Daily Current Affairs Quiz: 24th May 2024

Answer: A) India

Notes:

India’s diplomatic missions in the UAE received recognition for their outstanding work at the 5th Minister of Foreign Affairs Excellence Awards ceremony held under the patronage of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates. In a rare distinction, India became the only country to receive two honours, with the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai both awarded the prestigious Shield of Honour. The awards were given in the “Distinguished Accredited Missions in UAE” category, acknowledging the efforts of the Indian missions in strengthening bilateral ties between India and the UAE. This recognition highlights the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations across various sectors.

Answer: C) Sri Lanka

Notes:

• Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) first exported its 100-octane premium petrol, called XP100, to Sri Lanka in December 2020.
• XP100 is a high-performance fuel designed for premium vehicles and boasts superior engine performance, faster acceleration, and improved fuel economy.
• This export marked a significant milestone for IOC, showcasing India’s technological advancements in fuel production and its ambition to become a global leader in the energy sector.

Answer: D) Karnataka

Notes:

This policy aims to bring gender parity to outsourced government positions, aligning it with the existing reservation system for permanent government jobs. The reservation applies to outsourced roles lasting more than 45 days and involving over 20 employees. This initiative targets sectors like data entry, housekeeping, and driving staff, typically filled through outsourced agencies. The government is ensuring these agencies provide details about the gender composition of their workforce to promote women’s participation in various government departments.

Answer: B) Sumit Antil

Notes:

• Antil is a Paralympian and a dominant force in the F64 classification (athletes with leg amputation).
• This victory marks his successful defense of the gold medal he won at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships.
• He achieved a throw of 69.50 meters, which is considered a strong performance.
• This win further cements his position as a leading para-athlete in javelin throw.

Answer: C) Indonesia

Notes:

• The Forum took place from May 18th to May 24th, 2024.
• The theme was “Water for Shared Prosperity”.
• This three-day event is the world’s largest gathering on water issues, bringing together government officials, experts, and businesses to discuss solutions to global water challenges.
• The goal is to achieve sustainable water management and ensure clean water access for all.

Answer: D) Brain Computer Interfaces

Notes:

• The technology that enables direct communication between the brain and external devices is called a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), also sometimes referred to as a Brain-Machine Interface (BMI).
• BCIs use sensors to detect brain activity, such as electrical signals or changes in blood flow.
• BCIs are still under development, but they have the potential to revolutionize fields like medicine, communication, and human-computer interaction.
• There are two main types of BCIs: invasive (implanted electrodes) and non-invasive (electrodes on the scalp).

Answer: B) Sikkim

Notes:

• Sikkim is the state in India where the Buddhist festival Saga Dawa is celebrated.
• Saga Dawa, also known as the Triple Blessed Festival, is the most significant festival for followers of Mahayana Buddhism in Sikkim.
• It commemorates three pivotal points in Buddha’s life: his birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana (attainment of Nirvana).
• The festival falls on the full moon of the fourth month in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar.
• During Saga Dawa, monasteries hold special prayers throughout the month, culminating in a colorful procession with monks, music, and religious objects in towns like Gangtok.
• This is a time for spiritual reflection and acts of merit-making.

Answer: C) Amrapali Foods Limited

Notes:

Amrapali Foods Limited, a company with over 30 years of experience in litchi processing, launched India’s first-ever Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) delivery service for Shahi litchis bearing the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag from Bihar. The GI tag ensures the authenticity and unique qualities of these litchis, including their smaller seeds and superior taste.

Answer: D) Mission Ishan

Notes:

While there isn’t an official program name for “One Nation One Airspace”, the initiative is referred to as Mission ISHAN, which stands for Indian Single Sky Harmonised Air Traffic Management.

Mission ISHAN aims to unify India’s airspace under a centralized air traffic control system. This will streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce travel times and fuel consumption for airlines. Nagpur is being developed as the central command centre for ISHAN.

Answer: A) AI Krish & AI Bhoomi

Notes:

• Doordarshan Kishan (DD Kisan), a government-run channel in India, launched the first AI news anchors in the country on May 26, 2024. The anchors are named AI Krish and AI Bhoomi.
• DD Kisan’s initiative is a significant step towards revamping the channel and making agricultural news more accessible.
• These AI anchors are designed to deliver news 24/7 and can reportedly speak in over 50 languages, catering to a wider audience across India.expand_more
• While AI Krish and AI Bhoomi can present with human-like qualities, it’s important to remember they are computer-generated and rely on scripted information.expand_more ░

Answer: B) Jenny Erpenbeck

Notes:

Kairos, written by Jenny Erpenbeck and translated by Michael Hofmann, emerged as the winner of the International Booker Prize 2024. This poignant novel delves into the intense and sudden attraction between a young student and an older, married man in East Berlin during a seismic period in European history. As the GDR crumbles, their relationship unravels, exposing themes of power, art, and culture. Erpenbeck’s eloquent prose, captured brilliantly by Hofmann’s translation, invites readers to explore the connection between personal destiny and historical events.

Answer: C) Russia

Notes:

Russia, through its state nuclear corporation Rosatom, has announced that it will supply next-generation nuclear fuel to India this summer. The announcement was made by Alexey Likhachev, the head of Rosatom, during a visit by Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Chairman of India’s Atomic Energy Commission, to the Siberian region of Tomsk. This strategic partnership underscores India’s importance in the nuclear arena, and the cooperation between the two nations extends beyond fuel supply to areas like nuclear energy, research, and non-power applications of nuclear technologies.

Answer: A) Mercury

Notes:

UNEP, WHO, and the GEF (Global Environment Facility) have joined forces to combat chemical pollution by launching a $134-million project aimed at eliminating the use of mercury in medical devices. Mercury, a toxic metal, has been used in health-care settings for centuries. However, when devices like medical thermometers and sphygmomanometers (which measure blood pressure) break or are taken out of service, the mercury they contain can escape into the environment, posing risks to health care workers and patients. The project will develop strategies to stop the import, export, and manufacture of mercury-containing devices, promote safe alternatives, and improve the management of mercury waste.

Answer: B) UK

Notes:

India’s rare 10-rupee banknotes, which survived a shipwreck in 1918, are set to be auctioned in London. The SS Shirala, carrying British-Indian currency notes, marmalade, and ammunition, sank after being hit by a German U-boat. Two 10-rupee banknotes were among the objects retrieved from the shipwreck site. These notes, issued on May 25, 1918, will be part of Noonans Mayfair auction house’s World Banknotes sale. Their estimated value ranges between GBP 2,000 and 2,600. The banknotes are in remarkable condition, having survived the sea due to their tightly bound bundle arrangement. Additionally, a rare Government of India 100-rupee note from the British colonial era will also be auctioned.

Answer: A) Over $1 billion

Notes:

Porter, a homegrown logistics services platform, has achieved the distinction of becoming India’s third unicorn in 2024. This milestone was reached after a fresh internal funding round, where key individual investors purchased stock from Porter’s Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP). The valuation of Porter now stands at an impressive $1 billion. Founded in 2014, Porter offers an on-demand marketplace for trucks, bikes, and packers & movers, providing a wide range of intra-city and inter-city logistics services. Notable investors like Tiger Global, Peak XV Partners, Lightrock, and the Mahindra Group have contributed to Porter’s success. In FY23, the company’s operating revenue exceeded Rs 1,700 crore, and it has secured approximately $150 million in funding to date. The Indian tech startup ecosystem continues to thrive, with over $1.6 billion in total funding received during the first quarter of this year.