Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
PM Modi visited solar panels installed under the PM Muft Bijli Solar Yojana in Gujarat. The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Solar Yojana encourages rooftop solar adoption by offering financial subsidies and easier installation. Households can get up to 300 units of free electricity each month. Gujarat leads in rooftop solar capacity with 4,195 MW, followed by Maharashtra with 2,487 MW, and Rajasthan with 1,269 MW. India’s total installed rooftop solar power capacity is 13,889 MW.

Notes:
Recent studies indicate that the Rocahepevirus ratti strain, commonly known as “rat HEV,” primarily resides in rats and has been found to infect humans. Since its first human case in 2018, at least 20 cases have been reported, often linked to the consumption of raw pork. Researchers discovered that rat HEV could infect pigs and spread among them, highlighting concerns for the pork industry as a potential pathway for human infection. Hepatitis E remains a significant global health issue, particularly in developing regions.

Notes:
A recent study in Current Biology explored the evolutionary adaptations of Sea Robins, a unique fish species known for their “walking” abilities. These bottom-dwelling fish, found in tropical and subtropical oceans, have six leg-like appendages that are extensions of their fins. This adaptation allows them to walk on the seafloor and taste hidden prey. The study reveals that the genes responsible for these appendages are similar to those that form human limbs, offering insights into how ancient fish evolved into four-limbed animals, including humans.

Notes:
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the “Jal Hi AMRIT” program under AMRUT 2.0 to enhance the quality of treated wastewater and promote its recycling in urban areas. The program aims to incentivize states and union territories to manage sewage treatment plants (STPs) for producing good quality recyclable water. It introduces a Clean Water Credit System to foster competition among cities and develop their capacities for effective water management. STPs will receive star ratings (3 to 5 stars) as clean water credits, valid for six months, and performance-based incentives will be awarded based on these ratings.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh will establish three new medical colleges in Baghpat, Hathras, and Kasganj, adding 300 MBBS seats through a public-private partnership (PPP) and the Central government’s Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme. This expansion is part of a broader effort to enhance medical infrastructure in the state, increasing the total number of medical colleges from 39 in 2017 to 78. Since 2017, Uttar Pradesh has experienced a 108% rise in MBBS seats and a 181% increase in postgraduate medical seats.

Notes:
The first-ever honey badger (Mellivora capensis), also known as the Ratel, was recorded on camera in Uttarakhand’s Terai East Forest Division on January 7, 2024. This rare sighting was published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa on September 26, 2024. The honey badger, protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, was spotted near the Sharda River Canal. Despite being listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN, it’s rarely seen in India.

Notes:
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.

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:
Experts report that 430 of the 450 hectares of Albania’s Little Prespa Lake have become swamps or dried up. It is one of Europe’s oldest and highest tectonic lakes, located at the junction of three geological masses: granite, karstic, and Suva Gora. The area contains rocks from the Paleozoic era to the Neogene era. The lake system includes Great Prespa Lake (shared by Albania, Greece, and Macedonia) and Little Prespa Lake, mostly in Greece. Climate change, rising temperatures, and lack of snowfall and rain have significantly impacted the lake.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet of India, led by the Prime Minister, has approved Classical Language status for Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. The recognition is based on criteria set by a Linguistic Experts Committee. The language must also have knowledge texts, including prose, alongside poetry and inscriptional evidence. Other recognized classical languages are Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014).