Daily Current Affairs MCQs : 19 May 2024 - Bank Exams MCQ

Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have identified a new species of head-shield sea slug, Melanochlamys Droupadi, along the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal. Measuring up to 7 mm, it’s a small invertebrate with a brownish-black body and a distinctive ruby red spot. Inhabiting wet sandy beaches, the hermaphroditic slug forms a protective mucus sheath, leaving a trail like a turtle as it moves beneath the sand. Sea slugs, mollusks found in various marine environments, include 18 known species globally.

150 railway stations and 6 metro stations have earned the coveted “Eat Right Station” certification, a part of the Eat Right India movement by FSSAI. Led by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the initiative mandates stringent food safety, hygiene, and nutrition standards for all vendors at certified stations.

Brian Mulroney, the ex-Canadian Prime Minister, passed away at 84. He led the Progressive Conservatives to a historic 1984 win, defeating Pierre Trudeau. Mulroney’s nine-year term saw impactful policies, notably the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement negotiation, shaping his transformative legacy.

The Global Waste Management Outlook 2024, co-published by UNEP and ISWA, highlights key trends. Predictions indicate municipal solid waste will surge from 2.3 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. The direct cost of global waste management, at USD 252 billion in 2020, is projected to nearly double by 2050 without immediate intervention. Barriers include insufficient urgency recognition, incomplete data, and climate impact underestimation, as well as gendered aspects, informal sector undervaluation, and inadequate legislation.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the Vikramaditya Vedic Clock at Jantar Mantar, Ujjain. A world-first ‘Vedic Clock,’ it displays time using the traditional Indian Panchang. Positioned on an 85-foot tower, it also provides planetary positions, Muhurat, astrological calculations, IST, and GMT. Developed by Lucknow-based Sanstha Arohan, it connects to the internet via a mobile app. Ujjain, with its rich timekeeping heritage, is an ideal location due to its historical role in determining India’s time zones and its location at the interaction point of the zero meridian and Tropic of Cancer.

The state government of Assam has officially declared Kaji Nemu, a unique variety of lemon native to the region, as the 'State Fruit'. This decision, announced by State Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, underscores the fruit's cultural, traditional, and nutritional importance to Assam. Kaji Nemu, renowned for its juicy, aromatic nature and high nutritional value, holds a special place in the state's agricultural heritage.

The Odisha government's recent initiatives reflect its dedication to addressing various socio-economic challenges within the state. Alongside providing a one-time livelihood cash assistance of ₹1,000 to PDS-covered families, it introduced the 'Swayam' scheme, offering interest-free bank loans to rural unemployed youths to kickstart new business ventures. Additionally, the government expanded the KHUSI scheme, now named KHUSI+, to distribute belted sanitary napkins for institutional deliveries and medical termination of pregnancy in government facilities.

India was honoured with the 9th GovTech Prize at the World Government Summit 2024 in the United Arab Emirates for its innovative use of artificial intelligence in enhancing government services, particularly in the field of road safety.

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) achieved a historic milestone by crossing the ₹20-lakh crore market capitalization threshold, making it the first company on Indian stock exchanges to reach this valuation. This achievement underscores RIL's robust performance across its business divisions and favourable market conditions.

NITI Aayog, the premier policy think tank of the Government of India, launched the GROW Initiative for Agroforestry Development, focusing on revitalizing India's wastelands. This initiative aims to utilize advanced technologies for analyzing and transforming underutilized wastelands into productive agroforestry zones.