Current Affairs Quiz May 2024

[C] Rajasthan & Gujarat

Notes:

Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL), India’s top renewable energy firm, secured USD 400 million in funding from five international banks for its 750 MW solar projects in Rajasthan and Gujarat. These projects are scheduled to start operating from November 2024. The Rajasthan project, with 500 MW capacity, has a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with SECI, while the Gujarat project, with 250 MW capacity, is a standalone merchant power project in Khavda, the world’s largest RE cluster.

[C] Japan

Notes:

Japan secured their second Men’s AFC U-23 Asian Cup title by defeating Uzbekistan in the final match held in Doha, Qatar. The solitary goal scored by substitute Yamada, secured Japan’s victory and a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Japanese goalkeeper’s crucial penalty saves ensured their win. Iraq claimed the bronze medal after defeating Indonesia in the semifinals.

[C] Maharashtra

Notes:

The Maharashtra forest department plans to move tigers from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve to Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, located in the Western Ghats. Formed in 2010, it includes Chandoli National Park and Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary. The reserve boasts unique undulating terrain with steep escarpments and barren rocky plateaus known as “Sadas.” It hosts abundant climax and near-climax vegetation, with minimal human impact anticipated.

[C] Coniferous forests

Notes:

Archaeological evidence reveals English red squirrels as hosts for leprosy-causing Mycobacterium leprae strains in medieval Winchester, renowned for its leprosarium and fur trade. Leprosy persists in Asia, Africa, and South America. Recent research identifies red squirrels, armadillos, and chimpanzees as natural M. leprae hosts. Red squirrels, arboreal and primarily herbivorous, boast sharp claws for climbing and swimming abilities. Their coat color varies regionally, shedding twice yearly. Found in Coniferous forests, they store excess food in caches, living up to 7 years. Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

[D] Asthma Education Empowers

Notes:

In celebration of World Asthma Day 2024, GINA promotes the theme “Asthma Education Empowers”, stressing the importance of educating those with asthma for effective disease management and timely medical intervention. With over 260 million affected globally, asthma causes over 450,000 preventable deaths annually. Health professionals are urged to enhance their understanding of asthma’s impact and evidence-based management to offer optimal care and reduce avoidable morbidity and mortality.

[B] ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)

Notes:

The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) reports severe coral bleaching in the Lakshadweep Sea due to prolonged marine heatwaves since 2023. Rapid warming in the Indian Ocean, coupled with strong El Niños, has increased heatwave frequency, now annual in the tropical region. The western Indian Ocean saw the highest rise, with about 1.5 events per decade, followed by the north Bay of Bengal at 0.5 events per decade. In 2020, 85% of corals in the Gulf of Mannar bleached.

[A] Journalism

Notes:

Columbia University announced the 2024 Pulitzer Prize winners on May 7. The prestigious award, established by Joseph Pulitzer in 1904, recognizes excellence in journalism, arts, and culture. Winners are selected by the Pulitzer Prize Board, with categories spanning journalism and arts. The ceremony, to be held later, will see recipients honored by the university president. This year’s winners join a legacy dating back to the first prize in 1917.

[B] A rare genetic eye disorder

Notes:

Researchers utilized CRISPR-Cas9 to restore vision in individuals with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), a rare genetic eye disorder causing blindness from birth. LCA affects 1 in 40,000 people, impairing light-sensitive cells due to a mutation in the CEP290 gene. The “BRILLIANCE” trial administered a single dose of CRISPR therapy, EDIT-101, which corrected the mutation, enabling proper function of the CEP290 protein, thus restoring vision by allowing the retina to perceive light.

[A] New Delhi

Notes:

Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers,Dr. Arunish Chawla, launched the MEDITECH STACKATHON 2024 in New Delhi with CII. This initiative aims to transform India’s MedTech sector by analyzing select medical devices’ value chain. India’s MedTech industry projects a 28% annual growth, aiming for a USD 50 billion size by 2030. Import dependence is high, but policy initiatives could boost exports and domestic manufacturing. Collaboration is vital for growth, quality assurance, and global competitiveness.

[D] Space observatory

Notes:

A new pulsar was discovered by astronomers using the Spektr-RG space observatory. Launched in 2019, Spektr-RG is a German-Russian high-energy astrophysics observatory studying the universe in the X-ray range. It orbits the Sun-Earth system’s outer Lagrange point (L2), 1.5 million km away, in a 6-month period. The observatory’s name stands for Spektr-Rentgen-Gamma and it was launched atop a Proton-M rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.