Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
Indian shooters dominated the ISSF Junior World Shooting Championship in Peru, winning 24 medals: 13 gold, 3 silver, and 8 bronze. Italy secured second place, while Norway came in third. On the final day, Deepak Dalal, Kamaljeet, and Raj Chandra won the men’s 50m pistol team gold medal. The next major event is the ISSF World Cup Final in New Delhi, scheduled for October 13 to 18.

Notes:
The canal network connected to Hirakud Dam, a major project in eastern India, is set for renovation. Hirakud Dam is the longest dam in India and the longest earthen dam in the world, with a length of 25.79 km. It is built across the Mahanadi River, 15 km upstream of Sambalpur, Odisha. The dam creates the Hirakud Reservoir, the largest artificial lake in Asia, covering 746 sq. km. Inaugurated in 1957, it was India’s first major post-independence multipurpose river valley project. It provides irrigation for 1,55,635 hectares in Kharif and 1,08,385 hectares in Rabi seasons, with a power generation capacity of 359.8 MW.

Notes:
The MACE Observatory was recently inaugurated by the Secretary of DAE and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission in Hanle, Ladakh. It is the largest imaging Cherenkov telescope in Asia and the world’s highest, located at an altitude of about 4,300 meters. The Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) aims to enhance international collaborations and strengthen India’s role in space research. Indigenously built by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) with help from ECIL and other Indian industry partners, it will advance studies in astrophysics and particle acceleration. MACE will observe high-energy gamma rays, aiding global research on phenomena like supernovae, black holes, and gamma-ray bursts while supporting Ladakh’s socio-economic development.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet approved the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat, on 9 October 2024. This complex will be developed in two phases at the ancient Indus Valley site of Lothal. It aims to be an international tourist destination showcasing India’s maritime heritage from ancient to modern times. The Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in collaboration with the Gujarat government, is overseeing the project under the Sagarmala scheme. Built on 400 acres, it will cost approximately Rs 4500 crore, with work beginning in March 2022.

Notes:
The Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya recently participated in a joint exercise with the Italian Navy’s Carrier Strike Group, including the aircraft carrier ITS Cavour. This historic maritime engagement took place off the Goa coast from October 1 to 6, 2024, and involved various complex operations, showcasing interoperability between the two navies. The exercise highlighted the importance of collaboration in maintaining maritime security and addressing challenges such as piracy and threats to commercial shipping in the Indian Ocean region.

Notes:
Ahmedabad University has launched The Climate Institute, focusing on research, education, and impact to address climate issues. The Institute is developing India’s first comprehensive Climate, Energy, and Environmental education program for future leaders. It operates in three areas: Energy and Climate Change, Cities and Settlements, and Air and Water, promoting interdisciplinary research and partnerships to inform policy design and innovation.

Notes:
The “Steadfast Noon” exercise is a major NATO nuclear drill is scheduled to take place on October 13, 2024. It will involve 2,000 personnel and 60 aircraft from 13 nations, primarily conducted in the North Sea, approximately 900 kilometers from Russia. This exercise has been held annually for over a decade and aims to demonstrate NATO’s readiness to counter threats to its member countries, particularly in light of recent changes in Russia’s nuclear doctrine.

Notes:
The first phase of the Second Army Commanders’ Conference for 2024 was held in a hybrid mode in Gangtok, Sikkim.
This two-day conference served as a forum for senior commanders to review operational preparedness, discuss strategies, and outline future directives. The second phase of the conference will take place in Delhi on October 28-29.

Notes:
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi unveiled ‘Agniastra,’ a multi-target detonation device, at the Army Commanders Conference in Gangtok. It improves room interventions and bunker destruction, aiding counter-terrorism operations. The device, known as WEDC, enhances safety and reliability over the older Exploder Dynamo Capacitor, which had a limited range of 400 meters. The new microprocessor-based detonation system, developed by Major Rajprasad, operates in both wired and wireless modes with a range of 2.5 km. It allows selective and simultaneous firing of multiple targets, making it highly effective for safe demolition operations. This innovation significantly enhances counter-terrorism efforts and IED destruction, ensuring better safety for troops during critical missions.

Notes:
A 75-year-old man from Kerala was diagnosed with murine typhus after traveling to Vietnam and Cambodia. Murine typhus is caused by the flea-borne bacteria Rickettsia typhi. It is transmitted to humans through bites from infected fleas, often found on rodents like rats and mice. Fleas can spread the disease for life once infected, and transmission can also occur through contact with infected flea feces. Murine typhus does not spread from person to person and is commonly reported in coastal tropical and subtropical regions. In India, cases have been noted in Northeast states, Madhya Pradesh, and Kashmir.