This is the current affairs of 29 May 2024. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. Which company handed over the Indian Army’s first hydrogen bus to the Army Chief in May 2024?
a. Tata Group
b. IOCL
c. Reliance Industries
d. ITC Limited
Answer: b. IOCL (Indian Oil Corporation Limited)
– The Indian Army has signed an agreement with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) for the trials of hydrogen fuel cell bus technology.
– The bus handover and signing ceremony took place at the National War Memorial located at India Gate in New Delhi, in the presence of Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande and Indian Oil Chairman S.M. Vaidya.
– During this event, IOCL handed over the first hydrogen bus to the army.
What is the objective?
– The initiative aims to promote hydrogen and fuel cell technology for heavy-duty e-mobility.
– This will enable the Indian Army, with the cooperation of Indian Oil, to take the lead in evaluating this technology.
IOC has established a green hydrogen production center
– Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has set up a green hydrogen production center in Faridabad.
– Here, renewable energy is used to split water and produce 75 kilograms of hydrogen daily.
– This hydrogen gas will be used to power two buses.
What is green hydrogen?
– Green hydrogen is an alternative to traditional fuels that can be used in any vehicle.
– Green hydrogen is a zero-emission fuel, meaning it does not cause any pollution.
There are different types of hydrogen fuels – gray, blue, brown, and green.
– Green hydrogen is produced using electricity obtained from solar power or wind energy, hence it is called green.
Uses of hydrogen fuel
– Hydrogen fuel cells (car, bus, train)
– Space rocket fuel
– Welding
– Petroleum refinery
– Fertilizer production
How is green hydrogen produced?
– Green hydrogen electrolyzer will be powered by renewable energy, such as wind energy or solar energy.
– It will separate hydrogen (H2) and oxygen from water (H2O).
– Hydrogen (H2) will be stored in a tank.
Note:
– In which city was the country’s first green hydrogen fuel cell bus operated?
Answer: Delhi
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2. Which state government banned the manufacturing, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of tobacco, gutkha and pan masala in May 2024?
a. Kerala
b. Karnataka
c. Telangana
d. Tamil Nadu
Answer: c. Telangana
– These are the products that contain tobacco and nicotine.
– This ban will be effective from May 24, 2024, and will remain in force for the next one year.
– According to the order of the Food Safety Commissioner, this ban has been imposed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
– The Telangana government has taken this step considering the serious health risks associated with the consumption of tobacco, gutkha, and pan masala.
– Consumption of these products can lead to deadly diseases like cancer.
Telangana has imposed bans before.
– This is not the first time the state government has imposed a ban.
– Earlier too, the government had banned tobacco gutkha, but later the ban had to be lifted.
– Telangana issued a notification to ban gutkha in January 2023.
– However, the Supreme Court put a stay on this ban.
Telangana
– CM: Anumula Revanth Reddy
– Governor: C. P. Radhakrishnan
– Capital: Hyderabad
– Neighboring states: Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh
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3. Russia has decided to remove which of these organisations from the terrorist list, 21 years after banning it?
a. Taliban
b. Islamic State of Iraq
c. Hamas
d. Al-Shabab
Answer: a. Taliban
– Three years after the return of power in Afghanistan, Russia has decided to remove the Taliban from the list of banned terrorist organizations.
– Previously, in 2003, Russia had declared the Taliban a terrorist organization.
– Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, “The Taliban is the real power. We are not separate from them. Our allies in Central Asia are also not separate from them. In Afghanistan, the Taliban is the actual ruler.”
Afghanistan expressed the desire to buy oil
– Despite various sanctions on the Taliban, Russia has maintained its relations with them.
– Russia has also invited the Taliban to the International Economic Forum to be held in St. Petersburg from June 5-8, 2024.
– According to a report by Russian media TASS, Afghanistan has expressed a desire to buy oil from Russia.
Many countries, including China, have recognized the Taliban
– Some countries, including China, have appointed official ambassadors and recognized the Taliban’s ambassadors.
– Numerous countries have made trade agreements.
– Recently, Kazakhstan decided to remove the Taliban from the list of banned organizations.
