Current Affairs 2024 (Jan-Aug)

Current Affairs 2024 (January - August)

• Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA):

  • Aims to provide access to top private residential schools for meritorious Scheduled Caste (SC) students in classes 9-12.
  • Scholarships will cover tuition, hostel, and mess fees for eligible students.
  • Students with parental income below ₹2,50,000 from SC communities qualify.
  • Selection is through a National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS).
  • Schools with a 75% or higher pass rate in classes 10 and 12 over the past three years will be included.
  • Voluntary organizations may be part of the scheme.

• National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL):

  • Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is revising the list.
  • Includes essential tests for various healthcare facilities, at all levels.
  • Aims to improve diagnosis and management of common and endemic diseases.
  • First such list in India.

• Indian Tectonic Plate:

  • Recent seismic data indicates the Indian tectonic plate is splitting beneath the Tibetan plateau.
  • This plate shares boundaries with the Eurasian, Australian, African, and Arabian plates.

• Nagara Style Temple Architecture:

  • The Ram temple in Ayodhya is in the Nagara style.
  • Nagara architecture is prevalent in northern India, differing from the Dravida style.
  • Features include a shikhara (tower) over the garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum), circumambulatory passages, and mandapas.

• Cabo Verde as Malaria-Free Country:

  • Cabo Verde, an archipelago off the west coast of Africa, was certified malaria-free by the WHO.
  • It joins Mauritius and Algeria as malaria-free countries in the WHO's African region.

• Chang'e 6 Mission:

  • China's Chang'e 6 mission is planned to land on the Moon's south pole to collect samples.
  • It's part of an international collaboration (ESA, CNES, Italy, Pakistan).
  • Will return lunar samples to Earth.

• Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace (ABCP):

  • Founded in 1970 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
  • Aims to promote peace and harmony in Asia.
  • Bringing resources from Buddhist monastic and lay communities in the region.

• Qanat System:

  • Ancient water-supply system, used in arid regions for sustainable irrigation.
  • Taps underground water sources and channels the water through gravity aided tunnels.
  • Sustainable, low evaporation, and wide-scale impacts, with social cohesion benefits.

• Isopod:

  • Discovery of a new isopod species (genus Booralana) by an international team of marine biologists.
  • A diverse crustacean order, found in various habitats globally.
  • Part of the greater crustacean group (crabs and shrimp).

• Lentil Production:

  • India is projected to become the world's largest lentil producer in 2023-24.

• Windfall Tax:

  • India reduced its windfall tax on petroleum crude to ₹1,700 per tonne.

• Interim Budget and Vote on Account:

  • During election years, governments present an Interim Budget or a Vote on Account instead of a full budget.
  • Vote on Account covers short-term expenditures until a new government is in place.

• Yen Denominated Green Bonds:

  • REC Limited issued its inaugural Japanese Yen green bonds.
  • India's first PSU to issue Yen Green Bonds in the international market.

• Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs):

  • Energy-efficient, long-lasting, and provide instant illumination, contributing to lower environmental impact.

• Paramyrothecium indicum:

  • A new species of phytopathogenic fungus discovered in Kerala.

• Caddisflies:

  • Discovery of a new caddisfly species (Rhyacophila masudi sp. nov.) in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Moth-like insects found in various freshwater habitats globally.

• Japan's Moon Mission - SLIM:

  • Japan landed the spacecraft SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) on the Moon’s surface.

• Best FIFA Football Awards 2024:

  • Winners included Lionel Messi (Men's Player), Aitana Bonmati (Women's Player), Pep Guardiola (Men's Coach), Sarina Wiegman (Women's Coach), Ederson (Men's Goalkeeper), and Mary Earps (Women's Goalkeeper).

• Guruvayur Temple visit by the Prime Minister:

  • The Guruvayoor Sree Krishna temple is a prominent Hindu temple in Kerala, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and featuring traditional Kerala architecture.

• Indian Army Day:

  • Celebrated annually on January 15.

• Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD):

  • Warning about WhatsApp scams.

• Arogya Maitri Disaster Management Cube:

  • A mobile hospital designed for rapid response in emergencies, utilizing AI and data analytics.

• Aravalli Range:

  • The area is subject to environmental concerns on mining activity, which is currently being debated in court.

• Great Indian Bustard:

  • An endangered species of Asian bustard found in India, mostly in the Thar Desert.

• Wular Lake:

  • Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir observed increasing numbers of migratory birds, including several new species, during the winter.

• Tomahawk Missile (Japan-US deal):

  • Japan purchased Tomahawk missiles from the United States; it’s a long-range cruise missile used for deep-land attack warfare.

• Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit:

  • The 19th NAM summit was held in Kampala, Uganda, under Uganda's leadership.

• Global Alliance for Global Good - Gender Equity and Equality:

  • India initiated the alliance to advance women's empowerment and gender equality at the 54th annual WEF meeting in Davos.

• Lamprey Fish:

  • Discovery of two potential new lamprey fish species in California.
  • Jawless fish, found throughout the world's temperate waters, with a parasitic lifestyle.

• Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) levy:

  • Telecom providers urged to suspend levy until current corpus is exhausted.

• Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO):

  • The Supreme Court questioned if the SFIO are police officers.

This quiz covers significant current affairs from January to August 2024, including the SHRESHTA scheme aimed at providing quality education to SC students and the ICMR's National Essential Diagnostics List. Test your knowledge on these key developments and their implications for education and healthcare in India.