Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
Indian team won seven medals at the Junior World Wushu Championship in Brunei. India secured two golds, one silver, and four bronze medals. Aryan won gold in the Boys’ Junior 48 kg category, defeating China’s Gong Huanran. Shaurya won another gold in the Boys’ 48kg (children) category, beating Iran’s Alireza Zamani. Nang Mingbi Borphukan earned a silver in Taolu Jian Shu C Group. Tanish Nagar won bronze in the 56kg category. Abhijeet (60kg), Divyanshi (60kg women), and Yuvraj (42kg) also secured bronze medals. A 24-member Indian team participated.

Notes:
EURONAVAL 2024, the world’s leading naval defence exhibition, will be held from November 4-7, 2024, in Paris. Around 500 exhibitors are expected, across five continents. Thirteen countries, including Brazil, the US, the UK, and Germany, will organize their own national pavilions. India is among 104 countries invited to attend this major naval defence trade show.

Notes:
Tsetse flies, genus Glossina, are found in 34 African countries, according to a new atlas by FAO. These blood-sucking insects give birth to larvae that pupate in the soil. Tsetse flies are classified into three groups: fusca (forest), morsitans (savanna), and palpalis (riverine). They inhabit areas along rivers, lakes, and dense forests, including rainforests. They transmit Trypanosoma parasites, causing sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in livestock. Nagana leads to billions of dollars in agricultural losses annually. Tsetse flies range from Northern Senegal to South Africa’s Kwazulu-Natal province.

Notes:
Legendary actor Mithun Chakraborty receives the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for 2022, India’s highest cinema honor. Presented annually at the National Film Awards by the Directorate of Film Festivals, it recognizes outstanding contributions to Indian cinema. The award includes a golden lotus, a ₹10 lakh cash prize, and a shawl. Established by the Government of India to honor Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema, the award was first given in 1969 to actress Devika Rani. Dadasaheb Phalke, born in 1870, directed India’s first feature film, Raja Harishchandra, in 1913 and made 95 more films in 19 years.

Notes:
Two critically endangered amphibian species, Micrixalus spelunca (cave dancing frog) and Nyctibatrachus indraneili (Indraneil’s night frog), were discovered in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is located in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu and is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. This biosphere reserve includes Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala, Bandipur National Park in Karnataka, Mukurthi National Park, and Silent Valley, making it a vital area for biodiversity conservation.

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 RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products) scheme is extended for domestic tariff area (DTA) units until September 30, 2025. Launched in January 2021 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, RoDTEP refunds un-reimbursed taxes, duties, and levies to exporters. It replaced the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), which was challenged at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for non-compliance with global trade rules. RoDTEP ensures that exporters receive compensation for costs incurred during production and distribution.

Notes:
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched the People’s Plan Campaign, also known as Jan Yojana Abhiyan. The campaign is themed ‘Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas’ and focuses on preparing Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) for 2025–26. Special Gram Sabhas are being organized in over 2.55 lakh Gram Panchayats. The aim is to strengthen grassroots democracy and promote inclusive development in rural India. This initiative empowers rural citizens to actively participate in shaping the future of their villages.

Notes:
The Chenchus, a Telugu-speaking tribe in the Nallamala forests of Andhra Pradesh, struggle with declining work under MGNREGA due to modernization. They are a Scheduled Tribe and have maintained their traditional lifestyle without adapting to modernity. Chenchus live in small villages called “Penta” and gather forest products like fruits, tubers, honey, and tamarind for minimal income. They rely on bows, arrows, and knives for hunting. Village elders, called “Peddamanishi,” hold authority in social matters. Chenchus have ties to the Srisailam temple and enjoy special privileges there.

Notes:
The Oakhurst rock shelter, located near George, South Africa, has yielded ancient genomes dating back to approximately 10,000 years ago. This archaeological site is significant for its record of human occupation spanning 12,000 years and the discovery of multiple ancient genomes, which show remarkable genetic continuity among the region’s inhabitants. The findings highlight the importance of understanding Africa’s rich genetic diversity and its implications for human history.