– India is in continuous dialogue with the Taliban.
The Taliban was founded in 1994
– In the Pashto language, Taliban means ‘students.’ The organization was founded in 1994 in the city of Kandahar, Afghanistan.
– It was one of the groups fighting a civil war to take control of Afghanistan after the Soviet Union’s withdrawal.
– Its members were Afghan Mujahideen fighters who drove out the Soviet army in 1989 with the help of the United States.
– In 2003, Russia’s Supreme Court declared the Taliban a terrorist organization.
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021
– After a prolonged conflict with the American military, the Taliban took control of Kabul and the entirety of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021.
– Since then, they have been consistently demanding recognition from the international community.
– The Taliban’s acting Defense Minister, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, stated in an interview with Al Arabiya News Channel that the government has met all the requirements for recognition.
– Despite this, other countries are not recognizing us due to pressure from the United States. We appeal for recognition from countries that are not under American pressure.
– We want powerful Islamic countries in the world to recognize us as a legitimate government.
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4. Who has taken oath as President, ending military rule in Chad?
a. Success Masra
b. Mahasin Khabra
c. Idriss Deby
d. Augusto
Answer: c. Idriss Deby
– In the North-Central African country of Chad, Idriss Deby was sworn in as the new president on May 23, 2024.
– Deby’s rise to power marks the end of three years of military rule in the oil-rich country.
– Deby, who won the presidential election held on May 6, 2024, with 61 percent of the vote, faced criticism from international non-governmental organizations that questioned the credibility of the electoral process.
– His father, Idriss Deby Itno, ruled the country for three decades but was killed in 2021 while fighting rebels.
– Since then, Idriss Deby has been serving as the interim leader under military rule.
– The long-awaited elections took place after three years of military governance.
– Chad’s capital: N’Djamena
– Currency: Central African CFA franc
– Language: French and Modern Standard Arabic
– Population: 17.7 million (2022)
– Neighboring countries: Libya and Sudan
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5. Who became the new Prime Minister of Chad?
a. Rofer Kane
b. Allamaye Halina
c. Ismail Khan
d. Mohammad Mokhbar
Answer: b. Allamaye Halina
– He previously served as Chad’s ambassador to China.
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6. When is the International Day of UN Peacekeepers observed?
a. 28 May
b. 29 May
c. 30 May
d. 31 May
Answer: b. 29 May
Theme 2024
– Fit for the future, building better together
– Since 1948, over 2 million uniformed and civilian personnel have helped countries transition from war to peace.
– On May 29, 1948, the first United Nations peace mission, the “UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO),” began its operations in Palestine.
– United Nations peacekeepers are also known as Blue Helmets.
India’s participation in UN peacekeeping
– Currently, about 5,900 Indian soldiers are deployed in 12 United Nations missions.
– To date, India has contributed approximately 275,000 troops to peacekeeping operations.
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7. Which city of the world ranks first in the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2024?
a. New York
b. London
c. Berlin
d. Zurich
Answer: a. New York
– In the Index 2024, New York has secured the first position.
– It has achieved top ranking in all categories.
– In the Index 2024, the second position went to London, and the third position to San Jose.
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8. What rank did Delhi get in the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2024?
a. 350th
b. 411th
c. 427th
d. 472nd
Answer: a. 350th
– The Oxford Economics Global Cities Index was released on May 21, 2024.
– It’s an annual report that ranks the top 1,000 largest cities in the world.
– In the report, these 1,000 cities are scored, and then rankings are prepared based on these scores.
– The city with the highest score receives a score of 100.
Rankings are based on five categories:
– Economics
– Government
– Quality of Life
– Environment
– Human Capital
– Delhi has been ranked 350th in this index. The interesting fact is that Delhi tops the list in this category.
– Bangalore secured the 411th position, while Mumbai obtained the 427th rank.
– The city of Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh achieved the 1000th rank.
Kyiv of Ukraine ahead of Delhi
– Several cities that are under military control and on the brink of war are actually ranked higher in the rankings than many Indian cities.
– Ukraine’s national capital Kyiv has surpassed Delhi, India’s highest-ranked city, in the list.
