Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2023

Notes:
Veteran Bollywood actress Waheeda Rehman has been conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, which is given for “outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema”, for the year 2021.
It was conferred by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s Directorate of Film Festivals. The award is presented at the National Film Awards ceremony. The 2021 awards were presented this year as they were delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Notes:
Drugmaker Cipla has launched drone-based deliveries of its critical medicines for hospitals in Himachal Pradesh, in partnership with Skye Air Mobility.
The medicines included cardiac, respiratory, and other essential chronic therapies. The use of drones will support on-time delivery of the company’s medicines to chemists and clinics in remote areas, while minimising risks including temperature-linked issues affecting cold chain products.

Notes:
In Bihar, the world-famous Pitra Paksha Mela began in Gaya, Bihar. The main function was organized at Vishnupad Temple.
Lakhs of people from across the country and abroad reach here to offer prayers for departed souls on the banks of Falgu River.

Notes:
States have rejected nearly 40% of land claims submitted by tribal communities under the Forest Rights Act.
Among these, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and West Bengal have the highest rejection rates, with Uttarakhand denying 97% of tribal claims. The latest statistics, were released by the Ministry of tribal affairs, there were 45,54,603 claims submitted totally.

Notes:
A new dispute arose when China erected a barrier close to the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. It has reignited a longstanding territorial dispute between China and Philippines that dates back to 2012.
The South China Sea is situated just south of the Chinese mainland and is bordered by the countries of Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Notes:
The Draft Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability (Ninth Amendment) Regulations, 2023 was released recently by TRAI.
It proposes safeguards against SIM-swap frauds. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) seeks suggestions on connectivity and mobile porting.

Notes:
The Sycamore Gap Tree is a famous sycamore tree situated in a dip between two hills in Northumberland, England. It was among the UK’s most-photographed trees.
This 300-year-old tree has been cut down by a teenager in an attempt of vandalism. Hadrian’s Wall, which is almost 2,000 years old and stands next to the sycamore, sustained some damage.

Notes:
Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification permitting prison authorities nationwide to voluntarily conduct Aadhaar authentication for all visitors of inmates to verify their backgrounds. The ministry issued a notification to verify the antecedents of the visitors of prison inmates.

Notes:
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) announced the listing of its ‘Social Bonds’ on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
The bank had raised ₹1,040 crore through this offering. The funds would be used to refinance the Jal Jeevan Mission (the Union government’s drinking water project) in Telangana.

Notes:
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart 2023 was inaugurated in New Delhi by the Ministry of Tourism.
The PATA is a not-for-profit organization, which aims to promote responsible travel and tourism development in the Asia Pacific region.