Current Affairs Today - Latest Current Affairs Questions 2024

The Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX) is a joint mission between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to explore the south polar region of the Moon. JAXA will provide the launch vehicle and rover, while ISRO will contribute the lander. Equipped with instruments for measuring water content in lunar sand and for drilling and sampling, the rover promises important insights into the moon's polar regions.

Indian Coast Guard Director General Rakesh Pal opened the Indian Coast Guard Aquatic Center at ICGS Mandapam near Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu on April 6, 2024. During his 4-day visit to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry, he assessed operational readiness and infrastructure development. While interacting with the officials he stressed on a collective approach for safe seas. Established in 1977 under the Ministry of Defence, the Indian Coast Guard was intended to combat smuggling and protect marine resources, formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Morarji Desai in 1978.

The Department of Archeology and Museums has discovered a coin hoard of the Ikshvaku period at the Phanigiri site in Suryapet district of Telangana. Phanigiri, meaning “hill of snake hoods”, is a Buddhist site about 110 km from Hyderabad. Excavations yielded a mahastupa, chaitya griha, vihara and a life-size plaster cast of a Bodhisattva. Brahmi label inscriptions from the Satavahana and Ikshvaku periods (~2nd – 3rd century AD) were also found, as well as a Thorana panel indicating the co-existence of Mahayana and Hinayana sects.

Bilkis Mir, a water sports promoter and athlete from Jammu and Kashmir, is creating history as India's first woman jury member at the Summer Olympics in Paris. Appointed by the Indian Olympic Association, he is set to officiate at the Games from July 26 to August 11.

World Health Day, celebrated every year on 7 April, commemorates the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) and raises awareness on global health issues. It emphasizes the importance of healthy living and promotes global cooperation in health care. In 2024, the theme ‘My Health, My Rights’ underlines individual rights to health care. The day serves as an important platform to promote health awareness and inspire people across the world to prioritize their well-being.

Andhra Pradesh government is taking measures to prevent forest fire in Papikonda National Park by providing technical assistance. Papikonda National Park, located in the Eastern Ghats, is important for high rainfall and hosts the Godavari River. Established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1978 and upgraded to a national park in 2008, it is recognized by BirdLife International as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA).

The Philippines along with the United States, Japan and Australia conducted joint naval exercises in the South China Sea in April 2024, aimed at strengthening military cooperation amid China's regional influence. The exercise comes ahead of a trilateral summit between the Philippines, Japan and the US that highlights efforts to strengthen security ties in the face of rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific.

The Sannati Buddhist site, discovered by ASI excavations in the 1990s, remained neglected until a restoration project in 2022. Located on the banks of the Bhima River near Kanaganahalli in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, it is famous for the Chandrala Parameshwari Temple. Notable discoveries include the Great Stupa, built in three phases in the 3rd century BC.

Romania has developed the world's most powerful laser, part of the European Union's Infrastructure ELI project. The laser, called the “Extreme Light Infrastructure-Nuclear Physics” – (ELI-NP) laser, is located in Magurele, Romania, near Bucharest. It uses chirped-pulse amplification, a groundbreaking technology based on the inventions of Nobel Physics laureates Gerard Mourou and Donna Strickland. The laser is operated by French company Thales and is expected to have revolutionary applications in health care and space exploration.

National Maritime Day, observed every year on April 5, honors the vital role of maritime transportation in global trade. It commemorates the voyage of the SS Loyalty from Mumbai to London in 1919. Additionally, ‘World Maritime Day’ is celebrated on the last Thursday of September, with the date for 2024 set to be 26 September.