Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
Nagaland signed Wales as a Country Partner for the 25th Hornbill Festival. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, during his visit to Wales, announced the agreement with the Welsh Government, British Council, and Wales Arts International. The partnership concludes the “Wales in India 2024” celebration and aims to strengthen bilateral ties, enhance people-to-people contact, and create opportunities for youth.

Notes:
Vuhledar, meaning “gift of coal,” is a coal mining town in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, with a pre-war population of around 14,000. Built in the 1960s by the Soviet Union, it has significant coal reserves and has been a focal point in the ongoing conflict. Its strategic location allows control over supply lines and positions in the eastern and southern fronts. The town has faced extensive devastation due to fierce battles, with Russian forces recently claiming control after encircling Ukrainian defenders, highlighting its importance in the broader conflict over the Donetsk region.

Notes:
Nine captive-bred pygmy hogs were recently released in Manas National Park, Assam. Pygmy hogs are the smallest and rarest wild pig species globally. They build their own nests, which have a roof, making them unique among mammals. As an indicator species, their presence shows the health of tall, wet grassland habitats. They thrive in undisturbed grasslands with dense grass, herbs, and young trees. The viable wild population is currently in the Manas Tiger Reserve. Pygmy hogs are critically endangered according to the IUCN and are listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Manas National Park is located in Assam and is contiguous with Bhutan’s Royal Manas National Park.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet of India, led by the Prime Minister, has approved Classical Language status for Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. The recognition is based on criteria set by a Linguistic Experts Committee. The language must also have knowledge texts, including prose, alongside poetry and inscriptional evidence. Other recognized classical languages are Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014).

Notes:
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has delivered 100 Control Centres for the Air Defence Control and Reporting system (Akashteer) to the Indian Army. These control centres will play a crucial role in protecting the country from aerial threats like missile and rocket attacks. The successful delivery highlights India’s commitment to strengthening its military self-reliance. It also emphasizes the modernization of India’s defense infrastructure, enhancing overall security capabilities.

Notes:
The Drought Resilience+10 (DR+10) Conference, held from September 30 to October 2, 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland, focused on enhancing global drought preparedness and resilience. It marked a decade since the first High-Level Meeting on National Drought Policy and brought together policymakers, experts, and practitioners to discuss advancements in drought management. With droughts becoming more frequent due to climate change, the conference emphasized the need for effective policies and global mechanisms to address systemic drought risks and promote sustainable development.

Notes:
The Madhya Pradesh cabinet approved a Rs 100 crore project to build a memorial and garden for Gond queen Rani Durgavati.
Rani Durgavati (1524–2024) was a queen of the Gond kingdom of Garha-Katanga and a descendant of the Chandela dynasty of Mahoba. She was born on October 5, 1524, in Kalinjar (Banda, U.P.), part of the Chandela dynasty.

Notes:
World Cotton Day is celebrated annually on 7th October to highlight cotton’s global significance. The day raises awareness about the challenges faced by cotton farmers and the cotton industry. Cotton is used not only in textiles but also for animal feed, medical supplies, and edible oil. India is the second-largest cotton producer globally, after China.

Notes:
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:
INS Talwar arrived in South Africa for the eighth edition of exercise IBSAMAR. IBSAMAR is a joint maritime exercise involving India, Brazil, and South Africa. The exercise focuses on Blue Water Naval Warfare, covering Surface and Anti-Air Warfare. Activities include professional exchanges, firefighting drills, search-and-seizure operations, diving, aviation safety, and ocean governance seminars. The exercise strengthens naval interoperability, builds mutual trust, and fosters cooperation among like-minded nations for peaceful maritime environments.