Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
Switzerland and Italy have redrawn their national boundary due to melting Alpine glaciers. Many parts of the Swiss-Italian border are determined by glacier ridgelines, which are shifting as glaciers melt. The redrawn section lies beneath the Matterhorn, one of Europe’s highest peaks. Switzerland’s glaciers lost 10% of their ice volume in 2022-2023, a record high. More than half of Switzerland’s electricity comes from hydroelectric facilities, which are also at risk due to accelerated glacier melting.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Banjara Virasat Museum in Pohardevi, Washim, Maharashtra, highlighting the Banjara community’s heritage. The four-story Banjara Virasat Museum showcases the rich heritage of the Banjara community through portraits of their leaders and historical legacies.

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:
The Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai has granted GI tags to eight products from Assam, including Bodo Napham and Bodo Ondla. Bodo Napham is a fermented fish dish prepared anaerobically over two to three months. Bodo Ondla is a rice powder curry seasoned with garlic and ginger.The other six products are Bodo Jou Gwran, Maibra Jou Bidwi, Bodo Jou Gishi, Bodo Gwkha, Bodo Narzi and Bodo Aronai.

Notes:
Pakistan recently banned the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), calling it a national security threat. PTM advocates for the rights of ethnic Pashtuns. Pashtuns, also known as Pathans or Pakhtuns, are an ethnic group in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They mainly live between the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan and the northern Indus River in Pakistan. The Durand Line, drawn in the late 19th century, separated Pashtuns in Pakistan from those in Afghanistan. Pashtuns make up 40-50% of Afghanistan’s population and primarily speak Pashto. They also use Farsi for trade.

Notes:
A recent clinical trial indicates that a diet high in advanced glycation end products (AGEs) contributes to India being the world’s diabetic capital. AGEs, also known as glycotoxins, are harmful molecules created by glycation and oxidation of lipids and proteins. Glycation combines molecules with sugars, while oxidation combines them with oxygen. While AGEs are produced by the body’s metabolism, most come from food, particularly through high-temperature cooking methods like grilling and frying. Tobacco use also adds to AGE levels, and production increases with age.

Notes:
The Bihar government announced that the Centre approved a tiger reserve at Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary is the largest in the Kaimur District, located in the Vindhyachal hill ranges. It plays a crucial role as a catchment area for the Kav, Sone, and Durgawati river systems and their tributaries. Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary connects with the Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh. This connection links to the Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve and the Panna landscape in Madhya Pradesh through forests and other wildlife sanctuaries.

Notes:
The NASA’s Europa Clipper mission launched on October 10, 2024. It aims to explore Jupiter’s moon Europa, which is believed to harbor an ocean beneath its icy surface. Equipped with nine scientific instruments, the spacecraft will analyze the moon’s surface and subsurface for signs of life. Unlike Mars, Europa’s potential for life is linked to its liquid water beneath the ice, making this mission crucial for understanding extraterrestrial life possibilities.

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 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDR) is celebrated annually on October 13. he day was established in 1989 to promote a global culture of disaster reduction and risk-awareness. It celebrates the efforts of communities and people around the world to reduce their exposure to disasters.