Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
Two people died due to a boundary wall collapse near Mahakal Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, following heavy rainfall.
The Mahakaleshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and located on the banks of the Shipra River in Ujjain. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and dates back to at least the 6th century BC, though it was reconstructed in the 18th century.
The five-storied temple features architecture influenced by Chalukya, Maratha, and Bhumija styles. The temple houses sculptures of Lord Shiva, Ganesh, Parvati, and Karttikeya and includes a tank built in sarvatobhadra style.

Notes:
Gulveer Singh, a 26-year-old Indian athlete, won gold in the 5,000m race at the World Athletics Continental Tour in Japan. He set a new national record of 13 minutes and 11.82 seconds, breaking his earlier record of 13 minutes and 18.92 seconds. Earlier in March, he set the 10,000m national record in California with a time of 27 minutes and 41.81 seconds.
His effort broke Surender Singh’s 16-year-old record. Despite his achievements, Gulveer missed the Paris Olympic qualification time by over 41 seconds.

Notes:
Kerala has achieved the top rank in the Urban Governance Index (UGI), a study by the Praja Foundation assessing cities in India. Scoring 59.31 out of 100, it excelled in fiscal empowerment and local governance. The state’s commitment to decentralized planning has been acknowledged, despite challenges in city administration empowerment. Odisha followed in second place with a score of 55.10, highlighting the competitive nature of urban governance across India.

Notes:
According to recent data, China is the country with a growing trade deficit with India, exceeding $100 billion in FY24, making it India’s largest trade deficit partner; this is due to significantly higher imports from China compared to exports to that country. This has raised concerns about market access disparities. Additionally, public sentiment in China is increasingly critical of business relations with India, reflecting a complex interplay of economic and geopolitical factors, including the ongoing border disputes and India’s alignment with the Quad alliance against perceived Chinese aggression.

Notes:
The Centre has approved ₹675 crore to support flood-affected states Gujarat, Manipur, and Tripura from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). Gujarat will receive ₹600 crore, Manipur ₹50 crore, and Tripura ₹25 crore due to heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides this monsoon. The Ministry of Home Affairs emphasized its commitment to assist these states. Other affected states include Assam, Mizoram, Kerala, Nagaland, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Bihar. Inter-Ministerial Central Teams have been deployed to assess damages, and further assistance for remaining states will depend on their reports.

Notes:
The INS Tir, along with INS Shardul and ICGS Veera, visited Bandar Abbas, Iran, as part of India’s First Training Squadron. This deployment aims to enhance maritime security and cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Iranian Navy. Activities include professional exchanges and Maritime Partnership Exercises (MPX). The visit reflects India’s commitment to its SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision, fostering stronger ties with regional partners. Previous interactions included Iranian naval ships visiting Mumbai, emphasizing ongoing naval diplomacy and training collaboration in the Persian Gulf region.

Notes:
Maharashtra government granted indigenous cow breeds the title of ‘Rajyamata-Gomata’ for their cultural and agricultural significance. The decision was made by the Cabinet led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ahead of the state elections. The statement highlighted the cow’s importance in Indian culture since the Vedic period. Native cows’ milk, cow dung, and urine are valued in Ayurveda, Panchgavya treatment, and organic farming. The move officially recognizes the significant role of indigenous cows in these areas.

Notes:
Biologists and the public are responding to reports of stranded manatees in Florida following Hurricane Helene. Manatees are aquatic mammals that belong to the Sirenia group, which also includes dugongs. They have paddle-shaped tails, while dugongs have fluked tails resembling those of whales. Manatees live in shallow coastal areas and rivers. There are three species of manatees: the Amazonian manatee, which lives only in freshwater; the African manatee, found in tropical West Africa; and the Caribbean manatee, located in Florida and the West Indies.

Notes:
Nine captive-bred pygmy hogs were recently released in Manas National Park, Assam. Pygmy hogs are the smallest and rarest wild pig species globally. They build their own nests, which have a roof, making them unique among mammals. As an indicator species, their presence shows the health of tall, wet grassland habitats. They thrive in undisturbed grasslands with dense grass, herbs, and young trees. The viable wild population is currently in the Manas Tiger Reserve. Pygmy hogs are critically endangered according to the IUCN and are listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Manas National Park is located in Assam and is contiguous with Bhutan’s Royal Manas National Park.

Notes:
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is developing a National Agriculture Code (NAC) similar to the National Building and Electrical Codes. The NAC will cover the entire agriculture cycle, from crop selection to post-harvest operations. It will have two parts: general principles for all crops and crop-specific standards for paddy, wheat, oilseeds, and pulses. It aims to guide farmers, universities, and officials in agriculture. NAC will address input management, sustainability, natural farming, organic farming, and IoT in agriculture. It will support quality standards, decision-making, and capacity building in Indian agriculture.