Daily Current Affairs Quiz: September 12, 2024

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated SEMICON India 2024 on 11 September 2024 in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The event runs from 11 to 13 September and highlights India as a growing semiconductor investment hub. SEMICON India 2024 offers a platform for global semiconductor leaders, industry, and government officials to connect. The event is organized by SEMI, in collaboration with München India and supported by MeitY. The theme is “Shaping the Semiconductor Future.” India’s electronics sector is currently valued at $150 billion, with a target of $500 billion by 2030.

Notes:
Nepal has become the 101st country to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as a full member. Nepal handed over its Instrument of Ratification to the ISA in New Delhi. This was done during a meeting between Nepal’s Dr. Surendra Thapa and India’s Joint Secretary Abhishek Singh. The ISA is a collaborative platform focused on increasing the use of solar energy technologies. Its main goals are improving energy access, ensuring energy security, and supporting energy transitions. ISA was initiated by India and France to combat climate change through solar energy deployment.

Notes:
Mikania micrantha, an invasive weed, is rapidly spreading in Bhadra Tiger Reserve, threatening its biodiversity. It is a perennial, fast-growing climber native to Central and South America. Mikania is invasive in Southeast Asia, India, and the Pacific Islands. Introduced in India in the 1940s for tea plantations, it now poses a serious threat to crops and forests. It thrives in areas with high fertility, moisture, and humidity. Mikania kills other plants by blocking light and smothering them. It produces chemicals that inhibit plant growth and spreads quickly through wind-dispersed seeds and roots.

Notes:
The Coonoor railway station, part of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR), is being transformed under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, drawing criticism from heritage enthusiasts. The NMR line, known as the Ooty toy train, runs 45.88 km from Mettupalaiyam to Ooty, located in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore and Nilgiri districts. The train first ran on June 15, 1899, after plans were initiated in 1854. The railway was operated by Madras Railway under a government agreement. In 2005, the NMR was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, highlighting its cultural and historical significance.

Notes:
The Ministry of Steel organized the event “Greening Steel: Pathway to Sustainability” on 10th September in New Delhi. Various experts from ministries, academia, and think tanks attended the event to discuss sustainable steel production. The event featured a panel discussion on leadership and innovation for driving the green steel transition. The report “Greening the Steel Sector in India: Roadmap and Action Plan” was released, focusing on decarbonization strategies. This aligns with India’s Net Zero emissions goal for 2070, as reducing carbon in steel production is vital to combat climate change.