Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2023

Notes:
Two deaths from the viral infection- Nipah virus were reported from Kozhikode district, Kerala. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya confirmed that the deaths were due to Nipah virus.
Four suspected cases are currently under surveillance and their samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune. A Central government team of four experts has also been sent to Kerala to assist the State government in surveillance.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister of India, has accorded approval for the e-Courts Project Phase III. It is a Central Sector Scheme which will be implemented in four years with a financial allocation of Rs.7210 crore, starting from 2023.
This mission aims to enhance access to justice through technology. The Phase III will focus on digitizing court records, introducing universal e-filing and e-payment systems, implementing intelligent systems to aid judges and registries in decision-making.

Notes:
Union Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launches the Swachhata Special Campaign 3.0 Portal.
Swachhata campaign, the first mass awareness campaign launched by PM Modi on August 15, 2014 soon after taking over charge in May, 2014, achieved four primary objectives including change in work culture, eOffice, use of Open Spaces and Archive culture.

Notes:
The traditional Kokyet or turban of the state has been selected as part of the dress code for the Marshals of the Indian Parliament.
The Indian government is introducing new uniform codes for both houses of parliament, including Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, for an upcoming special parliamentary session. Other items introduced in the uniform code include magenta Nehru jackets for secretariat staff and camouflage attire for security officers.

Notes:
National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed from September 15 to October 15 annually, honors the rich cultural heritage and contributions of Hispanic Americans in the United States.
This celebration began with Hispanic Heritage Week and was officially recognized as a month-long observance by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968.

Notes:
Union Minister Jitendra Singh emphasized the importance of a public-private partnership (PPP) with an integrated strategy to achieve a “TB-mukt Bharat” (tuberculosis-free India).
India’s ambitious goal is eradicating tuberculosis by 2025. He flagged off the “TB-Mukt Express,” a mobile medical van under the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana healthcare initiative. This van will travel to various villages in Udhampur, promoting the slogan “Chalo Chale TB ko Harane” (let’s defeat TB).

Notes:
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bank of Maharashtra (BoM).
This collaboration aims to promote and facilitate co-lending and loan syndication for Renewable Energy projects across the nation. Under this agreement, Bank of Maharashtra can invest in the Bonds issued by IREDA.

Notes:
Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of India, unveiled the “People’s G20” eBook, highlighting India’s G20 Presidency, in New Delhi.
The eBook provides a comprehensive overview of India’s G20 Presidency, featuring three main parts. The first section covers the G20 Summit held in September 2023 in New Delhi, while the second part offers a summary of meetings held by various Working Groups under the Sherpa and Finance Track.

Notes:
The Indian Army has recently inducted 600 self-neutralizing anti-tank mines, known as “Vibhav,” into its arsenal.
Developed indigenously in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), these anti-tank mines are designed to provide mobility kill capability against all types of enemy armored vehicles. “Vibhav” mines are constructed using advanced plastic materials that offer durability and strength, making them suitable for storage, handling, and deployment in various field conditions.

Notes:
Agumbe Rainforest Complex (ARC) in Karnataka, known as the ‘Cherrapunji of the South’ for its high rainfall, has seen a decline in its monsoon rainfall over the past two years.
Some towns, such as Nadpal and Mudradi, located 45-50 kilometers away from ARC, have recorded higher rainfall in 2022, pushing Agumbe to the third position in terms of rainfall in Karnataka.