Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
INS Talwar arrived in South Africa for the eighth edition of exercise IBSAMAR. IBSAMAR is a joint maritime exercise involving India, Brazil, and South Africa. The exercise focuses on Blue Water Naval Warfare, covering Surface and Anti-Air Warfare. Activities include professional exchanges, firefighting drills, search-and-seizure operations, diving, aviation safety, and ocean governance seminars. The exercise strengthens naval interoperability, builds mutual trust, and fosters cooperation among like-minded nations for peaceful maritime environments.

Notes:
The Ministry of Education launched the registration portal for the fifth phase of Yuva Sangam under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. Yuva Sangam aims to strengthen connections between youth from different states and union territories. Participants aged 18 to 30 can register on the portal. The registration deadline is the 21st of this month. During the Yuva Sangam tours, participants will receive exposure in five areas: Paryatan (Tourism), Parampara (Tradition), Pragati (Progress), Paraspar Sampark (Interconnection), and Prodyogiki (Technology) over 5-7 days.

Notes:
Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is set to become the state’s 8th tiger reserve. It covers about 3,500 sq km across Raisen, Sehore, and Bhopal districts. 1,500 sq km will be the core tiger area, with 2,000 sq km as a buffer zone. The sanctuary is home to 40 tigers, with 12 more tigers frequently moving nearby. It will boost tourism and the local economy, with increased government funding. The sanctuary hosts diverse wildlife, including over 150 bird species.

Notes:
India launched the ‘Study in India’ campaign at the 20th International Education Show in Sharjah to attract international students to its universities. Organized by EdCIL, the campaign aims to position India as a global education hub, showcasing over 590 universities offering diverse courses and benefits like scholarships. The centralized Study in India portal simplifies admissions, helping students explore programs, apply, and manage visas in one place. India’s higher education sector is the second largest globally, with institutions like IITs and IIMs gaining recognition. The program has attracted over 69,000 students for the 2024-25 academic year, with 4,000 already in India.

Notes:
World Arthritis Day (WAD) is observed on October 12 to raise awareness about arthritis and rheumatic diseases. It aims to improve understanding of these conditions and their impact on daily life. The focus is on early diagnosis, self-management, and access to proper treatment. The theme for 2024 is “Informed Choices, Better Outcomes,” emphasizing improved access to information for people with rheumatic diseases in today’s digital age.

Notes:
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju announced a “Constitution Glorification Campaign” for the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution on November 26. The campaign will take place in every village across the country. Its goal is to raise awareness about the Constitution, its significance, and the Assembly debates. The initiative aims to highlight how the government has strengthened the Constitution. The campaign will be managed by the Union Ministry of Culture.

Notes:
The recently released ‘EnviStats India-2024’ report ranked the Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) first among India’s 55 tiger reserves for its leopard population, estimating around 360 leopards. The report states that 270 leopards inhabit the reserve, while another 90 move through the area. India’s overall leopard population is estimated at 13,874, with 569 leopards in Andhra Pradesh. NSTR also hosts more than 80 tigers across 1,401 square kilometers. Conservation efforts, including ensuring food and water sources and fire prevention measures, have boosted the leopard population.

Notes:
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar inaugurated the eMigrate V2.0 web portal and mobile app in Delhi. The eMigrate portal promotes safe and legal migration for Indian workers. The new version reflects the government’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of Indian migrants. It aligns with Goal 10 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, supporting safe and responsible migration. Global demand for skilled workers is increasing, and India is negotiating migration agreements since 2015. Passport issuance has nearly doubled, and the portal improves efficiency and offers social security for migrants.

Notes:
Maharashtra Cabinet approved the Damanganga-Vaitarna-Godavari and Damanganga-Ekdare-Godavari river-linking projects. These projects aim to address water scarcity in North Maharashtra and Marathwada regions. The total cost of the projects is ₹15,710 crore. The Damanganga-Vaitarna-Godavari project received ₹13,497 crore in funding, providing 160.97 MLD of water and irrigating 33,110 hectares. The Damanganga-Ekdare-Godavari project was approved with ₹2,213 crore, supplying 100 MLD of water and irrigating 12,998 hectares. These initiatives aim to significantly improve irrigation and water availability, especially in Sinnar taluka, Nashik district.

Notes:
The SFIO recorded the statement of the Kerala Chief Minister’s daughter, raising political controversy. The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) is a corporate fraud investigation agency established on July 21, 2015. It was given statutory status under Section 211 of the Companies Act, 2013. SFIO operates under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs with experts in various fields. It investigates complex fraud cases with public interest. SFIO can take cases based on government reports or public interest. Once assigned, no other agency can investigate that case. The SFIO is led by a Director and headquartered in New Delhi.