Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
The participatory forest management project in Kerala’s Periyar Tiger Reserve is called “Vidiyal Vanapathukappu Sangam” which translates to “The Dawn Forest Protection Group” and primarily involves former poachers and sandalwood smugglers turned protectors of the reserve. This project actively engages former poachers, providing them with alternative livelihoods like tourist guiding and anti-poaching activities. The project has been credited with significantly reducing poaching in the Periyar Tiger Reserve and safeguarding the area’s sandalwood reserve.

Notes:
The Ministry of Education launched the registration portal for the fifth phase of Yuva Sangam under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. Yuva Sangam aims to strengthen connections between youth from different states and union territories. Participants aged 18 to 30 can register on the portal. The registration deadline is the 21st of this month. During the Yuva Sangam tours, participants will receive exposure in five areas: Paryatan (Tourism), Parampara (Tradition), Pragati (Progress), Paraspar Sampark (Interconnection), and Prodyogiki (Technology) over 5-7 days.

Notes:
The Union cabinet, led by PM Modi, approved the continuation of fortified rice distribution under all government schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), from July 2024 to December 2028. The initiative is fully funded by the Centre, providing a unified mechanism for implementation. India faces high malnutrition levels, especially among women and children, with widespread deficiencies in iron, Vitamin B12, and folic acid. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) shows high anaemia rates, with every second woman anaemic and every third child stunted. Rice, a staple food in India, is ideal for fortification to address malnutrition and improve health.

Notes:
The Delhi High Court recently issued directions to improve access to “orphan drugs” for treating rare diseases. A rare disease is a health condition that affects a small number of people compared to more common diseases. There are between 7,000 and 8,000 classified rare diseases. Less than 5% of these rare diseases have available therapies. A disease is classified as rare if its prevalence is less than one case per 1,000 people.

Notes:
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar inaugurated the eMigrate V2.0 web portal and mobile app in Delhi. The eMigrate portal promotes safe and legal migration for Indian workers. The new version reflects the government’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of Indian migrants. It aligns with Goal 10 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, supporting safe and responsible migration. Global demand for skilled workers is increasing, and India is negotiating migration agreements since 2015. Passport issuance has nearly doubled, and the portal improves efficiency and offers social security for migrants.

Notes:
The TREES initiative, established to assist smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa, focuses on creating “forest gardens” to enhance food security and combat desertification. Since 2014, it has supported over 50,000 households across countries like Senegal, Kenya, and Uganda. By integrating trees into agricultural practices, TREES aims to improve soil fertility, increase crop yields, and strengthen community resilience against climate change, contributing to global biodiversity and ecosystem restoration efforts.

Notes:
NASA launched the Europa Clipper spacecraft to explore Jupiter’s moon, Europa, and its potential to sustain life. The spacecraft will travel 3 billion kilometers in a nearly 10-year mission. Europa is believed to have a deep ocean, possibly 120 km beneath its icy surface. In 2013, Hubble detected geysers on Europa, suggesting thermal vents that could support life. The mission aims to study these vents for signs of life. Europa Clipper is NASA’s largest spacecraft, powered by solar panels, with a budget of $5.2 billion.

Notes:
India has acquired 31 MQ-9B Predator drones from the US for surveillance and reconnaissance. These drones, made by General Atomics, can be used for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. They can fly over 40,000 feet and stay airborne for up to 40 hours, providing real-time information. The deal includes a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul facility in India, boosting the capabilities of the Indian Navy and Air Force.

Notes:
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed every year on October 17th. Its purpose is to raise awareness about the need to eliminate poverty in all its forms. The day encourages efforts to create a more just, inclusive, and equitable world. Special attention is given to people living in extreme poverty.

Notes:
An Indian delegation led by Union Minister Nityanand Rai attended the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) 2024 in Manila. The conference was inaugurated by Philippine President Bongbong Marcos. The theme was “Surge to 2030: Enhancing ambition in Asia Pacific to accelerate disaster risk reduction.” APMCDRR is the key platform for the Asia-Pacific region to monitor and enhance cooperation on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. It involves governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector to speed up disaster risk reduction efforts.