Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

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 Thirukurungudi Temples, including the Nambi Rayar Temple, Thirumalai Nambi Temple, and Aniliswarar Temple, are situated in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has recently documented inscriptions from these temples, dating back to the 9th Century during the Pandya period. These inscriptions reveal historical donations, including sheep for temple lamps and tax-free land for gardens, highlighting the region’s rich cultural heritage and religious practices during the Vijayanagara reign.

Notes:
The Ustad Allauddin Khan Festival was recently organized in Madhya Pradesh. The festival is held in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh, and is dedicated to the renowned musician Ustad Allauddin Khan. The three-day event features performances by many renowned personalities from across the country. It is organized by the Madhya Pradesh Culture Department, Ustad Allauddin Khan Music and Art Academy, and the Maihar District Administration, running until October 10. Ustad Allauddin Khan was a prominent figure in music, known for his efforts to promote Madhya Pradesh’s musical tradition and engage the younger generation.

Notes:
World Post Day is celebrated every year on October 9 to highlight the importance of the postal system in daily life, global communication, and economic growth. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), established in 1874 in Bern, Switzerland, which transformed international mail exchange. The theme for this year, “150 Years of Enabling Communication and Empowering People Across Nations,” honors the UPU’s efforts to streamline international mail services and create a unified postal system for easier mail exchange between countries.

Notes:
Uttarakhand will host the 38th Summer National Games from January 28 to February 14, 2025, and the next Winter Games.
The 37th National Games were held in Goa from September 25 to November 9, 2023. This will be the first time Winter Games are held outside Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The National Games, organized by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) , aim to identify talent for the Summer Olympics. The first National Games were held in 1924 in Lahore, originally called the All-India Olympic Games.

Notes:
India’s National Space Commission approved the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (Lupex), India’s fifth lunar mission. Lupex follows the success of Chandrayaan-3’s Moon landing in August 2023, making India the fourth nation to land on the Moon. It is a joint mission between India’s ISRO and Japan’s JAXA, focusing on lunar resource exploration. The main objective is to study the presence and distribution of water on the Moon’s surface and beneath its regolith. Lupex aims to provide crucial data for future lunar exploration and potential human habitation.

Notes:
The “Steadfast Noon” exercise is a major NATO nuclear drill is scheduled to take place on October 13, 2024. It will involve 2,000 personnel and 60 aircraft from 13 nations, primarily conducted in the North Sea, approximately 900 kilometers from Russia. This exercise has been held annually for over a decade and aims to demonstrate NATO’s readiness to counter threats to its member countries, particularly in light of recent changes in Russia’s nuclear doctrine.

Notes:
South Korean author Han Kang won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature. She is the first Korean to receive this honor. Her work is known for its “intense poetic prose” that addresses historical traumas and the fragility of life. Notable works include The Vegetarian (Man Booker International Prize winner in 2016), The White Book, Human Acts, and Greek Lessons.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Laos PM Sonexay Siphandone in Vientiane and congratulated him on hosting the ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits. They highlighted the restoration of Vat Phou, a UNESCO site, supported by India, as strengthening bilateral ties. Agreements were signed in defence, broadcasting, customs cooperation, and Quick Impact Projects under Mekong-Ganga Cooperation. The projects include preserving the Lao Ramayana, restoring Wat Pakea temple with Ramayana artwork, and supporting a shadow puppetry theatre in Champasak province.