Daily Current Affairs Quiz: October 26, 2024

Notes:
The 31st Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) held at Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam from 23 to 29 Oct 2024. SIMBEX, an annual exercise between the Indian Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy, began as ‘Exercise Lion King’ in 1994. The exercise includes a Harbour Phase at Visakhapatnam with expert exchanges, sports, and cross-deck visits, and a Sea Phase in the Bay of Bengal. Advanced drills in the Sea Phase covers live weapon firing, anti-submarine, anti-surface, anti-air operations, and tactical manoeuvres.

Notes:
IIT Guwahati’s Centre for Career Development hosted the “Leadership Summit 2024” focused on “Grooming Young Talents.” The two-day event attracted nearly 50 delegates from top companies like Google, NetApp, and Reliance-BP. This initiative highlights IIT Guwahati’s commitment to developing young professionals for the workforce. The summit served as an important platform for knowledge sharing and networking among industry leaders and students.

Notes:
The Asiatic golden cat, after a long absence, was recently spotted in Assam’s Manas National Park, marking a conservation success. They are known as the “rock cat” in China and “fire cat” in Thailand and Burma. It has fur colors ranging from cinnamon to shades of brown, gray, and black. These solitary, territorial cats are diurnal and crepuscular, often living in varied habitats like rainforests, deciduous, and sub-alpine forests, at elevations up to 3,738 m. The cat, classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN, thrives in diverse habitats across Southeast Asia and Northeast India, showcasing the resilience of wildlife amid challenges.

Notes:
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) held a conference of Buddhist monks and scholars in Colombo to support Pali’s classical language status in India. Scholars and monks from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh attended, emphasizing Pali’s role in preserving “Dhamma” and Buddhist practices. The Indian government’s recognition of Pali reflects its commitment to promoting Buddhist heritage. ICCR is an autonomous body under India’s Ministry of External Affairs, focusing on cultural exchanges with other countries.

Notes:
Around 150 to 200 rare Indian Skimmer birds were recently spotted at Lower Manair Dam in Telangana, a first for the region. The Indian Skimmer is native to South Asia and belongs to the genus Rynchops in the family Laridae. Its scientific name is Rynchops albicollis, and it feeds by skimming low over water to catch fish. The bird is mainly found in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, with some populations in Nepal and Myanmar. It prefers larger, sandy rivers, lakes, and estuaries, with an estimated population of 2,450-2,900 individuals. The Indian Skimmer has a black upper body, white underbelly, and a long orange beak. Its conservation status is classified as endangered by the IUCN.