In Current Affairs for 20 May 2024, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article. Let us now see the Current Affairs.
Current Affairs 20 May 2024
US Conducts Subcritical Nuclear Test
- The United States conducted a subcritical nuclear test at Nevada earlier this week. The experiment, the third under the administration of President Joe Biden, was carried out to collect essential data regarding the country’s nuclear warheads.
- The US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration said, it relies on subcritical tests to support the safety and effectiveness of nuclear warheads, without the use of nuclear explosive testing.
- The US government had announced a moratorium on tests involving nuclear explosions in 1992, however, successive administrations have continued subcritical tests. The last subcritical test took place in September 2021.
Calcium Carbide
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, FSSAI has alerted traders, fruits handlers and Food Business Operators operating ripening chambers to strictly ensure compliance with the prohibition on calcium carbide for artificial ripening of fruits.
- Health Ministry said in a statement that FSSAI is also advising Food Safety Departments of States and UTs to remain vigilant and take serious action against persons indulging in such unlawful practices.
- Calcium carbide, commonly used for ripening fruits like mangoes, releases acetylene gas which contains harmful traces of arsenic and phosphorus.
- These substances, also known as ‘Masala’, can cause serious health issues such as dizziness, frequent thirst, irritation, weakness, difficulty in swallowing, vomiting and skin ulcers.
- Acetylene gas is equally hazardous to those handling it. Health Ministry said there are chances that calcium carbide may come in direct contact with fruits during application and leave residues of arsenic and phosphorus on fruits.
- Due to these dangers, the use of calcium carbide for ripening fruits has been banned under Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011. FSSAI has permitted the use of ethylene gas as a safer alternative for fruit ripening in India.
Indo-Bangla Baul Music Festival
- A nine-day long Indo-Bangla Baul music festival began in Dhaka to celebrate the 250th birth anniversary of the mystic saint and humanist bard Fakir Lalan Shah.
- The event is being organised by the cultural and research organisation Lalon Biswasangha working to popularise the work and promote research on Lalan Fakir.
- The High Commission of India and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Bangladesh are supporting the event. Inaugurating the programme, Bangladesh Social Welfare Minister Dipu Moni said Fakir Lalon Shah put humanity on the highest pedestal.
- He believed in the essential unity of human beings cutting across the divisions of language, region and culture. Renowned Baul singer and scholar Farida Parveen said Lalon is revered as a great mystic saint, philosopher and social reformer of his time.
- He composed thousands of songs which were later compiled by his disciples. His songs celebrate the spirit of humanism blending elements of Islam, Vaishnavism, Sahajiya Buddhism and Jainism.
- The speakers highlighted the deeply humanist worldview espoused by Fakir Lalon Shah in his songs and philosophical discourses.
- Fakir Lalon Shah is considered the most prominent figure of the Baul tradition of Bangladesh and India. Born in 1774 at Horishpur in the Jhenaidah district of modern Bangladesh. He inspired and influenced people like Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam and the A
Mangalyaan-2 Unveiled
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for a landmark mission that aims to land a rover and helicopter on Mars. This historic endeavor, named Mangalyaan-2, seeks to place India alongside the US and China as a significant player in interplanetary exploration.
- The project was unveiled during a presentation at the Space Application Centre on National Technology Day.
- ISRO’s rover will make its entrance on Mars in a groundbreaking fashion. Eschewing traditional methods like airbags and ramps, the rover will be gently lowered onto the Martian surface using an advanced sky crane.
- This system, inspired by NASA’s Perseverance rover landing, ensures a secure and precise touchdown even in the challenging Martian terrain.
- A supersonic parachute is being developed to manage the fiery descent through Mars’ atmosphere, a critical component for the mission’s success. One of the most exciting aspects of Mangalyaan-2 is the helicopter designed to navigate Mars’ thin atmosphere.
- This rotorcraft, a marvel of engineering, will be equipped with scientific instruments, including the “MarBLE” (Martian Boundary Layer Explorer), which will study the Martian atmosphere during its 100-meter flights. This helicopter promises to provide unprecedented aerial exploration and scientific data from the Red Planet.
