Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
The All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) will host the World Pickleball Championship (WPC) Series in India for the first time. The event is scheduled for November 12th to 17th, 2024, in Mumbai. It will feature top pickleball talent from around the world, following successful tournaments in Vietnam and Bali. Approximately 650 players from 6 to 7 countries, including Australia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Poland, and Singapore, will participate. The tournament is expected to elevate Indian sports and attract global attention from pickleball enthusiasts.

Notes:
The Phata Byung Hydro Electric Project (HEP) in Uttarakhand has received fresh approval, pending environmental, forest, and wildlife clearances. It is a run-of-the-river project on the Mandakini River in Rudraprayag. There are concerns about the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the area, with 24 glacial lakes nearby, six of which are critical.
The Mandakini River originates from the Chorabari Glacier near Kedarnath and flows about 81 kilometers before joining the Alaknanda River at Rudraprayag. The Alaknanda eventually converges with the Bhagirathi River at Devaprayag, forming the Ganga and passes by the Madhyamaheshwar temple in Ukhimath.

Notes:
Ahmedabad University has launched The Climate Institute, focusing on research, education, and impact to address climate issues. The Institute is developing India’s first comprehensive Climate, Energy, and Environmental education program for future leaders. It operates in three areas: Energy and Climate Change, Cities and Settlements, and Air and Water, promoting interdisciplinary research and partnerships to inform policy design and innovation.

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:
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:
Paleontologists discovered a new sauropod dinosaur species, Ardetosaurus viator, in northern Wyoming, USA. It lived during the Late Jurassic period, around 150 million years ago. Ardetosaurus viator belonged to the Diplodocidae family, known for extremely long necks and tails. Sauropods were the largest land animals, existing for 135 million years across various continents except Antarctica. Their success came from unique adaptations like size, an air sac system, specialized feeding, and laying eggs. Diplodocids have been found in North and South America, Europe, and Africa.

Notes:
Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is set to become the state’s 8th tiger reserve. It covers about 3,500 sq km across Raisen, Sehore, and Bhopal districts. 1,500 sq km will be the core tiger area, with 2,000 sq km as a buffer zone. The sanctuary is home to 40 tigers, with 12 more tigers frequently moving nearby. It will boost tourism and the local economy, with increased government funding. The sanctuary hosts diverse wildlife, including over 150 bird species.

Notes:
NABARD’s second All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey (NAFIS) for 2021-22 surveyed 1 lakh rural households across India post-COVID. The average monthly income of households rose by 57.6% from Rs. 8,059 in 2016-17 to Rs. 12,698 in 2021-22, with a 9.5% CAGR. Agricultural households earned Rs. 13,661, while non-agricultural households earned Rs. 11,438.
Salaried employment was the largest income source for all households (37%). For agricultural households, cultivation made up one-third of income, while government/private services contributed one-fourth. Non-agricultural households relied primarily on government/private services (57%) and wage labor (26%).

Notes:
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare observed World Mental Health Day and celebrated two years of Tele MANAS. This year’s theme is “It is time to prioritize Mental Health at Workplace.” Tele MANAS aims to provide universal access to affordable mental health care through 24/7 tele-mental health services across India.

Notes:
Scientists at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science in Kolkata have found a new target for cancer treatment by activating a DNA repair enzyme called TDP1. TDP1, or Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1, is essential for DNA repair in humans as it removes damaged DNA bases. This discovery opens a promising path for precision medicine in cancer treatment, particularly for cancers that are resistant to existing therapies.