Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
The Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai has granted GI tags to eight products from Assam, including Bodo Napham and Bodo Ondla. Bodo Napham is a fermented fish dish prepared anaerobically over two to three months. Bodo Ondla is a rice powder curry seasoned with garlic and ginger.The other six products are Bodo Jou Gwran, Maibra Jou Bidwi, Bodo Jou Gishi, Bodo Gwkha, Bodo Narzi and Bodo Aronai.

Notes:
The MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity 2024 has been awarded to Vera Voronova from Kazakhstan and Ysabel Agustina Calderón Carlos from Peru. The prize was established by the AEON Environmental Foundation in collaboration with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It recognizes individuals for their significant contributions to biodiversity conservation and sustainability. The award is given biennially, every two years.

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 Bihar government announced that the Centre approved a tiger reserve at Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary is the largest in the Kaimur District, located in the Vindhyachal hill ranges. It plays a crucial role as a catchment area for the Kav, Sone, and Durgawati river systems and their tributaries. Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary connects with the Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh. This connection links to the Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve and the Panna landscape in Madhya Pradesh through forests and other wildlife sanctuaries.

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The Marburg virus, part of the filovirus family, is one of the deadliest pathogens, with case fatality rates ranging from 24% to 88%. The recent outbreak in Rwanda has already resulted in 12 deaths among 46 infections, predominantly affecting medical workers. Marburg spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and contaminated materials. Initial symptoms include high fever and severe headache, progressing to hemorrhagic symptoms. Currently, there are no approved vaccines, but experimental treatments are being sought, highlighting the urgent need for effective healthcare responses in affected regions.

Notes:
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John M. Jumper for contributions to protein science. David Baker received the prize for computational protein design, creating entirely new proteins since 2003. Demis Hassabis and John Jumper were recognized for developing AlphaFold2, an AI model that predicts 3D protein structures. AlphaFold2 can predict the structure of nearly all 200 million identified proteins. These innovations are used in fields like pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and solving challenges like antibiotic resistance and plastic degradation.

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The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has designated Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The group seeks to establish a global Islamic state and Caliphate through terrorism, posing a significant threat to India’s national security. HuT has been involved in radicalizing youth and promoting terrorism via social media, making it a serious concern for the Indian government.

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Scientists at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science in Kolkata have found a new target for cancer treatment by activating a DNA repair enzyme called TDP1. TDP1, or Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1, is essential for DNA repair in humans as it removes damaged DNA bases. This discovery opens a promising path for precision medicine in cancer treatment, particularly for cancers that are resistant to existing therapies.

Notes:
The India Digital Agri Conference 2024, co-organized by ICFA and IIT Ropar, was held in New Delhi. The mission aims to empower farmers with real-time information for better decision-making and boost rural livelihoods. The event emphasized using technology and collaboration to innovate traditional farming, promote sustainability, and build climate-resilient systems.

Notes:
India’s top women’s doubles pair, Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee, made history by winning a bronze medal at the Asian Table Tennis Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. This achievement marks India’s first-ever medal in women’s doubles at the championships. They became the first all-India women’s doubles pair to win a medal in this competition. The last medal in women’s doubles was won in 1952 by Gool Nasikwala, who secured gold with Japan’s Yoshiko Tanaka.