Daily Current Affairs Quiz: Julu 16, 2024

ANSWER : D

Current Context : Nagaland won the “Best State in Horticulture Award 2024” at the 15th Agriculture Leadership Awards.

• Award was bagged by state for introducing innovative programmes and policies for horticulture development, positively touching the lives of large number of farmers and rural people.

ADDITIONAL FACTS:

• The state has achieved geographical indication (GI) registration of three horticultural crops — Naga Mircha, Naga Tree Tomato and Naga Sweet Cucumber.
• The Department of Horticulture has mobilised the formation of 13 farmers producers companies (FPCs) and so far been able to bring an area of 6,800 ha under organic certification.
• The department has also introduced the concept of ‘Horticulture Model Village’ wherein one crop one village had been adopted in 16 villages across the state.

ABOUT AWARD

• The Agriculture Leadership Awards was instituted in 2008.
• Aim : for recognising excellence and leadership roles played by individuals and organisations towards the development of Indian agriculture and bringing about rural prosperity.

It is given annually to encourage and recognise the efforts farmers.

ANSWER : B

Current Context : Recently, NITI Aayog has announced the launch of the ‘NITI GearShift Challenge’ as part of the e-FAST India initiative.

Aim : to foster innovative business models for the adoption of zero-emission trucks in India, addressing the nation’s pressing economic and environmental challenges.

ABOUT E-FAST

• e-FAST India (Electric Freight Accelerator for Sustainable Transport – India) is the country’s first platform to facilitate collaboration between government stakeholders and private sector partner.
• It was launched in September
• Aim : to galvanize the transition towards cleaner and greener freight transportation.
• It is a platform that facilitates deliberation, debates and collaboration between different stakeholders including the government, Original Equipment Manufacturers, Logistics Service Providers, Shippers, and industry experts to enable the development and adoption of electric technology in the freight sector at scale.

NITI GEARSHIFT CHALLENGE

• Launched by NITI Aayog in collaboration with IIM Bangalore, Smart Freight Centre India, CALSTART/Drive to Zero, and WRI India.
• Objective : to foster innovative business models for the adoption of zero-emission trucks (ZETs) in India.

ANSWER: A

Current Context : The Serum Institute of India (SII) and Oxford University have launched a “high efficacy” malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, in Cote d’Ivoire in West Africa.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) approved the vaccine last year, and this is the first time it has been given to everyone in the country.
• R21/Matrix-M was co-developed by the university and Serum Institute of India (SII) leveraging Novavax’s Matrix-M adjuvant technology.
• R21 is the second malaria vaccine available in Sub-Saharan Africa following RTS,S.

ABOUT MALARIA :

• Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite.
• It is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
• It is most common in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including sub-Saharan Africa, South America and Southeast Asia.
• Syptoms : fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• World Malaria Day is observed on 25th April.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has established ‘Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India (MERA-India) which is a conglomeration of partners working on malaria control

ANSWER : C

ANSWER : D

ANSWER : B

ANSWER : A

ANSWER : C

Current Context : Justice Rajiv Shakdher is appointed as the new Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.

• He will replace Chief Justice M S Ramachandra Rao.
• Justice Shakdher is presently serving in the Delhi high court. Justice Shakdher was appointed an additional judge of the Delhi high court on April 11, 2008, and made a permanent judge in 2011.

ANSWER : D

Current Context : Government of Himachal will  launch a new scheme ‘State Award to Teachers and Head of Schools’.

• Aim : to recognize and honour the exceptional services rendered by the teachers in the state.
• Under the scheme, 24 teachers would be awarded in two categories: general areas and tribal/hard areas.
• 15 awards would be designated for teachers in the general areas and 9 awards would be for teachers in the tribal/hard areas.
• This initiative is intended to foster an interest in teaching as a career, motivate high-quality teaching and enhance the reputation of educators within the community. It would also encourage the adoption of best teaching and learning practices in schools.”
• Eligible candidates include teachers posted in District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs), State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).

ANSWER : B

Current Context : Himachal Pradesh is accelerating its transition towards becoming a green state by 2026 through a series of ambitious solar energy initiatives.

Chief Minister of Himachal underscored this vision during the inauguration of the 5 MW Bhanjal solar power project in Una district.

ABOUT BHANJAL SOLAR POWER PROJECT

• Commissioned by P. Power Corporation Limited.
• Generate 54 Million Units of Power Annually.
• Revenue Generation : 3.82 crore
• The project will also help reduce carbon emissions by 396 tonnes per year.

RECENT INITIATIVES FOR SOLAR ENERGY EXPANSION.

• 32 MW Pekhubela solar power project, completed in a record time of eight months at a cost of Rs. 220 crore, underscores the state’s rapid progress in harnessing solar power.