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:
The Drought Resilience+10 (DR+10) Conference, held from September 30 to October 2, 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland, focused on enhancing global drought preparedness and resilience. It marked a decade since the first High-Level Meeting on National Drought Policy and brought together policymakers, experts, and practitioners to discuss advancements in drought management. With droughts becoming more frequent due to climate change, the conference emphasized the need for effective policies and global mechanisms to address systemic drought risks and promote sustainable development.

Notes:
India hosts the joint naval exercise of Quad nations from October 8 to 18 in Visakhapatnam. The exercise, named Malabar 2024, includes sea and harbor phases focusing on cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. It features various Indian naval platforms, such as guided missile destroyers, submarines, and fighter aircraft. The Malabar exercise started in 1992 as a US-India drill and evolved into a multilateral event to enhance interoperability and address maritime challenges. Recent Quad meetings emphasized maritime security cooperation and announced joint coast guard operations and a new regional Maritime Initiative for Training (MAITRI).

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 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 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:
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) homes bring joy to women of the Tharu tribe in Kheri district near the Indo-Nepal border. The Tharu tribe is an indigenous group living in the Terai plain on the Indo-Nepal border, found in both India and Nepal. In India, they are primarily in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, and were recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in 1967. They speak Tharu or Tharuhati, an Indo-Aryan language. Their economy is based on agriculture, cattle-raising, hunting, fishing, and forest products. Tharu homes are made from bamboo and mud.

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:
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) released its latest biennial ‘Living Planet’ report. Wildlife populations have dropped by 73% over the last 50 years (1970–2020). Freshwater species faced the largest declines, followed by terrestrial and marine populations. Main reasons for this decline include habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species. India’s consumption patterns would require less than one Earth by 2050 if adopted globally. Andhra Pradesh’s Community-Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) shows positive socio-economic impacts. India’s millet mission received praise for promoting nature-positive food production.

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.