- To maintain continuous communication with the rover and helicopter, ISRO plans to launch a relay communication satellite ahead of the main mission. This satellite will act as a vital link between Mars and Earth, ensuring a steady flow of data and mission control.
- It will play a crucial role in the success of Mangalyaan-2, facilitating seamless communication with the Martian surface. Mangalyaan-2 will be launched using ISRO’s most powerful rocket yet, the Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3).
- This heavy-lift rocket is designed to propel the mission towards Mars, demonstrating India’s advanced capabilities in space technology. The LVM3’s robust design and powerful engines will be critical in ensuring the mission reaches its destination.
- India was the first Asian nation to reach Martian orbit on its first attempt with the Mangalyaan mission in 2013. Building on this success, Mangalyaan-2 showcases India’s expanding prowess in space exploration. Recent ambitious missions to the Moon and Mars have positioned India among the top spacefaring nations in the world.
Non-Stick Teflon Cookware
- Both the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Nutrition have recently updated their dietary guidelines.
- One of the new rules talks about using non-stick cookware. These suggestions are meant to help people learn more about the health risks that might come from using these cooking tools incorrectly.
- Teflon, a chemical substance made up of carbon and fluorine, is often used to coat non-stick pans, which are popular because they make cooking and cleaning easier.
- Teflon is very good at not sticking, but if you don’t use it right, it can be harmful to your health. The instructions make it clear that cooking these pans above 170°C can cause harmful fumes to come out.
- This usually happens when the pot or pan is left on high heat for a long time or when it is used at high temperatures for a long time.
- The ICMR recommendations suggest several steps that should be taken to lower health risks:
- Don’t heat a nonstick pan that’s not full first because it can get very hot very quickly.
- Cook over low to medium heat so the pan doesn’t get too hot.
- If fumes do happen, use an exhaust fan or pipe in the kitchen to help get rid of them.
- Don’t use metal tools on the Teflon covering because they can scratch it. Choose wooden or plastic tools instead.
- Check the surface of the pan for damage often. If the pan has peeling or deep scratches that make it look like it’s breaking down, you should get a new one.
Elorda Cup In Kazakhstan
- In Boxing, India’s reigning world champion, Nikhat Zareen and another boxer Minakshi clinched gold medals at the Elorda Cup 2024 in Astana, Kazakhstan.
- Nikhat in the women’s 52 kg category, triumphed over Zhazira Urakbayeva of Kazakhstan with a 5-Nil victory, while Minakshi defeated another Uzbekistan boxer Rahmonova Saidahon, 4-1 in the women’s 48 kg event.
- Meanwhile, Anamika in the 50kg and Manisha in the 60kg suffered losses to end their campaigns with silver medals. Anamika conceded a 1-4 loss against reigning world champion China’s Wu Yu while Manisha faced a nil-5 defeat against Kazakhstan’s Viktoriya Grafeeva.
- The Indian pugilists concluded their Elorda Cup 2024 campaign with 12 medals, including two gold, two silver and eight bronze medals.
Thailand Open
- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have won the Men’s double of the Thailand Open today, beating the Chinese pair of Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi 21-15, 21-15 in straight sets.
- Indain duo defeated Lu Ming-Che and Tang Kai-Wei of Chinese Taipei 21-11, 21-12 to enter the final of the tournament. This tournament has a special place in the careers of Satwik and Chirag, as they won the title in 2019 for their first Superseries or Super 500 level victory. The world number three Indian pair were also the top seed in this tournament.
Brazil To Host 2027 Women’s World Cup Soccer
- The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held in Brazil. This is a big deal in the world of international women’s football. Brazil will be hosting this prestigious event for the first time. It will be a chance to show off its rich culture and love of football.
- The news comes as FIFA focuses more on making women’s football more popular and easier for people around the world to play.
- Brazil was picked because it has a long history of football and has hosted the 2014 FIFA Men’s World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.
- It also has a well-established sports infrastructure and a lot of football fans. The first Women’s World Cup, which was approved by FIFA, took place in China in 1991.
- Norway won the event in 1995, and Hege Riise was a big part of it. She went on to become the first woman to coach in England’s professional men’s leagues. Before 1995, the event games lasted only 80 minutes, not 90 minutes like the men’s. The fastest hat-trick in a final was scored by Carli Lloyd of the United States in 2015.
