Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
Vijaya Rahatkar has been appointed as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW). The appointment was notified by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Rahatkar previously served as Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women and Mayor of Aurangabad. She also held roles as BJP National Secretary and President of the party’s women wing. Dr. Archana Majumdar has been appointed as a member of the NCW.

Notes:
The Rongmei Naga Council Manipur (RNCM) opposes oil exploration in Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamenglong district, Manipur. The sanctuary, established in 1982, is located near the Indo-Myanmar border. It covers 21 sq. km and features hilly terrain in the Barak River basin. Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary is home to seven lakes, with Zeilad Lake being the largest and most famous.

Notes:
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launched Mission Basundhara 3.0 to grant land rights to indigenous people and digitize land services. The initiative aims to improve transparency and efficiency in land-related processes. It simplifies the process of granting land rights by implementing new rules and recognizing community-specific exceptions. Mission Basundhara 3.0 also focuses on digitizing land services and publishing land maps for public benefit.

Notes:
A new orchid species, Crepidium assamicum, was discovered in Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Assam. The discovery was made by Dr. Jintu Sarma and Khyanjeet Gogoi, known as the “Orchid Man of Assam.” Crepidium assamicum belongs to the genus Crepidium, increasing India’s total species count to 19 and the global total to 281. Globally, there are around 27,000 orchid species, with India home to about 1,265 and Northeast India hosting 800. Assam alone has about 414 species of orchids.

Notes:
World Iodine Deficiency Day is observed on 21st October to raise awareness about the importance of iodine for health.
Iodine is essential for producing thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), which regulate metabolism and support fetal and infant development. It is found in foods and iodized salt, mainly absorbed in the stomach as iodide and used by the thyroid. Iodine deficiency is the leading preventable cause of intellectual disability globally.

Notes:
Hurricane Oscar made landfall in Cuba, leading to its worst power outage since Hurricane Ian in 2022. The storm has resulted in at least six fatalities and extensive blackouts lasting four nights. The storm triggered widespread power outages, disrupting daily life and leading to protests in areas like Santos Suárez and central Havana. The blackout has severely affected families, highlighting the ongoing struggles of the Cuban population in the wake of natural disasters.

Notes:
Gary Ruvkun, while accepting the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, praised Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), a tiny nematode worm. C. elegans is a small, simple organism used in research for its precise structure and fast growth (3-5 days). It was the first multicellular organism to have its full genome sequenced and neural wiring mapped. It has two sexes: hermaphrodite and male; the hermaphrodite can self-fertilize or cross-fertilize. Nematodes are abundant, living as parasites or in free-living forms in diverse environments like soil and marine ecosystems.

Notes:
India is building its first cloud chamber at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune. A cloud chamber mimics conditions for cloud formation using water vapor and aerosols in a closed drum. This chamber will specifically study Indian monsoon clouds, with few similar facilities globally. The goal is to enhance understanding of cloud physics affecting Indian weather, aiding in weather modification strategies. The Pune facility will enable research on seed particles that form cloud droplets and ice particles. Scientists can customize parameters to study cloud behavior and interactions under various conditions.

Notes:
Zimbabwe is investigating suspected lion poaching in Hwange National Park. Hwange National Park is located in Zimbabwe.
Hwange National Park houses half of Zimbabwe’s 100,000 elephants and over 100 mammal and 400 bird species. It is home to 19 large herbivores and eight large carnivores. The park is part of the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area. Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa.

Notes:
International Snow Leopard Day was observed on October 23. The snow leopard, also known as the “Ghost of the Mountain,” has a beautiful, spotted coat that insulates it from the cold. They are found across 12 countries in Central Asia, including Russia, Mongolia, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. Major threats include loss of prey, conflict with humans, and illegal trade of fur and bones. The snow leopard is classified as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN and is protected under India’s Wildlife Act, 1972.