Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 12 2024

Ans (D)

India and New Zealand signed a Customs Cooperation Arrangement on 8 August 2024.

The agreement was signed during President Droupadi Murmu’s official visit to New Zealand.

President Murmu’s visit includes Fiji, New Zealand, and Timor Leste.

She visited Fiji first and New Zealand on 8 and 9 August.

President Murmu received a traditional Maori welcome in Wellington.

She was formally welcomed by New Zealand’s Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro and met with Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.

The bilateral Customs Cooperation Arrangement aims to ease trade between India and New Zealand.

The Maoris, the indigenous people of New Zealand, were the largest population before European settlers arrived.

Ans (A)

GAIL (India) Limited signed a non-binding MoU with Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam (RVUN) to optimize the operations of RVUN’s gas-based power plants in Rajasthan.

RVUN, established on 19 July 2000 under the Companies Act 1956, is based in Jaipur and focuses on developing and maintaining power projects in Rajasthan.

RVUN operates gas-based power plants in Dholpur and Ramgarh.

The MoU involves transferring these two gas-based power plants to a joint venture between GAIL (India) Limited and RVUN to enhance operational efficiency.

Both companies will collaborate on setting up 1000 MW of wind and solar power projects in Rajasthan.

GAIL (India) Limited owns and operates the 1,427 km Jamnagar-Loni LPG pipeline, with a 694 km section in Rajasthan from Abu Road to Alwar being operational.

Ans (B)

Since 1995, August 9th has been observed as the International Day of Indigenous Peoples.

The day aims to raise awareness about the contributions and rights of indigenous (tribal) peoples, who are among the most vulnerable global populations.

The United Nations General Assembly declared August 9th as the International Day of Indigenous Peoples on 23 December 1994.

The date commemorates the first meeting of the Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations held in Geneva in 1982.

The first International Day of Indigenous Peoples was observed on August 9, 1995.

The theme for the 2024 International Day of Indigenous Peoples is ‘Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact’.

Ans (C)

Harish Salve will represent the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in the case concerning Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Paris Olympics.

Salve is a former Solicitor General of India and King’s Counsel.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has established an ad hoc division in Paris to handle cases during the Olympics.

The ad hoc division is led by President Michael Lenard from the US and is located within the Paris judicial court in the 17th arrondissement.

Ans (D)

The Indian men’s hockey team won the bronze medal at the Olympics for the second consecutive time with a 2-1 victory over Spain in the third position playoff.

Harmanpreet Singh scored both goals for India in the 30th and 33rd minutes.

Spain’s only goal was scored by captain Marc Miralles in the 18th minute from a penalty stroke.

India was dominant in the first quarter but Spain improved after the initial 15 minutes and had nine penalty corners compared to India’s six.

The bronze medal marks a fitting farewell for veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who ends his 18-year career as India’s greatest goalkeeper.

This is India’s first back-to-back Olympic medal in hockey after a gap of 52 years, with consecutive wins in 1968 and 1972.

The bronze is India’s 13th Olympic medal in hockey.

India has won 12 Olympic hockey medals in total: eight gold, one silver, and three bronze.

India last competed in an Olympic final 44 years ago in Moscow in 1980.

Ans (C)

As India approaches its 78th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, urging citizens to hoist the national flag at their residences.

The BJP will conduct the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign nationwide from August 11 to August 14, featuring Tiranga Yatras (Tricolor marches), flag hoisting on homes, shops, and offices, and a cleanliness drive.

‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ is part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, celebrating 75 years of Indian independence and aiming to foster patriotism and awareness about the national flag.

The Mahotsav is dedicated to India’s citizens and supports PM Modi’s vision of activating India 2.0 with a focus on Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Ans (B)

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce’s (IACC) Centre of Excellence for MSME, the first of its kind in India.

The Centre aims to upgrade and strengthen Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) for better performance in export markets.

MSMEs are considered the backbone of the economy and will be crucial in making India the third-largest economy during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term.

Gujarat has 19.80 lakh registered MSMEs employing nearly 1.07 crore people and contributes 8.63% to India’s GDP.

The IACC’s Centre of Excellence is expected to enhance industrial relations between India and the US.

The IACC has 14 offices in India and 38 partner organizations in the US, with bilateral trade reaching USD 200 billion last year.

Ans (A)

DRDO has developed the lightest Bullet Proof Jacket (BPJ) with the Front Hard Armour Panel (FHAP) in two configurations: In-Conjunction-With (ICW) and Standalone.

The technology has been transferred to Indian industries under DRDO’s Transfer of Technology (ToT) Policy and procedure.

The BPJ uses a new design approach with novel materials and processes.

It conforms to BIS standard 17051, making it the lightest BPJ of level 6, with a weight of approximately 10.1 kg for medium size.

The jacket features a Quick Release Mechanism (QRM) and is designed for better wearability and comfort.

It provides protection against 7.62×54 R AP/API rounds.

Ans (A)

India will open a consulate in Auckland, New Zealand, to assist the Indian diaspora.

President Droupadi Murmu announced this during her address at the Indian Community Reception in Auckland.

Currently, Auckland has an Honorary Consul of India, and the Indian High Commission is based in Wellington.

According to the 2018 census, there are 250,000 members of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand.

People of Indian origin make up six percent of New Zealand’s population.

Ans (B)

Scientists drilled 4,160 feet (1,268 meters) below the Atlantic seabed into Earth’s mantle using the JOIDES Resolution vessel.

The core sample is 2,907 feet (886 meters) long and provides insights into the upper mantle’s composition and interactions with seawater.

This drilling achieved a record depth and sample recovery, overcoming previous limitations in mantle rock drilling.

The study examines the reaction of olivine with seawater, which could be linked to the origin of life on Earth.

The sample, taken from the Atlantis Massif, provides insights into mantle composition and interactions with seawater, potentially linked to the origins of life.

The core, 2,907 feet long, is largest continuous mantle rock sample recovered, surpassing previous drillings.