- It took her only 16 minutes. Marta of Brazil has scored 17 goals in Women’s World Cups, which is the most of any player. North Korea was kicked out of the 2015 Cup because they broke the rules about cheating in 2011. Lastly, the 2023 tournament, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand, will have 32 teams instead of the 24 teams that had been in earlier tournaments.
Current Affairs 20 May 2024 Question
- US Conducts Subcritical Nuclear Test At
A. Mariana Islands
B. Puerto Rico
C. Nevada
D. Arizona
ANSWER: C - Fakir Lalan Shah Seen In News Born In
A. Bangladesh
B. Mayanmar
C. India
D. Nepal
ANSWER: A - First Official, FIFA Sponsored Women’s World Cup Was Held In
A. 1991
B. 1993
C. 1995
D. 1997
ANSWER: C - Which Two Countries Have Signed An Agreement To Jointly Develop Interceptors For Hypersonic Missiles
A. United States and Japan
B. China and Russia
C. India and Japan
D. Russia and India
ANSWER: A - World’s Highest Competition Pool Has Been Opened In Which Country
A. Nepal
B. Myanmar
C. Bhutan
D. Bangladesh
ANSWER: C - Theme Of ‘World Telecommunication And Information Society Day 2024
A. Digital technologies for Older Persons and Healthy Ageing
B. Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development
C. Accelerating digital transformation in challenging times
D. Connect 2030: ICTs for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
ANSWER: B - Where Was Third Session Of India Zimbabwe Joint Trade Committee Held
A. New Delhi
B. Chennai
C. Hyderabad
D. Bengaluru
ANSWER: A - Where Was 12th India Mongolia Joint Working Group Meeting On Defence Held
A. Darkhan
B. Bengaluru
C. Ulaanbaatar
D. New Delhi
ANSWER: C - Which State’s Education Department Recently Released The ‘Guidelines For Elimination Of Corporal Punishment
A. Telangana
B. Maharashtra
C. Gujarat
D. Tamil Nadu
ANSWER: D - Which Two Countries Are Discussing An Agreement To Develop An Electric Propulsion System For Indian Warships
A. India & UK
B. India & USA
C. India & Russia
D. India & China
ANSWER: A - Sri Madhava Perumal Temple Is Located In Which State
A. Maharashtra
B. Andhra Pradesh
C. Tamil Nadu
D. Karnataka
ANSWER: C - Saksham Valley Is A Territorial Dispute Between Which Two Countries
A. India & Bhutan
B. India & Pakistan
C. India & Nepal
D. China & Pakistan
ANSWER: B - Which Organization Recently Released A Report Titled ‘Amplifying The Global Value Of Earth Observation’
A. International Monetary Fund
B. World Bank
C. World Economic Forum
D. World Meteorological Organization
ANSWER: C - Which Country Has Urged The U.S. To Change Its Classification From Non
market Economy To Market Economy
A. Malaysia
B. Egypt
C. Vietnam
D. Indonesia
ANSWER: C - Where Was The Sixth Edition Of The Commandants Conclave Held
A. Indore
B. Varanasi
C. Jaisalmer
D. Pune
ANSWER: D - World Wildlife Crime Report 2024 Released By Which Organization
A. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
B. World Health Organization (WHO)
C. World Bank
D. United Nation Development Program (UNDP)
ANSWER: A - Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Is Associated With
A. ISRO
B. JAXA
C. NASA
D. CNSA
ANSWER: C - Which Space Organization Announced Plans To Build The First Railway Station
On The Moon For Efficient Payload Transportation
A. NASA
B. ISRO
C. JAXA
D. ESA
ANSWER: A - Grande Prairie Forest Is Located In Which Country
A. Mexico
B. Vietnam
C. Malaysia
D. Canada
ANSWER: D - “The Bengalee” Newspaper Was Started By Which Among The Following
Activists In 1879
A. Surendranath Banerjee
B. Anandmohan Bose
C. Nabagopal Mitra
D. Rajnarayan Basu
ANSWER: A
