Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
According to recent reports, a rare brown vine snake has been spotted in Dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh. It emerged as a species never previously documented in the wildlife history of Dudhwa National Park or the entire state of Uttar Pradesh. This is the second remarkable reptile discovery in Dudhwa, following the rediscovery of the rare red coral Khukri snake in 2019.

Notes:
Olympian and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Dipa Karmakar announced her retirement from gymnastics. She was the first Indian female gymnast to gain international recognition. She narrowly missed a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, performing the Produnova vault. Dipa won a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and gold at the 2018 World Cup in Turkiye. She also won gold at the 2024 Asian Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Notes:
The State of Global Water Resources report 2023 reveals that it was the driest year for global rivers in over three decades. This annual report has been published by the World Meteorological Organization since 2021. It provides a detailed overview of water resources, drawing from various national and international sources. The last five years have seen widespread below-normal river flows and reservoir inflows. All glacier regions reported ice loss in 2023, marking the largest mass loss in 50 years. Over 600 gigatons of water were lost globally, and 3.6 billion people lack adequate water access. This figure is projected to rise to over 5 billion by 2050, indicating a failure to meet Sustainable Development Goal 6.

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.

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Recently, the Indian Navy received Nirdeshak, the second of four Survey Vessel ships, built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers in Kolkata. Nirdeshak features over 80% indigenous content, reflecting the commitment to ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat.’ These are the largest survey vessels in India, designed for comprehensive coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys of ports and navigational channels. The ship will also gather oceanographic and geophysical data for both defense and civil applications.

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.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in India to fully digitalize document registration with its new e-registry system, Sampada 2.0. This advanced version of the software and mobile app allows document registration to be completed online, eliminating the need for physical visits to Sub-Registrar offices. The process is now completely digital, secure, and paperless, making it more convenient and hassle-free for users.

Notes:
RBI proposed the Reserve Bank Climate Risk Information System (RB-CRIS) to bridge gaps in climate-related data. Current climate data is fragmented, from varied sources, formats, and frequencies. RB-CRIS will have two parts: a public web directory of data sources and a data portal with standardized datasets. RBI will launch RB-CRIS in phases, starting with the directory, followed by the portal for regulated entities. Regulated entities must assess climate risks to ensure financial stability. RBI’s draft guidelines require disclosures on governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics related to climate risks.

Notes:
As Ukraine seeks Taurus missiles to counter Russia, the South Korean Air Force conducted a live fire drill with the German-origin Taurus missile. The Taurus missile is a precision-guided, long-range air-to-surface cruise missile developed in the mid-1990s by German and Swedish companies. It can strike stationary and semi-stationary targets with high accuracy. Weighing 1,400 kg and about 5.1 meters long, it can be launched from various platforms. The missile is powered by a turbofan engine, achieving subsonic speeds and good fuel efficiency.

Notes:
Nihon Hidankyo, the Japanese organization of atomic bomb survivors, was awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons and raise awareness about the humanitarian consequences of their use. The group, representing the Hibakusha, has played a crucial role in the global movement for nuclear disarmament since its founding in 1956. Their testimonies have significantly contributed to establishing a nuclear taboo, ensuring that nuclear weapons have not been used since 1945. This recognition highlights the ongoing challenges and pressures faced by the disarmament movement in the contemporary world.