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:
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 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:
Researchers at IIT Madras have discovered a new method to treat retinal tears and diabetic retinopathy using mild laser-induced convection to improve drug delivery into the retina. They conducted simulations to study different treatment types, focusing on heat and mass transfer. This innovative approach could benefit around 11 million people in India with retinal disorders. Currently, laser-based techniques are employed to treat conditions like retinal tears, diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, and retinal vein occlusion.

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 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).

Notes:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP). The aim is to combat dengue and other Aedes-borne arboviruses like Zika and chikungunya through a coordinated global response. The SPRP will run for over a year, until September 2025. It focuses on five key components: emergency coordination, collaborative surveillance, community protection, safe and scalable care, and access to countermeasures. The SPRP aligns with other global initiatives, including the Global Vector Control Response 2017–2030 and the Global Arbovirus Initiative.

Notes:
The World Health Organization (WHO) approved the Alinity m MPXV assay, a real-time PCR test for mpox. This test detects the virus using swabs from skin lesions, providing immediate results. It helps health workers confirm suspected mpox cases quickly, aiding outbreak control. Mpox has caused over 800 deaths in 16 African countries this year, with limited testing contributing to its spread. The Alinity m MPXV assay is the first mpox test on the WHO’s Emergency Use Listing (EUL) for faster availability during health emergencies. Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease that spreads through human contact and infected animals.

Notes:
President Droupadi Murmu attended the first Adi Gaurav Samman Samaroh in Mangarh Dham, Rajasthan, on October 4, 2024.
The Rajasthan government established the Adi Gaurav Samman award, which has three categories: Aadiratna, Adi Seva, and Aadi Grammotthan Gaurav Samman. Aadiratna Gaurav Samman awards Scheduled Tribe members excelling in sports, education, and culture. Adi Seva Gaurav Samman recognizes exemplary service for Scheduled Tribes. Aadi Grammotthan Gaurav Samman rewards Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zilla Parishads for socio-economic improvements.