Daily Current Affairs MCQs : 17 April 2024 - Humanities/Arts MCQ

The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium, Himachal Pradesh becomes the first BCCI-accredited venue with a groundbreaking ‘hybrid pitch’ by Netherlands-based SISGrass. This innovation combines natural turf with 5% polymer fiber, endorsed by the ICC for T20 and 50-over matches. The pitch promises resilience, durability, and consistent bounce, easing maintenance burdens. The Universal machine, employed in Dharamshala, will replicate this technology in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, following successful installations at iconic English grounds like Lord’s and The Oval.

Nigeria leads the global fight against meningitis, introducing the groundbreaking Men5CV vaccine, endorsed by WHO, targeting five strains in one shot. This surpasses previous vaccines, vital as bacterial meningitis, prevalent in Africa, poses serious health risks. Africa’s “meningitis belt,” including Nigeria, faces escalating cases, with a 50% rise reported last year by WHO. Nigeria’s pioneering move sets a precedent for broader adoption worldwide, marking a significant stride in public health.

Archaeologists in Pompeii unearthed a black-walled banqueting hall adorned with vibrant frescoes depicting Greek mythology. Pompeii, a preserved ancient Roman city near Naples, Italy, lies at the base of Mount Vesuvius. Established in the Bronze Age, it thrived under Roman rule, boasting a population of 10-12,000. Buried by Vesuvius in 79 CE, Pompeii remained hidden until rediscovery in 1748. Its remarkably preserved state offers profound insights into Roman life, earning it UNESCO World Heritage status.

Madhya Pradesh is leading in implementing the Green Credit Programme, with 500+ approved land parcels for tree plantation across 10 states in two months. 10,000 hectares of land are earmarked. MP has the highest approved degraded forest land (954 hectares), followed by Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Assam. Public sector undertakings will carry out plantations to earn green credits. The program focuses on ecosystem services, promoting non-carbon environmental actions, benefiting local soil, water, and ecosystems.

Three-time World Champion Rashmi Kumari secured her 12th national women’s singles title at the 51st National Carrom Championship, defeating K Nagajothi 25-8, 14-20, 25-20. Rashmi, employed at ONGC, triumphed in the women’s final. In the men’s category, K Srinivas clinched his fourth national singles title by defeating S Aditya 25-0, 19-6, showcasing exceptional skills with seven white slams.

The executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a proposal to make a 50 per cent increase in the quota allocated to members in proportion to their current quotas. The proposal will now be considered and made effective by the board of governors as part of concluding the 16th general review of quotas.
Currently, India has a quota of special drawing rights (SDR) 13,114.4 million which denotes a share of 2.75 per cent, making it the eighth-largest quota-holding country in the IMF.

Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the ‘Bharat Organics’ brand of the newly launched National Cooperative Organics Ltd (NCOL).
It will have as many as 20 products in the market by December 2023. NCOL will pass on 50 per cent of its profit earned over the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of any crop directly into the bank account of the farmers, while the rest will be used for the growth of the organization.

The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Production Gap report has been released in anticipation of the COP28 climate conference.
It warns that global fossil fuel production over the next seven years is projected to exceed more than double the levels required to stay within the climate goals outlined in the 2015 Paris climate agreement, including the crucial target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released its flagship report, the State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA). Although current agrifood systems provide nourishment and sustain economies, they also impose huge hidden costs on health and the environment – the equivalent of at least $10 trillion annually.
The figure represents nearly 10 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to the 2023 edition of the report which covers 154 countries.

India accounted for the highest number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the world in 2022, representing a staggering 27 percent of the global burden, as revealed by the new World Health Organization (WHO) 2023 Global TB report released.
According to the report, India recorded 2.8 million (28.2 lakh) TB cases in 2022, with a case fatality ratio of 12 per cent.  Featuring data from 192 countries and areas, the report reveals that 7.5 million people were diagnosed with TB in 2022.