Rankings of 10 Indian cities:
– Delhi: 350th
– Bangalore: 411th
– Mumbai: 427th
– Chennai: 472nd
– Kochi: 521st
– Kolkata: 528th
– Pune: 534th
– Thrissur: 550th
– Hyderabad: 546th
– Sultanpur: 1,000th
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9. According to the UNCCD report, how much percent of the world’s pastures (rangelands) have been destroyed, on which millions of people depended for food security and livelihood?
a. 75%
b. 50%
c. 40%
d. 30%
Answer: b. 50%
UNCCD: United Nation Convention on Combating Desertification
What is Rangeland?
– Rangeland is land where grass, shrubs, and other natural vegetation grow, primarily used for grazing livestock.
– It is not cultivated like fields; instead, natural resources are utilized to provide fodder for animals.
– Rangelands are typically found in open, arid, or semi-arid regions.
– According to a new report issued by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), approximately half (50%) of the world’s rangelands have been lost, requiring policy intervention.
About the Report:
– Report Title: Global Land Outlook Thematic Report on Rangelands and Pastoralists
– Issued by: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
– Release Date: May 21, 2024
– Launch Location: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
How much area do Rangelands cover?
– Currently, Rangelands cover around 80 million square kilometers of the Earth’s terrestrial surface.
– This constitutes more than half (54%) of the Earth’s land.
– Thus, Rangelands are the largest land-use category in the world.
Who are Pastoralists?
– According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Pastoralism is a livelihood system based on livestock production.
– It includes animal husbandry, dairy production, meat production, wool production, and leather production.
– Both indigenous and non-indigenous communities and groups are known as pastoralists in livestock production.
– These communities raise sheep, goats, cattle, horses, donkeys, camels, ostriches, llamas, alpacas, and pigs.
– Some pastoralist communities also raise ducks and chickens.
Global Scale of Pastoralism
– Globally, an estimated 500 million livestock keepers are engaged in livestock production and related businesses.
– In India, although there are no official figures, research and advocacy groups have estimated their population to be around 13 million across 46 groups, including Gujjars, Bakarwals, Rebari, Raika, Kuruba, and Maldhari.
What is the Economic Contribution of Pastoralists in India?
– India is home to 20% of the world’s livestock population.
– According to the Livestock Census (2020) report in India, approximately 77% of animals are managed by pastoralist systems, meaning they are either kept in herds or left on common lands.
– Pastoralists also contribute to the conservation of indigenous livestock breeds and preserve traditional knowledge about animal husbandry.
India’s Share in Global Dairy Production
– Currently, India is the largest producer of milk in the world, accounting for 23% of global dairy production.
– According to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, India is also the largest producer of buffalo meat and the largest exporter of sheep and goat meat.
– Pastoralists make a significant contribution to this sector.
Note: Mongolia will host the 17th UNCCD Conference of the Parties meeting in 2026, which has been declared the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists by the United Nations General Assembly.
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10. Which Arab country appointed its first ambassador to Syria after 12 years of breaking ties?
a. Algeria
b. Saudi Arabia
c. Jordan
d. Kuwait
Answer: b. Saudi Arabia
– Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has decided to end his country’s relations with Syria, leading to the appointment of an ambassador to Damascus, the capital of Syria.
– With the aim of improving relations, Saudi Arabia had included Syria in the Arab League group of 22 countries in the year 2023.
Why did Saudi Arabia sever ties?
– In 2011, there were large-scale anti-government protests in Syria, which were brutally suppressed by the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
– In opposition to this, Saudi Arabia severed its relations with Syria in 2012.
Syria has been engulfed in civil war for 14 years.
– Over time, Syria’s rebellion has evolved into a civil war, displacing 23 million people.
– Although the war has been paused for a long time, efforts are being made to find political solutions to end it.
– Capital of Saudi Arabia: Riyadh
– Population: 36.4 million (2022)
– Currency: Riyal
– Language: Arabic
– Neighboring countries: Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait to the north; Persian Gulf, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Oman to the east; Yemen to the southeast; Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba to the southwest.
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