Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
The Madhya Pradesh cabinet approved a Rs 100 crore project to build a memorial and garden for Gond queen Rani Durgavati.
Rani Durgavati (1524–2024) was a queen of the Gond kingdom of Garha-Katanga and a descendant of the Chandela dynasty of Mahoba. She was born on October 5, 1524, in Kalinjar (Banda, U.P.), part of the Chandela dynasty.

Notes:
Iran recently launched over 180 ballistic missiles, including the hypersonic Fattah-2, targeting Israel’s air defenses. Fattah-2 is a new version of Iran’s first domestically made hypersonic ballistic missile, Fattah, which means conqueror in Farsi. It features a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) warhead that can maneuver and glide at hypersonic speed. The missile uses a liquid-fuel rocket propellant, allowing its engine to adjust thrust force.

Notes:
World Cotton Day is celebrated annually on 7th October to highlight cotton’s global significance. The day raises awareness about the challenges faced by cotton farmers and the cotton industry. Cotton is used not only in textiles but also for animal feed, medical supplies, and edible oil. India is the second-largest cotton producer globally, after China.

Notes:
The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare launched the online platform ‘Anubhav’ on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s direction. This platform allows retiring and retired government employees to share their work experiences. An Annual Awards Scheme was created in 2015 to encourage submissions, resulting in 10,886 published write-ups. So far, 78 outstanding write-ups have received 59 Anubhav Awards and 19 Jury Certificates. The National Anubhav Awards Scheme 2025 invites Central Government employees and pensioners to submit their write-ups for awards. For the first time, employees from Central Public Sector Undertakings will also be eligible to participate. The submission period for pensioners has been extended from one year to three years post-retirement.

Notes:
Darjeeling’s Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park’s Red Panda Program is a finalist for the 2024 WAZA Conservation Award. Between 2022 and 2024, nine captive-bred red pandas were released into Singalila National Park, West Bengal. The zoo collaborates with institutions and the government of India for habitat restoration. It has a Biobanking and Genetic Resource Facility to preserve gametes, tissues, and DNA of Red Pandas and other endangered species. The award winner will be announced at the 79th WAZA Annual Conference on 7th November in Taronga Zoo, Australia.

Notes:
The Karnataka State Wildlife Board recently approved the declaration of Hesaraghatta grassland as the Greater Hesaraghatta Grassland Conservation Reserve. This decision aims to protect green spaces in Bengaluru amid urban expansion. The area encompasses 5,010 acres, including multiple lakes and forest areas. The move addresses long-standing demands for environmental conservation and follows a previous rejection of the proposal in 2021, which was reconsidered due to a High Court directive.

Notes:
Taiwan’s navy claims China’s military is using an “anaconda strategy” against the island. The strategy is inspired by Union General Winfield Scott’s Civil War plan to suffocate the enemy like an anaconda. China aims to economically and militarily isolate Taiwan, using military movements, psychological tactics, and cyber warfare. The goal is to pressure Taiwan into surrendering without a direct invasion.

Notes:
World Habitat Day was first observed in 1985, celebrated on the first Monday in October. The Global Observance of World Habitat Day is observed on 7 October this year. It highlights the right to decent and safe housing for everyone. The 2024 theme is “Engaging youth to create a better urban future,” focusing on the opportunities and challenges of rapid urban growth. The goal is to involve young people in planning their present and future environments.

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:
More than 550 Katkari tribe members received caste certificates in Pune. The Katkari tribe is found in Maharashtra (Pune, Raigad, and Thane) and parts of Gujarat. They classified as one of India’s 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Historically, they were forest dwellers, known for making katha from Acacia trees. They speak Katkari among themselves and Marathi with others; some also speak Hindi. Their occupations include agricultural labor, firewood selling, fishing, coal making, and brick manufacturing. Most Katkari families are landless, leading to high migration and seasonal livelihoods.