Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
India celebrates National Technology Day on May 11, commemorating its advancements in technology. It marks India’s entry into the nuclear club, the maiden flight of its indigenous aircraft, and the successful testing of the Trishul missile. The 2024 theme, “From Schools to Startups: Igniting Young Minds to Innovate,” emphasizes fostering innovation among the youth.

Notes:
The Indian Army and Navy are set to receive Hermes-900 drones, or Drishti-10, enhancing their surveillance capabilities. Hermes-900, a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial system, boasts over-the-horizon, multi-mission capabilities with a payload capacity of 350 kgs. It facilitates area dominance, Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR), ground support, and maritime patrol missions, enabling integrated multi-platform, multi-sensor operations.

Notes:
Joint military Exercise Shakti, a biennial event between Indian and French forces, occurred at Umroi, Meghalaya, from May 13-26, 2024. Attended by French Ambassador Thierry Mathou, Brigadier Mayur Shekatkar, and dignitaries, it focuses on joint planning and strategy development for war scenarios. Shakti, alternating between India and France, aims to enhance cooperation, understanding, and interoperability while sharing combat experiences in countering terrorism.

Notes:
International Nurses Day, observed on May 12, honors Florence Nightingale’s legacy. Some countries extend celebrations into National Nurses Week. The day emphasizes nurses’ critical role in healthcare, combating undervaluation. Each year, a theme is chosen by the International Council of Nurses; for 2024, it’s ‘Our Nurses Our Future, The Economic Power of Care,’ highlighting nurses’ impact on global economy and the need for investment in the profession for better health outcomes.

Notes:
Indonesia’s Ibu volcano, located on Halmahera island in the Maluku Islands, erupted, sending ash 5 km high. The country’s volcanology agency issued a warning. Ibu is a stratovolcano known for its steep slopes and explosive eruptions. It stands approximately 1,325 meters tall with a base diameter of 10 kilometers. Situated in Indonesia’s eastern region, Halmahera is the largest island in the Maluku archipelago.

Notes:
The 4th Joint Committee meeting for AITIGA review convened in Putrajaya, Malaysia from 7-9 May 2024. AITIGA, signed in 2009, is a trade pact between ASEAN and India, effective since 2010, commonly known as the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement. Focused on physical goods, it excludes services, with a separate ASEAN-India Trade in Services Agreement established in 2014 during the 7th ASEAN Economic Ministers-India Consultations in Bangkok, Thailand.

Notes:
Kami Rita, a legendary Nepalese mountaineer, broke his own world record by summiting Mount Everest 29 times. He accomplished this feat over 30 years, with his latest ascent on May 12, 2024. Born in 1970, Rita began his career in 1992 and conquered Everest first in 1994. He’s known as the “Everest Man.” His competitor, Pasang Dawa, has climbed Everest 27 times. Everest’s height is 8,848.86 meters or 29,031.69 feet.

Notes:
The project ‘slope stabilization using soil nailing and Hydroseeding method’ is implemented by Tamil Nadu’s state highways department around Nilgiris’ major roads. It employs geotechnical engineering techniques like soil reinforcement through steel tendons, creating composite masses akin to gravity walls. Methods include drilled and grouted, driven, drilling, and jet grouted soil nailing. While driven is fast but lacks corrosion protection, drilling and jet grouted methods offer quicker stabilization and erosion control.

Notes:
The second round of the India-US Dialogue on Africa convened in Washington DC on May 14-15, 2024. Shri Puneet R. Kundal and Shri Sevala N. Mude led the Indian delegation, while Ms. Mary Catherine Phee headed the US team. The dialogue fosters collaboration on developmental projects in Africa, aligning with African priorities. This marks the first dialogue since the African Union’s inclusion in the G20 during India’s presidency.

Notes:
A Red Panda, an endangered species, sighted in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh. These small arboreal mammals inhabit high-altitude forests across Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, and China. Their preferred habitat includes temperate forests of the Himalayas, thriving best at 2,200-4,800m altitudes with bamboo understories. Protected under various regulations, Red Pandas face threats like habitat fragmentation, predation by feral dogs, and occasional hunting.