Daily Current Affairs MCQs : 5 June 2024 - Humanities/Arts MCQ

Halla Tomasdottir has been elected as Iceland’s seventh President and will take office on 1 August 2024, succeeding Guana Johannesson. The presidential election, held on 1 June 2024, saw Tomasdottir win with 34.3% of the votes, defeating former Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir (25.2%). Iceland’s president serves a largely ceremonial role in its parliamentary democracy, with real executive power held by the Prime Minister.

The US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework is convening a ministerial meeting in Singapore. The gathering includes major firms participating in a “Clean Economy” investor forum aimed at enhancing infrastructure and climate investments across the region.

The Department of School Education and the National Book Trust signed an MoU in New Delhi to create the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya, a 24/7 Digital Library Platform. Secretary K. Sanjay Murthy highlighted its potential to enhance book accessibility and address library reach issues in many states. He anticipates that in 2-3 years, the platform will feature over 10,000 books in more than 100 languages.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) developed PraVaHa, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. Parallel RANS Solver for Aerospace Vehicle Aero-thermo-dynamic Analysis (PraVaHa) simulates airflow for launch vehicles, crucial for designing their shape, structure, and thermal protection systems. It is used in the Gaganyaan program for analyzing human-rated launch vehicles. Currently, it simulates airflow for perfect and real gas conditions, with ongoing validations for chemical reactions in scramjet vehicles.

NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are collaborating to create a standardized lunar time system for the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon. This initiative addresses the need for unified timekeeping to coordinate international and private lunar missions. With upcoming missions from China, India, and private companies, a common lunar time system is essential for successful operation and coordination.

Union Minister Ajay Bhatt flagged off the Astra air-to-air missiles, developed by DRDO and manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited. With a remarkable beyond visual range (BVR) capability exceeding 100 kilometres, the Astra Missile showcases India's technological prowess. This significant step not only advances the Indian Air Force's capabilities but also underscores India's strides toward self-reliance in cutting-edge defence technology.

The ₹540 crore allocation under PMAY-G, part of the PM-JANMAN package, is directed towards uplifting Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), benefiting one lakh tribal families for the comprehensive development of their habitations.

The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project is situated on Mauna Kea, an inactive volcano in Hawaii, USA. With a 30-meter diameter primary mirror, it is the world’s most advanced ground-based observatory for optical, near-infrared, and mid-infrared observations. Collaboratively developed by institutions from the USA, Japan, China, Canada, and India, TMT incorporates innovations in precision control, segmented mirror design, and adaptive optics, showcasing global collaboration in advancing astronomical research.

Madhya Pradesh emerged as the overall champion at the first-ever Diu Beach Games 2024. The landlocked state showcased remarkable talent with a total of 18 medals, including 7 golds, in a competition that featured 1404 young athletes from 28 states and Union Territories. This victory underscores Madhya Pradesh's prowess in sports and its ability to excel even in beach games despite being a landlocked state.

Pench Tiger Reserve, located in Maharashtra, has achieved distinction as India's inaugural Dark Sky Park, ranking fifth in Asia. Acknowledging the importance of preserving the night sky, the reserve has implemented measures like a night observatory and replaced lights in nearby villages to mitigate light pollution, aligning with global efforts to protect this invaluable natural resource.