Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 16 2024

Solution: Option A.)

Ans (A)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the role of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) in furthering and deepening economic and social growth.
The Prime Minister also supported Thailand’s hosting of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit Meeting in September 2024.
He said this after meeting the foreign ministers of the BIMSTEC member states- India, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar on 12 July 2024.
The foreign ministers were in India to attend the 2nd BIMSTEC Foreign Minister’s Retreat.
The 2nd BIMSTEC Foreign Minister’s Retreat (meeting) was held in New Delhi on 11 and 12 July 2024.
Bangkok, Thailand, hosted the first BIMSTEC Foreign Minister’s Retreat in 2023.
The Foreign Minister’s Retreat was organized by the Ministry of External Affairs and hosted by the Minister for External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar.

Solution: Option A.)

Ans (A)
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors in June 2024 approved a $1.5 billion loan to the government of India to develop the low-carbon energy sector in the country.
This is the second such loan granted by the World Bank of India.
Last year, in 2023, the World Bank sanctioned $1.5 billion to India for the development of the low-carbon energy sector.
Low Carbon energy sector refers to the energy source which when burned releases less carbon as compared to the burning of fossil fuels(coal, petroleum oil, and gas).
Hydrogen or ammonia are considered as zero carbon emission fuels and amongst the low carbon fuels comes biofuels. Biofuels are made from biomass like plants (wood, straws, molasses, agricultural wastes, etc ), and algae.
The government of India has set a target to achieve net zero carbon emission status by 2070. To realize this goal, the government of India launched the National Green Hydrogen Mision.

Solution: Option B.)

Ans (B)
Astronomers have identified an 8200 solar mass black hole in the star cluster Omega Centauri, bridging the gap between stellar and supermassive black holes.
This discovery supports the hypothesis that Omega Centauri is the remnant core of a galaxy consumed by the Milky Way, providing insights into galaxy evolution.

Solution: Option A.)

Ans (A)
Project Announcement: Essar Energy Transition (EET) to establish Europe’s first hydrogen-ready combined heat and power (CHP) plant at the Stanlow refinery in Ellesmere Port, UK.
Investment: The plant is part of EET’s USD 3 billion energy transition initiatives in North West England.
Completion Goal: The project, named EET Hydrogen Power, is targeted for completion by 2027.

Solution: Option D.)

Ans (D)
The Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) program, led by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, has been awarded the prestigious Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity 2024.
The announcement was made by Dr Angela Merkel, chair of the Jury and former Federal Chancellor of Germany, during a ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal.
The event was attended by dignitaries including the President of Portugal and other government officials, alongside experts from around the world.
The Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) program was launched in 2016 by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Solution: Option C.)

Ans (C)
Mountaineer Nitish Singh Conquered Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in Malaysia.
He has become the first Indian to climb the peak at the fastest speed in 19 hours.
This record of his has added another record to his and the country’s name.
International mountaineer Nitish Singh, a resident of Gorakhpur, UP, has created a new record by hoisting the tricolor on Kinabalu, the highest peak in Malaysia.

Solution: Option B.)

Ans (B)
In May 2024, India’s industrial output expanded by 5.9% year-over-year, marking the highest growth in seven months.
This growth surpassed expectations, with notable contributions from electricity generation and consumer durables.
Within manufacturing, sectors like “Manufacture of basic metals” (7.8%), “Manufacture of pharmaceuticals” (7.5%), and “Manufacture of electrical equipment” (14.7%) were the primary drivers of growth.

Solution: Option D.)

Ans (D)
The Jharkhand government is working on a plan to open eastern India’s first university for physically challenged students in Ranchi (Jharkhand).
The proposed university will offer education according to the needs of students with disabilities.
The department proposed a ‘Navothan Scholarship Scheme’, under which the government will reimburse the full course fee (up to a maximum of Rs 10 lakh per year) of meritorious orphan and physically challenged students of the state.

Solution: Option A.)

Ans (A)
The Government of India is set to launch the ‘Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises’ (AgriSURE) to support start-ups and agripreneurs.
This initiative aims to foster innovation and sustainability in India’s agricultural sector through the establishment of a Rs 750 crore Category-II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).
The fund will offer both equity and debt support, specifically targeting high-risk, high-impact activities in the agriculture value chain.

Solution: Option D.)

Ans (D)
World Youth Skills Day, observed annually on July 15th, was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014.
Theme – “Youth Skills for Peace and Development”.
The United Nations General Assembly’s declaration of World Youth Skills Day in 2014 marked a significant milestone in recognizing the importance of youth skills development.
Education and training play a central role in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Sustainable Development Goal 4 specifically calls to “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”