Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

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:
India has recently become an affiliate member of the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF). The IMDRF was established in 2011 to promote international medical device regulatory harmonization. Its members include regulatory authorities from countries like the U.S., Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, and WHO. Membership reduces complexity for manufacturers and promotes public health through collaboration. It supports innovation and timely access to new medical devices. India will participate in IMDRF Open Sessions to share experiences and discuss regulatory strategies. This will strengthen India’s medical device regulatory system and ensure public health protection.

Notes:
Dholes have been found in Chincholi Wildlife Sanctuary in the Kalyana-Karnataka region. Chincholi Wildlife Sanctuary is located around the Chandrampalli Dam in Kalaburagi district, Karnataka. It is the first dry-land wildlife sanctuary in South India and was notified in 2011. The sanctuary features dry and moist deciduous forests, acacia and teak plantations, and lateritic grasslands. It is Karnataka’s northernmost protected area, home to diverse flora and fauna, including sandalwood, red sanders, blackbuck, striped hyena, wolf, and fruit bats. The sanctuary also includes settlements of the Lambani community.

Notes:
The Negro River, a main tributary of the Amazon, recently dropped to its lowest level in 122 years. It is one of the largest tributaries of the Amazon River and one of the world’s largest rivers by discharge. Originating from eastern Colombia, it flows through Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil before joining the Amazon at Manaus. The river spans about 1,400 miles, with 850 miles in Brazil. The river was named “Negro” for its dark water due to decomposed organic matter and tannins. It is the world’s largest blackwater river. The Central Amazon Ecological Corridor, a giant protected area, surrounds it.

Notes:
Iran recently launched over 180 ballistic missiles, including the hypersonic Fattah-2, targeting Israel’s air defenses. Fattah-2 is a new version of Iran’s first domestically made hypersonic ballistic missile, Fattah, which means conqueror in Farsi. It features a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) warhead that can maneuver and glide at hypersonic speed. The missile uses a liquid-fuel rocket propellant, allowing its engine to adjust thrust force.

Notes:
Every year on October 8, India observes Indian Air Force Day to honor servicemen and pilots who sacrificed their lives for the nation. This year, the celebration marks the 92nd anniversary of the Indian Air Force. The event takes place at Marina Beach in Chennai. Indian Air Force Day 2024 falls on a Tuesday, October 8, 2024. The theme for this year is “Bharatiya Vayusena: Saksham, Sashakt aur Aatmnirbhar,” which translates to “Potent, Powerful, and Self-Reliant.”

Notes:
The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare launched the online platform ‘Anubhav’ on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s direction. This platform allows retiring and retired government employees to share their work experiences. An Annual Awards Scheme was created in 2015 to encourage submissions, resulting in 10,886 published write-ups. So far, 78 outstanding write-ups have received 59 Anubhav Awards and 19 Jury Certificates. The National Anubhav Awards Scheme 2025 invites Central Government employees and pensioners to submit their write-ups for awards. For the first time, employees from Central Public Sector Undertakings will also be eligible to participate. The submission period for pensioners has been extended from one year to three years post-retirement.

Notes:
The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) takes place in New Delhi from October 14 to 24, 2024.
WTSA has been held every four years since 2002 and is the governing conference of the ITU Standardisation Sector. It defines the work program and structure of study groups for telecommunication standardization. Hosting WTSA 2024 is a significant milestone for India in setting global telecommunication standards. The event will start with the Global Standards Symposium (GSS) on October 14, 2024, focusing on ICT standardization policy debates.

Notes:
The 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit are being hosted by Lao PDR, the current ASEAN Chair. India is celebrating a decade of its Act East Policy, with ASEAN relations as a key focus. The ASEAN-India Summit will assess the progress of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discuss future cooperation. The East Asia Summit fosters strategic trust and allows leaders to discuss important regional issues. Prime Minister Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings during the summits.

Notes:
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that India has eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem. India is the third country in the South-East Asia Region to achieve this milestone. Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia Trachomatis and affects the eyes. It spreads through contact with secretions from the eyes, eyelids, nose, or throat of infected individuals. If untreated, it can lead to irreversible blindness. It primarily affects communities in poor environmental conditions, with 150 million people worldwide at risk, including 6 million who are blind.