Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
China has begun the second phase of expanding the Five-Hundred Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST). FAST, located in Guizhou Province, is the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope, with a diameter of 500 meters and a receiving area equal to 30 football fields. Its goals include detecting neutral hydrogen, discovering pulsars, participating in gravitational wave detection, and searching for extraterrestrial intelligence. FAST also joins international networks for high-resolution celestial studies. The data system is developed in collaboration with ICRAR in Australia and the European Southern Observatory (ESO).

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Dhananjaya M.V., a principal scientist at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, received the Kalaiah Krishnamurthy National Award for his significant contributions to developing gummy stem blight-resistant varieties of bottle gourd. This recognition highlights the importance of agricultural research in enhancing crop resilience and productivity, crucial for India’s agricultural development. The award was presented during the University of Agricultural Sciences-Bangalore’s foundation day celebrations, emphasizing the need for scientific advancements in agriculture.

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NASA cancelled the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) mission due to delays and high costs. VIPER was fully assembled and partially tested before cancellation. It was a NASA mission to explore the Moon’s south pole for water ice and other resources. VIPER was part of the U.S.-led Artemis Accords, involving India. India missed an opportunity by approving Chandrayaan-4’s sample-return mission after VIPER’s cancellation.

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The Prime Minister launched the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan in Jharkhand with an outlay of about Rs 80,000 crore. It aims to develop 63,843 tribal villages, benefiting over 5 crore people across 30 states/UTs. The scheme addresses gaps in social infrastructure, health, education, and livelihood through 25 interventions by 17 ministries. The total outlay is Rs. 79,156 crore, with Rs. 56,333 crore from the central government. It builds on the success of PM-JANMAN, launched in 2023, which focuses on Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG).

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The 2024 Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD), an annual Indian Navy conference, held in New Delhi. The conference’s theme is “Resource Geopolitics and Security in the Indo-Pacific.” IPRD is the Indian Navy’s key platform for international strategic engagement, discussing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. This year’s conference highlights the impact of traditional and new marine resources on geopolitics, with a focus on offshore energy resources like hydrocarbons shaping future geopolitics.

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Pfizer announced it will withdraw its sickle cell disease therapy, Oxbryta, from global markets due to new clinical data linking it to fatal events. Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder caused by flawed hemoglobin.
Hemoglobin carries oxygen in red blood cells (RBCs). In SCD, hemoglobin S distorts RBCs into a sickle shape, making them rigid and unable to move easily through blood vessels. This blockage disrupts blood flow and interferes with oxygen delivery to body tissues, leading to various health complications.

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The 26th Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) 2024 started at the Dubai World Trade Centre with 29 leading Indian companies participating. Organized by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the event runs until October 3, showcasing innovations in renewable energy, water treatment, and environmental technologies. Sunjay Sudhir, the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, emphasized the importance of Indian participation in supporting the green economy and Sustainable Development Goals. The UAE-India economic relationship has strengthened since the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in May 2022, with trade volume reaching $84.5 billion and projections of $100 billion by 2027.

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India rejected a report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on religious minority abuses.
USCIRF is an independent U.S. federal agency created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act. It monitors global religious freedom violations and provides policy recommendations to the U.S. President, Secretary of State, and Congress.
USCIRF’s nine commissioners are appointed by the President or Congressional leaders, with support from a nonpartisan staff. It issues an annual report on religious freedom, highlighting “Countries of Particular Concern.” The report uses international standards, including Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to assess violations.

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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.

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Entomologists discovered a new species of potter wasp in Arunachal Pradesh, named Pseumenes siangensis. It belongs to the genus Pseumenes within the subfamily Eumeninae and is mainly found in the Oriental region. These solitary wasps build small, pot-like mud nests for their larvae. India has only reported one other species of this genus, making Pseumenes siangensis a significant addition to the country’s wasp diversity. The species was found in the Upper Siang District and named after Siang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh. At 30.2 mm in length, it has unique features and plays a role in controlling pest populations by feeding on caterpillars and insects.