Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2024

Notes:
Wayanad, Kerala, struck by a deadly landslide killing nearly 200 people, ranked 13th in ISRO’s 2023 Landslide Atlas of India. Prepared by National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of ISRO, the atlas details landslide occurrences and damage in 147 districts across 17 states and two Union Territories. It includes 80,000 landslides mapped from 1998 to 2022, categorized by season, event, and route. The data, using high-resolution satellite imagery, ranked districts based on socio-economic exposure to landslides.

Notes:
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) launched ‘Suvidha Software Version 1.0’ at its first ‘Annual Operational Sea Training Conference’ in Visakhapatnam. This software aims to improve training protocols across ICG platforms. Deputy Director General Anupam Rai emphasized excellence and adaptability. Senior officers discussed best practices and strategies for maritime security, highlighting ICG’s dedication to innovation and operational training excellence.

Notes:
Ministry of Defence signed an MoU with Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC) to establish three advanced testing facilities in Uttar Pradesh under the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS). These include one facility in Lucknow for Mechanical & Material (M&M) and two in Kanpur for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Communications. DTIS was launched in May 2020 by Ministry of Defence with a Rs 400 crore budget. DTIS aims to boost indigenous defence production.

Notes:
During Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to India from July 30 to August 1, 2024, the Indian government announced $300 million in loans to strengthen Vietnam’s maritime security. Nine agreements were signed, including Vietnam joining the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and a plan to develop the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat. The visit marked a significant step in deepening India-Vietnam ties.

Notes:
The Indian government plans to introduce the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha. This bill aims to create a comprehensive disaster database and set up Urban Disaster Management Authorities in state capitals and major cities. It will empower the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) to independently prepare disaster plans and appoint experts. The bill also seeks to grant statutory recognition to bodies like the National Crisis Management Committee and propose the establishment of State Disaster Response Forces by state governments. This amendment aligns with the 15th Finance Commission’s recommendations.

Notes:
According to new study, the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano in northern Tanzania has been both erupting and sinking for the past 10 years. Known as the “Mountain of God” to the Maasai people, this unique stratovolcano rises to 9,442 feet and contains alkaline lavas. Recent studies reveal its upper slopes have been sinking since 2013 due to a deflating magma reservoir located 3,300 feet below the surface.

Notes:
The Indian Army’s Madras Engineer Group built a 190-foot Bailey bridge at Chooralmala, Kerala, after deadly landslides in Wayanad district. Invented during WWII by Donald Coleman Bailey, this modular, quick-assembly bridge consists of prefabricated steel panels linked by pins. Historically praised for its wartime use, it was inherited by India from British legacy and used in the 1971 war. The bridge aids movement of people and heavy machinery, with a capacity of 24 tonnes.

Notes:
An investigation into 43 tiger deaths between 2021 and 2023, with 34 in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and 9 in Shahdol Forest Circle, revealed poor investigations and missing body parts in 10 cases. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) reported these findings on July 15. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, located in Madhya Pradesh, is renowned for its high density of Royal Bengal Tigers and was declared a tiger reserve in 1993.

Notes:
Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre announced the formation of a task force to remove illegal resorts and encroachments from the Western Ghats, covering 10 districts. Led by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, this team will start clearing operations immediately. The Minister has also directed the removal of encroachments from 2015 onward and requested a report on the actions taken within a month.

Notes:
Bluetongue disease has been found in all 12 provinces of the Netherlands. This viral disease affects wild and domestic animals like sheep, goats, and cattle, and is spread by biting culicoides midges. It is not contagious between animals. Symptoms vary, with sheep showing the most signs, including internal bleeding. Young lambs are particularly vulnerable, with a mortality rate of up to 30%. Vaccination and insect control are key to managing the disease.