Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
The Union Health Ministry has increased monthly nutrition support for TB patients under Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000. Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) was launched in April 2018 under the National Health Mission. It is a direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP). The scheme aims to provide nutritional support to TB patients. All notified TB patients are eligible beneficiaries of the scheme.

Notes:
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) suspended the membership of the National Zoological Park, or Delhi Zoo. The decision was due to concerns over the poor conditions of the lone African elephant at the zoo. WAZA is the global umbrella organization for zoos and aquariums, established in 1935. It represents the zoo and aquarium community worldwide. The organization’s mission focuses on animal care, environmental education, and global conservation. WAZA’s members include prominent zoos, aquariums, and regional associations, along with affiliate organizations like zoo veterinarians and educators.

Notes:
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma launched the GREEN Meghalaya Plus (GMP) Scheme to enhance and conserve forest cover. The scheme aims to expand forest conservation by offering monetary rewards for protecting forested areas. It follows the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) principle, supporting individuals and communities committed to conserving natural forests for at least 30 years. This initiative is part of the state’s PES program launched in 2022 and targets an additional 50,000 hectares for conservation. So far, over 3,000 individuals and communities have benefitted, conserving more than 54,000 hectares of natural forest.

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:
Gujarat has announced to establish a Caracal Breeding and Conservation Center in Kutch’s Chadva Rakhal region with a ₹10 crore budget. The center aims to protect and breed the critically endangered Caracal, found in Kutch. The announcement was made by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel during Wildlife Week celebrations. Although listed as ‘least concern’ globally by the IUCN, Caracals are critically endangered in India. A study confirmed 19 Caracal sightings in Gujarat, all in Kutch, with 9 authenticated by photos. Caracals in India face habitat loss and are protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Act.

Notes:
India’s men’s team won the bronze medal at the 2024 Asian Table Tennis Championships after losing 3-0 to Chinese Taipei in the semi-finals. This is India’s third consecutive bronze in the men’s team event, following 2021 and 2023. India has won a total of seven bronze medals at the Asian Table Tennis Championships. Indian players faced tough competition against higher-ranked opponents.

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.

Notes:
A new weapon known as “dragon drones” is being used in the Russia-Ukraine war. These drones release thermite, a mixture of aluminum and iron oxide originally developed for welding railroad tracks. When ignited, thermite causes a self-sustaining reaction that is difficult to extinguish. It can burn through various materials, including clothing, trees, and military vehicles, and causes severe burns and bone damage to humans. Dragon drones combine thermite with precision technology, making them highly effective and dangerous. While the use of thermite in war is legal, targeting civilians with incendiary weapons is prohibited under international law.

Notes:
Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea renewed a cooperation agreement to jointly manage Campo-Ma’an National Park and Rio Campo National Park. These parks are key biodiversity hotspots and important carbon sinks. Campo Ma’an National Park in Cameroon covers 2,640 sq km and hosts 80 mammal species, including endangered elephants, gorillas, and chimpanzees. Rio Campo National Park in Equatorial Guinea, spanning 330 sq km, supports great apes, elephants, and hippos. The agreement promotes transboundary management to preserve biodiversity and support sustainable regional development.

Notes:
Maharashtra Cabinet approved the Damanganga-Vaitarna-Godavari and Damanganga-Ekdare-Godavari river-linking projects. These projects aim to address water scarcity in North Maharashtra and Marathwada regions. The total cost of the projects is ₹15,710 crore. The Damanganga-Vaitarna-Godavari project received ₹13,497 crore in funding, providing 160.97 MLD of water and irrigating 33,110 hectares. The Damanganga-Ekdare-Godavari project was approved with ₹2,213 crore, supplying 100 MLD of water and irrigating 12,998 hectares. These initiatives aim to significantly improve irrigation and water availability, especially in Sinnar taluka, Nashik district.