Current Affairs Quiz- September, 2019

Notes:
The book titled “The Cousins Thackeray: Uddhav, Raj and the Shadow of their Senas” is written by journalist-author Dhaval Kulkarni.  The book is a deep-dive narrative into the history of the Thackeray family, life and times of their grandfather, social reformer-author Prabodhankar Thackeray, and the childhood and political careers of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray. It also examines questions about identity politics, and the social, cultural and economic matrix that catalyzed the formation of the Shiv Sena and the MNS from it. 

Notes:
Moti Bagh, a documentary film based on the struggle of an 83-year-old farmer ‘Vidyadutt’ in a remote Himalayan village, has been nominated for the 2019 Oscars. The film is directed by Nirmal Chander & is about a farm in the hills of Uttarakhand runs by farmer who grows award-winning radishes and writes poetry. The film highlights migration of locals from several villages in the Garhwal and Kumaon regions of the state.

Notes:
The Himachal Pradesh government has launched Mukhya  Mantri Seva Sankalp Helpline 1100 for speedy and time-bound redressal of public grievances. The helpline will function 6 days a week (Monday-Saturday) from 7 am to 10 pm. 

Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for development of human centric systems specific to the Human Space Mission (HSM) under the Gaganyaan project. Some of the critical technologies to be provided by the DRDO to ISRO include space food, space crew health monitoring and emergency survival kit, radiation measurement and protection, and parachutes for safe recovery of crew module. The aim of the ISRO is to demonstrate human spaceflight capability before the 75th anniversary of India’s independence in 2022.

Notes:
Renowned Indian photographer Raghu Rai has been chosen as the first recipient of the first edition of the prestigious French Award of the Acadmie des beaux-arts Photography Award – William Klein . The prize of 1,20,000 euros will be presented to Rai in the Palais de l’Institut de France on 30th October 2019. As a consecration award, this prize is intended to reward a photographer for his/her entire career and commitment to photography. The award is in honour of the celebrated American-born French photographer and filmmaker William Klein, who was best known for his unusual photography techniques. Raghu is the photojournalist who captured with his lens the stark after-effects of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984) and brought to viewers the hard-hitting visuals during the Bangladesh War (1971).

Notes:
The first-ever World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) is observed on 17th of September to raise global awareness about patient safety and encourage global solidarity and action. The theme of the very first WPSD is “Patient Safety: a global health priority” and the slogan is “Speak up for Patient Safety!”.

Notes:
To reduce human-animal conflict, the Uttarakhand government has decided to carry out bio-fencing by growing various species of plants in those areas viz. lemongrass, agave, rambans, and chilly. The move is to prevent wild animals from entering residential areas and to protect agricultural crops and livestock in areas adjoining to forests. This biotic method is environment-friendly and harvesting of such plants can also be economical for farmers. Leopards, bears, elephants and wild boars are a major threat to human life and livestock.

Notes:
Kerala will host the India’s first-ever trans art festival titled “Varnapakitt-2019”.  In it, talented transgender members will get a platform to showcase their artistic and creative skills. As part of the art festival, the state government has  also invited applications for cash awards from 10 transgenders who have proved their excellence in various social fields except cinema. The 2-day event is considered to be the first such state-sponsored art festival to be organized exclusively for transgenders in the country. 

Notes:
The book titled “Being Gandhi” has been authored by award-winning author Paro Anand. This new book will mark the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi by looking beyond the leader and his politics and into his way of life.  It explores “not Gandhi the man or his life as a leader, but really the Gandhian way that must remain relevant to us”.

Notes:
The Indian Army conducted a massive rare exercise named ‘Chang Thang Prahar’ at a high altitude area in Eastern Laddakh  bordering China for testing and improving its war-fighting capabilities. The integrated exercise involved the use of infantry, mechanized forces, T-72 tanks, with force multipliers such as artillery guns and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).