Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 30, 2024

Notes:
Bangladesh is facing severe floods due to ongoing monsoon rains and overflowing rivers. The country partly blames the floods on the opening of the Farakka Barrage gates in West Bengal, India. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has denied any connection between the Farakka Barrage and the floods. The Farakka Barrage, located 18 km from the Bangladesh border, began operations in 1975. Its purpose is to divert water into the Farakka Canal to flush silt from the Bhagirathi-Hoogly river, aiding Kolkata port. The Ganga Water Treaty of 1996 and previous agreements aim to manage the shared waters between India and Bangladesh.

Notes:
INS Arighat, India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, was commissioned into the Navy in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It is an upgraded version of INS Arihant, boosting India’s naval capabilities and nuclear deterrence.
Armed with K-15 ballistic missiles, INS Arighat can strike targets up to 750 kilometers away. Launched in 2017, the submarine has undergone construction and testing at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam. INS Arighat strengthens India’s nuclear triad, enhancing second-strike capability. It joins INS Arihant, commissioned in 2016, as part of a four-submarine project.

Notes:
Moscow hosted the 2nd Meeting of the Joint Russian-Indian Commission on Emergency Management on August 28, 2024. The Indian delegation was led by Nityanand Rai, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs. The Russian delegation was led by Kurenkov Aleksandr Vyacheslavovic, Minister for Civil Defence, Emergencies, and Disaster Management. Both countries agreed to continue sharing best practices and lessons in disaster management. They will also cooperate in emergency management during 2025-26. The first meeting of this Indo-Russian Joint Commission took place in New Delhi in 2016.

Notes:
Grandmaster Karthik Venkataraman from Andhra Pradesh won the 61st National Chess Championship in Gurgaon. The event was organized by The Haryana Chess Association at RPS International School. Karthik received a trophy and a cash prize of six lakh rupees. Surya Ganguly, who led the tournament, finished second with a prize of five lakh rupees. IM Neelash Saha also scored nine points but placed third due to lower tiebreaks, earning four lakh rupees.

Notes:
National Sports Day is celebrated every year on August 29 in India to honor the spirit of sports and physical fitness. The day marks the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, a legendary hockey player who greatly contributed to India’s success in hockey. National Sports Day aims to inspire youth participation in sports and promote a healthy, active lifestyle. The day is a reminder of how sports enrich lives and strengthen community bonds. Various sports events and ceremonies are held nationwide, honoring athletes and their achievements. The theme for 2024 has not been announced yet; last year’s theme was “Sports are an enabler to an inclusive and fit society.”