Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2024

Notes:
The Tawa Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh has been designated as a new Ramsar Site. It is located at the confluence of the Tawa and Denwa rivers near Itarsi, it was originally built for irrigation and now also supports power generation and aquaculture. It is within the Satpura Tiger Reserve, bordering the Satpura National Park and Bori Wildlife Sanctuary.
Major tributaries include the River Malani, Sonbhadra, and Nagdwari. The Tawa River, the longest tributary of the Narmada River, starts in the Mahadeo Hills, flows through Betul, and joins the Narmada in Narmadapuram. The reservoir is home to Spotted deer and Painted Stork.

Notes:
Gujarat recently faced a health crisis due to a surge in Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) cases, mainly impacting children and causing multiple deaths. AES involves sudden high fever, convulsions, altered consciousness, and organ dysfunction. Symptoms can also include vomiting, diarrhea, and severe cases may lead to respiratory failure and nasal bleeding. It can be caused by various pathogens like viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, or toxins. Diagnosing AES is difficult as it shares symptoms with other infections like Chandipura Vesiculovirus and Japanese Encephalitis. The outbreak affected 26 of Gujarat’s 33 districts, with cases in major cities and neighboring states. As of August 19, 2024, there were 178 cases and 78 deaths, with 28 children testing positive for Chandipura Vesiculovirus.

Notes:
Israel and Egypt are making progress in resolving their differences over the Philadelphi Corridor and the Rafah crossing point. The Philadelphi Corridor is a narrow strip along the Gaza-Egypt border, established as a demilitarized buffer zone by the 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. This area is crucial for controlling movement and preventing smuggling between Gaza and Egypt. It has been central in ceasefire talks and conflicts involving Israel, Hamas, and Egypt.

Notes:
Nangarni Spardha took place in Dervan village, Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. This traditional oxen race, held annually during the rainy season, is a centuries-old event organized by village committees. The soft, muddy ground helps prevent serious injuries as drivers compete barefoot and without protective gear. Oxen, no longer used for ploughing, are specifically kept for this race, with their horns painted and bodies dusted with colored powder. The race occurs on a horseshoe-shaped track where drivers control the oxen by holding the reins and twisting their tails. Dropping the reins results in disqualification.

Notes:
The Maharashtra government has declared 1,500 geoglyphs across 70 locations in Ratnagiri district as a ‘protected monument’. Geoglyphs are large designs drawn on the earth, typically using stones, gravel, or earth. They are often more than four meters long and best viewed from the sky. There are two types: positive geoglyphs, created by arranging materials on the ground, and negative geoglyphs, formed by removing part of the ground surface. Variations include arborglyphs, made by planting specific designs, and ‘chalk giants,’ carved into hillsides to expose bedrock.

Notes:
INS Arighat, India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, was commissioned into the Navy in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It is an upgraded version of INS Arihant, boosting India’s naval capabilities and nuclear deterrence.
Armed with K-15 ballistic missiles, INS Arighat can strike targets up to 750 kilometers away. Launched in 2017, the submarine has undergone construction and testing at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam. INS Arighat strengthens India’s nuclear triad, enhancing second-strike capability. It joins INS Arihant, commissioned in 2016, as part of a four-submarine project.

Notes:
Shannon Gabriel, a West Indies fast bowler, announced his retirement from international cricket. Gabriel began his international career in 2012. He played in 59 Test matches, 25 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and two T20 Internationals, taking a total of 202 wickets. He found more success in Test cricket and became a regular in the West Indies team by 2017. In 2019, Gabriel was banned for four ODIs due to a homophobic remark against Joe Root. His last appearance for West Indies was in a Test match against India in July 2023. He plays for Trinidad and Tobago in domestic cricket.

Notes:
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated a state-of-the-art sports academy, sports complex, and sports university in Rajgir on National Sports Day. The Rajgir Sports Complex is equipped with a 24-bed hospital for modern sports injury treatment. This facility is the first in India to combine a sports complex and sports university in one location. The complex supports 24 types of indoor and outdoor games. Three centres of excellence for wrestling, weightlifting, and athletics have been established to promote new talent. The sports university offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in sports management, nutrition, and science, with a large sports library.

Notes:
The annual meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) started on August 26 in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. It was established in 1971. PIF is an intergovernmental organization with 18 member states in the Pacific region. Member countries include Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The forum aims to boost economic growth, improve political governance, and enhance regional cooperation. Its vision is for a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Pacific region where all people can lead healthy lives. Decisions are made by consensus and implemented by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. PIF members are working to raise funds for climate action, with the Pacific Resilience Facility currently $380 million short of its $500 million goal.

Notes:
The Jharkhand government has decided to waive Rs 3,584 crore in power dues for about 39.44 lakh consumers. This decision benefits those enrolled in the 200-unit free electricity scheme. The move is intended to ease financial burdens on domestic consumers under the Mukhyamantri Urja Khushali Yojana.