Daily Current Affairs Quiz: September 14, 2024

Notes:
Telangana government will celebrate September 17 as Telangana Praja Palana Day, marking Hyderabad’s 1948 integration into India. Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari issued orders for national flag hoisting at government offices, urban local bodies, and gram panchayats. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will hoist the flag in Hyderabad, while ministers will do the same at district headquarters. In 2023, the BRS government marked it as National Integration Day. The Union government celebrates it as Hyderabad Liberation Day, commemorating the 1948 police action under Operation Polo that merged Hyderabad with India.

Notes:
The Indian Navy and DRDO successfully tested the Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) on 12 September 2024 at Chandipur Island, Odisha. This is DRDO’s second missile test, following the Agni-4 trial on 6 September 2024. The missile was launched from a vertical launcher and intercepted a high-speed target at low altitude using an advanced seeker. VL-SRSAM will replace Israel’s Barak-1 missile and be produced by Bharat Dynamic Limited. The missile defends against supersonic sea-skimming threats and has a range of 50 km with advanced countermeasure systems.

Notes:
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Russian President Vladimir Putin on 12 September 2024 during the BRICS national security advisors meeting. Russia is the current chair of BRICS and will host all related meetings in 2024, including the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan from 22 to 24 October 2024. President Putin invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the summit. The BRICS national security advisors’ conclave took place in St. Petersburg from 11 to 13 September 2024, attended by 10 member countries, including India, Russia, Brazil, China, and others. The meeting was hosted by Russian NSA Sergei Shoigu.

Notes:
The union government approved transferring 256 acres of salt pan land in Mumbai to the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL), drawing criticism from opposition leaders. Salt pans are low-lying lands where seawater leaves behind salt and minerals, vital for flood protection. According to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of 2011, salt pans are ecologically sensitive and fall under CRZ-1B, allowing only salt extraction and gas exploration. Nationally, 60,000 acres of salt pan land exist, with Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra having the largest areas. Salt pans also host various bird and insect species, contributing to ecological balance.

Notes:
The central government extended Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY) benefits to all senior citizens aged 70 or above. This decision was made during a Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Launched in 2018, the scheme has issued over 35.4 crore Ayushman cards across 33 states and union territories, except Delhi, West Bengal, and Odisha. The inclusion benefits 6 crore senior citizens, providing Rs 5 lakh annual health insurance. If a senior citizen is part of a covered family, the total family insurance will rise to Rs 10 lakh.
Senior citizens with private or other public insurance can also avail of AB PMJAY benefits.