ALL EXAM QUIZ 16.08.2024

Explanation:

• Anti-diabetic herb was discovered by researchers on Brahmayoni Hill in Gaya.
• Gymnema sylvestre, commonly known as Gudmar, has been identified among several medicinal plants at Brahmayoni hills in Gaya, Bihar by researchers.
• The findings, published in the International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts (IJCRT), highlighted the potential of this herb in treating diabetes.
• To develop the anti-diabetic drug BGR-34, Gurmar has already been used by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
• The unique properties of this plant include the ability to lower blood sugar levels, attributed to gymnemic acid, which prevents the absorption of sugar in the intestines.

Explanation:

• Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki has passed away at the age of 56.
• Wojcicki, a pioneer for women in technology, stepped down as YouTube CEO in 2023 after a nine-year tenure.
• Prior to her role at YouTube, Wojcicki served as Senior Vice President for Advertising Products at Google, where she played a key role in the company's growth.
• After a spectacular 25-year tenure at the Google-owned company, Wojcicki was replaced as CEO of YouTube by Indian-American Neal Mohan in February 2023.

Explanation:

• Scientists have discovered rice varieties that can reduce fertiliser use.
• Scientists have discovered natural variations in rice nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) along with associated traits and genes.
• The Dhala Heera variety boasts both high NUE and a shorter growth duration.
• Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is a critical factor in agricultural sustainability.
• It measures grain yield or nitrogen harvested per unit of urea input.
• Poor fertiliser NUE can waste nitrogen fertilisers worth a staggering Rs 1 lakh crore annually in India.
• The study found that the NUE of the best varieties were five times as much as the least.
• The study was co-authored by Ashu Tyagi and Navjyoti Chakraborty.
• Some improvements in NUE could be done by improving fertilizer formulations, legume-based on crop-rotations and crop management practices.

Explanation:

• India and Maldives renewed the MoU to enhance Civil Service Training.
• India and the Maldives have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the training of Maldivian civil servants.
• The renewed MoU will be for the period from 2024 to 2029.
• It will facilitate the training of an additional 1,000 civil service officers from the Maldives.
• This initiative is based on the previous agreement signed on June 8, 2019.
• The National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) of India trained 1,000 Maldivian civil servants.
• The National Centre for Good Governance has a track record of successful capacity-building initiatives in various countries.
• This renewed partnership will continue to focus on enhancing capabilities in public policy, governance, and field administration.

Explanation:

• A growth of 4.2% has been recorded in India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) in June 2024.
• In June, India's industrial production decreased from 6.2% in May to 4.2%, as reported by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
• The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth rate in June 2023 was 4.0 percent.
• In October 2023, the IIP reached its previous high of 11.9%.
• In June 2024, the mining, manufacturing and electricity sectors have grown by 10.3, 2.6, and 8.6% respectively.
• As per Use-based classification, growth rates of IIP in June 2024 over June 2023 was 2.4 percent in Capital goods.
• Growth rates of IIP in June 2024 over June 2023 was 8.6 percent in consumer durables and -1.4 percent in consumer non-durables.
• In June 2024, the building and infrastructure goods saw a slight increase of 4.4%.
• In June 2024, the primary goods output grew by 6.3%.

Explanation:

• Shah Rukh Khan received lifetime achievement award at Locarno Film Festival.
• On August 10, he became the first Indian personality to be honoured with a lifetime achievement award, also called Pardo alla Carriera, or Career Leopard.
• He received the award at the 77th edition of the Locarno Film Festival.
• As part of the Locarno tribute, the festival also screened Khan's 2002 hit Devdas.
• 2024 Locarno International Film Festival is a film festival event.
• It is being held from August 7, 2024 to August 17, 2024 in Locarno, Switzerland.

Explanation:

• Cabinet approved the extension of Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana.
• The Union Cabinet has approved an extension of the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana till 2028-29 to boost advanced Biofuel projects.
• The revised scheme will be implemented for five years.
• The revised Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana comprises “bolt-on” and “brownfield” projects.
• This scheme has been designed to provide financial support that benefits multiple sectors.
• It offers a stable income for farmers through the sale of agricultural residue and mitigates environmental pollution.
• Additionally, it aligns with India’s goals for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2070 and supports the Make in India initiative.
• The Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana is focused on the development of 2nd Generation (2G) ethanol from surplus biomass and agricultural waste.
• This scheme was launched in 2019 and supported the establishment of India’s first 2G ethanol plant by the Indian Oil Corporation at Panipat.

Explanation:

• World Organ Donation Day is observed on August 13th.
• It raises awareness about the critical need of organ donors and promotes donor registration.
• Every donor can save 8 lives and improve the health of over 75 more.
• This year, it will be celebrated under the slogan, “Be the Reason for Someone’s Smile Today!”.
• This theme aims to highlight the critical role that organ donation plays in saving lives.
• The first successful kidney transplant occurred in 1954.
• In India, the first successful donor heart transplant occurred in 1994.
• National Organ Donation Day is celebrated on August 3. It marks the anniversary of India’s first successful deceased donor heart transplant.
• The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act of 1994 regulates organ donation in India.

Explanation:

• Archaeologists have discovered the world's oldest calendar in Turkey.
• The calendar is etched in a 12,000-year-old stone pillar, which is discovered by archaeologists at the Gobekli Tepe site in Turkey.
• It will help in rewriting the timeline of human civilization.
• As per this calendar, ancient humans were following accurate ways to keep a track of time before it started getting documented in Ancient Greece in 150 BC.
• The researchers have also discovered that the calendar depicts a comet strike which led to a mini ice age of 1200 years.
• The Gobekli Tepe site is the world's oldest man-made structure discovered so far.
• Humans constructed it between 9,600 and 8,200 BC and the site predates Stonehenge by more than 6,000 years.
• This site has many stone pillars and an analysis of these pillars found that one structure was carved to be a calendar.

Explanation:

• Big Cricket League (BCL) has joined hands with national broadcaster Prasar Bharati to broadcast a franchise-based T20 event.
• The inaugural edition of BCL will be held in Lucknow in September this year. BCL will provide local players a chance to play alongside their cricket heroes.