from 15,000 applicants worldwide. Guided by Cyber Security Expert Dr. Rakshit Tandon, candidates receive immersive cyber security training. Some will work directly with Gurugram Cyber Police, tackling real-world challenges to promote cyber safety.

Notes:
NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are collaborating to create a standardized lunar time system for the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon. This initiative addresses the need for unified timekeeping to coordinate international and private lunar missions. With upcoming missions from China, India, and private companies, a common lunar time system is essential for successful operation and coordination.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) developed PraVaHa, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. Parallel RANS Solver for Aerospace Vehicle Aero-thermo-dynamic Analysis (PraVaHa) simulates airflow for launch vehicles, crucial for designing their shape, structure, and thermal protection systems. It is used in the Gaganyaan program for analyzing human-rated launch vehicles. Currently, it simulates airflow for perfect and real gas conditions, with ongoing validations for chemical reactions in scramjet vehicles.

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The central government has approved Assam’s plan for a new Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Kamrup district, with IIM Ahmedabad mentoring the project. This decision aims to bolster education and industry in the Northeast, where only one IIM currently exists. Assam’s collaboration with IIM Ahmedabad and provision of land underscores its commitment to advancing education and economic growth. The initiative is expected to benefit neighboring states like Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

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World Environment Day has been celebrated annually on June 5 since 1973. Millions worldwide participate in its observance. The 2024 theme is ‘land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience’.

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The Netherlands became India’s third largest export destination in 2023-24, following the U.S. and UAE, despite a 3% dip in India’s overall merchandise shipments. Key exports to the Netherlands included petroleum products ($14.29 billion), electrical goods, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Consequently, India’s trade surplus with the Netherlands rose to $17.4 billion, up from $13 billion in 2022-23, according to the Commerce Ministry data .

Notes:
Haryana Chief Secretary T V S N Prasad announced a Rs 10,000-crore World Bank-funded project to combat state air pollution. The Haryana Clean Air Project will start in NCR districts, enhancing air quality monitoring infrastructure. The initial phase includes a state-of-the-art lab, modernizing existing labs, a program management unit for oversight, and training programs for stakeholders involved in air quality management.

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The 3rd Indian Analytical Congress (IAC) was launched at CSIR-IIP in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Organized jointly by CSIR-IIP and ISAS-Delhi Chapter, the three-day conference focuses on “Role of Science and Technology in Green Transitions.” It serves as a platform for industry, academia, scientists, and technologists to discuss prevalent and upcoming solutions in Analytical Sciences. The event features technical sessions with talks by eminent speakers, presentations, and special sessions.

Notes:
India, the US, South Korea, Japan, and the EU have formed a Biopharmaceuticals Alliance. The first meeting was in San Diego during the Bio International Convention 2024. Biopharmaceuticals, derived from living organisms, are set to comprise 50% of future medical drugs. The alliance aims to prevent drug shortages like those during the COVID-19 pandemic by diversifying and mapping the pharmaceutical supply chain, ensuring a resilient and sustainable system.